LONDON Decca, Tzar DST and similar cartridges

@howardalex What a rare beast you have there FR7fc. Interesting to learn LDR beats it in your system. What headshell and phono cable do you use?

FR-7fc is indeed very rare, but only this model in entire FR-7 range has 0.65 mil CONICAL TIP at the same time higher retail price in 1981 according to this page. But the output at their comparison chart is incorrect for some models, so i will add correct info:

*The best cartridge in FR-7 series is FR-7fz (not 7fc)

The "fz" has a Line Contact stylus tip and 0.24mv output, 5 Ohm impedance.

The "fc" has Conical tip and 0.2mV output, 2-3 Ohm impedance

The "f" has 0.15mm square shank Contact Line stylus and 0.15mV output, 2-3 Ohm impedance.

My advice is to upgrade to FZ
When i did that from F to FZ it was noticeable.

For what its worth I’d rank the FR7fc as the second best, coming closest to the musicality of the LDR.

I believe you did not rank it as NUMBER ONE only because your FC has a conical tip, i'm sure when you will try FZ with Line Contact stylus it will be nearly impossible to find a better cartridge at any price if you have Fidelity-Research 64s or 64fx tonearm for this monster.  

@chakster 
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/cartridge-shoot-out-koetsu-jade-v-spu-v-fr7-v-london-referenc...
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/hear-my-cartridges?page=5 scroll down for the LDR/7fz recordings that you can compare yourself

@bydlo

Oh, i see
from your link:

Fidelity Research FR 7 fz not long returned from the Expert Stylus Company with a new cantilever and Paratrace stylus.

Another Frankenstein, not the original FR-7Fz but refurbished in UK cartridge, so i am not even interested to read more. I use only original cartridges.

What i am trying to say in the post above is that 7fc with Conical tip can’t surpass the 7fz with Line Contact for obvious reason. They are also different internally (impedance and output).

@chakster  In the 2nd link in my post you have a (heroic) @halcro  effort to convey sounds of different cartridges to all of us. You can hear yourself 7fz (presumably original) vs LDR and AS Palladian...if you are interested of course.