The Pick it MC1 is Pro-Ject's entry moving-coil cartridge, with a spherical diamond on an aluminium cantilever and 0.4 mV output. It is aimed at listeners moving up from an MM to an MC on entry and mid-level turntables.
Pick it MC1: what is inside
The idea grew out of Pro-Ject's True Balanced work on turntables and phono preamplifiers: in the maker's view it is with an MC that a balanced connection gives its best in dynamics, soundstage and quietness. Since moving coils take more work to produce and cost more than MMs, the purpose of the MC1 is to bring them within reach. Compared with an MM the maker cites more clarity, a better defined stereo image and greater transparency.
In a moving-coil cartridge the stylus and coil assembly is very light, which brings a more extended frequency response and quicker transients, hence more detail and finer resolution of quiet signals. The lower source impedance makes it less sensitive to outside disturbance and cuts hum. Output level is lower, though, typically by about 20 dB, which is why Pro-Ject advises a good-quality phono stage.
The generator uses an N40H neodymium magnet and a square coil wound in 6N OFC pure copper. The body is ABS optimised against resonance and brings overall mass to about 5 g; the medium compliance, 18 μm/mN, suits it to most entry and mid-level turntables. Fixing follows the half-inch standard, with threaded holes that let you fit it without nuts. It runs at 1.9 g into a load between 100 and 470 Ohm.
Specifications
- Principle: moving coil (MC)
- Output at 1 kHz: 0.4 mV at 3.54 cm/s
- Separation between channels, 1 kHz: over 27 dB
- Trackability, 315 Hz: 70 μm
- Compliance, dynamic: 18 μm/mN
- Bandwidth: 20 Hz - 20 kHz, within 1 dB
- Stylus: spherical diamond, aluminium cantilever
- Generator: N40H neodymium magnet, square coil in 6N OFC copper
- Tracking weight: 1.7 to 2.1 g, 1.9 g suggested
- Tip to mounting face: 17 mm
- Vertical tracking angle: 22°
- Suggested resistive load: 100-470 Ohm
- Body: ABS, optimised against resonance
- Fixing: 1/2 inch pitch, threaded holes
- Mass of the cartridge: 5 g
