Fidelity Research cartridges


Any FR cartridge experts out there? Raul? Dertonarm? Syntax?
I have had an FR-7 which I bought a while ago. I tried it ever so briefly when I got it on an arm I now recognize as not being able to handle that weight (close, but no cigar). I just now pulled it out for kicks and after getting it adjusted with the big counterweight, I am VERY pleasantly surprised. Actually, I'm feeling kind of bubbly. It does not dig out the utmost in detail, but it just sounds very right.

Are there any other FR carts out there which are real steals if still in good condition? I know the MC-702 and the FR-1Mk2 and Mk3f by name, with good reps being assigned to the Mk3 and the MC-702. Given that the MC-702 and the FR-7 look quite similar, and they were offered at about the same time, what is different? And is the FR-7 just an integrated headshell version of the FR-1Mk3?
t_bone
Dear Jcarr, dear T_bone, I assume that the Micro LC-80W is an OEM Nagaoka cartridge. Am I right?? Micro Seiki certainly hadn't put up a cartridge assembly facility of their own. Anyone out there with info about this?

Thanks, D.
I have not a clue. I dug around trying to find info on the cart but found little of use in Japanese or English other than the manual on vinylengine and a spot on a couple of lists.
Dear Dertonarm: It is hard to say if Nagaoka or maybe Supex was the builder.

In USA was marketed by SAE with a retail price of 400.00

I read that this Agon person: Topoxforddoc, own or owned the cartridge, maybe he has some information about: you can ask him.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
Hi Raul,
also own the 407 but compared with FR-64/66 the 407 has less details and precision. Prefer the FR.
Rgds,
Marco
Dear Marco: All is a matter of preferences/priorities and different tolerance range level of distortions.

Regards and enjoy the music,
Raul.