2. analog
  3. 129564-4819

GLANZ MFG 610LX

I have been searching for this uber rare GLANZ cartridge since mid 80´s as I missed my opportunity to purchase one when it was for sale back in the day. I knew its reputation as one of finest cartridges available but I just missed it, young and foolish I was. In the same price category, I bought SHURE V-15V-MR instead.

Now thirty years later I owe one, NOS found in a barren town near the Arctic Circle. It sounds just fantastic out of the box. I am very lucky as this model is so seriously rare.
harold-not-the-barrel
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

In the good old times when we discussed only 3 Glanz ''versions''

which I was also able to remember I was one of the ''experts''

regarding this ''brand''. Alas the nomenclature moved in the

AT direction so while I still own MF 31l and MF 71 l I have no idea

what they are worth at present. I must also confess that I sold

my MF 61 because of hum. Back then there was just one member

who ''pretended'' to own one.

If this MFG 610LX is ''one step below 71 L'' I have no reason to

panic. Qua cartridge collection I am still ''one step above'' chakster.

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@acman3

The chart in the pictures of this listing shows the Glanz MFG 610lx, one step below the Glanz 71l

No, it’s 10 steps ahead, look at the cantilevers (Boron vs. Aluminum).
71 has Line Contact stylus, 61 and 610LX have Parabolic stylus, lower mass etc.
I have owned MFG-71, even MFG-31 is better, but the MFG-610LX has unique cantilever and unique stylus tip, i think this model is very close to the MF-61 which i have. You can search for some other users comments regarding the Glanz 61 on audiogon, you will see this is way different from any other Glanz or Astatic (or anything Made by Mitachi).

Here is my 61 and 71: https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10570339_1205709682780530_1387528252583949179_n.jpg?_n...
acman3
4,275 posts
 
Chakster, I have never heard the Glanz Cartridges in question, so I am going from the chart I provided. The 71l has a slightly higher channel separation than the 610lx, which normally dictates the better cartridge. Also Frequency response deviation is tighter on the 71l versus the 610lx They both show to have the same solid diamond line contact stylus. I wish we could see the rest of the chart.

I was wondering where did you learned the MFG 71L was aluminum and the 610lx was boron? Could they have been modified? 

Anyway, I am sure both are great, just found that chart and wanted to add it to the conversation, so we might get some of this convoluted Glanz/Astatic information correct before we die and our wives through them out. :)
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@acman3

I’ve learned everything by buyin all of them, the 71L has huge aluminum cantilever, the 31L has conventional aluminum cantilever, actually ALL Glanz and Astatic comes with aluminum cantileevers, except ONE model - the Glanz MFG-61 (extremely rare, went for 1500 pounds about 5 years ago). It is not modified, it’s the original top of the line Glanz cartridge that has no analog in Astatic line. That’s why it’s such a great cartridge.

The MFG-61 has Paroc stylus, it is also line contact type, but special.
The cantilever is Boron.

As i said earlier the 610LX is not exactly like the earlier 61 model which i’m talking about as the reference. But 610LX looks closer to 61 than any other Glanz. And you will not find the 61 in that chart (manual). What you can do is to look on ebay for 610LX pictures of the cantilever and then look at any other Glanz/Astatic cantilevers. All of them comes with conventional aluminum cantilever like this The only difference is the lower models are not nude (the diamonds).

If you think the 71L is better go and buy it, but 610LX has better cantilever (maybe Beryllium or Boron), i’ve bought my 71L NOS, it was shipped to Axel to change the damper only, the cantilever was intact. You will find Glanz thread on audiogon to find more information. 71L and 61 is day and night in terms of sound, materials and price!

To make the story short: the best Glanz ever made is MF-61 with Boron Cantilever and Paroc nude diamond.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Dear chakster, Your basic premise is obviously that boron is

''better material'' for the cantilevers than ''aluminum'''. What if

your premisse is not true? The most aluminum cantilevers are

actually ''alloy''; usually with magnesium. Then the advantage

of aluminum is that the stylus can be pressure fitted . In all so

called ''exotic materials'' the stylus need to be glued. So there

is glue between stylus and cantilever. Pressure fitted styli have

more rigid connection with the cantilever. Then you own FR-

7f with aluminum cantilever which you seem to like very much.

Takeda san used aluminum for his Miyabi. Ikeda used aluminum

for the most of his cartridges. Andreoli used aluminum for his

Magic Diamond (+ other carts) while lately ''our own'' Dertonarm

used aluminum for his Archon, Aiwon and Palladian.

In my own ''modest'' collection FR-7fz, Magic Diamond, Miyabi

and Archon belong to my ''best'' next to Allaerts MC2, Benz

LP mr, Urushi Blue Sky , Ikeda 9C , Transfiguration Phoenix and

ZYX Airy 3-X.

More to discover