Opinions on a Grace F8c for a freshy

I used an F8 and an F9 back in the day. I found them quite good but I replaced them with an MC at not too much extra money and, in comparison, the F series was relatively 'flat' sounding. Never went back. But if you can get the F8 cheap and it works it would be a good deal I think.

@newbee 

Its so hard to tell from watching youtube videos etc as its a compressed file to start with and of course my setup wont be anything like what the person is using. 

But reading stuff on the net suggests its a decent cartridge. 

This one comes on a headshell so thats a bonus for me as i have already spent more than I initially wanted to hahah

How much did you pay for you replacement MC? What was it?

Buy an F8 or F9 cheap and then send it to Sound Smith for their Ruby upgrade.  The resulting cartridge will outperform many low to medium priced LOMC cartridges, which of course is a matter of my opinion.  But my opinion is based on owning an SS upgraded F9Ruby and also owning several LOMC cartridges.

@lewm 

Is that an expensive venture???

If you buy an F9 there is no need to send it to Soundsmith, they have replacement styli ready to ship, starting at $149. I recently bought the nude elliptical but have not tried it yet.

https://www.sound-smith.com/parts/grace-f9-replacement-stylus

I think SS offers 3 levels of Grace replacement styli, but I don’t know if they fit the F8.  Even the middle model beat the unused stock stylus on the NIB F9 I bought some years back. These SS styli are a true gift. I use the top OCL on my F14 and it’s excellent.

OP. My poor memory can't recall the prices for the Grace units. I think it was in the $400 range. The MC was a medium output Micro Benz - I think it cost about $700 +/- then. Its more now if you can still find one.

chridabs, The other guys correctly point out that you need not buy the most expensive replacement stylus assembly for the Grace.  I did, however. Mine has the sapphire cantilever and their precision line contact stylus.  I think I paid $350. No doubt it is more expensive these days.  To minimize your cost, you could buy one of their lesser replacement assemblies.  The other factor in cost is how much you pay for the basic cartridge. F8s are generally cheaper than F9s, and so far as I know the difference is in the stylus assembly, not in the body.  So F8 + one of the SS stylus assemblies = total cost.

Consider advanced stylus shape (cost more/last much longer, thus not so costly over time) AND the cantilever material.

Not excited about f8, I helped another friend get a new Stylus for his Grace f9, it sounds great, both here and at his place. Stylus is replaceable via Soundsmith

https://www.sound-smith.com/parts/grace-f9-replacement-stylus

however, consider what you can get for the same or less money.

My 1st New MC was AT33PTG/II, it's a winner, with terrific channel separation and tight channel balance for amazing imaging. Microlinear on Boron.

Lately I got lucky with some AT160ML MM with Beryllium Cantilevers that I had VAS check for me after I bought them used. 

I chose a SUT with a variety of settings including PASS for MM, so I can keep using the MM Phono Stage in my Vintage Tube Preamp mx110z.

I ended up getting an F9 and will send to get upgraded once i settle my system in. 

Still need to get a stage and cables for the tone arm. Any suggestions??

Thank you all!

do you know what the bottom of the one you bought is?

this shows a collet attached to the bottom of the post to protect the pins

this listing shows 5 din male pins unprotected.

Sometimes we use right angle connectors to change direction without bending anything.

i have a few pictures but i am tryingto upload 

one here 

https://ibb.co/BVfvbSjK

now that it is online, I can simply paste it's URL in the 'image' popup, and enter 555 for the width, click OK

@elliottbnewcombjr 

Look how sexy that is hahah

It is a beauty, will look great on the Luxman 441 TT, enjoy it

F9 ruby great!

Level II Ruby GREAT!

@elliottbnewcombjr Appreciate the help!

@au_lait I presume i can send it to soundsmith for an upgrade. Do you know off teh top of your head how much that would be? I am going to call them tomorrow when they are open.

It is not obvious, but you can change the stylus yourself. I meant ’via’ like ’choose and buy the new stylus from’ Soundsmith. I should have been more clear, my friend thought he had to send his in, but he ordered the stylus and I changed it for him at his house. 

I advise CL contact line on Sapphire Cantilever (they say they will give you a Ruby colored one). My friend’s was red.

this, in a variety of colors indicating which specific one you buy, is what you receive

You grab the sides and pull the old one out (no tools, just a pressure fit), and push the new replacement in. The rear side flanges guarantee perfect alignment.

https://www.sound-smith.com/parts/grace-f9-replacement-stylus

NEW!! Six GRACE F9 Replacement stylus are now available!

All models are 25 x 10-6cm/Dyne  (dynamic compliance)

Soundsmith OCL Nude stylus-Ruby Cantilever RUBY-OCL (RED)  $499
Soundsmith laser mounted CL Nude stylus- Sapphire Cantilever "RUBY"- CL (RED)  $399**
Soundsmith Nude CL Stylus-Aluminum Cantilever RS-9U (BLUE)  $299
Soundsmith Nude Elliptical stylus-Aluminum Cantilever RS-9E (BLUE)  $199
Boron cantilever with Micro-Ridge stylus - LIMITED EDITION $999

NEW - low cost Soundsmith Bonded Elliptical design - Alum Cantilever RS-9EB (GREEN) $149 (not shown) - VERY limited supply - for "general purpose" use.

** - We are now supplying the "Ruby-CL" as a Sapphire cantilever, laser drill mounted CL stylus

(Ruby and Sapphire are identical materials - only the color differentiates the two)  

My pick for my 1st Moving Coil (and I highly recommend) is AT33PTG/ii which is MicroLinear on tapered boron, for $650. delivered.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/387925592852?_skw=at33ptg%2Fii&epid=27032781048&itmmeta=01K1X4Y5Z9KDVM8RA6JYQSWYNZ&hash=item5a522acb14%3Ag%3AbvQAAeSwn8xnq2tx&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1f8ANXCrE5B319vKighqSMTcJHwJKZoGfD3nHqaxoTtDDlWTF0j27OthogTJoYl9mt33smBraS94ajiboZ5H3RmP9ohqxclqt%2BvlX%2Bg5yC8K%2BOBipVXZyvC39PZrhSRQoo%2BWBjLj4HLrTAYV45nwssub6mpRKSuNoYP5h5q%2FW%2BOZlwa3GOEgHiWpIgHIQE%2FwFUuhSXGiM%2BpfNKtjw9iHgeKU%2FXjQHuolYMyrti0QkPnoPAkUDwwqmNLEjL0yVlf3sE%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-jf-KSPZg&LH_ItemCondition=3

After a few years of active playing, I traded my 1st one in with AT and got a new replacement cartridge for a bit less than half of AT's full price, so over time they cost less. 

It is true of any and every MM cartridge I’ve ever seen; you can replace the stylus assembly yourself without factory or any professional assistance. It’s true of many high output MI cartridges like Nagaoka and B&O, also.

Boron cantilever with Micro-Ridge stylus - LIMITED EDITION $999

Has anybody tried this one?