Coil Former
The coil former is the support or core around which a moving-coil (MC) cartridge’s generator coils are wound.
It is separate from the conducting wire and the number of winding layers.
Coil Former — Cartridge
Magnetic cores, such as iron, concentrate the magnetic field through the coils, affecting the voltage they produce. A non-magnetic former supports the windings without serving that magnetic role. “Coreless” or “air core” does not necessarily mean unsupported wire: thin film or another non-magnetic support may still hold the coils.
The former is one part of the generator design, alongside coil size, winding count and the surrounding magnetic circuit. Its material alone cannot establish sound quality or determine phono input settings. For matching, use the cartridge’s specified output voltage and recommended load. If a description only says “coreless”, do not assume a particular support material.
Sources
- Coil winding frames and non-magnetic construction — Audio-Technica
- Non-magnetic coils, film support and electrical specifications — Audio-Technica
- Air-core construction and coil support (Japanese) — Audio-Technica
- Magnetic core design and cartridge specifications — My Sonic Lab / MoFi Distribution