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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
bukanona
174 posts
 
just try to push it a little bit more - up to 2,3-2,5g. It will be OK for you and your records. 
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
bukanona,  the new stylus  for Ikeda's cantileverless 9 series
cost 278 GBP by ''Expert stylus''. If other repair possibilities
are available is unknown. But, as I already mentioned, the
owner of ''Expert stylus'' is good friend of the Decca owner
so, possibly, they can figure out what can be done. 
BTW their own stylus is called ''Partrace'' an version of micro
ridge.
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Addition, I forget to mention the following. The stylus by Ikeda's
9 series cantileverless kinds are fastened in different way to their
''holder''. This means critical reg. stylus length. However ''Expert
stylus'' also produces styli and can cut them at the right length.
This may imply that other ''repair services'' can't provide the
right styli. To me the repair possibility is necessary  pre condition
to buy any cart.

bukanona
174 posts
 
That is good news, thank you Nandric, now I do have plan B.
 
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
Yes , special  for ''choose chakster'' . I am wondering why he
bought Ikeda 9c, III without insurance that the precious can
be repaired in the West? But he may think that provided the cart
is new or NOS it will function for the rest of his life.
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