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Fidelity Research cartridges

Any FR cartridge experts out there? Raul? Dertonarm? Syntax?
I have had an FR-7 which I bought a while ago. I tried it ever so briefly when I got it on an arm I now recognize as not being able to handle that weight (close, but no cigar). I just now pulled it out for kicks and after getting it adjusted with the big counterweight, I am VERY pleasantly surprised. Actually, I'm feeling kind of bubbly. It does not dig out the utmost in detail, but it just sounds very right.

Are there any other FR carts out there which are real steals if still in good condition? I know the MC-702 and the FR-1Mk2 and Mk3f by name, with good reps being assigned to the Mk3 and the MC-702. Given that the MC-702 and the FR-7 look quite similar, and they were offered at about the same time, what is different? And is the FR-7 just an integrated headshell version of the FR-1Mk3?
t_bone
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I knew you will say it, haha
sorry 
edgewear
543 posts
 
Yes, it’s unforgivable to divert attention away from the FR-7, isn’t it? 😉

Getting back on the right - uh - track, changing the P2S distance of the FR-64S (or FX for that matter) when using the FR-7 is not a very good idea.

With P2S distance at 230mm you get perfect Stevenson alignment (the stylus ’hits’ all three ’o’ points on the Feickert protractor). This is clearly what Ikeda had intended. Changing to 231.5mm changes the geometry of the tonearm to Baerwald, but it will not be possible to align the FR-7 to this geometry. At least not according to the Feickert protractor. With the fixed headshell arrangement of the FR-7 there’s no way to adjust this.

I did try the Baerwald geometry with other (adjustable) cartridges, but I don’t hear the sonic benefits compared to Stevenson, so I decided to stick with Ikeda’s original specifications in all cases.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Dear chakster, I am not as patient as you are . So I can't wait till I
find whatever about this ''mysterious''  Takeda '' Ivory'' cart. Next
to your impressive cart collection you also have many carts pictures
so I hope  also Ivory? 

nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
edgewear, Being dogmatic is only ''allowed'' if you are strong
believer in whatever religion . There are not many carts with
fast headshells. The most can be adjusted in their headshell  
to whatever geometry ( aka eff. length). Even Dertonarm used
his FR-7fz with Bearwald geometry. But I am not sure about
Syntax about whom I don't dear to guess. 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
So I can't wait till I find whatever about this ''mysterious'' Takeda '' Ivory'' cart. Next to your impressive cart collection you also have many carts pictures so I hope also Ivory?

@nandric this is the only Miyabi Ivory picture i can find. Art Dudley has mentioned this model in his review from the late 90’s.

BTW The Miyabi MCA looks completely different.

@edgewear

I did try the Baerwald geometry with other (adjustable) cartridges, but I don’t hear the sonic benefits compared to Stevenson, so I decided to stick with Ikeda’s original specifications in all cases.

right, me too

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