LS10 MKII “G” cartridge
1,890 $
Very low-output flagship moving-coil cartridge for high-gain MC stages or step-up transformers
Atelier direct price · Includes worldwide shipping and customs duties
60-day home evaluation · Personal setup guidance · 2-year warranty
In stock
A very low-output design with gold-plated 5N OCC copper coils, wound on a non-magnetic core
Every LS10 shares the same platform. The “G” is the version where the generator is pushed to its lightest: gold-plated 5N OCC copper coils wound to the minimum on a non-magnetic core, so the stylus has less mass to move as it traces the groove, and the signal passes through less wire on its way to your phono stage.
The cost of that choice is output. At 0.10 mV, the “G” asks about 70 to 78 dB of total gain from your phono chain.
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 LS10 MKII “G” fits within the Le Son range
If the 70 to 78 dB gain is not in place, the LS10 MKII or the LS10 MKII “S” will usually be the better choice.
| 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 |
Almost nothing in motion
The finest movements in a record groove are smaller than a wavelength of light. The less mass a generator carries, the more freely it can follow them. So the “G” winds gold-plated 5N OCC copper on a non-magnetic polycarbonate core, kept to the minimum the design allows: 1.6 ohms of internal impedance, 0.10 mV of output, and almost nothing moving at the end of the cantilever.
This is the dream the “G” is built around: a stylus that moves as if nothing were attached to it. When the moving system carries so little, the smallest gestures in a performance, the breath before a phrase, the decay of a cymbal into the silence between notes, have less inertia to fight on their way to you.
Compared with the standard LS10 MKII and the “S”, the “G” gives up output to keep the moving system light, and asks your phono chain to make up the difference. That is the whole bargain, and in the right system it is a beautiful one.
Whether it is worth it in your system is exactly what the 60-day home evaluation is for.
Boron nitride cantilever
Between the stylus and the coils there is a single messenger: the cantilever. Everything the groove says travels along it as vibration, so its virtues must be the same ones the whole “G” is built on: stiffness and lightness.
The LS10 MKII “G” features a boron nitride ceramic rod. Compared with the aluminum found in most high-end cartridges, boron nitride is significantly stiffer for its weight, so groove movement passes from stylus to generator with speed and control, while adding almost nothing to the moving mass.
Rigidity (GPa)
Density (g/cm3)
In listening terms, this is where the quietest things live: the graze of a brush on a snare, a bow changing direction, the breath before a phrase. A rod this stiff and this light is built to carry them whole, with their softness intact.
This is central to the “G” character: delicacy that keeps its composure, detail that never has to be pushed forward to be heard.
Special line-contact stylus
There is more than one way to cut a diamond for a record groove. The profile on the “G” was chosen the slow way: by ear, listened against the other shapes, on the low-moving-mass generator it would have to serve.
The choice fell on a nude diamond with a special line-contact profile. Its long, narrow contact patch reads finer modulations than a rounded tip can reach, and spreads the tracking force over more surface, which is gentler on the groove and on the stylus itself.
Each diamond is then polished beyond its standard finish. The purpose is silence: the smoother the contact surface, the less the stylus adds of its own as it travels, and the quieter the background behind the music.
A profile this precise rewards unhurried alignment. It is why personal setup guidance accompanies every “G”.
“Safe shipment, perfect quality, the sound is brilliant”
M. Jülicher, Germany
Easy installation
The LS10 MKII “G” uses a pre-threaded body, so mounting does not require loose nuts.
Its straight sides give you a clear visual reference for alignment, helping the setup process feel calmer and more controlled.
And if any step raises a question, send a photo of your setup and we will look at it with you.
Personal setup guidance
With every LS10 MKII “G” cartridge, we are happy to help you review the key setup points before listening seriously.
This may include mounting, alignment, tracking force, anti-skate, phono-stage gain, loading and step-up transformer suitability.
The guidance does not end at delivery. As the “G” settles in, send us your impressions or questions and we will help you fine-tune gain, loading and geometry until it sits exactly right in your system.
This direct guidance is part of the Le Son experience.
60-day home evaluation
The LS10 MKII “G” can be evaluated where it matters most: in your own system, with your own tonearm, phono stage or step-up transformer, 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.
Specifications
Physical
- Cartridge Type: Moving Coil (Stereo)
- Coils: Gold-plated 5N OCC Copper
- Core: Non-magnetic Polycarbonate
- Cantilever: Boron Nitride Rod
- Stylus: Nude Diamond, Special Line Contact Shape
- Body: Aluminum & Carbon Fiber Socket, Ebony Wood Casing
- Weight: 8.2 grams
Electrical
- Output Voltage: 0.10 mV at 5 cm/s
- Internal Impedance: 1.6 ohms
- Frequency Response: 15 – 45,000 Hz
- Channel Separation: Better than 30 dB at 1 kHz
- Channel Balance: Better than 0.5 dB
Dynamic
- Tracking ability: 80 μm at 315 Hz with 2 g tracking force
- Dynamic Compliance: 15 μm/mN at 10 Hz
Setup
- Recommended Loading: ≥ 20 ohms
- Recommended Gain: approximately 70–78 dB overall gain, or a step-up transformer of about 1:30 (1:26 to 1:40) into a 47k MM stage
- Recommended Vertical Tracking Force (VTF): 1.8 – 2.3 grams
- Reference Vertical Tracking Force (VTF): 2 grams
- Recommended Tonearm Mass: Medium
- Run-in Period: 30 hours
Accessories
- 1 x Stylus Brush
- 1 x Vessel Hexagonal Screwdriver
- 1 x Stylus Guard
- 2 x Short Titanium Mounting Screws
- 2 x Medium Titanium Mounting Screws
- 2 x Long Titanium Mounting Screws
- 6 x Graphite / Nylon Washers
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there a warranty for the LS10 MKII “G” cartridge?
- Which tonearms are compatible with the LS10 MKII “G”?
- What is the expected stylus lifespan?
- Can the LS10 MKII “G” be retipped or rebuilt?
- What phono preamp gain is recommended?
- How does the LS10 MKII “G” compare with the LS10 MKII and LS10 MKII “S”?
- Is the LS10 MKII “G” returnable if it does not match my system?
- Do you offer setup assistance?
- What information should I send before ordering?
Yes. The LS10 MKII “G” 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.
The LS10 MKII “G” has a dynamic compliance of 15 μm/mN and is generally intended for medium-mass tonearms.
The ideal match still depends on the full setup, including tonearm effective mass, headshell, mounting hardware and phono-stage configuration.
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 LS10 MKII “G” 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 special 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 LS10 MKII ‘G’ can be retipped in our atelier, from $490.
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 LS10 MKII “G” has a very low output of 0.10 mV at 5 cm/s and requires careful phono-stage or step-up transformer matching.
As a practical guideline, the total gain structure usually needs to be around 70 to 78 dB, with a very low noise floor.
Recommended loading starts at 20 ohms minimum. A suitable step-up transformer may also be appropriate, often around 1:30, with ratios from 1:26 to 1:40 workable depending on the MM stage and final reflected load.
If you share your phono stage or SUT model, we will be happy to review the match before you order.
The LS10 MKII is the core low-output Le Son reference and the most balanced starting point in the LS10 family.
The LS10 MKII “S” adds a more open, refined and nuanced silver-coil expression while remaining practical for many serious MC phono stages.
The LS10 MKII “G” is the apex of the line: the same platform, taken to its lowest output and lightest moving system. It is the natural choice once the gain, loading and noise floor of the system are ready for a 0.10 mV cartridge.
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 LS10 MKII “G,” including tracking force, alignment, anti-skate, VTA/SRA starting point, gain, loading and SUT suitability.
The more complete your system information, the better we can guide you.
Useful details include turntable, tonearm, phono stage, SUT if used, gain and loading options, current cartridge and listening priorities.
Please send your turntable model, tonearm model, phono stage model, SUT model if used, available gain and loading settings, current cartridge and listening priorities.
This allows us to check the mechanical and electrical match before you order.
For the LS10 MKII “G,” this is especially important because its very low output makes the phono-stage or SUT match central to the final result.
Not sure whether the LS10 MKII “G” suits your system?
Our Before You Buy guide covers the main compatibility questions, including tonearm mass, phono-stage gain, loading and step-up transformer matching.
If you would like personal advice, send us your turntable, tonearm, phono-stage and SUT details. We will be happy to help you choose with confidence.
