Hi Drew,

I happen to have an MMC20CL from eBay, as well as an SMMC20EN from Soundsmith.

The SMMC is my favourite overall, because it is a lot clearer in the upper frequencies. The CL has the edge for tracking ability but is is a very smooth sounding cartridge! I paid 30 pounds for mine in original box with accessories and in mint condition, not even dirty at the tip. It was two years ago. 

The Soundsmith is not that well made in my opinion, it's black, and the cantilever looks crude compared to original B&O ones. But it does deliver for my money.

Hi Jacques

what's with the dirty tips? Can they be cleaned? One I looked at had a brown tip. 

Well it could just be a light artifact. But yes they can be cleaned. Do not pay silly money. Sellers are often very optimistic because of eBay's preposterous price tags. An MMC is not worth a punt if it is worn. 

The one you are probably watching -22? - looks fine, but will it ever sound any good?

All a matter of taste. I too have a collection of 20CLs and a SMMC20EN. I also have a couple of cartridges retipped with a shibata stylus by Axel. The CLs actually differ quite a bit but have the smooth sound described above. They are definitely temperature sensitive - much better warm. The shibata cartridge seems less sensitive and has a similar detailed but warm sound. The SMMCEN is far more modern sounding - much more treble - almost CD like in clarity but I personally find it tiring to listen to for any extended time.I have not heard the softened version. The styluses on the SMMC cartridges are totally different to the B&O designs - and interestingly the diamonds are orientated 45 degrees differently to the B&O designs. Smaller diamonds as well.

The Soundsmith cartridges are all based on the MMC1-4 design using more modern materials. The SMMC20 range cleverly takes the SMMC1-4 and positions it in the bigger shell and has a small piece of circuit board on the back attaching the 4 contacts to an adapter to allow connection to the older type arm. This gives the impression of slight Heath Robinson design but is in my view a clever adaptation of an existing design to allow wider use. The market for the MMC20 range is clearly small and completely new cartridge would be uneconomic or ridiculously expensive. Soundsmith should take huge credit for catering to this market with a cutting edge design, which is hand made. The Voice cartridge is the ultimate version if one has the funds!!

Axel seems to be doing a roaring trade in retipping older MMCs and comes highly recommended.

Hi Jacques

Here is a picture from the auction, see the darker tip. My friends CL has a completely clear white cantilever. 

Seller claims less than 100 hours. Current price is $200 AUD which is about $160 american dollars, perhaps 120 euros.

Drew Login to view image

Hi Peter

can Axel  turn an EN into a CL with sapphire cantilever and contact line stylus?

most of his offerings on his website appear to be aluminium with shibata

Drew

Yes I saw the picture. Seems fine to me. Mine looks like that, with the yellow glue.

You can turn any MMC into any MMC, because the generators are all the same!

I understood about the generators, I wondered if Axel had the sapphire cantilevers and the same contact line stylus.

I was thinking that with many of the stylus profile developments of the 80's we might be able to do better than the MMC20CL these days...

Andrew

Yes he has the sapphire ones.