Fidelity Research cartridges

As I have used the FR-7f, I have come to appreciate it a fair bit more than the FR-7. Better treble and far better transient response in my set-up. In fact, it is one of the better carts I have ever tried for listening to jazz.

Furthermore, the other interesting news is that I have just picked up a Sony XL-88D (thanks Jonathan for pointing it out - I ended up picking it up). I am anxiously awaiting delivery and will report back.

T-bone, if you use your FR-7f in a FR-66s connecting it with a good phono silver cable (not the Kondo one but maybe the Crystal Cable Dreamline) and put it through a Kondo KSL transformer you will end up with a fantastic result.

Also the Titan i and the Olympos match very good with this "old Ikeda tonearm". I would say those are some of the best modern designs, the FR-7f is in my ears the "best old cartidge".

T-Bone, how do you think about the Sony XL-88D after testing it? I just received a FR-7fz and will compare it to the FR-7f. Did you consider using a flywheel for your blue star?

My XL-88D is out of commission. It was almost dead ("just resting") on arrival because of a softish suspension. I have another XL-88 which I may use as a donor motor and try to get the motor transplanted into the 88D, or perhaps more likely the 88D cantilever mounted onto the 88 motor.

I have not found an FR-7fz, but I am happily using an FR-7f on an SME long arm now.

I lost out on an auction for a Micro flywheel recently. Geez they are expensive...

Hello T_Bone, when you use a FR-7f then you are on the right track already. It is a very good System. The FR-7fz is not the last version (even when the "z" suggests that), it is a 7 series with a higher output, 0,25mV (easier for a lot of Phonostages, the other ones are below 0.2mV), 5 ohm Impedance, 7x10(-6) Dyne and is like all from this series a blind buy when you can get it. When you want to see the body, go to my System, there is a pic :-)
It has an interesting History, in Japan there a specially selected 7f* units made, too, custom order with specs you can even dream on 30 years later. I listened to one of those, it was the first time where I thought the description "You will eat your heart out" hit me. Unfortunately too rare to start a discussion about that, but I am absolutely sure, when a manufacturer today would build such cartridges again (with different optics) and the Hype which is made for average units today, it would be a revolution.