2. analog
  3. 181217-111416

Grace F-9E

After reading a lot of rave reviews of the Grace F-9 cartridge, I've decided to get me one. Those are quite rare, since they were made back in the 1970s (and were discontinued in 1989). I managed to purchase a used one, but upon receiving it, realized that it did not come with the original stylus. It came with a cheap bog spherical stylus. Nevertheless, the cart performed really well and easily surpassed both my Denon DL-103 re-tipped with micro ridge stylus on boron cantilever, and my Empire EDR9 carts.

Needless to say, I was mighty intrigued -- how is it possible that a moving magnet cartridge with $10.00 spherical stylus sounds so much better than a moving coil cartridge with micro ridge stylus on boron cantilever?

So, I started looking for the stylus replacement for my Grace F-9. I couldn't find a suitable one, however I lucked out and found another used Grace F-9 cartridge, but that one was fitted with the F-14E stylus. I ordered it, and when I got it and installed it, I was startled by the way it sounds.

This cartridge completely transformed the sound of my stereo. I've never heard anything like the sound that Grace F-9 with F-14E stylus produces. It is shockingly alive. Full of energy, the instruments and voices leap out of speakers. The dynamics are otherworldly. Often times startling.

This cartridge excels both in vivacious and engrossing sound, as well as in delicate and intricate presentation. Plus it throws an amazing soundstage.

What is the secret sauce that makes this cartridge stand out?

crazybookman

Showing 3 responses by lewm

lewm
12,567 posts
 

You cannot modify cartridge inductance. And if you could, you’d do it to the cartridge not the phono stage. Fret less, listen and enjoy more. Likewise for loading an MC cartridge. If you stick to the 10X or greater rule (load R is at least 10X the internal R of the cartridge), any load R that lies in that domain of values has little effect in SQ, if any.

lewm
12,567 posts
 

wrm, internal impedance of an MM is always very high.  So too is inductance, which is typically the difference between less than 50 micro-Henries (for MC) and hundreds of milli-Henries (for MM), i.e., as much as or more than 10,000X.  So I doubt that internal impedance is much of a factor in any SQ differences among the various Grace MM cartridges.  But I take your testimony to the superiority of the F14 as valid.  One reason the F14 Level II may be "special" is its use of a more advanced stylus shape compared to the Ruby or F9E, namely a microridge or line contact (I think Chakster mentioned microridge) vs an elliptical. That may account more than anything else for the SQ differences.  For that reason, I wonder how the F14II would compare to a Ruby with the SS line contact stylus. (Mine actually has the OCL version from SS.)

lewm
12,567 posts
 

FWIW, Soundsmith make a complete replacement stylus and cantilever assembly for the Grace Ruby cartridge, which was naught but an F9E with a sapphire or ruby cantilever. Best of all, the SS product comes with one of their line contact styli, which should (and does) surpass the performance of the OEM elliptical. This is my opinion, but I can back it up by the fact I own two Grace Ruby cartridges, one OEM and one with the SS replacement stylus. Both are superb but the SS version is best with better treble extension and a cleaner midrange. And yes, this cartridge will blow away many MC cartridges that are adored here. The F14 is good too, based on the testimony of the now absent Chakster. I have not heard an F14

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