The MM vs MC debate
Hi-Fi Choice|March 2021
Both moving-magnet and moving-coil phono cartridges have their pros and cons, but which is best for your budget? Neville Roberts weighs up the relative issues
Neville Roberts
The MM vs MC debate

One school of thought when it comes to phono cartridges is that moving-coils are a step up from moving-magnet options. However, as ever in hi-fi, it really isn’t quite as simple as that.

In an MM cartridge, the coils of wire are fixed in the body and a tiny magnet is attached to the cantilever. When the stylus plays a record, the cantilever moves the magnet close to the coils and induces voltage in them. This type of cartridge has a number of advantages. It is relatively easy to manufacture and so the cost is lower than a moving-coil. Also, the stylus/magnet assembly is usually removable, which allows for the stylus to be easily replaced when it gets worn out or damaged.

A variation of an MM cartridge is the variable reluctance, or moving-iron. This is where both coils and magnet are housed in the body and the cantilever has a very light, hollow piece of iron attached to the cantilever instead of a heavier permanent magnet. The moving-iron cartridge was popular before the advent of small and powerful magnets.

This story is from the March 2021 edition of Hi-Fi Choice.

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This story is from the March 2021 edition of Hi-Fi Choice.

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