I've heard Sony XL-55 with Boron cantilever and did not like it at all.Neither the Sony XL-55 nor XL-88 (in standard form) had Boron cantilevers.
Who needs a Diamond Cantilever...? š
So suddenly, there seems to be a trend for Uber-LOMC cartridges released with Diamond Cantilevers...š±
As if the High-End MC cartridges were not already overpriced....?!
Orofon have released the MC-ANNA-DIAMOND after previously releasing the Limited Edition MC-CENTURY...also with Diamond Cantilever.
Then thereās the KOETSU BLOODSTONE PLATINUM and DYNAVECTOR KARAT 17D2 and ZYX ULTIMATE DIAMOND and probably several more.
But way back in 1980....Sony released a Diamond-Cantilevered version of its fine XL-88 LOMC Cartridge.
Imaginatively....they named this model the XL-88D and, because it was the most expensive phono cartridge in the world (costing 7500DM which was more expensive than a Volkswagen at the time)....Sony, cleverly disguised this rare beast to look EXACTLY like its ācheapā brother with its complex hybrid cantilever of "special light metal held by a carbon-fibre pipe both being held again by a rigid aluminium pipe".
The DIAMOND CANTILEVER on the 88D however......was a thing of BEAUTY and technological achievement, being formed from ONE PIECE OF DIAMOND including the stylus š¤Æšš½
Iāve owned the XL-88 for many years and recently discovered that it was my best (and favourite) cartridge when mounted in the heavy Fidelity Research S-3 Headshell on the SAEC WE-8000/ST 12" Tonearm around my VICTOR TT-101 TURNTABLE.
Without knowing this in advance.....I would not have been prepared to bid the extraordinary prices (at a Japanese Auction Site) that these rare cartridges keep commanding.
To find one in such STUNNING CONDITION with virtually no visible wear was beyond my expectations š
So how does it sound.....?
Is there a difference to the standard XL-88?
Is the Diamond Cantilever worth the huge price differential?
Is the Pope a Catholic....?
This cartridge simply āblows my mindā...which is hard to do when Iāve had over 80 cartridges on 10 different arms mounted on two different turntables š¤Æ
As Syntax said on another Thread:-
But now Iāve bought myself a nightmarish scenario.......
There is no replacement stylus for this cartridge!
There is no replacement cantilever for this cartridge!
Each time I play records with it, I am ākillingā it a bit more š„“š„
If I knew how long I had left to live......I could program my ālistening sessionsā š¤Ŗ
But failing this.....I canāt help but feel slightly uncomfortable listening to this amazing machine.
As if the High-End MC cartridges were not already overpriced....?!
Orofon have released the MC-ANNA-DIAMOND after previously releasing the Limited Edition MC-CENTURY...also with Diamond Cantilever.
Then thereās the KOETSU BLOODSTONE PLATINUM and DYNAVECTOR KARAT 17D2 and ZYX ULTIMATE DIAMOND and probably several more.
But way back in 1980....Sony released a Diamond-Cantilevered version of its fine XL-88 LOMC Cartridge.
Imaginatively....they named this model the XL-88D and, because it was the most expensive phono cartridge in the world (costing 7500DM which was more expensive than a Volkswagen at the time)....Sony, cleverly disguised this rare beast to look EXACTLY like its ācheapā brother with its complex hybrid cantilever of "special light metal held by a carbon-fibre pipe both being held again by a rigid aluminium pipe".
The DIAMOND CANTILEVER on the 88D however......was a thing of BEAUTY and technological achievement, being formed from ONE PIECE OF DIAMOND including the stylus š¤Æšš½
Iāve owned the XL-88 for many years and recently discovered that it was my best (and favourite) cartridge when mounted in the heavy Fidelity Research S-3 Headshell on the SAEC WE-8000/ST 12" Tonearm around my VICTOR TT-101 TURNTABLE.
Without knowing this in advance.....I would not have been prepared to bid the extraordinary prices (at a Japanese Auction Site) that these rare cartridges keep commanding.
To find one in such STUNNING CONDITION with virtually no visible wear was beyond my expectations š
So how does it sound.....?
Is there a difference to the standard XL-88?
Is the Diamond Cantilever worth the huge price differential?
Is the Pope a Catholic....?
This cartridge simply āblows my mindā...which is hard to do when Iāve had over 80 cartridges on 10 different arms mounted on two different turntables š¤Æ
As Syntax said on another Thread:-
When you have 2 identical carts, one regular cantilever and the other one with diamond cantilever (Koetsu Stones for example), the one with diamond cantilever shows more details, is a bit sharper in focus and the soundstage is a bit deeper and wider. They can sound a bit more detailed overall with improved dynamicsIāll leave it at that for the time being. I will soon upload to YouTube, the sound comparisons between the two Sony versions on my HEAR MY CARTRIDGES THREAD.
But now Iāve bought myself a nightmarish scenario.......
There is no replacement stylus for this cartridge!
There is no replacement cantilever for this cartridge!
Each time I play records with it, I am ākillingā it a bit more š„“š„
If I knew how long I had left to live......I could program my ālistening sessionsā š¤Ŗ
But failing this.....I canāt help but feel slightly uncomfortable listening to this amazing machine.
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- 358 posts total
I owned the MC1000 by AT that came exactly the same: cantilever and stylus in one piece.Unfortunately there is no such model listed on Vinyl Engine nor does the World Wide Web reveal its existence. The AT Catalogue lists the MC-2000 II with aluminium cantilever, the MC-3000 II also with aluminium, the MC-5000 with sapphire and the MC-7500 with aluminium. There is mention of the AT-1000 with 'diamond cantilever' but no claims nor evidence of 'one-piece cantilever/stylus'. In the absence of ANY photos, descriptions or confirming evidence of its existence on the entire WWW.....the above statement appears to be a fabrication.Ā Ā |
I've heard Sony XL-55 with Boron cantilever and did not like it at all.The XL-55 and XL-88 are about as DIFFERENTĀ from each other as any cartridges can be š¤ Not only in SIZEĀ and SHAPE....but particularly soundwise. The XL-55 has a distinctly 'coloured', warm and robust presentation...not dissimilar to the vintage 'A' Style SPUs. The XL-88 in contrast...is neutral, dynamic, detailed, transparent and nimble. I have no interest in Sony cartridgesYour loss....š |
@best-groove, you canāt buy a new cartridge that sounds better than the XL88D?In 40 years of owning over 80 cartridges (both vintage and modern)...I can honestly say NO š¤ The STANDARD XL-88 is itself, the best cartridge Iāve heard in my system with the $10,000 AS-PALLADIAN and $5,000 LONDON DECCA REFERENCE as ārunners-upā. The XL-88D is the āHoly Grailā for me.... Itās the elusive āperfectā cartridge for which Iāve been searching over the last 10 years! I can truly state that my quest is over...š and if I buy another cartridge....itās because Iām really really sick š¤® Yes....$2,000 is a lot for a āusedā cartridge, but how much do you think āusedā Lyra cartridges are selling for? Or Koetsu Stone Bodies or Colibri Master Signatures or top Ortofon MCs? Donāt forget....the XL-88D cost $13,700 at todayās prices so I consider $2,000 a āstealā š Was the original box and paper provided with the purchase?Unfortunately not.....but beggars canāt be choosers š„“ Iāve seen a few XL-88Ds for sale with box and papers....but the cantilevers and styli did not look likeĀ THIS! |
- 358 posts total