kimr (12/02/82)
I would encourage you to get the moving coil cartridge. My favorite manufacturer is Fidelity Research (I've got both an FR1MK3F and MC201). I have never heard a moving magnet cartridge which rivaled the transparency and depth of almost any moving coil cartridge. This is probably attributable to the fact the moving coil cartridges typically have rise times on the order of 10us, while moving magnet cartridges are in the 20-50us range. The rise time of the human ear is somewhere between 9 and 14us. As for step-up devices, a used Marcoff PPA-1 will set you back about $60 (look in the classified ads in the back of Audio magazine). Other possibilities are: PS Audio head amp - about $180 Marcof PPA-2 head amp - $225 Audio Interface transformer - $225 as a kit or $300 assembled Verion MkI transformer - $275 (used) Regarding your turntable: you will be MUCH happier (if you get a good cartridge) if you get a turntable whose arm height is conveniently adjustable, preferably during play. Vertical tracking angle errors of as little as 1/8 degree are easily heard on a quality system. Unfortunately, every record has been cut with a different vertical tracking angle, hence the need for adjustment during play. My EPA-100 has a 6mm adjustment range (1.5 degrees), which is ok for most records, but to cover all the records in my collection, I would need a 20mm adjustment range (5 degrees). Watch out for turntables with "adjustable arm height" that only have an adjustment range of 2 or 3mm.