[hurdy_gurdyman]

I have a Grado Prestige Blue cartridge I am thinking about buying an 8MZ stylus for. The Blue's output is 5mv volts, the 8MZ's output is 3.5mv volts. My Yaqin tubed preamp just gets loud enough for the stock Grado. How much of a cut in volume would I expect to get using the lower output stylus? 

Dave   

[Mitsuman]

The 8MZ is just a stylus, the coils in the cartridge determine the output. I run an 8MZ (the nude "twin tip" older version) in a Gold1 body with very good results. Recently I've read that the currently produced 8MZ is a bonded diamond, and not as big of an upgrade as the previous nude diamonds. This has been confirmed by folks on VinylEngine and AudioKarma.

[Mitsuman]

I nicked this post from a recent discussion over at AK:

OK
With the help of our experts, we know that current production (made by tonar) is :
8Mz : .3 x .7 elliptical bonded
MCZ : .3 x .7 elliptical but nude of mounted ? Which i the difference 8Mz -> MCZ (apart +50$). Are you sure it is not Hyper-ellips bounded (would be coherent with tha ABS production in Europe)
TLZ ???????,?,,, Hyper-ellips nude "black diamond" ? Don't know what is "black diamond"
XTZ ????????? Nude true elipsoid ?

[hurdy_gurdyman]

The 8MZ is just a stylus, the coils in the cartridge determine the output. I run an 8MZ (the nude "twin tip" older version) in a Gold1 body with very good results. Recently I've read that the currently produced 8MZ is a bonded diamond, and not as big of an upgrade as the previous nude diamonds. This has been confirmed by folks on VinylEngine and AudioKarma.

I always thought it was just the coils and magnet size that determine output. Here's what the site I'm looking at says:

Original Grado 8MZ Stylus Specifications
- Output: 3.5mV @ 3.5 CMV (45 degrees)
- Controlled frequency response: 10Hz-50kHz
- Channel separation: Average 25dB, 10Hz-50kHz
- Stylus: Diamond, twin tip
- Input load: 47k Hz
- Inductance: 45 mH
- Resistance: 475 ohms
- Tracking force: 1.5 g
- Pick-up weight: 5.5 g
- Capacitance: Non-sensitive to capacitive load

I wondered if the actual moving iron might be smaller, thus reduced output.

https://www.lpgear.com/product/GRA8MZSTY.html

Dave

[Mitsuman]

I always thought it was just the coils and magnet size that determine output. Here's what the site I'm looking at says:

Original Grado 8MZ Stylus Specifications
- Output: 3.5mV @ 3.5 CMV (45 degrees)
- Controlled frequency response: 10Hz-50kHz
- Channel separation: Average 25dB, 10Hz-50kHz
- Stylus: Diamond, twin tip
- Input load: 47k Hz
- Inductance: 45 mH
- Resistance: 475 ohms
- Tracking force: 1.5 g
- Pick-up weight: 5.5 g
- Capacitance: Non-sensitive to capacitive load

I wondered if the actual moving iron might be smaller, thus reduced output.

https://www.lpgear.com/product/GRA8MZSTY.html

Dave

The 8MZ was a cartridge, that is long since discontinued. The specs they are posting are the original specs for the 8MZ cartridge/Stylus as a unit.