Is that total cable inside tonearm + tonearm cable?
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MM vs MI vs MC
- Thread starter watchnerd
- Start date
Is that total cable inside tonearm + tonearm cable?
The capacitance of my UP-4 tonearm is specified to 28 pF. So you could probably add 20-30 pF.
Regarding the MP500 can you say something about its physical dimension of the top (length and with). It seems to me that the top is not completely even/flat. I might buy one but I need to know if it is compatible with my current UP-4 arm.
When playing around with this stuff I have found that you really need an accurate capacitance meter (they are not expensive on Amazon) to make sure you are not spinning your wheels. I have found the capacitance specs for cables are not accurate and you need to know what is inside the tone arm as that can vary too.... especially if it has been replaced. Two instances that a meter really was valuable:
1. I bought a TT on Craigs list for a great price. Perfect condition and serviced but it sounded terrible. I checked everything and could not figure it out. Then I noticed the cables had been replaced with some "fancy" new ones. I checked the capacitance or the "upgraded" cable (which was hard wired in) and the tone arm and it was 550 pF! I replaced the cable and the TT worked and sounded great.
2. I bought a cheap "Y" connector to "sum to mono" and it sounded off for some reason. I check the capacitance and for the 6" "Y" cable it was 450 pF!
One thing that can throw the capacitance off is the connectors... even if the cable is low capacitance the connectors can really add more.
When trying to tune capacitance for cart loading it really helps to know where you are starting from and without a meter you are really driving blind.
Intuitively it makes sense that it would be better to get as flat a response as possible in the analog world before you apply DSP. Multiple "filters" working against each other to get to flat seems like it would not be ideal. I have not idea if it audible or not.
OP
watchnerd
Grand Contributor
- Thread Starter
- #330
If you look up thread, 0 pF is pretty darn flat for the MP-500, until the top octave rolls off, which should be an easy peasy EQ.
Yes it looks good and 0 pF for MM makes sense. Did you ever figure out how to get a finer scale on the graphs?
From the top, it's basically a flat rectangle.
Nothing exotic at all:
Yes - but it seems that the edges are elevated. Is this correct?
JP
Major Contributor
Comment out these two lines
And these two to dump the labels
Code:
#plt.semilogx(freqout2h,ampout2h,color = 'g')
#plt.semilogx(freqout3h,ampout3h,color = 'r')And these two to dump the labels
Code:
#plt.figtext(.17,.7,'- 2nd harmonic -',color = 'g')
#plt.figtext(.17,.67,'- 3rd harmonic -',color = 'r')With respect to effective mass, my UP-4 is 4 gram. The MP-500 dials in at 8,5 g. A compliance of 20 gives a fundamental resonance at 10 Hz. The arm is also damped with silicon oil so I am not sure the calculator takes that into consideration.
Yes, but the UP-4 tonearm does not have any standard headshell. I am hesitant to whether the UP500 fits this version of arm.
OP
watchnerd
Grand Contributor
- Thread Starter
- #338
Thanks!
This is pretty granular.
And the above sounds different to me than this:
Subjectively, in my room, on my speakers, I slightly prefer the 100pF. 0pF sounds a little lacking in presence in my set up, but on a different system, I might lean the other way. The +/- 0.5 - 1 dB difference is within the tolerances of carts and speakers, anyway.
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OP
watchnerd
Grand Contributor
- Thread Starter
- #339
Yes, but the UP-4 tonearm does not have any standard headshell. I am hesitant to whether the UP500 fits this version of arm.
I don't know how to help answer your question as I've never seen a UP-4 in person and know almost nothing about it.
Maybe write to Nagaoka?
I have a Shure V15VxMR that I really like and it still sounds good but I know the stylus is approaching the end of its life. I've considered the Jico SAS replacement but others who've used it in the V15 indicate it raises the high frequencies and makes it sound very bright. I believe its because the boron (and now sapphire) cantilever has a resonance in the audio band whereas the original in the Shure is beryllium. Would changing the loading and capacitance reduce this effect? On the other hand the Jico stylus price is pretty steep and I wonder if sonically the Nagaoka MP500 is the best replacement for the Shure V15VxMR?
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