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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
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rauliruegas
13,112 posts
 
Dear @edgewear : """ but I don’t hear the sonic benefits compared to Stevenson, so I decided to stick with Ikeda’s original specifications.."""


It’s weird, for say the least, that you can’t be abble/aware of the quality performance in cartridges running with Lôfgren A alignment and Stevenson alignment when the last one has way higher tracking distortion levels in all recorded LP surfce but the lAst 3mm.
Something is wrong down there with your room/system resolution levels or even with your ears sensitivity or the overall analog rig and set up.

R.


chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@nandric FR-702. According to Syntax this one
is made for European market. I am also not sure about that but
well that this one has shorter cantilever than the rest.

Probably refurbished sample if it’s shorter, just guessing

@edgewear On visual inspection the cantilever of the MC-702 doesn’t appear to be any shorter. This can be deceptive, but it is confirmed by the fact that it exactly hits the three ’o’ points of the Stevenson alignment on the Feickert protractor, just like the other three.

nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Dear chakster, With MM kinds we have had the luxury of Raul's
investigations and recommendations. But those who prefer 
MC kinds were on their own. This was an much more expensive
search. So the only way was to sell ''some'' in order  to buy 
some other. That is why I kept FR-7f and sold all other. With 
Ikeda's series 9 cantiverless kinds the situation was even more
difficult because of lack of information. Incomprehensible to my
mind but Ikeda obviously deed not spend much money for P&R.
So there are only few who are familiar with this series. No
wonder Ikeda returned to the ''old kind'' in his latest 9 series.
I own 9 TT but , alas, the FR-7fz and REX are in different league.


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rauliruegas
13,112 posts
 
Dear @edgewear:  """  This is clearly what Ikeda had intended. """

unfortunatelly Ikeda was a follower of the ignorance of almost all tonearms japanese manufacturers whom choosed by ignorance Stevenson alignment, was like a wrong " fashion " in those times and additional to that fashion Ikeda made other mistake when left fixed the AZ  alignment parameter too. 


R.
bukanona
174 posts
 
IMO Ikeda took a as sample  Empire tonearm and made it better. As I understood he have improved it further after Fidelity Research. So he was follower of Empire. 
As about geometry my Saec 308sx works with weird geometry. So to stick to geometry as the holy grail isn't easy path.
I am till today feel embaressement about Saec due to bad geometry and yes I don't feel safe with it. Although it works so I will keep it despite bad math. 
 


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