TT Question....

[GoldenBoy]

I know you folks will be able to help me on this one. I want to replace the stock cartridge on my TT (Numark TT100), and I was wondering what exactly the difference is between a Pmount and standard mount cartridge. Also, I don't see any mention of anything in the rather scant literature for my TT, so how do I know if I need to use a Pmount or standard mount, or if I can use both? Thanks in advance.

[akshobhyavajra]

Originally posted by GoldenBoy
I know you folks will be able to help me on this one. I want to replace the stock cartridge on my TT (Numark TT100), and I was wondering what exactly the difference is between a Pmount and standard mount cartridge. Also, I don't see any mention of anything in the rather scant literature for my TT, so how do I know if I need to use a Pmount or standard mount, or if I can use both? Thanks in advance.

In a P-mount or T4P, the cartridge is plugged into the tonearm and is then secured to the tonearm by a single screw.

Your TT100 uses a half-inch mount or standard mount as it is sometimes called. Essentially two screws located a half-inch apart are threaded through the cartridge body and secured to the headshell. Then four wires (each of a different color) are attached to the male plugs at the rear of the cartridge body. The other end of these wires are attached to the headshell plugs.

You can't use both - but you can use p-mount carts with a half-inch adapter - like an Audio Technica 1001 or AT-301EP.

~Michael~

[GoldenBoy]

Originally posted by akshobhyavajra


In a P-mount or T4P, the cartridge is plugged into the tonearm and is then secured to the tonearm by a single screw.

Your TT100 uses a half-inch mount or standard mount as it is sometimes called. Essentially two screws located a half-inch apart are threaded through the cartridge body and secured to the headshell. Then four wires (each of a different color) are attached to the male plugs at the rear of the cartridge body. The other end of these wires are attached to the headshell plugs.

You can't use both - but you can use p-mount carts with a half-inch adapter - like an Audio Technica 1001 or AT-301EP.

~Michael~

Thanks for the help. One more question though, are there any performance differences between a p-mount and standard mount that would make the use of a p-mount and adapter a favourable option?

[proufo]

Any tonearm that uses P-mounting is not a high quality one. It was meant for mass-market.

There's no reason to choose a P-mount cartidge if you have a standard mount. In fact you'll have to do some searching to find a P-mount carts these days.

Only reason I know is for CD-4 playpack. The existing AT cart useful for that is a P-mount.

[Sckott]

The more "loose joints" from the beginning of the arm to the tip of the cantilever, some purists have said makes a very large difference in the sound. It's why some people still use Rega arms over most any arm configuration, because it's as "one piece" as an arm can ever be. Some arms are the same.

Proufo is correct. If you can go standard mount with a decent cart, do that.

[GoldenBoy]

I thank you all for your help. It is has enlightened me greatly, and it is very much appreciated.

[akshobhyavajra]

Originally posted by proufo

There's no reason to choose a P-mount cartidge if you have a standard mount. In fact you'll have to do some searching to find a P-mount carts these days.




Actually, I was surprised to find that there are quite a few - and some of them good quality:

Ortofon X1-MCP, TM 7 U, TM 14 U, TM 20 U;

Audio-Technica AT-331LP, AT-301EP, AT-3482H/U, AT-1001, AT-3003;

Grado Prestige Series - all available in p-mount and last, but not least Shure M92 and M94 are still around as p-mount....;)

Who would have thought?

I would venture to say that the Technics SL-BD22 with an Ortofon TM 20 U might sound surprisingly good - given a decent phono like the Monolithic. I know I tend to downplay the usefulness of such turntables at times....

Could not be worse than a MMF-1 which is limited to it's proprietary cart... according to Roy Hall

Oh well, just another stream of consciousness.....:D

[BradOlson]

You can always try going to NorthernLightFX to look for a cartridge.