Leson SL1 MKII Cartridge

Why I recommend the SL1 MKII

The SL1 MKII is the cartridge I recommend when a listener wants the character of a moving coil design without changing to an MC phono stage.

Its 2.5 mV output allows it to work through a standard MM phono input, while the boron nitride cantilever and line-contact stylus give it the speed, texture and openness expected from a serious cartridge.

It is easy to integrate, but not casual in its ambition. For many systems, the SL1 MKII is the most direct way to bring the Le Son moving-coil voice into everyday listening.

Gregory de Richemont

Founder, Le Son

What makes the SL1 MKII different

Moving-coil character, MM simplicity

With 2.5 mV output, the SL1 MKII is designed for standard MM phono inputs, so you can enjoy moving-coil character without adding a step-up transformer or dedicated MC stage.

Moving-coil texture and presence

The 6N copper coils, boron nitride cantilever and line-contact stylus are chosen to preserve texture, timing and low-level detail while keeping the presentation natural and engaging.

Easy, confident installation

Threaded mounting holes and straight body lines help make installation calmer and more controlled, especially for listeners who want a serious cartridge without unnecessary setup stress.

60-day home evaluation

The SL1 MKII can be evaluated in your own system, with your own tonearm, MM 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.

We are deeply impressed by what this cartridge can get out of a record.

In the days following our listening session, we searched both the digital and analogue realms at home for the same listening sensation, especially with the ‘Déjà Vu’ album. We couldn’t find it.

We say sensation, but it was more than that. It felt like an event, a special performance or concert that leaves a lasting impression.

Yung Lie, Alpha Audio

Customer listening notes

The New SL1 MKII is JAW-DROPPING Good sound!

This new SL1 MKII was like the heavy curtain was opened up and the piano and violin was right in front of me. I could hear the bow on the strings, the piano hammer the strings. Right now I don’t have to spend thousands on a preamp! Every night I play lps for 3 hours, OMG the sound is right next to you and the fidelity is unforgettable!

SL-1 mk2

After aprox 30 hours on my SL 1200 GR, i am impressed. The highs and mids are very clear and detailed. Lows are good as well. Leson SL1 got me playing some old stuff, Leaf hound, Ufo, Santana etc, and it sounded as good as never before.

High Value HiFi for everyone

This is it for me. I will never look beyond this cartridge, it is the summit of my search for wide sound stage and stereo imaging. There may be others, but the Le Son SL1 MKII is the point where I get maximum performance for my money.

The SL1 MKII design

Boron nitride cantilever

The SL1 MKII uses a boron nitride cantilever, selected for its combination of low mass and high rigidity.

Compared with aluminum, boron nitride offers a stronger stiffness-to-weight relationship, helping groove movement pass from stylus to generator with speed and control.

Rigidity (GPa)

Density (g/cm3)

For the listener, this supports cleaner transients, more stable textures and a more immediate sense of musical movement, while keeping the presentation fluid rather than hard.

High-output moving coil generator

At the heart of the SL1 MKII are hand-wound 6N copper coils, designed to deliver 2.5 mV output with a 56-ohm internal impedance.

This gives the cartridge one of its central advantages: moving-coil character with the practical gain structure of a standard MM phono input.

In listening terms, the SL1 MKII is designed to bring immediacy, dynamic ease and fine musical texture without requiring additional MC gain or a step-up transformer.

Line-contact stylus

The SL1 MKII uses a diamond line-contact stylus, chosen for fine groove tracing and controlled contact with the record surface.

When correctly aligned, the extended contact area helps the stylus retrieve delicate groove information while distributing tracking force over a larger contact surface.

The result is cleaner tracing, more stable detail and a more composed presentation on complex passages and inner grooves.

Complete your setup

Voyager headshell

For stable cartridge mounting and precise setup

Headshell washer

For controlled headshell coupling

DIN Phono Cable

For tonearms with 5-pin DIN outputs

RCA Phono Cable

For turntables with RCA outputs