Opinions on a Grace F8c for a freshy

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.

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.

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

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

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.