Le Son moving-coil cartridges are designed for listeners who want vinyl playback to feel more immediate, dimensional and emotionally present. The collection ranges from the easy integration of the SL1 MKII high-output MC to the very low-output precision of the LS10 MKII “G”.
The best choice depends on your phono stage, gain structure, tonearm and listening priorities.
Each cartridge has a distinct role. Begin with your phono stage and gain structure, then choose the voice that best suits your system.
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 | Upgraded Denon DL-103 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Recommended 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 |
| 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 | Systems drawn to the musical legacy of the DL-103 |
Listen in your own system, with your own tonearm, phono stage and records before making a final decision.
We can help you check gain, loading, tonearm match and installation questions before or after ordering.
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