Any Love for the Fidelity Research PMC-1 Moving Coil Cartridge

I think you’re wrong about PMC-1, the FR-7f is a much better cartridge, many sellers trying to speculate about FR cartridges trying to sell something that equal to the FR-7f but different, let’s make it clear - there is no other cartridge in FR line (designed by Ikeda-San) that performs as good as the legendary FR-7f and that’s why the FR-7f is much more expensive and absolutely unique in its design (big and heavy monster). I have both the FR-7f and PMC-3 and prefer the FR-7f, but the PMC-3 is very good cartridge too.

Long time ago i’ve come across Jonathan Carr’s post about Fidelity-Research cartridges, to make it short i will put this quote from my notes here (but you can find it on audiogon archive):

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. - J.Carr

Thanks Chakster. What are your thoughts on the PMC-3. What’s its sound signature.

Well the cart arrived yesterday and it came complete with the original box and papers and the originally supplied Fidelity Research RS-10 headshell. All in very nice condition which was a nice surprise.

First impression is that it is very similar in tone to the FR1 MK3F that I am very familiar with. The PMC-1 however provides a more refined performance with a greater spaciousness between instruments and a wider soundstage.

Also it was the extremely realistic tone of the instruments that stuck out the most to me last night. This was always something I enjoyed with the FR1 MK3F, but with the PMC-1 it is improved upon.

Similar to the FR1 MK3F, it does not go down very deep in the bass, nor does it accentuate the higher frequencies. It is however outstanding in the mid range and this is where it shines. 

I will update as I put more hours on it but I would greatly appreciate any feedback from other owners of either the PMC-1 or the PMC-3. The more information we can get on these super rare carts the better.
 

I only tried my PMC-3 on Sony PUA-7 tonearm, i'm not sure which tonearm it should be to compete with FR-7f, i was thinking to mount it on my modern high-end Reed 3P "12 Cocobolo and then i could make my conclusion. I wish i could try it on my FR-64Fx tonearm, but i will need a lighter counterweight for it (which i don't have). At the moment i have FR-7f and FR-7fz (finally) on Fidelity-Research FR-64Fx tonearm with heavy counterweight. Maybe i should sell/trade my PMC-3, because i know for sure that nothing in FR line can compete with FR-7fz cartridge. 

Glad that you bought it with the box and docs, i do not have it, but my PMC-3 is in mint- condition. Very nice little cartridge, i love the design of it.