ADC 10E Mk.IV (1972)
The ADC 10E is best known through its Mk.IV variant, introduced in 1972. It tracked at just 0.7 grams, and ADC called the cantilever "whisper-light." HiFI-Stereo (December 1971, p.44) tested a pre-production Mk.IV and measured its output at 3.6 mV at a reference 3.54 cm/sec recorded velocity, about average for a high-quality cartridge. The magazine noted that tracking ability was impressive, though the high-frequency resonance was slightly underdamped.
The Mk.IV needed a tonearm that could handle its featherweight tracking force. One period observer put it this way: the 10E Mk.IV "makes records disappear - when your tonearm could keep up." It was "not a cartridge for the faint of arm." In systems that could deliver, it gave exceptional transparency and micro-detail retrieval that still impresses decades later.
Several things are missing from the record: original price, frequency response, impedance, dimensions, and any detailed information about the pre-Mk.IV versions. The Mk.IV is the only variant with substantial documentation, and even that is thin on hard electrical specs.
Known Specifications (ADC 10E Mk.IV)
- Tracking force: 0.7 grams
- Cantilever: “whisper-light” (ADC’s description)
eBay Listings
As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.