Sony XL-33
Sony XL-33 moving-coil cartridge, with aluminium cantilever and diecast body, intended for turntables fitted with a dedicated preamplifier or transformer.
Description
The Sony XL-33 is a moving-coil (MC) cartridge, designed to fit a turntable tonearm. It belongs to the family of high-fidelity cartridges designed to reproduce the signal cut into the groove with minimal alteration, before amplification by the hi-fi system.
Its generator is based on a coreless coil, wound in a figure-of-eight shape. The absence of a magnetic core in the armature limits the losses and distortion usually associated with this type of component, resulting in enhanced sonic clarity. The cantilever, made from rigid aluminium, helps limit resonance interference and improves the mechanical damping of the cartridge. The whole assembly is housed in a diecast aluminium body, which also helps suppress unwanted resonances.
The output voltage of the XL-33 is 0.25 mV, a level significantly lower than that of a moving-magnet (MM) cartridge. This low voltage requires the use of a step-up transformer or a dedicated preamplifier (head amp) to raise the signal before sending it to the amplifier's phono input. The impedance selector of this transformer or preamplifier must be set to 40 ohms or higher: at a lower impedance, the cartridge's rated output voltage cannot be achieved.
This cartridge is aimed at vinyl enthusiasts who already have a system fitted with an amplification stage suited to MC cartridges, or who are willing to invest in a dedicated transformer or preamplifier. It will suit discerning listening, seeking a refined and low-coloration reproduction of the analogue signal.
Technical specifications
| Output voltage | 0,25 mV |
| Minimum recommended transformer/preamplifier impedance | 40 ohms |
What to check before buying used
The coreless coil and aluminium cantilever are vulnerable to lateral impacts: check the stylus alignment and the absence of play in the suspension before purchasing. The stylus, a wear part, should be examined under magnification to detect a flat spot indicative of heavy use. As the XL-33 delivers a very low voltage (0.25 mV), make sure the connection contacts are not oxidised, a fault that severely affects this type of low-output cartridge.
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