Introducing the Phono Cartridge Measurement Library

[richjoh]

Schitt SchollF phono preamp with Audio Technica AT-OC9XEB. After many settings, 50 Ohm, 100pF gave best results. Audio Technica recommends 100 Ohm in the spec sheet of AT-OC9XEB.

Let me add, this is recorded on CBS-STR120 (Issue 2) vinyl. I also have a second copy of CBS STR-120 (1st Issue), I will post results for the vinyl question.

 

[JP]

That's strange. 12R DCR and 12mH L the cart itself will be rather immune to loading outside of level. How much variation was seen? Any work to see if the phono stage itself is having an issue?

 

[richjoh]

That's strange. 12R DCR and 12mH L the cart itself will be rather immune to loading outside of level. How much variation was seen? Any work to see if the phono stage itself is having an issue?

I'm wondering myself if I have a lemon cartridge. These are 100 Ohm (recommended) 50pF plots, also including 50 Ohm setting of Schitt SkollF for comparison. On the other hand, could be I'm not understanding the technology of this cartridge.

 

[Balle Clorin]

This is not a expected response change from loading differences , looks more like mistracking due to dust or something

 

[JP]

I've no idea what it is, but I'm pretty confident that it isn't loading. Perhaps do 3-5 in the same way you did those but without changing the load and see how consistent the results are. The channel balance changing along with the channels reacting very differently to load is quite odd.

 

[richjoh]

I've no idea what it is, but I'm pretty confident that it isn't loading. Perhaps do 3-5 in the same way you did those but without changing the load and see how consistent the results are. The channel balance changing along with the channels reacting very differently to load is quite odd.

Well, take a look at the Nagaoka MP-200 and MP-150 posted on the page 111, those cartridges do not have the un-smoothness in the top-end. This would lead me to think it is the cartridge, not the vinyl. So I took further measurement using CBS STR-120 (1st Issue) and CBS STR-100 with similar results. My CBS STR-120 (Issue 2) rates VG+ to NM (a few pops/clicks of course). My STR-120 (1st Issue) is VG+ to VG. My STR-100 is new vinyl but clearly has a channel imbalance issue.

You know I might as well return the cartridge for money back via Amazon.

 

[richjoh]

I've no idea what it is, but I'm pretty confident that it isn't loading. Perhaps do 3-5 in the same way you did those but without changing the load and see how consistent the results are. The channel balance changing along with the channels reacting very differently to load is quite odd.

Sending the cartridge back for a refund. Phew, thanks for your inputs and the online cartridge measurements page. I would expect better performance from a MC cartridge. It was my first ever purchase of MC cartridge. I will be more careful next time I make a purchase.

 

[JP]

On your STR-100 plots the phono stage gain seems to change depending on load across the full bandwidth. Second issue is what looks like mistracking in the HF, which could be a cartridge defect, or it could be a setup issue. Anyway, I think you've multiple things to track down and for at least one of them I'm pretty confident the cartridge isn't at fault.

 

[richjoh]

Look in this thread, my post numbers, 2202 and 2203, the HF of Nagaoka MP150 and MP200 do not show an issue with HF response. My copy of CBS STR-100 is a problem, since every cartridge has channel mismatch thus my use of STR-120 instead. A setup problem would manifest on every cartridge, but only the Audio Technica OC9XEB measurement is unacceptable. Maybe another contributor can post result of the same cartridge.

 

[mackat]

Has anyone bought an MP-700 that you plan on measuring?

If not, I may have to make the sacrifice

 

[Thomas_A]

Has anyone bought an MP-700 that you plan on measuring?

If not, I may have to make the sacrifice

Not among the usual visitors here that I know of. I would hesitate to do such sacrifice. It will show up eventually.

 

[mackat]

Not among the usual visitors here that I know of. I would hesitate to do such sacrifice. It will show up eventually.

You make a good point! I've been eyeing it for a while now, though.

Assuming the frequency response is similar, I could sell my MP-500 after.

That would make it a little easier to justify

 

[JP]

I've been eyeing it for a while now, though.

I figured something along those lines.

I haven't purchased a cartridge in quite a while, and don't plan to. Still going to try to get through the backlog this winter.

 

[Balle Clorin]

Hifinews has tested it , but I do not really trust their FR plots

 

[eliash]

Has anyone bought an MP-700 that you plan on measuring?

If not, I may have to make the sacrifice

I did, got an acceptable price.
Tracking, freq. response, d2 and channel balance are fine on a SME309 arm.
Much better HF output acc. to dhfi2 test record than the previously installed MP-500. Tracking better than 90um/+16dB acc. to HFN @1.4gr/20°C. 1.2-1.4% of d2 distortion (old test record). Horizontal arm res. about 7Hz, quite intense, vertical - no sign (HFN).
Great sound, appreciate the upgrade!
Unfortunately channel separation is way lower than spec'd, some 6dB missing (also in comparison to the previously installed MP-500). Best results from RCA and dhfi2 test records were ~26dB, azimuth adjusted for equal channel performance, which was angular close to vertical groove modulation extinction. Degaussing improved about a dB (magn. cart shield?), alloy screws and headshell...

...Waiting for comments from Japan, as requested by our local distributor...

 

[Dr.Deadwax]

I've been following this thread for a while now and am impatiently waiting for someone to upload a measurement of the MP 700

 

[Balle Clorin]

Nagaoka MP-700 cartridge Lab Report

This is a true champion of the MP genre. Nagaoka’s previous flagship, the longstanding MP-500 [HFN Feb ’11 and Jan ’23], demonstrated much of the moving-permalloy’s potential [see boxout], including excellent tracking ability and very low distortion, but still possessed a gently declining treble...

www.hifinews.com

But I-never trust any cartridges they test, too aparte results

The poor man’s alternative is a Stanton 680 with Jico Shiabata for 1/3 of the total price, same cantilever material same diamond cutting, also MI. Results posted here

 

[essence]

I've been following this thread for a while now and am impatiently waiting for someone to upload a measurement of the MP 700

Same here. Latest production run will ship in a couple of days, I'll probably have a unit by first couple weeks of feb (if it doesn't instantly sell out), its hard to impulse buy when the cart is never in stock .

 

[Sasha]

Apologies if this has been asked and answered already, but is there a reputable UK stockist for any of the compatible test records?

 

[Balle Clorin]

Google it,, a Clearaudio dealer may help with CA TRS-1007. Or buy online