EMBARK ON A MUSIC JOURNEY
Picture this: You’re home after a long day, selecting a cherished record to play. As it spins on your turntable, you gently lower the tonearm.
Settling into your favorite spot, the first notes wash over you, enveloping you in a world where only the music exists.
This immersive sound, this moment of pure musical bliss, is what I experience daily. It is the magic we have captured with the LS10.
G. de Richemont
HANDCRAFTED WITH PASSION
Crafted by Dr. Ted Tsai, the LS10 MC Cartridge is the result of extensive material experimentation, culminating in a perfect blend of elements.
At inception, the moving coil design was chosen over moving magnet & iron, as it provides essential performance benefits.
These benefits can be summarized as less is more:
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- Less moving mass, leading to faster response to groove modulations.
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Lower inductance, leading to lower self-noise, flatter frequency response, and ultra-linear phase response.
ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS
BORON NITRIDE CANTILEVER
The LS10 features a Boron Nitride Cantilever, a material chosen for its impressive mechanical qualities.
In comparison to Boron Carbide commonly used in high-end cartridges, Boron Nitride offers a notable advantage with its lower density:
Density (g/cm3)
This advanced material, along with the tailored design of the LS10 cantilever, effectively reduces the cartridge’s moving mass. The result is a remarkable increase in the accuracy and speed of vibration transmission.
For you, this means experiencing your music with unparalleled clarity — every transient and micro-detail is captured with exquisite precision, unlocking a new realm of audio fidelity.
SHIBATA STYLUS
The LS10 is equipped with a Shibata stylus, a design that holds a special place in the history of audio technology. Patented by Victor Company of Japan (JVC) in 1973 and developed by Mr. Shibata, this stylus shape was initially created to accurately track the high-frequency information on quadraphonic records, supporting frequencies up to 45 kHz, without causing premature wear.
To understand its advantages, consider the difference between a traditional elliptical stylus and the Shibata:
Point Contact vs Line Contact: The Shibata stylus offers a line contact with record grooves, as opposed to the point contact of an elliptical stylus.
This design provides two key benefits for the LS10:
1. Optimized Tracking Ability: The Shibata stylus excels in tracking, capturing every micro-detail in the music with precision.
2. Reduced Record Wear: Applying a vertical tracking force of only 1.6 grams over a larger area in the record grooves, the Shibata stylus not only lasts longer but also helps in preserving the integrity of your valuable vinyl records.
These features make the LS10 not just a tool for exceptional audio playback, but also a means to extend the life of your cherished record collection.
EBONY WOOD BODY
Ebony, renowned for its beauty and elegance, is the heart of the LS10 MC Cartridge.
Chosen for its density and durability, it’s a favorite among musicians, often preferred over rosewood. Its influence on sound is remarkable — softening the sharp edges of high frequencies while providing deep and tight low frequencies response.
Each LS10 cartridge body, carved from a single block of aged ebony, undergoes precision machining and careful sanding. It is then coated with a violin-grade varnish, ensuring exceptional stability.
The result is an auditory masterpiece, blending natural material with sonic grace.
SPECIFICATIONS
PHYSICAL
- Cartridge Type: Moving Coil
- Body: Aged Ebony Wood
- Stylus: Nude Diamond, Shibata Shape
- Stylus Tip Radius: 6 x 75μm
- Cantilever: Boron Nitride Ceramic Rod
- Coil: 6N Copper Square Coil
- Vertical Tracking Angle: 20 degrees
- Weight: 6.9 grams
ELECTRICAL
- Output Voltage: 0.35mV at 3.54cm/s or 0.49mV at 5cm/s
- Internal Impedance: 8 ohms
- Frequency Response: 15 – 45,000 Hz
- Channel Separation: Better than 30dB at 1kHz
- Channel Balance: Better than 0.5dB
DYNAMIC
- Tracking ability: 80μm at 315Hz with 2g Tracking Force
- Dynamic Compliance: 12μm/mN
SETUP
- Recommended Loading: 75 ohms minimum
- Recommended Vertical Tracking Force (VTF): 1.4 – 1.8 grams
- Reference Vertical Tracking Force (VTF): 1.6 grams
- Recommended Tone Arm Mass: Medium
- Break-in Period: 30 hours
ACCESSORIES
- 1 x Stylus Guard
- 1 x Stylus Brush
- 1 x Precision Hexagonal Screwdriver
- 2 x Short Mounting Screws & Washers
- 2 x Long Mounting Screws & Washers
SIMPLE INSTALLATION
We understand that setting up your audio equipment should be as straightforward as possible. This is why the LS10 MKII features a pre-threaded cartridge body, simplifying installation to a quick, two-bolt process without the need for additional nuts.
The cartridge’s design, with its straight sides, further aids in hassle-free alignment, ensuring a perfect fit on your turntable.
This user-friendly approach means you spend less time setting up and more time immersed in the sound of your record collection.
EXPERT SUPPORT INCLUDED
We believe that exceptional audio experiences go beyond just the product; they include the support you receive. This is why, with every LS10 cartridge, we offer dedicated online support to ensure seamless integration into your audio system. Our customer support covers:
Guided Installation: Step-by-step assistance in installing and aligning the cartridge on your headshell.
Personalized Setup Recommendations: Expert advice on setting the optimal Vertical Tracking Force (VTF), Vertical Tracking Angle (VTA), and Antiskating for your tonearm.
Phono Preamplifier Configuration: Guidance in configuring your phono preamplifier loading for optimal performance.
With these support offerings, you can rest assured that your LS10 will be perfectly attuned to your system, delivering the best possible sound experience right from the start.
RISK-FREE TRIAL
We are committed to ensuring that you are completely satisfied with your LS10 cartridge. This is why we offer a 60 days money-back guarantee, giving you ample time to experience the cartridge in your own system.
This period allows you to fully appreciate the difference the LS10 makes and ensures it is the perfect fit for your system. For more information on the return process, please refer to section 5 of our General Terms & Conditions.
Our goal is to provide you with peace of mind and the assurance of a risk-free trial.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Is there a warranty for the LS10 MC Cartridge?
- With which turntables or tonearms can I use the LS10 MC Cartridge?
- What is the stylus lifespan of the LS10 MC Cartridge?
- Can the LS10 Cartridge be retipped?
- What is the recommended phono preamplifier gain for the LS10 MC Cartridge?
We stand behind the quality and performance of the LS10, and to demonstrate our commitment, we offer a comprehensive 2-year warranty. This warranty begins from the moment you receive your package, ensuring you are covered from the very start.
For complete details and conditions of the warranty, we invite you to review our General Terms & Conditions. Our aim is to provide you with not just an exceptional product, but also the peace of mind that comes with knowing your investment is protected.
Every turntable setup has its unique characteristics, and understanding these is crucial for achieving the best sound. The interaction between the cartridge and tonearm creates a specific resonance frequency, shaped by two main factors: the ‘springiness’ of the cartridge, known as compliance, and the effective weight of the tonearm.
In an ideal setup, this resonant frequency should fall between 8Hz and 11Hz to ensure optimal performance. The LS10 MC Cartridge, with its compliance of 12μm/mN, is designed to pair seamlessly with medium mass tonearms, which are commonly found in most turntables. Not sure if your turntable fits this category? Don’t worry. Our team is here to assist you. Contact us, and we’ll help verify the compatibility of your setup, ensuring that the LS10 integrates flawlessly with your system.
As the most celebrated member of the ‘line contact’ stylus family, the nude Shibata stylus of the LS10 stands out for its superior design and durability. Unlike the more common stylus shapes like spherical, conical, or elliptical, the Shibata’s vertical tracking force (VTF) is distributed over a wider area, reducing wear and prolonging its lifespan.
Furthermore, the LS10 MC Cartridge is engineered with a low VTF of just 1.6g. This gentle approach minimizes the pressure exerted on both the record and the stylus, enhancing the longevity of your record collection and the stylus itself. On average, the stylus of the LS10 MC Cartridge offers a lifespan ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 hours of playback. To put it into perspective, if you enjoy your records for about two hours every day, the LS10 stylus can serve you well for approximately two years.
We understand that over time, even the highest quality stylus may require retipping. That’s why we offer a retipping service for the LS10 Cartridge at a very competitive price, ensuring your cartridge continues to deliver exceptional audio quality.
When you feel it’s time for a retipping, simply reach out to us. We will provide you with all the necessary information and guide you through the process, making it as smooth and straightforward as possible. Our goal is to ensure your LS10 remains a vital part of your audio setup for years to come.
Achieving the best signal-to-noise ratio in your audio system is key for pristine sound quality. To ensure this, it’s important to match the gain of your phono preamplifier with the output level of your phono cartridge.
The LS10, with its output of 0.35mV at 5cm/s, pairs best with a phono preamplifier set between 56dB and 67dB gain. Adjusting your preamplifier to these settings will optimize the performance of the LS10, allowing you to enjoy your music with the clarity and depth it deserves.
If there is anything else you would like to know or if you need further assistance, feel free to CONTACT US.
Our team is dedicated to providing you with timely and helpful responses, usually within 24 hours. We are always here to ensure your experience with the LS10 is as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
