Like New van den Hul Frog $1350 OBOCustom handbuilt moving coil cartridges with the coil of a GRASSHOPPER III and the frontpole and suspension of the GRASSHOPPER IV: the best cartridge available for its price. Retail $2,900.00
The FROG is the Standard Version:
Output 0.65 mV/channel, matched crystal copper-wire coils and extra magnet modification
After about 100 hours the Frog developed a slight channel imbalance. The Frog was sent to van den Hul to check and repair. A. J. van den Hul rebuilt the coils and returned the cartridge looking like new. While the Frog was away I got back my SoundSmith rebuilt Fidelity Research FR1 Mk II. When the Frog returned I tested and listened for about 15-20 album sides and it was, again, a top value cartridge. But, I missed the sound of the FR1. The Frog and the FR1 are very different sounding cartridges. Think Koetsu versus Shelter! The Fidelity Research is warm and euphonic, the Frog detailed and dynamic, but definitely not sterile! Both are great cartridges just voiced differently.
The FR1 is only .14mV so system set up pretty much eliminated using the nearly 5 times more output of the Frog. The Frog has been in reserve now for over three years. It is time to let someone else enjoy it.
Fedex 2nd Day split 50/50 with Buyer.
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