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
As about suspension - EM has hollow white neoprene balls as part of suspension. Not balls to be exact it’s more looks like short white mushrooms.

In my 9 CV it’s less complicated - no "mushrooms" present.  

Suspensions are different.

nandric, my CV was rebuilt by my friend ~ 1 year ago, if Expert stylus will fail ask him:  service et cartridgeretip dot com



Was it problematic to find fully working original sample?
I use only original cartridges, all my FR and Ikeda are like new, fully original. I wouldn't do any rebuild of any special cartridges handcrafted by masters like Ikeda. I would rather find another original sample in mint condition if something wrong with those carts, but luckily mine are good. 

If there anyone else who will rate Miyabi cartridges over FR-7f and Fz ? 
If you speak about Ikeda cantileverless yes it's difficult to get it as new. Mine CV had some distortion in left channel. Not much but after a while it was evident that I have to look for service. In Ikeda canleverless is you start to get distortion ussually it doesn't mean that diamond is worn it means that magnet gap is filled with debris and coils can't move freely. You have to keep your very records clean if you want to use it for a long time without worries. Cleaning isn't the service which changes sound or Ikeda ideas. Also Ikeda used quite tricky method to align coils and to void vobble of stylus but it can be adjusted quite fast if it is known what to do.
Em price in Yahoo japan was circa 200 eur so I was too curious not to try. This time it won't be easy as master will have to do new coil but for such peanuts it's worth to try. Diamond is good. 

@bukanova interesting, i know Nandric blame me, but my Ikeda 9 III still on the shelf along with FR64s + b60. I like the convenience of conventional cartridges like the FR7fz and Miyabi. It seems like cantileverless Ikeda is not so convenient?