My question was and remains: Why does the cartridge in a turntable need to be set up with such precise adjustments when the cartridge in a changer does not?
They want the magnetic cartridges in turntables to run perfectly flat, perfectly vertical, swing in a perfect arc as it runs toward the center of the record. The typically ceramic cartridges in changers run at a different angle as it plays a stack of six or eight records. There are typically no provisions for anti-skate in a changer. One can set the tracking force, but these adjustments are many times compromises rather than exact settings. Five grams of weight is a lot for a magnetic cartridge, yet is considered light for a ceramic used in a changer. You should use the cuing lever when setting a magnetic cartridge on a record, to prevent disturbing delicate settings or damaging an expensive "stylus", yet a VM changer drops the tone arm from a couple inches high without damaging the record or needle.
I think it's fair to say that most audiophiles poo-poo changers as totally unacceptable devices for audio reproduction, period. It is probably also fair to say that changers were designed to be consumer-grade equipment. Anyone who can afford one could also run one with little instruction. Turntables like the audiophiles recommend can be complex and cantankerous to live with. They need constant and dedicated tinkering to keep in proper operation. To my old ears, I can't imagine a magnetic cartridge that sounds better than an Electro-Voice 26 or a General Electric C-100 ceramic cartridge. These typically found mounted in a record changer. I like the Shure N92 and the Stanton 500 magnetics, but do they actually "sound better"? How can changers play records well and sound good when they are "breaking all the rules"? Comments?
