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Phono Cartridge Equivalent/Effective Tip Mass Master List

JP

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Dropping this here to get it off my desktop. The original list was posted on VE IIRC, though I've added a lot to it. All the original numbers were three decimals though I've never seen a manufacturer spec more than two, so I assume that was the original author's addition, likely for formatting.

Cartridge names with an asterisk are ones that I've verified the ETM value against product literature. The rest I've not been able to do so. If you can, please let me know, though I'll need to be able to confirm the literature myself (or I can't say that I've personally verified the data). Likewise, if anyone has any additions, please let me know.


Code:
6.000mg        ELAC STS-200 (1958, first stereo MM pickup?? 4-6g VTF)
6.000mg        GE VR-II (1955, mono, variable reluctance, 4-7g VTF)
4.500mg        Sonotone 9T (1960, stereo, ceramic)
3.000mg        Philips GP316 (1958, crystal, mono, 5-7g VTF)
1.400mg        Philips GP380/GP390 (1968, high fidelity ceramic cartridge)
1.200mg        Shure V15 first generation (MM)
1.000mg        Ortofon SPU (all classic and 'mono' models)
0.970mg        Shure "bi-radial" (0.4x0.7mil, MM)
0.8mg          *Technics EPC-270C-II
0.8mg          *Ortofon VMS 3 MKII (spherical)
0.800mg        (less than) Philips GP400, 401 1st gen (MM)
0.750mg        Ortofon X1-MCP (p-mount, high output MC)
0.700mg        Ortofon X5-MC (HOMC, nude FG)
0.65mg         *Ortofon VMS 10 E MKII, VMS 5 E MKII (Elliptical)
0.600mg        Nagaoka JT-555 (pseudo "carbon fiber" cantilever)
0.600mg        (less than) Philips GP412 1st gen (MM)
0.6mg          *Ortofon Concorde STD (elliptical)
0.5mg          *B&O MMC5(R) (MMC, tapered alu, titanium bonded elliptical)
0.5mg          B&O MMC 3000 (MMC, conical)
0.5mg          Pickering XSV 3000 (1976 original)
0.5mg          *Soundsmith Otello (MI, alu, bonded elliptical)
0.5mg          *Ortofon MC10 Super, MCP 100 Super, SPU Gold, MC200 I, MC100 I, TMC200, TMC200U, MC100U, VMS20 E MKII
0.5mg          Ortofon OM10 stylus (bushed elliptical, MI), Ortofon Red and Blue
0.5mg          *Ortofon TM14 (elliptical), TMC200 (fine line)
0.5mg          *Ortofon Stylus 40 Anniversary (nude elliptical r/R 8/18um)
0.500mg        Philips GP922 (high end MC)
0.450mg        Shure V15-II (MM)
0.45mg         *Ortofon VMS30 MKII (nude fine line)
0.45mg         *Ortofon TM20H (fine line)
0.4mg          B&O MMC 4000 (MMC, nude elliptical)
0.4mg          B&O MMC 5000 (MMC, shibata)
0.4mg          *B&O MMC4(R) (MMC, tapered alu, titanium bonded elliptical)
0.4mg          Pickering XLZ 3500E
0.4mg          *Empire 4000D/I-III
0.40mg         *Technics EPC-205C-II L
0.40mg         *Technics EPC-205C-II H
0.40mg         *Ortofon MC 20 Super (Van den Hul II Nude, 5/70uM)
0.400mg        Ortofon OM20 stylus (nude elliptical, MI)
0.370mg        Shure Elliptical (0.2x0.7mil, MM)
0.35mg         *Victor MC-L1000 (MR, tapered beryllium cant)
0.35mg         *Ortofon TM30H (nude fine line)
0.35mg         *Soundsmith Carmen MKII (MI, alu, nude elliptical)
0.35mg         *B&O MMC3(R) (MMC, tapered alu, nude elliptical)
0.35mg         *Technics EPC-205C-II S
0.35mg         *Ortofon/SME 30H (nude fine-line)
0.330mg        Shure bi-radial on V15-III (MM) (beryllium control rod)
0.33mg         *Ortofon MC 30 Super (FG Type I 4.5/80uM)
0.32mg         *Van den Hul The Crimson (MC)
0.32mg         *Soundsmith Zephyr (MI, sapphire, selected nude contact line)
0.3mg          *B&O MMC2(R) (MMC sapphire tube, nude line contact)
0.30mg         *Soundsmith Aida (MI, sapphire, selected nude contact line)
0.30mg         *Soundsmith The Voice (MI, ruby, nude contact line)
0.30mg         *Soundsmith Paua MKII (MI, alu, selected nude contact line)
0.30mg         *Soundsmith Sussurro MKII (MI, ruby, nude contact line)
0.30mg         *Soundsmith Hyperion (MI, cactus, selected contact line)
0.3mg          Pickering XLZ 4500S
0.3mg          *SAE 1000LT/E (HOMC, alu)
0.300mg        Ortofon OM30 stylus (nude Fine Line), OM40 (nude FG), MI
0.300mg        *Shure Ultra 300 (telescopic alu tube)
0.29mg         *Technics EPC-P202C/P22/P22S (p-mount, MM, boron pipe cant)
0.290mg        Shure HE on V15-IV (MM) ("telescopic shank")
0.28mg         *Soundsmith Zephyr MKII (MI, new alu, nude high profile contact line)
0.27mg         *Denon DL-301 (MC, amorphous boron pipe)
0.27mg         *Ortofon MC2000 (Symm contact line)
0.25mg         Yamaha MC-1X/MC1-1S (MC)
0.25mg         *B&O MMC1 (MMC, sapphire tube, nude line contact)
0.25mg         *Denon DL-207 (MC, amorphous boron pipe)
0.24mg         *Van den Hul Colibri (MC)
0.23mg         Pickering XSV 3000 (improved)
0.23mg         *Technics EPC-P310MC (p-mount, MC, boron pipe)
0.23mg         *Technics EPC-100CMK2 (MM, boron pipe)
0.22mg         B&O MMC 6000 (MMC, beryllium, 7 µm/2 x 50 µm Pramanik)
0.220mg        Ortofon Jubilee (MC)
0.2mg          Elite Electronic Industries/EEI 747 Prelude, 700 Pacer (MM)
0.2mg          Stanton 880S/881S/980LZS/981LZS (MI)
0.2mg          Pickering XLZ 7500S (MM)
0.200mg        *Empire 2000-Z (shielded moving iron, stylus 0.2 mil x 0.7 mil diamond)
0.190mg        *Shure Ultra 400 (MM)
0.18mg         Empire Golden Touch 1000 GT
0.18mg         *Denon DL-303 (MC, alu, special elliptical)
0.170mg        Shure Micro-Ridge (V15VMR, V15VxMR) (0.15x3.00mil, MM, beryllium cant)
0.168mg        *Denon DL-305 (MC, amorphous boron pipe)
0.167mg        *Yamaha MC-5 (MC)
0.165mg        *Shure Ultra 500 (MM)
0.149mg        *Technics EPC-(P)205CMK3 (MM, boron pipe)
0.145mg        *Yamaha MC-3 (MC)
0.139mg        *Technics EPC-P310MC2 (MC, boron pipe)
0.109mg        *Technics EPC-(P)205CMK4 (0.2x0.7mil, MM, boron pipe)
0.105mg        Yamaha MC-1000 (MC)
0.098mg        *Technics EPC-(P)305MCMK2 (MC, boron pipe, 0.2x07mil)
0.098mg        *Technics EPC-100CMK3 (MM, boron pipe)
0.077mg        *Denon DL1000A (MC, amorphous boron pipe)
0.059mg        Yamaha MC-2000 (MC, beryllium pipe, special elliptical)
0.055mg        *Technics EPC-(P)100CMK4 (MM, boron pipe, 0.2x0.7mil)
 
Last edited:

MaxwellsEq

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Thanks!
 

levimax

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Dropping this here to get it off my desktop. The original list was posted on VE IIRC, though I've added a lot to it. All the original numbers were three decimals though I've never seen a manufacturer spec more than two, so I assume that was the original author's addition, likely for formatting.

Cartridge names with an asterisk are ones that I've verified the ETM value against product literature. The rest I've not been able to do so. If you can, please let me know, though I'll need to be able to confirm the literature myself (or I can't say that I've personally verified the data). Likewise, if anyone has any additions, please let me know.

I'll fix the formatting later.

Code:
6.000mg    ELAC STS-200 (1958, first stereo MM pickup?? 4-6g VTF)
6.000mg    GE VR-II (1955, mono, variable reluctance, 4-7g VTF)
4.500mg    Sonotone 9T (1960, stereo, ceramic)
3.000mg    Philips GP316 (1958, crystal, mono, 5-7g VTF)
1.400mg    Philips GP380/GP390 (1968, high fidelity ceramic cartridge)
1.200mg    Shure V15 first generation (MM)
1.000mg    Ortofon SPU (all classic and 'mono' models)
0.970mg    Shure "bi-radial" (0.4x0.7mil, MM)
0.8mg        *Technics EPC-270C-II
0.8mg        *Ortofon VMS 3 MKII (spherical)
0.800mg    (less than) Philips GP400, 401 1st gen (MM)
0.750mg    Ortofon X1-MCP (p-mount, high output MC)
0.700mg    Ortofon X5-MC (HOMC, nude FG)
0.65mg      *Ortofon VMS 10 E MKII, VMS 5 E MKII (Elliptical)
0.600mg    Nagaoka JT-555 (pseudo "carbon fiber" cantilever)
0.600mg    (less than) Philips GP412 1st gen (MM)
0.6mg        *Ortofon Concorde STD (elliptical)
0.5mg        *B&O MMC5(R) (MMC, tapered alu, titanium bonded elliptical)
0.5mg        B&O MMC 3000 (MMC, conical)
0.5mg        Pickering XSV 3000 (1976 original)
0.5mg        *Soundsmith Otello (MI, alu, bonded elliptical)
0.5mg        *Ortofon MC10 Super, MCP 100 Super, SPU Gold, MC200 I, MC100 I, TMC200, TMC200U, MC100U, VMS20 E MKII
0.5mg        Ortofon OM10 stylus (bushed elliptical, MI)
0.500mg    Philips GP922 (high end MC)
0.450mg    Shure V15-II (MM)
0.45mg      *Ortofon VMS30 MKII (nude fine line)
0.4mg        B&O MMC 4000 (MMC, nude elliptical)
0.4mg        B&O MMC 5000 (MMC, shibata)
0.4mg        *B&O MMC4(R) (MMC, tapered alu, titanium bonded elliptical)
0.4mg        Pickering XLZ 3500E
0.40mg      *Technics EPC-205C-II L
0.40mg      *Technics EPC-205C-II H
0.40mg      *Ortofon MC 20 Super (Van den Hul II Nude, 5/70uM)
0.400mg    Ortofon OM20 stylus (nude elliptical, MI)
0.370mg    Shure Elliptical (0.2x0.7mil, MM)
0.35mg      *Soundsmith Carmen MKII (MI, alu, nude elliptical)
0.35mg      *B&O MMC3(R) (MMC, tapered alu, nude elliptical)
0.35mg      *Technics EPC-205C-II S
0.35mg      *Ortofon/SME 30H (nude fine-line)
0.330mg    Shure bi-radial on V15-III (MM) (beryllium control rod)
0.33mg      *Ortofon MC 30 Super (FG Type I 4.5/80uM)
0.32mg      *Van den Hul The Crimson (MC)
0.32mg      *Soundsmith Zephyr (MI, sapphire, selected nude contact line)
0.3mg        *B&O MMC2(R) (MMC sapphire tube, nude line contact)
0.30mg      *Soundsmith Aida (MI, sapphire, selected nude contact line)
0.30mg      *Soundsmith The Voice (MI, ruby, nude contact line)
0.30mg      *Soundsmith Paua MKII (MI, alu, selected nude contact line)
0.30mg      *Soundsmith Sussurro MKII (MI, ruby, nude contact line)
0.30mg      *Soundsmith Hyperion (MI, cactus, selected contact line)
0.3mg        Pickering XLZ 4500S
0.3mg        *SAE 1000LT/E (HOMC, alu)
0.300mg    Ortofon OM30 stylus (nude Fine Line), OM40 (nude FG), MI
0.29mg      *Technics EPC-P202C/P22/P22S (p-mount, MM, boron cant)
0.290mg    Shure HE on V15-IV (MM) ("telescopic shank")
0.28mg      *Soundsmith Zephyr MKII (MI, new alu, nude high profile contact line)
0.27mg      *Denon DL-301 (MC, amorphous boron pipe)
0.27mg      *Ortofon MC2000 (Symm contact line)
0.25mg      Yamaha MC-1X/MC1-1S (MC)
0.25mg      *B&O MMC1 (MMC, sapphire tube, nude line contact)
0.25mg      *Denon DL-207 (MC, amorphous boron pipe)
0.24mg      *Van den Hul Colibri (MC)
0.23mg      Pickering XSV 3000 (improved)
0.23mg      *Technics EPC-P310MC (p-mount, MC, boron pipe)
0.23mg      *Technics EPC-100CMK2 (MM, boron pipe)
0.22mg      B&O MMC 6000 (MMC, beryllium, 7 µm/2 x 50 µm Pramanik)
0.220mg    Ortofon Jubilee (MC)
0.2mg        Elite Electronic Industries/EEI 747 Prelude, 700 Pacer (MM)
0.2mg        Stanton 880S/881S/980LZS/981LZS (MI)
0.2mg        Pickering XLZ 7500S (MM)
0.200mg    Empire 2000-Z (shielded moving iron, stylus 0.2 mil x 0.7 mil diamond)
0.19mg      Shure Ultra 400 (MM)
0.18mg      Empire Golden Touch 1000 GT
0.18mg      *Denon DL-303 (MC, alu, special elliptical)
0.170mg    Shure Micro-Ridge (V15VMR, V15VxMR) (0.15x3.00mil, MM, beryllium cant)
0.168mg    *Denon DL-305 (MC, amorphous boron pipe)
0.167mg    *Yamaha MC-5 (MC)
0.165mg    Shure Ultra 500 (MM)
0.149mg    *Technics EPC-(P)205CMK3 (MM, boron pipe)
0.145mg    *Yamaha MC-3 (MC)
0.139mg    *Technics EPC-P310MC2 (MC, boron pipe)
0.109mg    *Technics EPC-(P)205CMK4 (0.2x0.7mil, MM, boron pipe)
0.105mg    Yamaha MC-1000 (MC)
0.098mg    *Technics EPC-(P)305MCMK2 (MC, boron pipe, 0.2x07mil)
0.098mg    *Technics EPC-100CMK3 (MM, boron pipe)
0.077mg    *Denon DL1000A (MC, amorphous boron pipe)
0.059mg    Yamaha MC-2000 (MC, beryllium pipe, special elliptical)
0.055mg    *Technics EPC-(P)100CMK4 (MM, boron pipe, 0.2x0.7mil)
 
OP
JP

JP

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Added:

0.5mg *Ortofon TM14 (elliptical), TMC200 (fine line)
0.45mg *Ortofon TM20H (fine line)
0.35mg *Victor MC-L1000 (MR, tapered beryllium cant)
0.35mg *Ortofon TM30H (nude fine line)
 
OP
JP

JP

Major Contributor
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Added:

0.5mg *Ortofon Stylus 40 Anniversary (nude elliptical r/R 8/18um)
 

dzerig

Active Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2023
Messages
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Dropping this here to get it off my desktop. The original list was posted on VE IIRC, though I've added a lot to it. All the original numbers were three decimals though I've never seen a manufacturer spec more than two, so I assume that was the original author's addition, likely for formatting.

Cartridge names with an asterisk are ones that I've verified the ETM value against product literature. The rest I've not been able to do so. If you can, please let me know, though I'll need to be able to confirm the literature myself (or I can't say that I've personally verified the data). Likewise, if anyone has any additions, please let me know.


Code:
6.000mg        ELAC STS-200 (1958, first stereo MM pickup?? 4-6g VTF)
6.000mg        GE VR-II (1955, mono, variable reluctance, 4-7g VTF)
4.500mg        Sonotone 9T (1960, stereo, ceramic)
3.000mg        Philips GP316 (1958, crystal, mono, 5-7g VTF)
1.400mg        Philips GP380/GP390 (1968, high fidelity ceramic cartridge)
1.200mg        Shure V15 first generation (MM)
1.000mg        Ortofon SPU (all classic and 'mono' models)
0.970mg        Shure "bi-radial" (0.4x0.7mil, MM)
0.8mg          *Technics EPC-270C-II
0.8mg          *Ortofon VMS 3 MKII (spherical)
0.800mg        (less than) Philips GP400, 401 1st gen (MM)
0.750mg        Ortofon X1-MCP (p-mount, high output MC)
0.700mg        Ortofon X5-MC (HOMC, nude FG)
0.65mg         *Ortofon VMS 10 E MKII, VMS 5 E MKII (Elliptical)
0.600mg        Nagaoka JT-555 (pseudo "carbon fiber" cantilever)
0.600mg        (less than) Philips GP412 1st gen (MM)
0.6mg          *Ortofon Concorde STD (elliptical)
0.5mg          *B&O MMC5(R) (MMC, tapered alu, titanium bonded elliptical)
0.5mg          B&O MMC 3000 (MMC, conical)
0.5mg          Pickering XSV 3000 (1976 original)
0.5mg          *Soundsmith Otello (MI, alu, bonded elliptical)
0.5mg          *Ortofon MC10 Super, MCP 100 Super, SPU Gold, MC200 I, MC100 I, TMC200, TMC200U, MC100U, VMS20 E MKII
0.5mg          Ortofon OM10 stylus (bushed elliptical, MI)
0.5mg          *Ortofon TM14 (elliptical), TMC200 (fine line)
0.5mg          *Ortofon Stylus 40 Anniversary (nude elliptical r/R 8/18um)
0.500mg        Philips GP922 (high end MC)
0.450mg        Shure V15-II (MM)
0.45mg         *Ortofon VMS30 MKII (nude fine line)
0.45mg         *Ortofon TM20H (fine line)
0.4mg          B&O MMC 4000 (MMC, nude elliptical)
0.4mg          B&O MMC 5000 (MMC, shibata)
0.4mg          *B&O MMC4(R) (MMC, tapered alu, titanium bonded elliptical)
0.4mg          Pickering XLZ 3500E
0.40mg         *Technics EPC-205C-II L
0.40mg         *Technics EPC-205C-II H
0.40mg         *Ortofon MC 20 Super (Van den Hul II Nude, 5/70uM)
0.400mg        Ortofon OM20 stylus (nude elliptical, MI)
0.370mg        Shure Elliptical (0.2x0.7mil, MM)
0.35mg         *Victor MC-L1000 (MR, tapered beryllium cant)
0.35mg         *Ortofon TM30H (nude fine line)
0.35mg         *Soundsmith Carmen MKII (MI, alu, nude elliptical)
0.35mg         *B&O MMC3(R) (MMC, tapered alu, nude elliptical)
0.35mg         *Technics EPC-205C-II S
0.35mg         *Ortofon/SME 30H (nude fine-line)
0.330mg        Shure bi-radial on V15-III (MM) (beryllium control rod)
0.33mg         *Ortofon MC 30 Super (FG Type I 4.5/80uM)
0.32mg         *Van den Hul The Crimson (MC)
0.32mg         *Soundsmith Zephyr (MI, sapphire, selected nude contact line)
0.3mg          *B&O MMC2(R) (MMC sapphire tube, nude line contact)
0.30mg         *Soundsmith Aida (MI, sapphire, selected nude contact line)
0.30mg         *Soundsmith The Voice (MI, ruby, nude contact line)
0.30mg         *Soundsmith Paua MKII (MI, alu, selected nude contact line)
0.30mg         *Soundsmith Sussurro MKII (MI, ruby, nude contact line)
0.30mg         *Soundsmith Hyperion (MI, cactus, selected contact line)
0.3mg          Pickering XLZ 4500S
0.3mg          *SAE 1000LT/E (HOMC, alu)
0.300mg        Ortofon OM30 stylus (nude Fine Line), OM40 (nude FG), MI
0.300mg        *Shure Ultra 300 (telescopic alu tube)
0.29mg         *Technics EPC-P202C/P22/P22S (p-mount, MM, boron pipe cant)
0.290mg        Shure HE on V15-IV (MM) ("telescopic shank")
0.28mg         *Soundsmith Zephyr MKII (MI, new alu, nude high profile contact line)
0.27mg         *Denon DL-301 (MC, amorphous boron pipe)
0.27mg         *Ortofon MC2000 (Symm contact line)
0.25mg         Yamaha MC-1X/MC1-1S (MC)
0.25mg         *B&O MMC1 (MMC, sapphire tube, nude line contact)
0.25mg         *Denon DL-207 (MC, amorphous boron pipe)
0.24mg         *Van den Hul Colibri (MC)
0.23mg         Pickering XSV 3000 (improved)
0.23mg         *Technics EPC-P310MC (p-mount, MC, boron pipe)
0.23mg         *Technics EPC-100CMK2 (MM, boron pipe)
0.22mg         B&O MMC 6000 (MMC, beryllium, 7 µm/2 x 50 µm Pramanik)
0.220mg        Ortofon Jubilee (MC)
0.2mg          Elite Electronic Industries/EEI 747 Prelude, 700 Pacer (MM)
0.2mg          Stanton 880S/881S/980LZS/981LZS (MI)
0.2mg          Pickering XLZ 7500S (MM)
0.200mg        *Empire 2000-Z (shielded moving iron, stylus 0.2 mil x 0.7 mil diamond)
0.190mg        *Shure Ultra 400 (MM)
0.18mg         Empire Golden Touch 1000 GT
0.18mg         *Denon DL-303 (MC, alu, special elliptical)
0.170mg        Shure Micro-Ridge (V15VMR, V15VxMR) (0.15x3.00mil, MM, beryllium cant)
0.168mg        *Denon DL-305 (MC, amorphous boron pipe)
0.167mg        *Yamaha MC-5 (MC)
0.165mg        *Shure Ultra 500 (MM)
0.149mg        *Technics EPC-(P)205CMK3 (MM, boron pipe)
0.145mg        *Yamaha MC-3 (MC)
0.139mg        *Technics EPC-P310MC2 (MC, boron pipe)
0.109mg        *Technics EPC-(P)205CMK4 (0.2x0.7mil, MM, boron pipe)
0.105mg        Yamaha MC-1000 (MC)
0.098mg        *Technics EPC-(P)305MCMK2 (MC, boron pipe, 0.2x07mil)
0.098mg        *Technics EPC-100CMK3 (MM, boron pipe)
0.077mg        *Denon DL1000A (MC, amorphous boron pipe)
0.059mg        Yamaha MC-2000 (MC, beryllium pipe, special elliptical)
0.055mg        *Technics EPC-(P)100CMK4 (MM, boron pipe, 0.2x0.7mil)
Amazing the $129 or so IIRC Shure V15 V-MR ranks so highly! Still, absent beryllium or boron pipes, not much in the way of MC competition. MI is NOT MM, it is more similar to MC as the magnets are fixed. The Pickering XLZ 7500s has low output so probably is not MM. Bo are moving cross, not moving magnet.

But the Shure cartridges, if their specs are correct, perform amazingly. I should have bought 50 of them!
 

Balle Clorin

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I have thought the same , but If you bought 50 of them in 1982 how many would perform as new today? 20% 10% 50% I was given an unused V15 V HE it was useless , the suspension was stiff as a stick. Unusable .
 

dzerig

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I have thought the same , but If you bought 50 of them in 1982 how many would perform as new today? 20% 10% 50% I was given an unused V15 V HE it was useless , the suspension was stiff as a stick. Unusable .
Probably better off getting one that was used occasionally rather than something in a box. Shure, bring back the MR!
 

Balle Clorin

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What are the ETM for present day MM and MC?
Such as AT and Ortofon
The only information I find is

If present MC are better than present MM should they not have lower ETM if they are supposed to be less sluggish than MM.

The peak resonance of a MC should be an indication of ETM . But how can it be calculated? .. from measurements data. MM not so easy to extract due to both mechanical an electrical resonance…
 
OP
JP

JP

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Added: 0.4mg *Empire 4000D/I-III
 

Angsty

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The popular Ortofon 2M Blue is 0.5 mg, as is the 2M Red. Lower tip mass is often cited as the reason to upgrade from the shank-mounted elliptical on the Red to the “nude” elliptical on the Blue. But, the stated effective tip mass is the same.

What gives?

Sources:

 

dzerig

Active Member
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The popular Ortofon 2M Blue is 0.5 mg, as is the 2M Red. Lower tip mass is often cited as the reason to upgrade from the shank-mounted elliptical on the Red to the “nude” elliptical on the Blue. But, the stated effective tip mass is the same.

What gives?

Sources:

What is your source for the claim that "lower tip mass is often cited as the reason to upgrade ..." , or, frankly, sources since you say it happens often.
 

dlaloum

Major Contributor
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You can measure effective tip mass... You can calculate the effective tip mass, by identifying the cantilever resonance frequency... from there the maths is relatively simple.

Having said that, isolating the cantilever resonance, on a setup that has an electrical resonance due to the loading (every high inductance design MM & MI ) - requires that you calculate and deduct the impact of the electrical system, so you get the "raw" cantilever performance - which then exposes the resonance.

Another complex factor, especially for the lower mass designs, is that the resonance is likely to be above 20kHz - so your measurement system has to extend to circa 48kHz or in a perfect world 100kHz.... for which you are unlikely to find a test record!

You can extend the frequency range of a 33rpm test record by running it at 45rpm (and adjusting your measurements to compensate RIAA, if the record is RIAA encoded)... which I have done, and theoretically even 78rpm (which I have NOT done).

I have measured several needles this way... will have to dig in my archives to find that info!
I was hoping at the time to find the SAS needles had resonance up at 19kHz or higher... (The Shure V15VMR is at 32kHz) - I found them to be disappointing "porkers" with resonance frequencies at 14KHz and 16kHz for the two examples I own.
 
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JP

JP

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The popular Ortofon 2M Blue is 0.5 mg, as is the 2M Red. Lower tip mass is often cited as the reason to upgrade from the shank-mounted elliptical on the Red to the “nude” elliptical on the Blue. But, the stated effective tip mass is the same.

What gives?

Sources:


People commonly just make shit up, or the spec is wrong, or both. Interesting that those appear to be the only two current cartridges they list ETM for.
 

anmpr1

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The Pickering XLZ 7500s has low output so probably is not MM. Bo are moving cross, not moving magnet.

The Pickering (and Stanton equivalents) were in fact low output/low impedance MM.

pick2.jpg
pick1.jpg
pick3.jpg
 

Angsty

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What is your source for the claim that "lower tip mass is often cited as the reason to upgrade ..." , or, frankly, sources since you say it happens often.

First, I should say that Ortofon does not seem to make that claim themselves; the published specs show the effective tip mass as the same.

Second, as @JP suggested, people do make things up. However, Ortofon has positioned lower tip mass as a benefit for other cartridges (https://ortofon.com/pages/vms-cartridges). The older VMS models do indeed show the shank-mounted elliptical as having more tip mass than the nude elliptical. But, that is not true for the 2M series.

One difference in performance is in tracking ability. The tracking ability of the Blue (at 315Hz at recommended tracking force) is 80 µm. The Red is rated at 70 µm.

“What gives ?” was a poorly formed question on my part. What I really meant was, if the effective tip mass is the same for the Red and Blue, and the engines and cantilevers are the same, what would be a physics based reason why they would perform differently?

Comments on tip mass:



 
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