My recommended Moving Coil phono catridges and phono amplifiers

There are two avenues to phono cartridge amplification; One is to increase the voltage output from the cartridge to a large enough degree to drive a line amplifier ( voltage amplification). This is the process used by most phono amplifier stages. Two Is to convert the current output from the cartridge to a voltage that will drive the line amplifier (current amplification). My findings from listening tests are, the current amplification ( called Transimpedance) outperforms the voltage amplification by a large margin. The draw back to a transimpedance phono stage is the limited amount of cartridges they will operate with. The transimpedence phono stage will only operate with a low impedance Moving Coil cartridge. Most quality low output moving coil cartridges will function with a Transinpedance phono stage. Below is my recommended list consisting of only low impedance moving coil cartridges and Transimpedance phono stages.

I sell high output cartridges that will function with all phono amplifiers. I also sell voltage amplifier phono stages

Moving Coil Phono Cartridges

Hana EL $475.00 - Ortofon Quintet Blue $569.00- Hana ML $1200.00- Orotfon Cadenza Blue $2039.00 Ortofon Cadenza Bronze $2399.00- LUXMAN MC Cartridge LMC-5 $2695.00- Mu-Tech $4900.00

Transimpedance Phono Amplifiers

Sutherland TZ vibe $1400.00- Sutherland Little Loco $3800.00- Sutherland Dos Loco $9800.00

Call for pricing and availability (901-751-3337)

Hana ML

Luxman LMC5

Mu-Tech

Hana EL

Ortofon Cadenza

Ortofon Quintet

A different cartridge type is now on the market (optical). It will outperform all of the MC cartridges I have used and sold. Go to the DS audio page