LS10 MKII “S” cartridge
1,490 $
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60-day home evaluation · 2-year warranty · Personal setup guidance
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Why I recommend the LS10 MKII “S”
The LS10 MKII “S” is the version I recommend when a listener already has a balanced analog system and wants to hear deeper into the record.
Its silver coils bring more openness, speed and nuance, while the boron cantilever and line-contact stylus help preserve texture, touch and low-level detail.
It is more revealing than the standard LS10 MKII, but still practical to match with a serious MC phono stage. For many systems, that makes it the most natural step upward in the LS10 family.
Gregory de Richemont
Founder, Le Son
The silver-coil expression
At the heart of the LS10 MKII “S” is a precision-wound coil made from 5N OCC silver wire, only 0.03 mm in diameter.
Silver is valued for its exceptional conductivity, and in a moving coil generator this supports the transmission of very small signal changes with speed and delicacy.
The OCC process gives the wire a highly continuous structure, reducing the interruptions that can occur at crystalline boundaries.
In listening terms, the “S” is designed to bring more openness, faster microdynamic movement and a more finely lit sense of space, without losing natural body.
What this brings:
→ Greater microdynamic expression
→ More air and separation between instruments
→ A more open, fluid and emotionally present sound
The kinetic precision of boron
The LS10 MKII “S” uses a boron rod cantilever, selected for its high stiffness-to-weight ratio.
This allows groove movement to be transmitted quickly and precisely, with less stored energy than heavier or less rigid cantilever materials.
Stiffness-to-weight ratio (GPa/g/cm3)
For the listener, this supports fast transients, cleaner textures and a more immediate sense of musical gesture.
Notes start and stop with greater clarity, yet the presentation remains fluid rather than clinical.
What this brings:
→ Fast, clean transients
→ More precise texture and articulation
→ A stronger feeling of immediacy and touch
Refined line-contact geometry
The LS10 MKII “S” uses a refined nude diamond line-contact stylus, developed to retrieve fine groove information while remaining practical to set up.
Its geometry sits between the well-known Shibata and Fritz Gyger profiles, combining strong contact with a broader setup tolerance than more extreme line-contact designs.
When correctly aligned, the extended contact area helps the stylus trace the groove with control while distributing tracking force over a larger contact surface.
What this brings:
→ Refined tracking across the record surface
→ Fine detail retrieval without excessive setup anxiety
→ Careful groove contact when the cartridge is correctly installed
Easy, confident installation
The LS10 MKII “S” uses a pre-threaded body, so mounting does not require loose nuts.
Its straight sides also make visual alignment easier, helping the installation feel calmer and more controlled.
Careful setup still matters, but the cartridge is designed to make the process less intimidating.
Personal setup guidance
With every LS10 MKII “S” 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 and loading.
If you are unsure about your tonearm, phono stage or step-up transformer, please contact us before ordering. A few system details are often enough to confirm whether the LS10 MKII “S” is the right direction.
This direct guidance is part of the Le Son experience.
60-day home evaluation
The LS10 MKII “S” can be evaluated where it matters most: in your own system, with your own tonearm, 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.
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: 5N OCC Silver
- Cantilever: Boron Rod
- Stylus: Nude Diamond, Line Contact Shape
- Body: Aluminum & Carbon Fiber Socket, Ebony Wood Casing
- Weight: 8.2 grams
Electrical
- Output Voltage: 0.50 mV at 5 cm/s
- Internal Impedance: 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: 75 ohms minimum
- Recommended Gain: approximately 56–65 dB, or a suitable step-up transformer
- Recommended Vertical Tracking Force (VTF): 1.9 – 2.5 grams
- Reference Vertical Tracking Force (VTF): 2.2 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 “S” cartridge?
- Which tonearms are compatible with the LS10 MKII “S”?
- What is the expected stylus lifespan?
- Can the LS10 MKII “S” be retipped or rebuilt?
- What phono preamp gain is recommended?
- How does the LS10 MKII “S” compare with the LS10 MKII and LS10 MKII “G”?
- Is the LS10 MKII “S” returnable if it does not match my system?
- Do you offer setup assistance?
- What information should I send before ordering?
Yes. The LS10 MKII “S” 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 “S” 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 “S” is a coherent match.
Stylus life depends on setup accuracy, record cleanliness, tracking force, handling and hours of use.
With careful setup and clean records, the line-contact stylus is designed for long service life, but it should still be treated as a precision wear component.
If tracking, distortion or tonal balance changes noticeably after extended use, contact us and we can advise whether inspection or retipping may be appropriate.
Yes. The LS10 MKII “S” can be retipped or serviced where appropriate.
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 “S” has an output of 0.50 mV at 5 cm/s and is intended for a suitable MC phono stage or an MM phono stage used with an appropriate step-up transformer.
As a practical starting point, many systems will be comfortable with MC gain in the approximate 56 to 65 dB region.
Recommended loading starts at 75 ohms minimum. If your phono stage allows adjustment, a balanced working range is often around 80 to 120 ohms.
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 most exacting version and should only be chosen when the gain and noise structure of the system are truly ready.
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 “S,” including tracking force, alignment, anti-skate, VTA/SRA starting point, gain and loading.
The more complete your system information, the better we can guide you.
Useful details include turntable, tonearm, phono stage, gain and loading options, current cartridge and listening priorities.
Please send your turntable model, tonearm model, phono stage model, 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 “S,” this is especially useful because the cartridge is more revealing than the standard LS10 MKII and benefits from careful system matching.
Not sure whether the LS10 MKII “S” suits your system?
Our Before You Buy guide covers the main compatibility questions, including tonearm mass, phono-stage gain and loading.
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.
