Q: |
What is the difference between moving magnet and moving coil cartridges |
A: |
Moving magnet (MM) cartridges are the common variety, characterized by high output impedence (typically 47k ohms) and a removeable, replaceable stylus (what most people call a needle); these are the cartridges phono preamps work with. Moving coil (MC) cartridges, on the other hand, are low impedence devices (anywhere from 10 to 1000 ohms) which require a step-up transformer or\\\\\\\"pre-preamp\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" to connect (our TC-760 MM/MC preamp provides this capability). MC cartridges rarely have replaceable styli, and can cost more than than most of us spend for our entire stereo systems. Ceramic cartridges are the cheap, primitive type found on kiddy and fold-up record players, as well as the console stereos which were common before component stereo. Usually they have a \\\\\\\"flip-over\\\\\\\" needle (LP on one side, 78 on the other) and horrendous fidelity. One play with a ceramic cartridge will ruin a record for good, so never lend your LPs out! |