I have tried many cartridges over the years 1974 to now obviously starting with MM by the likes of Shure, Ortofon, Goldring, etc and then added more recently a Rega Apheta 3 and a Rega Aria 2 phono stage to match it. MC has more detail and less output but it can sound a bit weak, like a Goldfinch singing versus a Blackbird. The deck and arm have to be top notch for an MC but less exacting for an MM due to output v noise floor. The question is, is MC worth the bother and What is the best MM cartridge?
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@PeterJersey I switched from MM to MC because I also purchased a Naim NVCTT which could easily accommodate a LO MC. I went with the Apheta 3 which was factory installed with my new P10. I am quite satisfied. My desire to move to a MC was the reason I purchased the NVCTT phono stage. I donāt have rack space for the NVCTT power supply. When I had a SN3, I was using a Rega Exact. I find the Apheta to be a very significant upgrade.
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Iād say it depends, MC maybe better suited to classical music and classical jazz, or it could be a better match to a system with a heavy/sluggish bottom end. On the other hand, rock, dance or any type of energy filled music can get a little boring with MCs, being the reason why I stopped using them.
Why not considering Moving Iron? MI is the superior technology, with MI you get the lowest possible moving mass for enhanced detail, while retaining bass slam and dynamics (no MC weakness). After trying MIs I never looked back.
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What ???
I guess you have not heard a lot of MC . Or the phono stage was not up to the task.
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I think AT is one of the few manufacturers, at least among the bigger ones, to still make MM. If youāre happy to include MI/MP, look at Ortofon (marketed as MM) or Nagaoka. If I now had to buy a cartridge blind, cost no object, Iād try the Nagaoka MP-700.
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After my MC recent LP12 upgrade I canāt get over how punchy, dynamic, tuneful records now sound. Rock, disco, electronic, jazz, all spectacular. Lots of development in cartridges lately.
It took me time, research and trial-and-error to find the right combination though. Previously also both good & bad MM moments (and some bad MC moments), but this is another league.
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Interesting perspective, Iām considering doing exactly that but with a Rega Nd9 instead.
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Generally Iām also a fan of the āMM-styleā cartridges like Nagaoka, Ortofon, Rega ND to use with Naimās built-in MM phono stages and cards, but the topic question was about Moving Coil (I presume low-output) vs. Moving Magnet.
That so depends on a host of different variables, such as oneās ears for starters, then deck, power supply, tonearm, phono stage, budget of course, and whatās available in the market. Therefore IMO it is impossible to make a blanket statement on that without knowing more.
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Yes.
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All things considered, I prefer LOMC cartridges. I used MM from ~1968-1978 (Shure M3D, M75E, V15/III) and LOMC from 1978-2023 (Denon DL103D, Linn Asak, Asaka, Lyra Argo, Argo i) and back to MM (AT VM760SLC) after over 40 years. The reasons for going back to MM were 4 fold:
- At 75 years old, my hearing isnāt what it used to be and Iām not sure I could hear the difference any longer.
- Those exposed cantilevers and non-replaceable stylii always scared the $#!T out of meā¦
- Canāt beat a MM for easy and (relatively) cheap stylus replacement.
- High quality MM track better that even the best MC.
If money were no object, Iād go for LOMC every time. But, at this stage of life, I can live with a good MM.
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Is MC worth it?
This can be turned on itās head. Up about $10k, you can still get MM carts. Harder to find of course but MM in the $2000 region are plentiful so up to a certain point, well beyond what many people consider MC price territory, MC are not more money at all but merely another option.
I think this really depends on how high you want to spend. Unless you are in the market for a cart that costs a huge amount, you arenāt forced to MC at all.
And itās no secret the really good MM will outperform the cheaper entry level MC offerings. So I think the question may have been born out of a combination of not appreciating how high up the quality ladder MM can go and not hear MC at itās best.
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@PeterJersey - ha - this feels like the quintessential debate - Mac vs PC, Modern vs Classical, mountain biker vs Road biker, Black & White vs Color Photography, Digital vs Analog - the list goes on! As I get older it always is a matter of balance, between easy vs nuanced. Neither is better - simply priorities, and I (like others) have moved through these both spectrums in life.
To answer your question, a bit more tangentially, I think the real magic might be what lies in between the Cartridge and the Amp/Preamp : the Phono Stage!
I have used 5 phono stages, first 4 were MMs
3 Regas - Brio, Mira 3 (Elys cartridge), Aria with an Exact
SN3 phono with the same Exact
And my final one - a Naim Superline+Supercap DR (with a HanaML - a MC cartridge). As someone wisely said in this forum - thou shalt have to pull these out of my dying hands 
.
I can confidently say, to my ears, an album Streaming (NDX2) vs CD (CDX2) vs Vinyl, the SL+SCDR - pulls music so effortlessly, has so much musicality, throw-in-the-kitchen-sink audio terminology! 
.
And I am talking about a 23 yr old P3 (@Jaybar -jealous of your P10), sporting a virgin Hana ML (10 hrs in).
Am I driving a vintage DB5 Austin Martin? Maybe I am 
.
Regarding the best MM - see the link below.
Cheers
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Yes the New Rega ND9 MM seems rather intriguing. Another Seattleite I see.
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@marcusman ooo-seattle? We should meet for coffee!
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For sure. Seattle has quite a few Naim fans and I see you have my DAC combo as well.
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Even more reason to have a ācoffee - maybe even a listening session! Oh boy, this could get expensive 
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@ankurrius Thanks for acknowledging my P10. When I purchased, my desler was encouraging me to seriously consider the LP12. I had one many years ago. Given my disabilities, I felt a suspended spring sub chassis mechanism would be problematic for me. I also felt my propensity to want to continue to upgrade would get costly and out of hand. I even thought about the Rega Naia, but questioned whether I would play records enough to warrant that step up. I like the more plug and play approach of Rega. I like that their cartridges do not require spacers.
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Yes @Jaybar , one day I will audition the P10. I have been told the upgrade is worth it. My 2003 P3 with the new Hana ML is ann anmazing upgrade from where I was. Itās all the music! Baby steps. 
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In todayās world the MM (& MI) offerings have gotten very very good.
Optimized anti-resonance bodies, excellent cantilevers (tapered duralumin, boron), advanced styli (Shibata, microline, special contact line etc) all of them with the advantage of high voltage output.
In my mind the question is not whether the MMs can offer the performance of MCs (they certainly can) but rather finding the one (MM or MC) that matches someoneās preferences in musical presentation. Not a trivial task mind you.
Donāt forget that the phono cartridge is a transducer and it will have the greatest effect on how a hifi system sounds (along with the loudspeaker which is also a transducer).
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