SL1 MKII Cartridge
690 $
Atelier Direct Price
Taxes and Customs Duties Included
60-day home evaluation · 1-year warranty · Setup guidance included
In stock
Why I Recommend the SL1 MKII
The SL1 MKII is the cartridge I recommend when a listener wants the character of a moving coil design without changing to an MC phono stage.
Its 2.5 mV output allows it to work through a standard MM phono input, while the boron nitride cantilever and line-contact stylus give it the speed, texture and openness expected from a serious cartridge.
It is easy to integrate, but not casual in its ambition. For many systems, the SL1 MKII is the most direct way to bring the Le Son moving-coil voice into everyday listening.
Gregory de Richemont
Founder, Le Son
What Makes the SL1 MKII Different
Moving-Coil Character, MM Simplicity
With 2.5 mV output, the SL1 MKII is designed for standard MM phono inputs, so you can enjoy moving-coil character without adding a step-up transformer or dedicated MC stage.
Moving-Coil Texture and Presence
The 6N copper coils, boron nitride cantilever and line-contact stylus are chosen to preserve texture, timing and low-level detail while keeping the presentation natural and engaging.
Easy, Confident Installation
Threaded mounting holes and straight body lines help make installation calmer and more controlled, especially for listeners who want a serious cartridge without unnecessary setup stress.
60-Day Home Evaluation
The SL1 MKII can be evaluated in your own system, with your own tonearm, MM phono stage and records.
You have 60 days to listen calmly, allow the cartridge to settle, refine the setup and decide whether it belongs in your analog front end.
If it is not the right match, please contact us within the evaluation period and we will guide you through the return process according to our return conditions.
We are deeply impressed by what this cartridge can get out of a record.
In the days following our listening session, we searched both the digital and analogue realms at home for the same listening sensation, especially with the ‘Déjà Vu’ album. We couldn’t find it.
We say sensation, but it was more than that. It felt like an event, a special performance or concert that leaves a lasting impression.
Yung Lie, Alpha Audio
Customer Listening Notes
The New SL1 MKII is JAW-DROPPING Good sound!
This new SL1 MKII was like the heavy curtain was opened up and the piano and violin was right in front of me. I could hear the bow on the strings, the piano hammer the strings. Right now I don’t have to spend thousands on a preamp! Every night I play lps for 3 hours, OMG the sound is right next to you and the fidelity is unforgettable!
THE SL1 MKII DESIGN
BORON NITRIDE CANTILEVER
The SL1 MKII uses a boron nitride cantilever, selected for its combination of low mass and high rigidity.
Compared with aluminum, boron nitride offers a stronger stiffness-to-weight relationship, helping groove movement pass from stylus to generator with speed and control.
Rigidity (GPa)
Density (g/cm3)
For the listener, this supports cleaner transients, more stable textures and a more immediate sense of musical movement, while keeping the presentation fluid rather than hard.
HIGH-OUTPUT MOVING-COIL GENERATOR
At the heart of the SL1 MKII are hand-wound 6N copper coils, designed to deliver 2.5 mV output with a 56-ohm internal impedance.
This gives the cartridge one of its central advantages: moving-coil character with the practical gain structure of a standard MM phono input.
In listening terms, the SL1 MKII is designed to bring immediacy, dynamic ease and fine musical texture without requiring additional MC gain or a step-up transformer.
LINE-CONTACT STYLUS
The SL1 MKII uses a diamond line-contact stylus, chosen for fine groove tracing and controlled contact with the record surface.
When correctly aligned, the extended contact area helps the stylus retrieve delicate groove information while distributing tracking force over a larger contact surface.
The result is cleaner tracing, more stable detail and a more composed presentation on complex passages and inner grooves.
SL1 MKII SPECIFICATIONS
PHYSICAL
- Cartridge Type: High-output moving coil stereo cartridge
- Stylus: Diamond, line-contact shape
- Cantilever: Boron nitride
- Coils: 6N copper
- Body: 7075 aluminum alloy and acrylic
- Height: 17.8 mm
- Weight: 8.7 grams
ELECTRICAL
- Output Voltage: 2.5 mV at 1 kHz, 5 cm/s
- Internal Impedance: 56 ohms
- Recommended Loading: 47 kOhms / MM phono input
- Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 40 kHz
- Channel Separation: Better than 28 dB
- Channel Balance: Better than 0.5 dB
DYNAMIC
- Dynamic Compliance: 16 μm/mN at 10 Hz
SETUP
- Recommended Vertical Tracking Force (VTF): 1.5 – 1.9 grams
- Reference Vertical Tracking Force (VTF): 1.7 grams
- Recommended Tonearm Mass: broad medium-mass context
- Run-in Period: 20 hours
ACCESSORIES
- 1 x Stylus Brush
- 1 x Stylus Guard
- 1 x Hexagonal Screwdriver
- Short and long mounting screws with washers
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Is there a warranty for the SL1 MKII Cartridge?
- Can I use the SL1 MKII with an MM phono stage?
- Which tonearms are compatible with the SL1 MKII?
- What is the expected stylus lifespan?
- Can the SL1 MKII be retipped or serviced?
- How does the SL1 MKII compare with the LS10 MKII?
- Is the SL1 MKII returnable if it does not match my system?
- Do you offer setup assistance?
- Where can I read reviews of the SL1 MKII?
Yes. The SL1 MKII is covered by a 1-year warranty under normal use.
Warranty coverage applies to defects in materials or workmanship. It does not cover misuse, improper installation, unauthorized modification, external damage, or normal stylus wear.
If an issue appears, please contact us with your order details, serial number and a clear description of the symptom.
Yes. This is one of the main advantages of the SL1 MKII.
Its 2.5 mV output is intended for standard MM phono inputs, allowing you to enjoy moving-coil character without adding a dedicated MC phono stage or step-up transformer.
Recommended loading is 47 kOhms, as used by typical MM phono inputs.
The SL1 MKII has a dynamic compliance of 16 μm/mN and is intended to work comfortably in a broad medium-mass tonearm context.
The final match still depends on tonearm effective mass, headshell, mounting hardware and setup accuracy.
If you are unsure, send us your turntable, tonearm and phono-stage details before ordering. We will be happy to help you check whether the SL1 MKII is a coherent match.
Stylus life depends on setup accuracy, record cleanliness, tracking force, handling and hours of use.
With careful setup and clean records, the line-contact stylus is designed for long service life, but it should still be treated as a precision wear component.
If tracking, distortion or tonal balance changes noticeably after extended use, contact us and we can advise whether inspection or retipping may be appropriate.
Yes. The SL1 MKII can be retipped or serviced where appropriate.
When the stylus is worn, or if performance changes after long use, please contact us and we will confirm the most suitable service path.
Current conditions, pricing and timing are confirmed before any work begins.
The SL1 MKII is a high-output moving coil cartridge designed for standard MM phono inputs. It is the most direct Le Son choice when simple integration is important.
The LS10 MKII is a low-output moving coil cartridge and requires a suitable MC phono stage or MM phono stage with an appropriate step-up transformer.
If you want moving-coil character without changing your phono stage, the SL1 MKII is usually the simpler direction. If your system already has a strong MC gain structure, the LS10 MKII family may offer a more ambitious path.
Eligible cartridge returns fall within our 60-day home evaluation framework, provided return conditions are met.
The cartridge should be returned in appropriate condition and will be inspected after receipt.
If you are unsure before ordering, please contact us with your system details so we can help you choose carefully.
Yes. We are happy to help you review the key setup points for the SL1 MKII, including tracking force, alignment, anti-skate, MM phono input suitability and tonearm matching.
Useful details include turntable, tonearm, phono stage, current cartridge and listening priorities.
You can read the Alpha Audio review of the SL1 MKII, the Vinyle & Audio review, and customer feedback through the review links on this page.
These provide both editorial and owner perspectives on the cartridge in real listening systems.
Not sure whether the SL1 MKII suits your system?
If you use an MM phono stage and want a simpler path into moving-coil playback, the SL1 MKII may be the most coherent Le Son choice.
If you would like personal advice, send us your turntable, tonearm and phono-stage details. We will be happy to help you choose with confidence.