RE: set up tips for Cello Reference mc cartridge


Hello, rather and start to play around I thought I would ask here first if anyone has any experience with setting up a Cello reference cartridge? I thought maybe there are a few tips you could pass my way that might save me some grief? Its NOS and as you may know designed by the founder of Mayiba! It is very similiar in appearance to the old mono Mc cartridges that dont have a cantilever!Please any help would be totally charished and appreciated beyond words! That may sound corny? but if you have this cartridge or have seen one you can understand my wanting to be causious before attempting to mount it! Thanks Daren
fihihifi
Hello Daren. I got these specs. at www.cartridgedb.com They are not complete. They also have the 1992 Miyabi specs (which are more complete) and the Mark Levinson specs (which are not complete.)

Type = Moving Coil
Output (1Khz 50 mm/sec) = .23mv
Freq Response 20Hz - 30kHz Output
Impedance ?? ohms
Load Impedance ?? ohms
L/R Separation 1kHz = > 26db
L/R Balance 1kHz = < 0.25db
Stylus Tip Nude Swept Elliptical Cantilever
Dynamic Compliance, 23 x 10-6cm/Dyne
Static Compliance ???
VTF = 1.5gm
Mass: 13gm
Price: $1200 USD (new)

These are not complete of course but still useful:

1.) Because of the low output, you will need a phono preamp with 68dB gain, or more. Or you can use a step up transformer into a phono preamp with 40-50 dB gain. (I personally think SUT's ruin sonics, that's my opinion ;--)

2.) You need a low to med mass tonearm (because of the high compliance and high mass of the cartridge itself.

3.) You need to measure (with a volt/ohm meter) the (coil) resistance in either the left or right channel (probably will be around 4 ohms +/_ ) Multiply by 25. That will be the best load impedance (for the preamp) to start with.

Good luck ;--)
Thanks Nsgarch and Drjoe! for your responses I was beginning to think that there isn't anybody out there that has heard of this reference cartridge. I can mount just about any moving coil but with the reference Cello not having a cantilever it kind of puzzles me! As its hard to even see aproximately where the stylus is when using a setup tool. I have a Spectral DMC10 Gamma that will be the pre-amp for it the gain should be OK? as I also use a Spectral MCR signature at the moment.This cartridge is suppose to be magic when its dialed in. I appreciate your replies and thanks again, Cheers Daren
Well, the MCR looks to have the same low output as the Cello, so if the MCR works OK w/ the DMC 10 . . . . . . . .

As for the cantilever-less Cello cartridge, the only cartridges in the world I know of that didn't/doesn't have a cantilever are some of the Deccas and the Ikeda. Otherwise, I'm not aware of any old mono MC cartridges (Ortophons?) that don't have a cantilever -- maybe you're thinking of the old piezo-crystal cartridges.

The Miyabi seems the more likely kin, only it has a cantilever. I hope I'm wrong, but did you check to see if there's a stylus?
.