SL1 MKII cartridge
690 $
High-output moving-coil cartridge designed for standard MM phono stages
Atelier direct price · Includes worldwide shipping and customs duties
60-day home evaluation · Personal setup guidance · 2-year warranty
In stock
A moving-coil design with 2.5 mV of output, enough to drive the MM phono input you already own
The SL1 MKII carries the same principle as every cartridge we make: tiny coils riding directly on the cantilever, turning the groove’s motion into music with nothing in between. It is the version we wound for the MM phono input you already own: hand-wound 6N OFC copper coils, tuned to a full 2.5 mV.
So it asks nothing new of your system. No dedicated MC stage, no step-up transformer, no matching study: it connects to the same 47 kOhm input your current cartridge uses.
If you are not sure the cartridge matches your tonearm and phono stage, send us your system details and I will check the match before you order.
Gregory, founder
How the SL1 MKII fits within the Le Son range
If your system already provides dedicated MC gain, the low-output LS10 MKII family is open to you as well.
| LS10 MKII | LS10 MKII “S” | LS10 MKII “G” | SL1 MKII | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place within the collection | Core low-output MC | Silver-coil low-output MC | Very low-output flagship | High-output MC for MM inputs |
| Output | 0.40 mV | 0.50 mV | 0.10 mV | 2.5 mV |
| Phono stage context | MC phono stage | MC phono stage | High-gain MC stage or quality SUT | MM phono stage |
| Coil material | 6N OFC Copper | 5N OCC Silver | Gold-plated 5N OCC Copper | 6N OFC Copper |
| Cantilever | Boron Nitride Rod | Boron Rod | Boron Nitride Rod | Boron Nitride Rod |
| Stylus | Shibata V | Line Contact | Special Line Contact | Line Contact |
| Compliance | 15 μm/mN | 15 μm/mN | 15 μm/mN | 16 μm/mN |
| Recommended tonearm effective mass | 5–25 g | 5–25 g | 5–25 g | 4–24 g |
| Sonic character | Balanced, vivid, captivating | Open, nuanced, luminous | Effortless, full-bodied, mesmerizing | Clear, warm, enveloping |
| Best suited for | Listeners seeking the core Le Son low-output MC experience | Systems seeking greater refinement and nuance | Quiet high-gain systems or carefully matched SUT setups | MM phono systems seeking moving-coil character |
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 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.
The high-output choice
There is a reason listeners speak of moving coil the way they do. In a moving-coil cartridge, the coils themselves ride on the cantilever and move through the magnetic field with the groove: the signal is made at the point of reading, directly, with nothing between the record and the music but a few turns of wire. Nothing translates, nothing approximates.
The usual price of that directness is output. Most moving coils produce a fraction of a millivolt, too little for an MM input, which is why they normally require a dedicated MC stage or a step-up transformer before the music can even reach your amplifier.
The SL1 MKII makes a different choice. Its hand-wound 6N OFC copper coils are wound to 2.5 mV, with a 56 ohm internal impedance: enough signal to drive the standard 47 kOhm MM input found in most vinyl systems, with no additional stage and no transformer.
That is the dream the SL1 MKII is built around: the moving-coil principle kept whole, behind the one input every vinyl system already has.
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)
Between the stylus and the coils, everything the groove says travels as vibration. A cantilever this stiff and this light is designed to carry it whole, adding almost nothing of its own on the way. It is the same cantilever material that carries the signal in our flagship LS10 MKII “G”.
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 design intent is control: contact spread over more surface is gentler on the groove, and steadier through complex passages and inner grooves.
Among high-output moving coil designs, this stylus profile is rare. Most cartridges in this category carry an elliptical tip, with line contact profiles normally reserved for low-output models further up the price ladder. It is this pairing, a line contact diamond with a generator made for standard MM inputs, that sets the SL1 MKII apart.
Three questions about high-output moving coil
Does it need a transformer or an MC phono stage?
No. The 2.5 mV output is made for a standard MM input at 47 kOhm.
Can the stylus be serviced later?
Yes. We will advise when service or retipping becomes relevant.
Will it match my tonearm?
It is designed for medium-mass tonearms. Send us your turntable and tonearm details and we will check.
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
- Recommend Capacitance: 100 – 200 pF total (use lowest setting available)
- 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
- 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
“It is the first moving coil cart I’ve tried on my Thorens TD 160 turntable. I like that it is a high output cart, so I don’t need a pre-amp.”
Ron O., United States, on Trustpilot
“There may be others, but the Le Son SL1 MKII is the point where I get maximum performance for my money.”
WK, Canada, on Trustpilot
Read the independent reviews of the SL1 MKII:
Read what owners say about Le Son:
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 2-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 clean records and correct tracking force, the line-contact stylus typically serves 800 to 1,000 hours of listening before renewal. From around 800 hours, we recommend a stylus inspection: we examine the cartridge under the microscope and advise before any work is quoted.
If tracking, distortion or tonal balance changes noticeably after extended use, contact us at any time.
Yes. The SL1 MKII can be retipped in our atelier, from $360.
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 a direct way into the Le Son moving-coil family, for systems built around an MM phono stage.
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 is the version built for it.
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.
