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Any Love for the Grace F10 L Moving Coil Cartridge

Just picked up one of these super rare cartridges and wondered if any of our members had ever owned one and if so could offer any feedback on what to expect.

I had convinced myself that I would not buy any more cartridges and had actually being selling some off to pay for a rebuild on one of my most valued cartridges. Unfortunately for me I have a weakness for those very rare vintage cartridges and I simply can't stop myself if one becomes available at the right price.

The model I have coming is the "L" version with hollow Boron cantilever (hollow boron is another weakness of mine). The specs are as follows.

  • Frequency characteristics: 20~30,000Hz±2dB
  • Output voltage: 0.75mV(5cm/sec, 1,000Hz, 45°)
  • Impedance: 23Ω±10%(1,000Hz)
  • Channel balance: within 0.5dB(1,000Hz)
  • Crosstalk: below -25dB(1,000Hz)
  • Stylus tip: 0.2×0.8mil Advanced Luminal Trace
  • Stylus pressure: 1.8gr (±0.5gr)
  • Compliance: 20×10-6cm/dyne
  • Cantilever: Boron composite
Like my other posts, I will report back with my own findings for those who stumble across this thread in the future.

Thanks.
ateal

Showing 3 responses by edgewear

edgewear
543 posts
 
@ateal,
I was wondering how you are getting along with the Grace. I have an angle on a NOS Grace F-11L, about which I haven’t been able to find any info. The only spec I could find is that the output level is supposedly 0.75 mV, the same as yours. This suggests there could be some sonic similarities between the two. Look forward to hear your assesment after break in. Thank you!

edgewear
543 posts
 
Okay, thanks for sharing this. I'm a sucker for vintage MC's, but I think I'll pass on the F-11L.

edgewear
543 posts
 
Chakster, I'm not suggesting there's something wrong with them. I'm well aware this characteristic very much depends on loading and the system as a whole, so I didn't make any value judgment based on that. But the description didn't wet my appetite either.

Actually something else came along and I decided to give the Dyna Ultimo DV-30C a chance. I've always been curious about this one, as it was highly rated by AJ van den Hul back in the day when he was still an audio reviewer. Long time ago!

Perhaps some other day I will give Grace a try.
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