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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
dover
2,277 posts
 
@nandric 
My Dynavector Karat Nova 13D is no longer standard.
It has higher output than the original and the stylus profile is now micro ridge. On each of its rebuilds by Dynavector it came back with revised specs. I would be wary of buying one now, as they are fragile and not serviceable any more.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Thanks again dover, I nearly bought one increasing my MC collection
to 41 samples (grin). Difficult to accept the situation with 40 carts
while Nova 13 D seems to be the best but outside of my collection.
At last I learned from the Dutch to be more careful by spending...
They have an saying like: ''think before acting''. My translation was
''ask dover before buying''. 
dover
2,277 posts
 
@nandric 
I'm not so naive as to think there are not better cartridges out there of the new generation than what I have, but they come at a high cost. You have some pretty nice cartridges in your collection. There is as much to be gained from optimisng the synergy between arm/cartridge and cartridge/phono than there is trying to find the holy grail. 

nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Dear dover, ''the holly grail'' is metaphorical name for the
relation of comparison. The schematics is : a is beter than b,
b is better than c, etc.: R (a,b,c...n). Your statement was that
(your) Nova 13 D sounds better than my REX and your own
Kiwame. Because I do value your opinion I thought : ''Nandric
you must try this 13 D!'' But my Dutch background advised:
''ask first'' before buying. Your ''refurbishing story about 13 D''
needed nearer explanation. So I made ''some savings'' 
by asking. BTW the Dutch have the reputation of being the best
traders in the world (grin). 

bukanona
174 posts
 
My two cents about Ikeda 9 EM
Better than 9 CV. Different suspension design. Better sound. Very even and fluent. Even in mono mode :)
Although as one channel shot (open coil), I'll see final image after repair.

So will hunt next for 9 REX and  FR-7f
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