FIDELITY RESEARCH MC702 cartridge

[take5]

Selling my lovely Fidelity Research cartridge

This is a reluctant sale as it sounds fantastic. But I now have another fantastic cartridge ( an Audio Note IO ) and I dont want to have too much of my Hi Fi kitty tied up in cartridges.

I bought this towards the end of 2013 as part of a turntable package. I knew nothing about it then, but quickly heard how good it was, and some research showed what it was.
Prior to buying this, I owned an Ortofon Cadenza Black. A very nice cartridge, which I really liked. This FR sounds better than the Cadenza Black.

It was made in the 1980s and is part of the 7 series of cartridges that Fidelity Research produced. These 7 series now have a "cultish " following, particularly in the Far East and USA. Which is bad news for you, as they go for lots of money.

I have used this at several Bake Offs and it always goes down well. I also used it at Scalford in 2014, where it received much praise and attention.

The guy I bought it from was a life long Hi Fi fanatic, who was very fussy about his kit and its condition. He had owned the cartridge from new and had sent it away to be re-tipped in the summer of 2013. Sadly just a few months later his circumstances changed and he sold his kit. I dont know who did the re-tip, but it was a great job.
It sounds fantastic.
I havent used it too much in the last year as I have been messing around with other cartridges But putting it back into my system recently, I heard that it is a different league from those others. (Shure V15, Denon 304, Linn Troika, Ortofon MC15)
In fact it is in the same league as the IO, several divisions above those others.

Here are a few links that will give you more info on it.

http://www.audioinvest.no/fr/products/frc_702.htm

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/car...7-analog-u-a-e Ive just noticed that the price details of this have expired. It sold for $1500. The blurb remains.

http://www.audioasylumtrader.com/ca/ca.html?ca=51279 Sold at $1450

This last link is to what I assume an Italian cartridge dealer. He has 6 Fidelity Research cartridges. The MC702 is the most expensive.
http://forum.videohifi.com/discussion/comment/4179271

Actually, I will show his prices to make it easier for you, and let you see how much these 7 series sell for. I assume in Euros.

Fidelity Research FR 7 1000
Fidelity Research FR 7f 1200
Fidelity Research FR 7fc 1100
Fidelity Research FR 702 1400
Fidelity Research FR 1 MK II 350
Fidelity Research FR 1 MK III 400

A buyer is very welcome here to see and hear it. Or, I may be prepared to meet halfway for a contribution to my petrol costs.

The price is £850 and is not negotiable. It comes in its original box.

I can send pictures to anyone who wants to see them. Just PM me your E Mail details

Thanks


PS...
Marco /Mods.
I know about the picture rule re classifieds, and an A of S friend of mine has a picture of my cartridge that he will post very shortly today.

[oldius]

Brian's cartridge:

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy332/oldius/Fidelity%20Research_zpswxkjgglo.jpg (http://s805.photobucket.com/user/oldius/media/Fidelity%20Research_zpswxkjgglo.jpg.html)

[take5]

Geoff, thanks for your help.

Ive just had a look again at that picture. It looks as if there are marks just to the left of the word "Japan". They arent marks.

They are the 4 figured serial number.

It is in fantastic, unblemished condition.

[struth]

I've blown it up a bit for you...not enough pixels for a great blowup alas


http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/905/FxqxOI.jpg

[take5]

Grant, thanks for that. Very kind and much appreciated.

I can send more, hopefully better pictures to anyone who is interested. Please get in touch.

[oldius]

I have heard this and it is a beautiful piece of audio history, well deserving of its iconic status.

[take5]

Thanks Geoff.

Yes, it is a fantastic sounding cartridge, which many have heard at various Wigwam get togethers, and it is always very well received.

In fact Marco from A of S heard it at Scalford in 2014 and described it as "superb". It received much praise that day and subsequently.

Although I dont know who did the re-tip in 2013, I am very confident that the job was done "right". It just sounds so good. The guy I bought it from was VERY fussy about his kit. He would not have sent it to anyone other than someone excellent.

However, Im happy to have it assessed by anyone who a prospective buyer would like to have look at it.

[Audio Al]

In fact Marco from A of S heard it at Scalford in 2014 and described it as "superb".

All Hail Marco :youtheman:

Does look very nice , is it a std SME type fixing

[take5]

[B][I][U]

Does look very nice , is it a std SME type fixing



Al, yes it is.

In fact, recently I havent been using it with the matching FR 64fx, but in an old SME 3009. It seems to work well in that too, and it still goes down well with those who hear it.
Ive also used it in an SME 3012.

Ps We met at that 2014 Scalford. If that was in my room, you will have heard it.

[Audio Al]

Ps We met at that 2014 Scalford. If that was in my room, you will have heard it.

We did indeed meet , I purchased some of your vinyl ;)

[anubisgrau]

did i hallucinate or dream that i've seen this advertised before and sold?

[take5]

did i hallucinate or dream that i've seen this advertised before and sold?

No, you didnt dream.

I agreed to sell it to Wammer friend 2 months ago. He let me down, and didnt complete on our agreement, so it is back up for sale again.

[anubisgrau]

huh, that's bad. shame that euro is currently so weak against pound so a purchase from eurozone now makes no sense otherwise....

[petrat]

I think Marco should add this to his 'cartridges that are older than I am' collection :D
Lovely thing. GLWTS.

[take5]

I think Marco should add this to his 'cartridges that are older than I am' collection :D
Lovely thing. GLWTS.

Peter, of course I know from experience that being Scottish and having youthful good looks go hand in hand.............. :) , but im not sure many of our readers would credit Marco with being as young as this cartridge.

[walpurgis]

The underside of that MC-702 bears more than a passing resemblance to the Fidelity Research MC-201, as does the alloy cantilever. I wonder how closely related the two are.

If it sounds anything like the MC-201, it'll be very nice indeed. I know as I've owned a couple (wish I still had one really).

[struth]

Peter, of course I know from experience that being Scottish and having youthful good looks go hand in hand.............. :) , but im not sure many of our readers would credit Marco with being as young as this cartridge.

depends how much bevvy theyve consumed :lol:

[take5]

Geoff, thanks for your input. I dont know the 201 cartridge, but just had a quick look on google. Here is a picture of it.

http://guttormsen.dk/upload/blogphoto/img-1001.jpg

The first obvious difference is that the 201 is conventional in that it needs a headshell. The 702 is integral. But yes, there look to be some similarities.

My understanding is that the 7 series were the top of the range FR cartridges and are even now THE ones to have. The "cult" ones. Much in demand in the Far East. Sadly for me, not known here.

It is a fantastic sounding cartridge and as I mentioned, it is in the same league as my Kondo IO. Ahead of anything else Ive heard in my system.

If the Fr doesnt sell. I will simply keep it and sell the IO.

[walpurgis]

Keep it. I wish I'd still kept one. I've had (and I've got) other MCs that sound as good, but there's something about that FR sound.

[take5]

New price : £800

[take5]

NEW PRICE : £775

Thats as low as Im going to go.

If it doesnt sell at that price I will keep it, and sell my Kondo IO cartridge instead.

Im not ready to sell the IO yet, but I may, in a week or so. If anyone is interested, please get in touch.
I wont commit yet, but it would help me to know.

I may also sell my Fidelity Research 64fx tonearm. Again, get in touch if this would be of interest.

[take5]

bump

[take5]

bump

[Ali Tait]

Brian, did you see your PM?

[take5]

Ali, oh you had me going there.

I thought you were about to offer me more than my asking price for this fantastic cartridge. :)

Yes, I got your PM. I need to check something and will reply soon.

cartridge still available !!

[take5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNLhxKpfCnA

[take5]

bump

[take5]

A few enquiries about this, but no sale………. surprisingly.

The main concern seems to be the re-tip work that was done to it just prior to me buying it.

Im afraid I have no more info on this. When I bought it, the cartridge wasnt of interest to me as I only really had eyes for the arm it was on. So, I never thought to ask him for more information. It was only later that I heard, and was told by others , how special it was.
The seller was moving house, so I had/have no way to contact him.

All I can say is that the condition of his kit and his whole attitude towards it convinces me that the job was done properly. I just dont see him doing it any other way. Sadly , I cant prove that.

So, the only proof I have is the way it sounds. It really is a great sounding cartridge.
THE JOB WAS DONE WELL.
Many have heard it at Bake Offs and at Scalford. It always goes down well.

I am very happy to have it assessed by anyone of your choosing.

[take5]

Price is £775. I wont go lower.

Kondo IO Japan cartridge available soon, if this FR doesnt sell

[take5]

bump for this lovely FR cartridge.

I am now selling my Kondo IO cartridge too if anyone is interested.

[take5]

bump

[take5]

bump