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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
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
What is confusing me is a very rare MM stylus with number Gace L11 (i can't upload this image), but it is just like my L12, both designed for MM cartridges of course. There was an extremely rare F12 MM, but why the MM stylus called L11 if there was F11 MC cartridge? Around the same time Asakura Two was released, by mistake here it is called MC, but it's MM, both F11 and F12 styli looks exactly like Asakura's Two styli.   

So something went wrong with the numbers in Grace catalog :)
It's really hard to understand the logic behind it. 
L11 stylus is MM, but F11 cartridge is MC

BTW my favorite Grace MC is Asakura's One 

 
lewm
13,027 posts
 
Given its output voltage and its high-ish internal impedance/resistance, this seems to be what we now would call a "High Output" Moving Coil, meaning the coil is fairly hefty in order to generate such a healthy output voltage. I wonder how it compares to the various Grace MMs for SQ.  Once again, I am surprised by the very existence of a cartridge.
ateal OP
97 posts
 
@edgewear, I decided to sell shortly after posting my last post above. I just found I could not live with the high frequency extension that really didn’t mellow out to my liking. Let us know what your thoughts are if you get one. 


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.

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Strange, in my opinion Grace are high resolution cartridges, i can only judge their MC by the reference Asakura's Two (latest signature model of the Grace owner). Since the internal impedance of all Grace MC is high 23 Ohm - 47 Ohm (depends on the model) the cartridge is very sensitive to loading and it is primary effect the high frequency extension. A phono stage with optional loading is a must for Grace Moving Coil carts. Some people prefer darker sounding cartridges and it's nothing but a personal preferences. There is nothing wrong with Grace MC. 
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