THE BREAKTHROUGH
“Can you buy a truly world-class moving coil cartridge for only $1260?
The superb Le Son LS10 MKII proves than you can.”
M. L. Gneier – TNT USA
FEATURES
ECC SYSTEM GENERATOR
The LS10 MKII generator features our new Eddy Current Cancellation design.
This ECC system is a breakthrough we are very proud of.
Free from Eddy Current forces, the cartridge output is increased.
Other noticeable improvement, the sound is fuller than ever, with authoritative bass and extented harmonics.
BORON NITRIDE CANTILEVER
What is Boron Nitride?
Boron Nitride is a high-performance engineering ceramic with extreme hardness. Research showed that Boron Nitride (white color) is lighter than the Boron Carbide (black color) used in traditional high-end cartridges:
Density (g/cm3)
This new generation material and the structural design of the LS10 MKII cantilever further reduce the cartridge moving mass, increase vibrations transmission accuracy and speed, leading to better transients and micro-details resolution.
SHIBATA STYLUS
The LS10 MKII features a Shibata stylus.
Invented by Mr. Shibata and patented to Victor Company of Japan (JVC) in 1973, the now famous Shibata stylus shape was originally developed to accurately track the high-frequency information on quadraphonic records (up to 45 kHz) without wearing them out.
For clarity, here is a direct comparison between an elliptical stylus and the Shibata:
The contact area between the Shibata stylus and record grooves is optimum, providing 2 important benefits for the LS10 MKII cartridge:
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- The cartridge tracking ability is optimized, rendering all the music micro-details
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- With a vertical tracking force of only 1.9 gram applied on a large area in the record grooves, the LS10 MKII stylus lasts long and preserves your precious records
MEET THE WIZARD
Spending most of his time in his lab, Dr. Ted Tsai is a relentless researcher driven by his passion for high-fidelity.
Following the launch and success of the LS10 MC cartridge in 2018, he decided to tackle a complex problem of moving coil phono cartridges: the Eddy Current forces.
What are Eddy Current forces?
Eddy Currents are electric currents circulating in conductors like eddies in the oceans.
Image: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio
They are induced by changing magnetic fields, and flow in closed loops, perpendicular to the plane of the magnetic field.
Eddy Currents are created when a conductor is moving through a magnetic field, for example in a moving coil cartridge.
Why do we care about Eddy Current forces in phono cartridges?
Like any current flowing through a conductor, an eddy current will produce its own magnetic field
Lenz’s Law states that the magnetic field produced by eddy currents will oppose the change of magnetic field that created it
Therefore, in a phono cartridge, eddy currents act as a magnetic force against the cantilever movements
How to reduce Eddy Current forces in a moving coil cartridge?
There are several ways to reduce Eddy Current forces in a moving coil cartridge, for example laminating the core, or using a nonconductive material for the cantilever.
Dr. Tsai went further and discovered a way to further neutralize Eddy Current forces.
He designed a new generator where Eddy Current forces are created in such a way they neutralize each other.
This new system involves a cross coil design and a copper ring.
It is called ECC (Eddy Current Cancellation) and is implemented for the first time in the LS10 MKII cartridge.
SIMPLE INSTALLATION & ALIGNMENT
The LS10 MKII cartridge body is pre-threaded, enabling an easy installation and alignment with just two bolts – no nuts required.
Furthermore, the straight sides of the body make it simple for you to align the cartridge on your turntable.
60 DAYS MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
We provide a 60 days money-back guarantee, so you have plenty of time to listen and decide if the cartridge fits well in your system.
The 60 days return policy is detailed in section 6 of our General Terms and Conditions.
ONLINE CUSTOMER SUPPORT
The purchase of an LS10 MKII cartridge includes an online support to ensure the perfect integration of your new cartridge in your system.
The Customer Support includes:
Installation and alignment of the cartridge on your headshell.
Research and guidance to setup optimum VTF, VTA, and Antiskating on your tonearm.
Research and guidance to setup your phono preamplifier loading.
SPECIFICATIONS
PHYSICAL
- Cartridge Type: Moving Coil (Stereo)
- Body: Aluminium & Carbon Fiber Socket, Ebony Wood Casing
- Stylus: Diamond, Shibata Shape
- Cantilever: Boron Nitride Ceramic Rod
- Coils: 6N Copper
- Weight: 7.9 grams
ELECTRICAL
- Output Voltage: 0.40mV at 5cm/s
- Internal Impedance: 6 ohms
- Frequency Response: 15 – 45,000 Hz
- Channel Separation: Better than 30dB at 1kHz
- Channel Balance: Better than 0.5dB
DYNAMIC
- Tracking ability: 80μm at 315Hz with 2g Tracking Force
- Dynamic Compliance: 15μm/mN
SETUP
- Recommended Loading: 75 ohms minimum
- Recommended Vertical Tracking Force (VTF): 1.7 – 2.1 grams
- Reference Vertical Tracking Force (VTF): 1.9 grams
- Recommended Tone Arm Mass: Medium
- Run-in Period: 30 hours
ACCESSORIES
- 1 x Stylus Brush
- 1 x Hexagonal Screwdriver
- 2 x Short Mounting Screws & Washers
- 2 x Medium Mounting Screws & Washers
- 2 x Long Mounting Screws & Washers
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- With which turntables or tonearms can I use the LS10 MKII MC Cartridge?
- Is there a warranty for the LS10 MKII MC Cartridge?
- What is the stylus lifespan of the LS10 MKII MC Cartridge?
- Can the LS10 MKII Cartridge be retipped?
- What is the recommended phono preamplifier gain for the LS10 MKII MC Cartridge?
On any turntable, the cartridge/tonearm combination will exhibit resonance at a specific frequency. This resonance is due to the interaction of the cartridge (acting as a spring), and the weight of the tonearm (acting as a mass). The “springiness” of the phono cartridge is described as compliance, and the weight of the arm is specified as mass. The goal in matching a specific cartridge and tonearm is to have this resonant frequency to be between 8Hz and 11Hz.
The LS10 MKII MC Cartridge compliance is 15μm/mN, which will match perfectly medium mass tonearms. Most turntables out there have a medium mass tonearm. If you have a doubt, feel free to contact us, we will check for you.
Yes, the warranty for the LS10 MKII MC Cartridge is 2 years, and starts at reception of the package.
The detailed warranty conditions are stated in our General Terms & Conditions.
The LS10 features a nude Shibata stylus, the most famous member of the “line contact” styli family. Unlike cheaper stylus shapes (spherical, conical, elliptical), the vertical tracking force (VTF) is spread along a wider area, and therefore wears slower.
In addition, the VTF of the LS10 MKII MC Cartridge is only 1.9g, so the pressure on both the record and the stylus is kept at minimum.
The LS10 MKII MC Cartridge stylus lifespan ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 hours.
In other words, the LS10 MKII stylus lifespan is about 2 years if you listen to records 2 hours every single day.
Yes, the LS10 MKII Cartridge can be retipped at a very advantageous price.
Japanese stylus & cantilever manufacturers update their prices yearly, so when a retipping is necessary, please contact us and we will provide you with all the information.
To maintain the best signal to noise ratio, your phono preamplifier gain should complement the output of your phono cartridge.
The LS10 MKII outputs 0.4mV at 5cm/s, and we therefore recommend to set the gain of your phono preamplifier from 56dB to 65dB.
Other questions?
Feel free to CONTACT US, we usually answer within 24 hours.
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