[Arny Krueger]

"Sonnova" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:13:20 -0700, Arny Krueger wrote
(in article ):

"Sonnova" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:51:18 -0700, Arny Krueger wrote
(in article ):

"Harry Lavo" wrote in message
...

What you say is true...I've had both high output and low output. But
as
a
general rule, the low output moving coils have a lower effective
tip-mass
and therefore tend to sound smoother and track better.

Typical MC tip mass = 0.3 mg.

Shure MM tip mass = 0.040 - 0.139 mg

Besides, tip mass is not of the essence.

It's mostly irrelevant, that's for sure. Like most cartridge
measurements,
it
tells one little about how the cartridge will actually perform.

This is just another audiophile myth, perpetuated by people who lack
the
proper background in mechanics and dynamic systems to understand how
these
things work.

The important parameter is stylus inertia, which is based on both mass
and
distance from the center of rotation.

Stylus assembly compliance is also a factor and there is no
hard-and-fast
rule about that EITHER.

Well there is. The high frequency resonance is dependent on inertia and
compliance of the groove. The low frequency resonance is dependent on
compliance and tone arm inertia (not tone arm mass, as is commonly
cliamed.)

You miss my point.

What, that a college-level discussion of the basic mechanics of a tone arm
goes beyond what you're read in high end audio magazines?

My point is that the measurements tell one little about
how the cartridge will perform unless the end user has some way to measure
tone arm "interia" (since inertia is the product of mass, I don't see how
you
can divorce effective tonearm mass from inertia) he has no way to
determine
whether his arm and cartridge are a good match for one another other than
to
try them - I.E. listen.

Well-educated end users can measure the dynamics of a tone arm for
themselves with common household and shop items. It's a pity that
manufacturers don't do their homework and just puplish good specs for their
products. Perhaps part of their problem is that they are more interested in
visual asthetics than how tone arms are designed.