Cartridge output specs - can a vinyl guru come to my aid?

[andyr]

9 hours ago, Warren Jones said:

My Technics documentation specifies the output as Zero to Peak

 

Verrry interesting!  

 

9 hours ago, Warren Jones said:

The output of the CS-100 is 0.76mv/cm/sec so at 5cm/s the output is 3.8mV Vertical modulation.

 

And bcoz the Analogue Productions Test LP is recorded at 7cm/s ... the cart output is 5.32mV, for my test.

 

9 hours ago, Warren Jones said:

Assuming peak 3.8 X 0.707 = 2.69mVRMS X (40dB) 100 = 269mVRMS

 

But if we use the 5.32mV peak figure - instead of your 3.8mV - we get 5.32 x 0.707 x 100 = 376mV RMS.

 

I measured 365-370mV RMS ... which is very close!

 

So in conclusion:

• the output specified for carts (or at least my and your Stanton WOS CS100 - and your Technics) ... is peak!  (IE. sero to max amplitude.)
• and the nominal 100dB (100x) MM gain of my Hagerman phono stage is actually a bit less than this.  

 

Thanks everyone for your help in solving my initial question.

 

Edited March 15, 2024 by andyr

[aussievintage]

3 hours ago, andyr said:

the output specified for carts (or at least my and your Stanton WOS CS100 - and your Technics) ... is peak!  (IE. sero to max amplitude.)

 

I had been trying to tell you that.  It's the only thing that makes sense of a velocity based specification.

[TS23]

13 hours ago, andyr said:

Thanks everyone for your help in solving my initial question

So, is the next logical question:

"For a range of your favourite records, what is the variation in recorded peak velocities/output levels?" 

This might give us a clue as to headroom requirements for phono stages etc. 

 

Cheers B

Edited March 15, 2024 by TS23

[andyr]

10 hours ago, aussievintage said:

I had been trying to tell you that.  It's the only thing that makes sense of a velocity based specification.

 

You had, av ... but I didn't believe you!    Sorry - I should've. 

 

33 minutes ago, TS23 said:

"For a range of your favourite records, what is the variation in recorded peak velocities/output levels?" 

This might give us a clue as to headroom requirements for phono stages etc. 

 

Re. headroom ... given that the HFs are recorded onto the grooves with a 20dB (10x) boost for HFs (with a corresponding 20dB cut for LFs) and we need to allow another 10x for transients - there needs to be enough headroom to cope with 100x the nominal signal level produced by the cart.

 

 

[TS23]

3 hours ago, andyr said:

 

You had, av ... but I didn't believe you!    Sorry - I should've. 

 

 

Re. headroom ... given that the HFs are recorded onto the grooves with a 20dB (10x) boost for HFs (with a corresponding 20dB cut for LFs) and we need to allow another 10x for transients - there needs to be enough headroom to cope with 100x the nominal signal level produced by the cart.

 

 

Agreed, but just thought it would be nice to measure a few favourite lp's, rather just a test signal, to see where the "industry standard" levels equate to "industry practice" recorded levels.

 

Cheers B