The Pick it MC2 is a moving-coil design that puts an elliptical diamond on an aluminium cantilever and gives 0.4 mV output. Against the MC1 it aims for a richer tone and more fine detail, while still suiting entry and mid-level turntables.
Pick it MC2: stylus and generator
What sets it apart from its smaller sibling is the tip: in place of the spherical there is an elliptical diamond, to which Pro-Ject attributes a fuller tone, subtler shading and a better frequency response. The stated character is smooth and well articulated, fresh and lively, an all-rounder for any kind of music. The suggested load narrows to 50-200 Ohm and dynamic compliance drops to 15 μm/mN.
For the most critical parts, diamond and cantilever, Pro-Ject looked for Japanese components and found a capable motor at a contained cost, which is housed in a body designed and produced in-house to be free of resonance. That body is ABS and overall mass is about 5 g. Voicing took a year and a half of listening tests and measurement. The N40H neodymium magnet and the square coil in 6N OFC pure copper are shared with the rest of the family.
Like any MC it has a very light moving assembly, which extends the response and speeds up transients, and a low source impedance that leaves it less prone to hum. Output is lower than an MM's, typically by about 20 dB, so a quality phono stage is needed; Pro-Ject regards it as the natural choice for making use of a balanced connection. It fits the half-inch standard with threaded holes, no nuts required, and runs at 1.9 g.
Specifications
- Principle: moving coil (MC)
- Voltage at 1 kHz: 0.4 mV at 3.54 cm/s
- Stereo separation, 1 kHz: over 27 dB
- Tracking capability, 315 Hz: 70 μm
- Compliance, dynamic: 15 μm/mN
- Response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz, within 1 dB
- Stylus: elliptical diamond, aluminium cantilever
- Generator: square coil in 6N OFC copper, N40H neodymium magnet
- Tracking weight: 1.9 g suggested, 1.7-2.1 g span
- Stylus tip to mounting face: 17 mm
- Tracking angle, vertical: 22°
- Suggested load: 50-200 Ohm
- Fixing: 1/2 inch standard with threaded holes
- Mass: 5 g
