Theory about Fidelity Research MC & PMC Carts


I have a theory that the Fidelity Research MC 201 and 202 were the US market version of the PMC-1 and PMC-3. They were all produced from 1980 to 1984 and the specs on each look very similar.

Also, I have searched the entire internet and found no evidence of either the PMC’s being available in USA or the 201/202 being available in Japan.

Does anyone have any info to support or reject this theory.

Thanks in advance.


ateal
Your erudition and wit are fun to read, as always. But I don’t think the question is whether Vienna = Wien (of course it does).

Ateal is asking if the FR MC-201 and MC-202 are the same cartridges as the FR PMC-1 and PMC-3.

If they are, substitutio salva veritate applies. But if they aren’t, it doesn’t. If they aren’t, it would be like saying Vienna = Salzburg.

@bimasta @nandric

Your erudition and wit are fun to read, as always.

I must say my frined Nikola has repeat his favorite joke about Vienna 50 times already (on this forum). I like Vienna, beautiful city. In my languare Vienna or Wien starts with the "V", but different FR models starts with different numbers. I believe that MC-201/202 is not PMC-3
I think based on price point, specs and the stylus profile, that the PM-3 and MC 202 would be very similar. Not the same, and not one better than the other, but very similar.

I have a PMC-1 and have just received an MC 202 today in the post, so once I have a few hours on it to loosen up the suspension I will be able to compare.

The PMC-1 is an amazing cartridge to my ears and suits my particular needs perfectly. Curiosity led me to buy the MC 202.
@ateal You can have my PMC-3 in mint condition because my FR-7fz is much better cartridge than any of them. 

According to Jonathan Carr who's a friend of Isamu Ikeda: 

"From my perspective (that of an active cartridge designer), the closest thing to a non-integrated headshell version of the FR-7 was the PMC-3, but even this remained quite a way off. The FR-7 had a radically different coil former (cube-shaped), likewise for the magnetics (dual magnets, quad polepieces). IMO, the FR7s were by far the most interesting of FR's MC designs, but the 7's basic design concept dictated that they would always be big, heavy monsters, suited for relatively few modern arms...  My favorite FR-7s are the f and fz. The very low coil inductance of the FR-7 implies that loading can be fairly flexible, so I wouldn't be so concerned with the low impedance. Also, none of the FR-7s are overachievers in detail, and the top end extension is a little curtailed. so the downsides of transformer stepups won't be overly apparent. However, in consideration of the low coil inductance, should you choose a stepup transformer, I would look for a toroidal-core type. FWIW, I've known Isamu Ikeda for many years, and not once has he suggested that the FR-7 was any kind of successor to the FR-1. Even today he appears to remain proud of what he accomplished with the 7 (also the Ikeda 9), but the FR-1 hardly ever comes up in our discussions. "
Not sure I need your PMC-3 thanks.

Also not quite sure why you need to reference the FR-7fz and state that it’s better than all of them. There is always something better, obviously.

Also my post was only related to the PMC and MC series. If you have no info that could help answer the original question then no need to use my post to bragg about your equipment.