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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
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Dear ddriveman, I have read and reread your ''mini-shootout''
many times. The reason is ''obvious''. It is very satisfying to
see confirmation of our own opinion or judgment. In addition the
price comparison between the winners made me feel as a very
smart person (grin). I noticed the mentioning of Ikeda 9 C, mk III
which was, alas, not possible to adjust optimal during the test.
But the ''injustice'' done to the ''poor thing'' is corrected by your 
addendum. However you deed not vote for the FR-7fz as equal
to your (beloved?) Coral stone so your praise of the 9C,mk III
above the FR-7 FZ is not very convincing. I myself have no problem
at all to love Maria equal to Silvia despite their different qualities.
In this sense I love my FZ equal to my C9,mk II. However i just
got the REX. The latest of Ikeda's cantileverless kinds. So I
fall in love as never before and forget Maria as well Silvia.
I seem to agree with ''American Marx'': ''If you don't like my
principle I have other''...
ateal
97 posts
 
@ddriveman is your EPC the integrated headshell version. I have the silver MK3 and it is absolutely fantastic sounding.

It is so smooth yet reveals everything without any listening fatigue. I guess that is down to the super flat frequency response. 

It also has a great bass response.

I also have no suspension problems.
ddriveman
171 posts
 
Ateal,

Yes, my technics EPC100MkIV is the thegrated headshell version in P Mount version.
nkj
130 posts
 
This is great to see all this information here from experienced users.

I just got a FR64s and FR 7f that I hope to assemble this week and try. I also have the Koetsu RSP that I will attempt to put on the arm with a Jelco headshell for now. I do have the lighter counterweight to use as an option as well.




nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 

Ikeda's tonearm geometry versus FR-7 series cartridges.

Nobody ever explained why the most Japanese tonearms

followed  Stivenson geometry. As is well known(?) the FR

64/66 as well the new  Ikeda 's can be adjusted to Bearwald

by changing the spindle- pivot distance to 231,5 mm with

246 mm effective length. But then the integrated headshell

by FR-7 kinds does not provide for ''effective length'' change.

Some Japanese MM carts with integrated headshells do have

such provision. As my comrade Don informed me about his

Supremo cantileverless kind also has such provision by

its integrated headshell. At ''the end'' of the headshell there

are two small screws by which one can move the stylus forward

and back for the needed distance.

My FR-7 fz sample was modify by Van den Hul to Bearwald

geometry in addition to boron cantilever and Van den Hul

(aka ''Geiger'') stylus.

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