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Cart recommendations for Fidelity Research FR-64S

Hello,

I have a Fidelity Research FR-64S mounted as a second arm on a Clearaudio Innovation Wood Compact. I wanted to use this arm as a multi purpose arm so I can play 78RPM records, mono 33s and lastly stereo 33s.

I was thinking of buying the Ortofon SPU series of carts as a starting point.
First, the 78RPM, then down the road a bit a mono SPU, and even further down the road a stereo SPU.

My thinking here was that to switch back an forth between these respective headshells It would require little to no work resetting arm weight and VTA.

The FR-64S did come with the original Fidelity Research headshell which weighs 20.7 grams. It also came with an Orsonic AV-101S headshell which weighs 14.5 grams and also a SAEC headshell which weighs 10.4 grams, so all of these are options.

I am very open to your thoughts and suggestions here as I am a novice with the higher end of audio and analog.

Thank you in advance.
guitarslimjunior
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
Congratulations on procuring one of the great arms in analogue history.
Changing headshells is a breeze and whilst some find the original FR headshells very heavy......I find that they mate well, especially with the heavier LOMC cartridges out there.
Whilst the FR-64s is a high mass arm theoretically suited to low compliance cartridges.......I, and several other users......have found this arm to be a surprisingly fine match to many of the vintage high compliance MM cartridges. In this respect, the heavy FR series of headshells will help keep the arm counterweight within reasonable limits.
The lighter headshells also work very well in my experience but if mated with a light MM cartridge........you may not have be able to balance the arm with the stock counterweight?
Good luck and enjoy.
guitarslimjunior OP
12 posts
 
Thanks Halcro,

I forgot to mention I also have a lighter counterweight coming soon. the guy who gave me the arm just has to dig it out.

What do you use with your arm?
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
I have both the FR-64s and FR-66s and use the FR-7f, Dynavector XV-1s and ZYX UNIverse for LOMCs.....but then I have about 20 other vintage MM cartridges. You can look on my Systems Page :^)
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
There are two extra weights for the FR-64. 170 and 190 gr.
if I remember well. Regarding the arm mass: the lighter the
headshell the smaller the mass and (contra intuitive) the
heavier the weight the smaller the mass ( closer to the pivot).

Regards,
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