• ramses
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: UTC+1
  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 12,107

Topic: Whats needed to connect a turntable with moving coil cartridge?

I assume MC cartridges still have the usual/known advantage over MM systems, right (less mass to move, finer resolution of details).

If I understood correctly, the ADI-2/4 Pro SE supports (only) MM (moving magnet) cartridges.

Is, for connecting a turntable with an MC cartridge, an additional preamp needed or are settings (ref level, gain, …) possible to enable the direct connection of a turntable with an MC system?

If a preamp were needed, can you recommend one or two for getting reasonable quality (no overpriced products)?

Thanks.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13
  • From: Milan, Italy
  • Registered: 2012-02-19
  • Posts: 188

Re: Whats needed to connect a turntable with moving coil cartridge?

Not usually a preamp but a passive step up transformer. Do a search for "MC step up transformer", or on the hi-fi/audiophile forums. Lots of options out there, something like this:

https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/at-sut1000

https://musicwall.app/hermetech

Babaluma's Website

3 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2023-08-26 10:45:27)

  • ramses
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: UTC+1
  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 12,107

Re: Whats needed to connect a turntable with moving coil cartridge?

Thanks, Babaluma. But €5000? Unbelievable.

Around 1983, I got an excellent Micro Seiki BL10 turntable which was at that time one of the cheapest turntables rated to be in the reference class, which cost around DM1000 and what I could afford at that time.

I bought additionally a moving coil cartridge which cost alone DM500 and I think the preamp for the MC system was around DM100 or 150 until I finally got an amplifier which directly had an MC input.

What makes me wonder is that things like a MC preamp were at that time in the range of DM 100 or 150 should now cost €5000. Or is it not the same, you told "passive step up transformer" so that this explains the price difference?

From Ortofon you get some in the price range of £700-1550 (https://www.henleyaudio.co.uk/tech-supp … nsformers/). €5000 appears to me to be a little bit over the tops or is this really the price that you have to pay for "high-end" which brings audible better results (checked in blind tests)?

Getting slowly the feeling that simply for "test purposes" setting up such an analogue setup, is too expensive for me.
Better additional amps / guitars :-)

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13
  • Registered: 2019-07-12
  • Posts: 45

Re: Whats needed to connect a turntable with moving coil cartridge?

I use this with my Technics SL-7 and EPC-310MC and works fine.

https://a.aliexpress.com/_Ejvl26j

An alternative might be to get some Lundahls and DIY it.

5 Reply by KaiS (edited by KaiS 2023-08-27 06:39:03)

  • KaiS
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2020-02-05
  • Posts: 3,137

Re: Whats needed to connect a turntable with moving coil cartridge?

I‘d vote against some random step-up-transformers.
A transformer must have fitting input- and output impedances / loads to work  properly.
This is usually not the case for a random pick, causing significant loss of bass and weird treble response, destroying the MC over MM advantage.


First try direct connections to ADI-2/4 Pro SE.
A high-output MC pickup might have enough level to drive ADI-2.

If not, look e.g. at PhonoPhono and elsewhere for an MC-Pre (includes RIAA EQ) or an MC-Pre-Pre (without RIAA EQ).
https://www.phonophono.de/phono/phono-v … erker.html

There are loads of reasonable offerings.

KaiS's Website