Cartridge loading- capacitance

[lumpywaters]

Does loading a cartridge with higher than recommended capacitance have a negative impact on sound quality?



Here is why I ask: The input capacitance of my Emotiva TA-100 phono stage is 200pf and the 4ft phono cable I am using is approximately 100pf (measured with a handheld capacitance meter), so the cartridge sees about 300pf not counting the capacitance of the the internal tonearm wiring. I recently acquired an NOS Audio Technica SS445E/U (aka AT122ep) cart, which overall sounds really great but is a bit leaner in bass response compared to the Shure M92E/N104e combo it replaced. I suppose it is possible that what I hear as lean bass could really be more accentuated high-mids. AT recommends 100-200pf load whereas Shure recommends 200-300pf. Is this extra 100pf of any consequence? 

[KeithL]

Absolutely - or, at least, it can.

Yes, the amount of capacitance you load the cartridge with will definitely affect the frequency response - specifically the high end.
In most cases, more capacitance will mean a more rolled off high end.
But, but in some rare cases, the capacitor can interact with the inductance of the cartridge and cause a peak or rise instead.
Differences in capacitance will affect some cartridges more than others, and you'll probably get the flattest response with the manufacturer's recommended overall capacitance.
(Note that 100 pF isn't that big a difference, and cartridges vary considerably to begin with, so I'd listen to it for yourself before deciding  )

Apr 8, 2018 15:44:58 GMT -5 lumpywaters said:

Does loading a cartridge with higher than recommended capacitance have a negative impact on sound quality?

Here is why I ask: The input capacitance of my Emotiva TA-100 phono stage is 200pf and the 4ft phono cable I am using is approximately 100pf (measured with a handheld capacitance meter), so the cartridge sees about 300pf not counting the capacitance of the the internal tonearm wiring. I recently acquired an NOS Audio Technica SS445E/U (aka AT122ep) cart, which overall sounds really great but is a bit leaner in bass response compared to the Shure M92E/N104e combo it replaced. I suppose it is possible that what I hear as lean bass could really be more accentuated high-mids. AT recommends 100-200pf load whereas Shure recommends 200-300pf. Is this extra 100pf of any consequence? 

[vcautokid]

Wow haven't messed with this in a long time. Essentially what Keith said. I used to keep some caps around to experiment. Good fun.