Analog Gear News

We’re all about seeking out affordable cartridges, which is but one reason why coming across Le Son’s SL1 MKII MC (moving-coil) phono cartridge is such a fine sight to see.

First, some background. The Shanghai-based Le Son is the brainchild of general manager Gregory de Richemont, a French expat who was gifted with a Thorens TD150 MKII turntable and “a trove of vinyl records” from his parents in the ’70s. He further cites that it was Pink Floyd’s seminal March 1973 LP The Dark Side of the Moon that ignited his passion for pursuing high fidelity sound. de Richemont eventually connected with noted audio designer and consultant Dr. Ted Tsai at an international audio show, and not long thereafter, Le Son was born, circa 2015.

And now, back to Le Son’s new cart. The SL1 MKII features a line-contact stylus, boron nitride cantilever, and ultra‐light coils. It also boasts threaded socket holes and straight sidelines for a “hassle‐free” setup.

Additionally, the cart’s high output of 2.5mV at 1kHz, 5cm/s, is said to allow “seamless compatibility” with any MM (moving-magnet) phono preamp. Le Son adds that the SL1 MKII has been engineered to “perfectly match medium to medium‐light tonearms found on most turntables.”

Other specs for the SL1 MKII cart include a frequency response given as 10 to 40,000Hz, channel separation as >28dB at 1kHz, dynamic compliance as 16μm/Dyne at 10Hz, and recommended tonearm effective mass as 7g to 25g.

Accessories for the SL1 MKII cart include a hexagonal screwdriver, stylus brush, stylus guard, mounting screws, and washers. Le Son also offers a 60-day money back guarantee, “no questions asked.”

Finally, the cost of the Le Son SL1 MKII MC phono cartridge is currently set at a special launch SRP of $499 for its current, initial three-month introductory period. After that promotional period ends, the SRP will be $890, including customs duties.

For more about Le Son International, go here.
To purchase the SL1 MKII MC cart directly from Le Son, go here.