Cartridge Types
Phono Cartridge Types identifies the cartridge input families a phono stage supports, such as moving magnet (MM), moving coil (MC) or compatible optical cartridges.
The listed family is a starting point for matching; gain, output level, loading and exact cartridge compatibility still matter.
Cartridge Types — Phono Preamp
An MM input serves cartridges designed for its input conditions, which can include moving-iron or suitable high-output MC models. An input labelled MM and high-output MC is not necessarily a separate low-output MC input. Check the actual cartridge recommendation.
A dedicated MC input may use active amplification, a step-up transformer or another supported input arrangement. Its MC label alone does not identify the circuit or guarantee every MC cartridge will work well.
An optical-cartridge input must provide the required power and equalization for its supported cartridge. It is not interchangeable with an ordinary MM/MC input. Count the inputs offered by this stage, not a cartridge bundled with a different product.