Weekly Q&A: Answers | Week of January 22, 2023

Moving Coil vs. Moving Magnet & High Frequency Hearing...

Q: Hi, I’m an aging wannabe audiophile with markedly diminished hearing, especially in frequencies above about 7000 Hz. I listen to many modes of music (CD/SACD, ROON with hi res files & Qobuzz, and LPs). The latter being my favorite. I’ve recently upgraded my system with a Rega P10 TT with their Apheta 3 MC cartridge. As an experiment, I just installed an Ortofon 2MR Black LVB MM cartridge. Even before it was broken in, I appreciated what I consider to be a much nicer, warmer sound with much better imaging. I’ve read all the pros and cons of MC vs MM cartridges, especially with regard to the better high frequency response of the MCs. Does this really matter to someone like me who can’t hear that information anyway? In retrospect it seems I squandered 4 figures on a MC cartridge that would be better spent on more music. What do you think?

-John

A: Well, we would suggest starting and ending with “I appreciated what I consider to be a much nicer, warmer sound with better imaging.” Assumin…