Dedicated ceramic phono stage on my Sansui 220 Reciever

[kuruvilajacob]

I have a Sansui Valve receiver Model no 220. It has two aux inputs as well as a magnetic phono input. I recently saw the instruction manual of this model and it mentioned that the second aux input is for ceramic cartridge. So I decided to connect a Garrard 6.300 player with original garrard ceramic cartridge stylus . I was so surprised to listen to a superb reproduction which I never thought was possible with ceramic cartridge. I do have some records which cannot be played on any magnetic player and the most interesting part is that there is hardly any scratch noise. The speakers connected are Pioneer 99 a with a 15" woofer and horn tweeter. I cannot say whether this quality reproduction (which comes close to a magnetic reproduction) is because of the phono stage or valve pre amp. Anyway, it certainly is an eye opener for me. I am sure, those more experienced with using ceramic cartridge will be able to explain the reasons. Pictures of Garrard 6.300 and Sansui Receiver 220 attached.

 

[reubensm]

I agree with your findings, ceramic carts if equalized properly can sound quite pleasing. As they are less sensitive, they pick up less noise and are better suited for playing older records (or even dusty records)

 

[kuruvilajacob]

There was a audiophile in Trivandrum who is no more who used to swear that ceramic carts were less damaging on records than magnetic and used only ceramics on his collection. But his taste was more of Malayalam and Indian classical. So, for him may be that may have been true.

 

[IndianEars]

Yes, Ceramic Cartridges Can and Do Sound LOVELY when used properly ... Sadly, they are almost Never treated right.

Ceramic Cartridges produce a very high output voltage ( upto 500 mV) but Very low current ..... MUCH lower current than a moving magnet cartridge. Hence ceramic cartridges MUST be presented an imedance of ATLEAST 500K ohms... 1 Meg Ohms preferable.

Also, the electronics should be capable of handling the high output voltage.

If these requirements are met by the amplification, these cartridges can REALLY sing, with Super Bass. ( There is NO Need to add Bass boost for Ceramic cartridge amplification if the Input impedance is 1 Meg ohms. )

Clearly, the Sansui engineers have done their job well. :clapping:

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Yes, Ceramic Cartridges Can and Do Sound LOVELY when used properly ... Sadly, they are almost Never treated right.

Ceramic Cartridges produce a very high output voltage ( upto 500 mV) but Very low current ..... MUCH lower current than a moving magnet cartridge. Hence ceramic cartridges MUST be presented an imedance of ATLEAST 500K ohms... 1 Meg Ohms preferable.

Also, the electronics should be capable of handling the high output voltage.

If these requirements are met by the amplification, these cartridges can REALLY sing, with Super Bass. ( There is NO Need to add Bass boost for Ceramic cartridge amplification if the Input impedance is 1 Meg ohms. )

Clearly, the Sansui engineers have done their job well. :clapping:

You are right. When they had a dedicated input for the ceramic stage, they really did a fantastic job. I could never imagine a ceramic cart can sound like a magnetic cart until I experienced this. It is superb to listen to good old Malayalam records also with a vintage touch. May be the valve pre could also be playing it's part in this new find.

 

[reubensm]

One of my father's amp collection was an assembled Mullard solid state design with a dedicated MM stage and Ceramic phono stage. We have grown up listening to a lot of music with an EEI CS2000 cart playing through this phonostage. It sounded quite nice back in the day. Of course, his NAD 1020A supported only MM/MC carts and when it came into the family in the early 1980s, we moved to the Shure M75-6.

I have been building some ceramic phonostages of late and they sound quite nice, interestingly with the EEI CS2000 on a Garrard RC210 changer. One has to hear it to experience it.

 

[IndianEars]

I have been building some ceramic phonostages of late and they sound quite nice,

Check that the input impedance is 1 M ohms.... or build 1 with this.

You will be PLEASANTLY surprised

 

[reubensm]

Check that the input impedance is 1 M ohms.... or build 1 with this.

You will be PLEASANTLY surprised

yes, I have experimented with 1M, 1.2M and 1.5M, found 1.2M to be the most balanced, hence stuck with it.

 

[reubensm]

here is a pic of the 201

 

[kuruvilajacob]

What type of stylus fits Garrard 201? It looks elegant with the wooden arm.

 

[reubensm]

What type of stylus fits Garrard 201? It looks elegant with the wooden arm.

Its a turntable deck like the 301 and 401, has to be mounted on a plinth with a tonearm.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Its a turntable deck like the 301 and 401, has to be mounted on a plinth with a tonearm.

Must have been designed for transcription purpose. What a fancy Tone arm