Recommended Cartridge Load Impedance
Recommended cartridge load impedance is the resistive load the receiving phono input should present to the cartridge. It is stated in ohms (Ω) or kilohms (kΩ).
This is an external load, not the impedance of the cartridge’s own coils. One kilohm equals 1,000 ohms: 47 kΩ means 47,000 Ω.
Recommended Cartridge Load Impedance — Cartridge
Use the cartridge maker’s recommendation when checking a phono input’s fixed load or available settings. Follow the equipment manual when changing settings. A universal fixed value or “ten times the coil impedance” rule cannot replace that recommendation.
Read an exact value as stated, keep a recommended range as a range, and preserve any limit sign. “> 100 Ω” means greater than 100 Ω, excluding 100 Ω itself. Keep any connection condition attached to the figure.
Matching this load does not settle the whole connection: check the cartridge’s capacitance and gain requirements separately.
Sources
- MC Quintet Red: internal impedance and recommended load — Ortofon
- AT-OC9XEN manual: load and connection condition — Audio-Technica
- VM760SLC manual: load impedance and capacitance — Audio-Technica
- Phono Box S2 manual: matching input settings — Pro-Ject Audio Systems