Tonearm / Cartridge Compatibility

jm1

Since there are many of new TT users, I lifted this from a post I had made in another thread. Please review this information if you are looking to make a change your existing cartridge. There is a basic set of characteristics you need to examine as all tonearm / cartridge matches might not work...



Having once had the base Scout and Dynavector 10x5 cart, I can say the combination is anything but dead or dull. I would take someone saying its dead or dull with a many grains of salt as you do not know what the TT was sitting on, the cartridge used or even if the cartridge was properly configured. Maybe the room was dead sounding, maybe the phono stage was lacking in some regard, etc…

When planning your TT and cartridge purchase, you should perform a quick calculation to determine if the tonearm and cart will be compatible. This will reduce your chances of getting a bad combination which may not perform to your standards.

Before I upgraded the 10x5 cartridge for the Scout with the standard tonearm, I performed these calculations to determine if the tonearm and cart were compatible.


SPECIFICATIONS

ZYX Fuji R100 X(H)-SB
- Cartridge weight: 9 (5 cartridge + 4 for silver base weight)
- Compliance: 15 horizontal, 12 vertical

VPI JMW-9 Tonearm
- Effective mass: 7.7

VPI JMW-9 Signature Tonearm
- Effective mass: 9.5


RESONATE FREQUENCY EQUATION

rf = 159 / sqrt ((eff. mass + cart weight + fastener weight) * (compliance))


CALCULATIONS

VPI JMW-9 Tonearm

- Effective mass: 7.7
- Cartridge weight: 9 (5 cartridge + 4 for silver base weight)
- Fastener weight: 0.5 (best guess)
- Compliance: 15 horizontal, 12 vertical

- Resonant frequency: 9.9 horizontal, 11.1 vertical

Fall between the accepted 8 – 12 Hz range.


When I was contemplating upgrading to the Signature tonearm, the following calculations were performed:

VPI JMW-9 Signature Tonearm

- Effective mass: 9.5
- Cartridge weight: 9 (5 cartridge + 4 for silver base weight)
- Fastener weight: 0.5 (best guess)
- Compliance: 15 horizontal, 12 vertical

- Resonant frequency: 9.4 horizontal, 10.5 vertical

Fall between the accepted 8 – 12 Hz range.


The cartridge proved to be a good match on paper. It was also a significant upgrade to the Dynavector 10x5.


I have also found other references which mention the acceptable range should be between 10 - 15 Hz range.


JM1

Polkersince85

Very good subject. Here's a site that may provide some helpful info.

http://www.cartridgedb.com/tools.asp

hearingimpared

Great write-up John.

SCompRacer

Good reminder. Cartridge compliance is something new and sometimes experienced table owners don’t think about when shopping for cartridges.

I would take someone saying its dead or dull with a many grains of salt

I said that, but it was with a compliant to arm Shelter, not a Dynavector, and on both a Nottingham and VPI table with OEM arms. For that reason, there are dealers that won’t pair certain cartridges with certain table/arm combinations, no matter what form of isolation the table is sitting on. You may not like the presentation, but there is life beyond the arms some OEM’s supply with their tables.

thsmith

Polkersince85 wrote: »

Very good subject. Here's a site that may provide some helpful info.

http://www.cartridgedb.com/tools.asp

This is new to me and having trouble using these tools.

Here is what I know:
TT is Technics SL-1300, specifications for tonearm effect weight is 23g with 6g cartridge. I assume that includes the 9.5g headshell.

How do I find or calulate compliance ?

I just bought a Shure M97xE, hope I have bought something compatible

hearingimpared

thsmith wrote: »

This is new to me and having trouble using these tools.

Here is what I know:
TT is Technics SL-1300, specifications for tonearm effect weight is 23g with 6g cartridge. I assume that includes the 9.5g headshell.

How do I find or calulate compliance ?

I just bought a Shure M97xE, hope I have bought something compatible

The compliance should be listed in your Shure M97xE specifications sheet.

thsmith

hearingimpared wrote: »

The compliance should be listed in your Shure M97xE specifications sheet.

Thanks, I looked for it there but will look again tonight.

thsmith

ok, I am just not finding the compliance for the Shure 97Xe. Maybe it is called something else. Here is a links to Shures web site with specifications.

http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/DJPhonoCartridgesAndNeedles/us_pro_M97xE_content

hearingimpared

Well if this statement is true, "and stylus tip movement is consequently the most rapid," I would venture to say it is a "high" compliance cartridge.