Description
The Ortofon TM 20 U cartridges
The TM 20 U is a magnetic cartridge (MM) with an elliptical shaped stylus (nude mounted) that is a great foray into the world of HiFi. The system body is new and unused from old but good stock (NOS). The needle is new and from current production.
The P-mount of TM 20 U has been designed for tonearms with T4P mounting sockets, the plug-in attachment system first introduced by Technics and adopted by Sony, JVC, Grundig and many other manufacturers. The OMP model requires no change in mass for the simple reason, that its mass is precisely what is specified for tonearms with T4P mounts.
- Output voltage at 1000 Hz, 5cm/sec-4 mV
- Frequency response – 20-22.000 Hz – 3 dB
- Tracking force range – 1,0-1,75 g (10-17,5 mN
- Cartridge weight – 6 g
- Channel separation at 1 kHz – 25 dB
- Channel balance at 1 kHz – 1,5 dB
- Recommended load resistance – 47 kΩ
- Internal impedance, DC resistance 700 – 750 Ohm
- Stylus 20
- Stylus tip radius – r/R 8/18 µm
- Compliance, statisch, vertikal – 40 µm / mN
- Compliance, dynamic, lateral – 25 µm/mN
- Cartridge colour, body/stylus – White/Black
All TM models have the same body, construction and magnetic circuit. The only difference is the exchangeable needle carrier unit, i.e. you are welcome to start testing with this system and “upgrade” to TM 30 or TM 40 at any time. If you want the Ortofon TM 20 U as TM 30 or TM 40, please do not hesitate to contact us.
About Ortofon TM
When Technics approached Ortofon in 1980 with the pro posal that we develop a series of cartridges for use exclu sively with their new range of compact turntables we wil lingly agreed. The Technics SL turntables with their spec ial lightweight linear tracking tonearms represented an en tirely new concept in design and technology. Here was a challenge hardly to be resisted, and Ortofon set about de veloping two entirely new magnetic cartridges that could plug directly into the linear tracking arms of this new ge neration of turntables. The resulting TM 30 H and TM 14 magnetic cartridges set the seal on the Technics/Ortofon joint venture.
And now, two new models have been added to this special series of cartridges, designed exclusively for Technics. The TM 20 H magnetic cartridge, and the moving coil TMC 200.
VMS – Variable Magnetic Shunt
This is the system on which the TM 30 H, TM 20 H and TM 14 cartridges have been designed. lt is an Ortofon world-patented principle which provides advantages such as low moving mass, high channel separation, low distor tion, and minimal record wear. The VMS system is illu strated by the two diagrams below, where for simplifica tion, only one of the two stereo channels is shown.
The TM 20 H
This model has many of the fine capabilities of the TM 30 H. TM 20 H uses a different type of Fine Line dia mond which gives an equivalent stylus tip mass of 0.45 mg. This means that whilst tracking ability is not quite so high as the TM 30 H, at 80 µm it is more than sufficient for per fect tracking of all conventionally recorded discs.
The TM 30H
Tue TM 30 H features a nude, Fine Line diamond stylus, which has a very thin profile. At high frequencies, where there are many small undulations of the groove per second, the thin profile follows the highest recorded signals accur ately. At the same time, the Fine Line shape makes vertical contact with the groove wall over a wider surface than is done with other diamond shapes. This reduc.es record wear, and gives an extension of high frequency response. The equivalent stylus tip mass is as low as 0.35 mg, and this to gether with the Fine Line shape and a high compliance value (35 µm/mN) gives the TM 30H a minimum tracking ability of 90 µm, which is superior to that of the majority of cartridges on the market today. This enables the TM 30 H to track even the most demanding records, such as direct cut discs, with ease.
The TM 40
This model has many of the fine capabilities of the TM 30 but uses a Fritz Gyger cut.