Choosing the right cartridge begins with your phono stage and gain structure.
The LS10 MKII is the centre of the Le Son cartridge collection. With 6N copper coils, boron nitride cantilever and Shibata V stylus, it brings music forward with vivid tone, natural authority and expressive ease.
The LS10 MKII “S” keeps the low-output LS10 architecture and opens it toward greater air, nuance and intimacy. Its silver coils and line-contact stylus make it the more luminous and finely textured voice within the family.
With gold-plated 5N OCC copper coils and 0.1 mV output, the LS10 MKII “G” is the most demanding cartridge in the range. In a quiet, high-gain system or carefully matched SUT setup, it offers a full-bodied, poised and deeply resolved presentation.
The SL1 MKII is designed for listeners who want moving-coil texture, presence and energy through a standard MM phono input. With 2.5 mV output, it brings the Le Son approach into systems where low-output MC gain is not available.
The Upgraded Denon DL-103 preserves the generous musical spirit of the original while refining the mechanical interface through a boron nitride cantilever and hyper-elliptical stylus. It is best suited to heavier tonearms and listeners drawn to the weight, density and soul of the DL-103 tradition.
A practical view of the cartridge range, showing each model’s output, phono-stage context, core specification and ideal system direction.
LS10 MKII |
LS10 MKII “S” |
LS10 MKII “G” |
SL1 MKII |
Denon DL-103 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 990 $ | 1,490 $ | 1,890 $ | 690 $ | Upgrade service 360 $ |
| Place within the collection | Core low-output MC | Silver-coil low-output MC | Very low-output flagship | High-output MC for MM inputs | Upgraded classic MC |
| Output | 0.40 mV | 0.50 mV | 0.10 mV | 2.5 mV | 0.3 mV |
| Phono stage context | MC phono stage | MC phono stage | High-gain MC stage or quality SUT | MM phono stage | MC phono stage |
| Suggested overall gain | 56 to 65 dB | 56 to 65 dB | 70 to 78 dB | Standard MM input | 60 to 66 dB |
| Coil material | 6N OFC Copper | 5N OCC Silver | Gold-plated 5N OCC Copper | 6N OFC Copper | Denon Original (Copper) |
| Cantilever | Boron Nitride Rod | Boron Rod | Boron Nitride Rod | Boron Nitride Rod | Boron Nitride Rod |
| Stylus | Shibata V | Line Contact | Special Line Contact | Line Contact | Hyper-Elliptical |
| Compliance | 15 μm/mN | 15 μm/mN | 15 μm/mN | 16 μm/mN | 9 μm/mN |
| Tonearm effective mass | 5–25 g | 5–25 g | 5–25 g | 4–24 g | > 20 g |
| Sonic character | Balanced, vivid, captivating | Open, nuanced, luminous | Effortless, full-bodied, mesmerizing | Clear, warm, enveloping | Rich, weighty, soulful |
| Choose it if | your system has suitable MC gain and you want the core low-output Le Son reference | you want greater openness and nuance while staying within a straightforward gain structure | your system is ready for a 0.10 mV cartridge and you want the most advanced LS10 expression | your phono stage uses an MM input and you want a high-output moving-coil cartridge | you value the DL-103 character and use a heavier tonearm suited to its lower compliance |
| View LS10 MKII | View LS10 MKII “S” | View LS10 MKII “G” | View SL1 MKII | View Upgrade |
Not sure which cartridge suits your system? Share your turntable, tonearm, phono stage and SUT if used, and we will review the match before you order.
Le Son cartridges are reviewed by the independent analog press:
TNT-Audio · Alpha Audio · HiFi Knights · Needles & Grooves · Audio Video Magazine · Vinyle & Audio · 10 Audio
Owners share their experiences on Trustpilot
Listen in your own system, with your own tonearm, phono stage and records before making a final decision.
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