Can I switch from MC to MM easily?

[gubbins13]

Hi, I have recently bought a Dual CS 505-3 turntable with a moving coil cartridge that my amp doesn't like. A helpful Richer Sounds guy said the Cambridge Audio amp I have hooked up to a Cyrus power amp can only play moving magnet cartridges and suggested I fork out £120 for a pre amp that can handle MC.

It seems to me it might just be easier to replace the cartridge to MM. Is that right or am I being hopelessly naive/optimistic/simplistic/dumb?

Suggestions gratefully received. Gubbins

[Dinohyus Hollandi]

I believe the Cambridge 540P only does MM but the 640P does MM and MC. Which one do you own?

[coolmaster]

There's 2 types of MC cartridge, high and low output. For Low output you'd need a MC head amp or amplifier with MC stage capability. You can use any MM or high output MC cartridge into almost any amplifier thats equiped with TT phono stage.
Look to your amplifier owner manual for more detailed info.

[Rothwellaudio]

You're absolutely correct - it will be cheaper to get an MM cartridge instead of an outboard MC compatible phonostage.

[gubbins13]

Thanks for all the help everyone. I'm on it now. What a great forum. Best wishes, Gubbs

[gubbins13]

Hi Rothwellaudio - could you recommend such an MM cartridge for the Dual CS 505-3 please? My local hifi dealer said it wouldn't be as simple as just changing from an MC to MM cartridge and I would need an MC phono stage - perhaps he just wanted a sale...? Thanks

[myles]

I have the CA540P phono amp, and use a DL-160 High O/P MC cart with it, sounds nice. Alternatively, if you were interested I have a number of MM carts here for a small fee, A rega Bias (green, unboxed), Rega Super Bias (red, boxed), and an AT-110E(unboxed).

[vexorgtr]

The simplified answer is all you need it to switch the cartridge. The most simple difference is output. MM cartridged generally put out about 4-5mV of output. DJ carts are more, some carts are less. MC cartridges (with the exception of high output ones) usually put out 1/10th of the power a MM does... 0.3-0.4mV, thus the preamps must be different, since a different ammount of GAIN in the biggest factor.

When looking at MM's a cartridge with higher output, 5-7mv is usually less tweaky than one with 3mV. The more output the cart has, the less the preamp has to work.

[Coffee Phil]

Hi Gubbins13,

I have never owned a MC cartridge and am not convinced that in general they are superior to MM cartridges however There are no "cheapie" MC cartridges. I have to believe that most of them are high end. What I am trying to get at is that if your cartridge is in good shape the chances are that it is a better than average cartridge. With that in mind I think it would be sad to pitch it without giving it a chance. You might consider getting a modestly priced MC stage and giving the cartridge a chance. Here is a link to a modestly priced MC stage:

http://www.phonopreamps.com/tc760pp.html

They also have a fancier one for a bit more money.

Phil

Hi, I have recently bought a Dual CS 505-3 turntable with a moving coil cartridge that my amp doesn't like. A helpful Richer Sounds guy said the Cambridge Audio amp I have hooked up to a Cyrus power amp can only play moving magnet cartridges and suggested I fork out £120 for a pre amp that can handle MC.

It seems to me it might just be easier to replace the cartridge to MM. Is that right or am I being hopelessly naive/optimistic/simplistic/dumb?

Suggestions gratefully received. Gubbins

[krenzler]

The tonearm on your Dual will work best with a light tracking MM. MC's are generally more demanding and need a better (more expensive) arm to control the vibrations. So go with a good MM there are many to choose from. Nagaoka, Ortofon, Audio Technica etc.

[raphaelmabo]

What MC cartridge is mounted on the Dual?
Many MC cartridges works best with tonearms that has a mid or high mass, but there are also those that works with the low mass arm in the Dual. So name the MC cartridge in use, it may be a great one.

Low output MCs needs special amplification yes. High output MC's works with the same amplification as MM cartridges.

From a technical point of view, it is easier to just add a MC pre-phono amplifier than replacing the cartridge - especially for a newcomer that hasn't replaced a cartridge before. But it can be learned. I could learn it.

[Rothwellaudio]

Hi Rothwellaudio - could you recommend such an MM cartridge for the Dual CS 505-3 please? My local hifi dealer said it wouldn't be as simple as just changing from an MC to MM cartridge and I would need an MC phono stage - perhaps he just wanted a sale...? Thanks

You have two options - either change the cartridge to a moving magnet or add an MC compatible phonostage. A very cheap MC phonostage would probably become the weak link in the chain and I'd shy away from that option. Changing the cartridge is pretty simple but you should get one with suitable compliance for the tonearm. I'm not sure of the specs for your tonearm so I'm reluctant to make a recommendation, sorry.

Yes, I think the salesman just wanted to sell you a phonostage.

[v1nn1e]

My first turntable upgrade was to a Dual 505/3 - happy memories!

It came with an Ortofon OM5E and after a year or two I upgraded to an Audio Technica AT95E.

Note that that was before I even knew how to spell 'compliance'!

Both sounded pretty good. I think the original tonearm was a pretty light affair so I would look for a high-ish compliance cart - most Ortofon's should fit the bill. There should be something to suit here...

http://www.superfi.co.uk/c-154-moving-m ... showall=||