Cartridge-making dictionary Audio‑Technica’s guide to cartridge-making terminology
MM cartridge coils and made from very thin copper wire. This result in a low impedance, low output signal but on the other hand it is also very lightweight allowing for a better response and a more detailed reproduction. Moving coil cartridges are extremely small precision devices and as a consequence they are considerably more expensive, but are preferred by audiophiles due to measurable and subjectively better performance. Moving Magnet cartridges The MM design is a tiny electromagnetic generator, but as opposed to the MC (moving coil) design the stylus cantilever carries a pair of small permanent magnets. Those magnets are positioned between two sets of fixed coils forming the tiny electromagnetic generator. As the magnet vibrates in response to the stylus following the record groove, it induces a tiny current in the coils. Mu-metal (shielding) Mu-metal is a range of nickel-iron alloys that are notable for their high magnetic permeability. The high permeability makes mu-metal useful for shielding against static or magnetic fields. Mu-metal is frequently used to protect low signal transformers such as the ones found on microphone preamplifier input stages or on the cartridge step-up transformers used with MC cartridges. Several models of Audio‑Technica cartridges use Mu- metal shielding between the left and right sections of the cartridge in order to improve channel separation. Neodymium Neodymium is used as a component in the alloys used to make high-strength, powerful permanent magnets (neodymium magnets). These magnets are widely used throughout the audio industry in products such as microphones, professional loudspeakers, or in-ear headphones, where low magnet mass or volume, and strong magnetic fields, are required.
tonearms provide adjustment on their bases in order to perform a proper setting using a tonearm protractor alignment system. Most modern tonearms do not provide this feature. In such a case, it is important to be able to adapt the distance between contact point of the stylus and axis of the tonearms with the Overhang adjustment provided by the cartridge headshell.
work as a filter and degrade the sound making it dull or harsh depending on the setup. A general rule of thumb is that the input impedance of your phono preamp (also referred to as the load impedance of your cartridge) should be 10 times the output impedance of your cartridge (also called the source impedance). Load When connected to a phono preamp, the cartridge forms a RLC (Resistor, Inductor, Capacitor) circuit which acts as a resonant filter emphasizing certain frequencies while reducing others. In order to achieve the to most linear frequency response, manufacturers specify several load values (load capacitance, load impedance and so on). By following these specifications for the choice of the phono stage, one can achieve the best sonic results. LP Record LP stands for Long Play or 33 rpm microgroove vinyl record format. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was adopted in the mid-fifties as a new standard by the entire record industry. It became stereophonic in the mid-sixties and is still the standard format of vinyl albums today.
Overhang adjustment
Tonearm protractor
Para-toroidal coil Para-toroidal coils are used on high-end Moving Magnet Audio‑Technica cartridges, providing better channel separation, channel balance and improved transient response. Para-toroidal inductors are passive electronic components, widely used for transformer construction. The inductor with a closed-loop core can have a higher magnetic field and thus higher inductance and Q factor than similarly constructed coils with a straight core. The advantage of the toroidal shape is that due to its symmetry, the amount of magnetic flux that escapes outside of the core (leakage flux) is minimum; therefore it radiates less electromagnetic interference to nearby circuits or equipment. Phono Preamp Denotes a preamplifier with an input or a series of inputs capable of handling the output from a Phono cartridge. As opposed to a “standard” line input preamp such as a microphone input preamplifier, the Phono Preamplier will provide the necessary gain, input impedance matching to the output impedance of the cartridges, and the de-emphasis equalisation needed to support the signal originated from the phono cartridge playing a record. In the case of a vinyl record, the equalization will usually be RIAA.
Magnetic cartridge (see cartridge)
MC phono input MC stands for Moving Coil. A Phono Input on a pre amplifier or Amplifier mentioning MC means that the characteristics of the preamplifier input stage, in terms of Input impedance, Gain and de-emphasis equalization are such that it will allow you to use a Moving Coil Phono Cartridge by plugging it into this input. Micro linear (form factor of a stylus diamond, see Microlinear) A specific shape of a diamond stylus, micro linear refers to a particular “ridge shape” stylus. An Audio‑Technica trademark, micro linear styli are known as Microlinear.
Nude Shank diamond
Microlinear
Nude diamond refers to a stylus when the diamond glued into the hole of the cantilever is made out of one single piece of diamond. This construction, as opposed to Bonded shank (jointed), improves the mass of the overall tip and, because the vibrating signal does not have to transfer through two different materials, provides the best possible transient reproduction. Nude styli, although expensive to produce, are preferred and used on the higher priced models.
Audio‑Technica Trademark which denotes the Micro linear “ridge” shape stylus. The tip of the diamond is such that it allows a contact surface of around 115 μm2. The shape is “similar” to other diamond tips such
Phono Cartridge (see Cartridge)
Nude
as SAS, Dynavector or Namiki. The Microlinear diamond is different from Line Contact diamonds, also featured on high-end styli. Line Contact tips are also known as “Shibata”, providing a contact surface between 50 and 75 μm2.
Phono input Denotes the pair of input connectors (L&R) of the Phono Preamp. Pole Piece The pole piece is a structure composed of material of a high magnetic permeability that serves to direct the magnetic field produced by the magnet. A pole piece attaches to and, in a sense, extends a pole of the magnet, hence the name. Radius (stylus Radius) The radius of a stylus is the distance (R) in either mil (thousandth of an inch) or μm (micro, 10^ -6 , of a metre). The conical stylus has a unique Radius which varies from 0.6 to 0.7 mil for Vinyl records. (2, 2.5, 3, or 3.5mil for shellac records). The elliptical stylus has two radii, R1 and R2, for the front and side. Standard elliptical Styli are around 0.3 x 0.7 mil. Due to the complexity of line contact and Microlinear styli, their radius value is not always an accurate description of their shape and size.
Bonded
MM input MM stands for Moving Magnet: an MM input
denotes the input stage of a preamplifier is able to handle the signal of a moving magnet phono cartridge and the MM input also has an input impedance suitable for the output impedance of MM cartridges. Monaural Monophonic sound reproduction (often called mono) is single-channel audio program material or single channel audio reproduction. Monaural recording on vinyl has been replaced by stereo sound during the mid 60’s. 78 rpm records and Vinyl records from 1952 to 1960 are Monaural. Stereo sound on vinyl records was introduced in 1958. Moving Coil cartridges The MC design is a tiny electromagnetic generator, but as opposed to MM design, the 2 coils are attached to the stylus (the moving part), and move within the field of a fixed permanent magnet. The coils are much smaller than
Output Voltage (of a cartridge) Amplitude in mV of the electrical signal delivered by the cartridge for a given standard program material of the record groove. Knowing the output voltage is an important factor: it will inform of the characteristic of the Phono input needed in order to accommodate a given cartridge. Output voltages may vary from under 0.1mV for the least efficient Moving Coil models on the market, up to 5mV for very efficient Moving Magnet cartridges. Such differences of more than 30dB shows that when selecting a cartridge, the selection of the associated preamplifier, with or without step-up transformer, is essential. Overhang (Cartridge overhang adjustment) In the case of cartridges mounted on a removable headshell, it could be necessary to adjust the cartridge by several millimetres in order for the stylus to be properly aligned with the tangent of the groove. Older
Audio-Technica Phono Cartridges Guide 2025 - 61
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