Phono Cartridge Response Measurement Script

[dlaloum]

Interesting consept, I guess it is What Soundsmith uses

Turntables and Vinyl: Part 4

Back to Part 3 MMC: Micro Moving Cross As mentioned above, when a wire is moved through a magnetic field, a current is generated in a wire that is proportional to the velocity of the movement. In o…

www.tonmeister.ca

Yes, soundsmith purchased the rights to the B&O cartridges, designs, patents, and possibly some of the tools/machinery used to manufacture them.

Initially they re-released the B&O cartridges under the soundsmith brand, and then they extended the range, and released their own designs, using the more standard 1/2" mount, and featuring far lower compliance, designed for the current fashion of mid to high mass arms, rather than the B&O designs of ultra low mass arms.

The original MMC's are still available from soundsmith, and if one has a low mass non-B&O tonearm, an adapter is available to fit these to a standard headshell.

This is one of the few lonely holdouts, of the high compliance genre...

 

[DSJR]

Half inch mounts for the LATER B&O MMC models (MMC5 - MMC1) can easily be got online, but not so much the half inch mount for the previous and still very worthy MMC20 (and earlier) MMC style. I recently found one in Germany which couldn't initially be priced for shipment to the UK and the seller very kindly re-listed it with outside-EU shipping. The final bill wan't cheap, but I'm very grateful for it. No idea on the Soundsmith models, but the B&O originals were as I said a while ago, more than a bit temperature sensitive and it was a 'feature' of the original Beogram 4000 model (with SP15 pickup originally) that when powered even in standby with lid down, the ambient temperature was held to 72 degrees F or so to help the cartridge (I was told this fifty years ago, so heaven knows if it holds today on surviving samples)..

 

[morillon]

Half inch mounts for the LATER B&O MMC models (MMC5 - MMC1) can easily be got online, but not so much the half inch mount for the previous and still very worthy MMC20 (and earlier) MMC style. I recently found one in Germany which couldn't initially be priced for shipment to the UK and the seller very kindly re-listed it with outside-EU shipping. The final bill wan't cheap, but I'm very grateful for it. No idea on the Soundsmith models, but the B&O originals were as I said a while ago, more than a bit temperature sensitive and it was a 'feature' of the original Beogram 4000 model (with SP15 pickup originally) that when powered even in standby with lid down, the ambient temperature was held to 72 degrees F or so to help the cartridge (I was told this fifty years ago, so heaven knows if it holds today on surviving samples)..

same with sp12 bi-rad ellipt?

 

[DSJR]

same with sp12 bi-rad ellipt?

Possibly. I have a very low hours SP12 and it either resides in my Beogram 3000 from 1972 or on a half inch version of the SP14/10/12 body which is a bit 'lively' when the tonearm is handled (it's 50:50 pickup and tonearm itself). The tracking is superb at 1g or so with sibilants expertly traced but in all honesty, I've not used it much so can't really tell how the 'sound balance' changes with winter-summer use. A really good 'tone' from the SP12 when clean and running right, more neutral than a period V15T2 which has a pronounced recess up-top and less 'hard' than a period V15 III (Shure fixed it superbly with the HE version of the VN35E stylus and I kick myself for not getting one at the time - the suspensions seem to have lasted well on these)

It's getting warmer now and I want to explore my 20CL and EN again after years using other things...

 

[morillon]

Possibly. I have a very low hours SP12 and it either resides in my Beogram 3000 from 1972 or on a half inch version of the SP14/10/12 body which is a bit 'lively' when the tonearm is handled (it's 50:50 pickup and tonearm itself). The tracking is superb at 1g or so with sibilants expertly traced but in all honesty, I've not used it much so can't really tell how the 'sound balance' changes with winter-summer use. A really good 'tone' from the SP12 when clean and running right, more neutral than a period V15T2 which has a pronounced recess up-top and less 'hard' than a period V15 III (Shure fixed it superbly with the HE version of the VN35E stylus and I kick myself for not getting one at the time - the suspensions seem to have lasted well on these)

It's getting warmer now and I want to explore my 20CL and EN again after years using other things...

I have a perfectly new one , but it's funny, I think I'll only try it if I come across a suitable Beogram in good condition...
otherwise I won't dare....
(the tonearm supposed to best suit it is?)

 

[DSJR]

...Something light but rigid (I remain an eternal fan of the Rega RB series of arms, especially the new ones which are better than ever. My main deck's tonearm can be a little lively with some pickups and exhibits some 'handling noise' with the SP12. maybe packing the cartridge to bracket area with blu-tack or something might help, but I've not done it.

 

[morillon]

...Something light but rigid (I remain an eternal fan of the Rega RB series of arms, especially the new ones which are better than ever. My main deck's tonearm can be a little lively with some pickups and exhibits some 'handling noise' with the SP12. maybe packing the cartridge to bracket area with blu-tack or something might help, but I've not done it.

sorry...
I wasn't specific enough...
I was thinking among the arms of the beogram?
thank you...

 

[JP]

Guys - I’ve no issue with a little bit of OT conversation, but you’re not even remotely related to this thread at this point.

 

[DSJR]

Guys - I’ve no issue with a little bit of OT conversation, but you’re not even remotely related to this thread at this point.

Oh, sorry Mr Moderator - and actually, what you put the bloody cartridges in CAN have an effect on response (glitches or not), low bass resonance issues and tracking/tracing ability and it's ALL important to pickup performance.

I'll leave you young experts to it.

 

[JP]

Oh, sorry Mr Moderator - and actually, what you put the bloody cartridges in CAN have an effect on response (glitches or not), low bass resonance issues and tracking/tracing ability and it's ALL important to pickup performance.

I'll leave you young experts to it.

This thread is intended to consolidate the technical discussion and further development of Scott Wurcer's frequency response measurement script to a central area. I'd like to keep this discussion about the tool rather than specific cartridges.

 

[USER]

Oh, sorry Mr Moderator - and actually, what you put the bloody cartridges in CAN have an effect on response (glitches or not), low bass resonance issues and tracking/tracing ability and it's ALL important to pickup performance.

I'll leave you young experts to it.

Come on now, no one is saying that set-up doesn't matter, only that there are far more reasonable places in which to discuss it. Like for instance the thread about cartridges with actual measurements of the SP-12 in it. No need for the attitude.

Introducing the Phono Cartridge Measurement Library

Is this one frame or a stacking? Stacked 60 images. Bit tedious manually rolling the microscope stage. Worked better than I thought it would.

audiosciencereview.com

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Oh, sorry Mr Moderator - and actually, what you put the bloody cartridges in CAN have an effect on response (glitches or not), low bass resonance issues and tracking/tracing ability and it's ALL important to pickup performance.

I agree (and I found it interesting), but this thread is about the script and its development.

 

[Balle Clorin]

Put any vinyl discussion that does not fit specific threads here.

Everything about vinyl playback, anything allowed.

Everything about vinyl is allowed to post here.

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[dlaloum]

Put any vinyl discussion that does not fit specific threads here.

Everything about vinyl playback, anything allowed.

Everything about vinyl is allowed to post here.

www.audiosciencereview.com

That thread comes up with an error - seems to be missing, or perhaps renamed?

 

[Doodski]

That thread comes up with an error - seems to be missing, or perhaps renamed?

It was moved to here.>>>

Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

That's certainly a valid take from Amir. But of course "better" can be seen as subjective. I've compared vinyl with digital versions, which came from the same original masters, and I could hear differences that one person may find "better" for the digital where another may deem the vinyl...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[dlaloum]

It was moved to here.>>>

Can anyone explain the vinyl renaissance?

That's certainly a valid take from Amir. But of course "better" can be seen as subjective. I've compared vinyl with digital versions, which came from the same original masters, and I could hear differences that one person may find "better" for the digital where another may deem the vinyl...

www.audiosciencereview.com

thanks

 

[Balle Clorin]

That thread comes up with an error - seems to be missing, or perhaps renamed?

No not know what is wrong.. Works for me… I give up

 

[GXAlan]

Rega Nd3 Cartridge Features Neodymium Moving Magnet Tech

The Rega Nd3 is pitched as

www.stereonet.com

It will be interesting to see how this measures. Rega is putting out a MM cartridge with a neodymium magnet ata reasonable price.

I am of the opinion that I will only buy a new cartridge when my current ones wear out, but at the rate I listen to, it will be years!

 

[dlaloum]

Rega Nd3 Cartridge Features Neodymium Moving Magnet Tech

The Rega Nd3 is pitched as

www.stereonet.com

It will be interesting to see how this measures. Rega is putting out a MM cartridge with a neodymium magnet ata reasonable price.

I am of the opinion that I will only buy a new cartridge when my current ones wear out, but at the rate I listen to, it will be years!

I thought neodymium had been in use for MM magnets for ages?

 

[dlaloum]

Rega Nd3 Cartridge Features Neodymium Moving Magnet Tech

The Rega Nd3 is pitched as

www.stereonet.com

It will be interesting to see how this measures. Rega is putting out a MM cartridge with a neodymium magnet ata reasonable price.

I am of the opinion that I will only buy a new cartridge when my current ones wear out, but at the rate I listen to, it will be years!

Looking at the cartridge... is that a Goldring cartridge? I don't have much experience with that family... Could someone with more experience with those see if they recognise it?