Are moving magnet and moving coil cartridges interchangeable?
So if your stylus becomes worn, or damaged, with a moving coil you may have to replace the whole cartridge, whereas with a moving magnet design it’s a simple two-minute job to change styli – and you can often upgrade your cartridge with a better stylus assembly from the same manufacturer too.
How long does a moving magnet cartridge last?
Normally, a well-cared for cart should last up to 2,500-3,000 hours. 1000 hs with scrupulously clean records. All it takes is to drop or “throw” the cartridge across an album and the needle may well be junk and permanently damage every record played with it.
Can you use a moving coil cartridge on any turntable?
One of the advantages to using a moving magnet cartridge is a high output delivery. This typically means it is compatible with most any phono input on a stereo component.
Why are MC cartridges so expensive?
The main reason is that cartridges are very delicate and precise component to manufacture, high precision is needed since they have a big influence on the sound quality. A second reason is those high-end cartridges are in low demand and are mostly manufactured manually.
Why are MC cartridges better?
Sound Quality Well, you may have a decent idea already. But overall, you can say that MC cartridges offer a lower amount of output, which also means they handle lower frequencies better. This also reduces noise and makes them more precise as well.
What happens when you move a magnet through a coil of wire?
A magnet and a coil of wire can be used to produce an electric current. A voltage is produced when a magnet moves into a coil of wire. This process is called electromagnetic induction . The direction of the induced voltage is reversed when the magnet is moved out of the coil again.
How often should you replace your record stylus?
Most manufacturers recommend changing your stylus at around 1000 hours of record playing time. So if you’re using your turntable for an hour or so per day on average, ideally you should be changing the stylus every couple of years.
Can you change the stylus on a moving coil cartridge?
If you use a moving magnet type cartridge, you can generally buy replacement styli for them and simply replace the front end of the cart and keep listening. In many cases, you can even choose the stylus from a more expensive model and give yourself a useful performance boost at the same time.
What is the difference between MC and MM?
Signal levels The coils in a MC cartridge are smaller than the coils in a MM cartridge, and therefore the output level from a MC cartridge will be much smaller than the output level from a MM cartridge. The typical signal output from a MM cartridge is 5 mV. While a MC cartridge typically outputs 0.2 mV.
Can you replace the stylus on a moving coil cartridge?
Styli in Moving Coil (MC) cartridges are non-replaceable. To support our customers, who have accidentally damaged their cartridges or customers who have an out-of-warranty Moving Coil cartridge, Ortofon offers an Exchange service. Moving Magnet models can be serviced by replacing the stylus.
Is my turntable MM or MC?
In a stereo cartridge, two sets of coils and the pins represent the positive and negative poles for each end. With the presence of a magnet, this is how the MM creates a signal. Meanwhile, an MC goes in the opposite direction–the coils of wire move in a sideward motion while the magnet stays as is.