According to the Vinyl Engine Resonance Evaluator, the 7G effective mass, of a Magnepan Untrac I, combined with your cart’s compliance/weight, will yield a 10Hz resonance. I’ve used both Denon 103D’s(same compliance as your Grace/1.5G more weight) and a Dynavector 17D3(just a tad lighter/slightly higher compliance), with excellent results. I own two of the Maggie arms(one since 1980). They are hard to find sometimes, but- well worth the search. They’re easy to set up and have all the pertinent adjustments. You may want to check with Mr Ledermann, as to whether your F9R still has the stock compliance. (https://www.vinylengine.com/cartridge_resonance_evaluator.php) (https://www.vinylengine.com/tonearm_database.php?make=Magnepan&mdl=&sort=2&eflo=&efh...=)
Seeking arm suggestions for a Grace F9R
I recently bought an F9 body and a SoundSmith Ruby OCL stylus. I currently have it mounted on an Acos Lustre GST-801 with a 7gr headshell but still a bit heavy with the resonance is in the 7 hz range. I'm liking it's sound and contemplating changing arms. Any F9 owners willing to make suggestions of great matching arms for it. (no 12" please)
Thanks,
Robbie
Thanks,
Robbie
- ...
- 28 posts total
I don’t think you can rely on the original Grace spec for compliance of the Soundsmith OCL Ruby suspension. Best to ask Peter Lederman. Its highish 1.8gm tracking force suggests a lower compliance than a stock Ruby. I have an F9 body with the Soundsmith OCL stylus assembly. It’s up there with the best of the vintage MM/MI. It has worked well with a lightweight Trans-Fi Terminator, a Micro Seiki 808X(or the more generally available 505) and a SME 3012R(with one-half of it’s split counterweight removed to lighten mass). I haven’t yet tried it with a light pivot arm-- maybe one of these days my Signet XK-50 or EPA-100. |
Resonance at 7hz is not the worst unless you have many warped records. If you can get a lighter headshell it will bring the resonance up a few hz! https://www.gcaudio.com/tips-tricks/tonearm-cartridge-compatability/ |
FWIW, for several years I used an F9 with the Soundsmith "Ruby Cantilever/Nude Contact Line Diamond" stylus assembly (which apparently is similar to the OCL aside from the stylus profile) on my Magnepan Unitrac I arm. I was very pleased with the combo, and so I would second Mr. Rodman’s endorsement of that arm as being an excellent candidate if you can find one. Regards, -- Al |
I've been using my F-14 LC-OFC with original L12B stylus on Victor UA-7045 with Stax HS-7 headshell. Another great arm for high compliance cartridges is stand alone Luxman TA-1 with arm stabilizer and removable armwand. But original Grace is high a compliance cartridge, SoundSmith refurbished is not a high compliance. There are some nice original Grace styli with nude Shibata tip and nude LineContact tip, this models are the best in F-9 series, it was desidned for F-9F and F-9U (blue color). Upgraded version of FR-9U stylus was made for LEVEL II series (different plastic housing desing, but also blue color), i have two sealed NOS is anyone interested. |
- 28 posts total