Who needs a Diamond Cantilever...? šŸ’


So suddenly, there seems to be a trend for Uber-LOMC cartridges released with Diamond Cantilevers...šŸ˜±
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 thereā€™s 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 ā€™cheapā€™ 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 šŸ¤ÆšŸ™šŸ½

Iā€™ve 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 šŸ˜ƒ

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 ā€™blows my mindā€™...which is hard to do when Iā€™ve had over 80 cartridges on 10 different arms mounted on two different turntables šŸ¤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 dynamics
Iā€™ll 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 Iā€™ve 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 ā€™killingā€™ it a bit more šŸ„“šŸ˜„
If I knew how long I had left to live......I could program my ā€™listening sessionsā€™ šŸ¤Ŗ
But failing this.....I canā€™t help but feel slightly uncomfortable listening to this amazing machine.
128x128halcro
@halcro I ask if for $ 2000 (crazy expense for a used cartridge but maybe youĀ slipped from hand the keyboard control) you canā€™t buy a new cartridge that sounds better than the XL88D?
Was the original box and paper provided with the purchase?
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 šŸ¤—
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 cartridges
Your loss....šŸ˜Ž
@best-groove,
you canā€™t 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 šŸ¤—
The STANDARD XL-88 is itself, the best cartridge Iā€™ve heard in my system with the $10,000 AS-PALLADIAN and $5,000 LONDON DECCA REFERENCE as ā€™runners-upā€™.
The XL-88D is the ā€™Holy Grailā€™ for me....
Itā€™s the elusive ā€™perfectā€™ cartridge for which Iā€™ve been searching over the last 10 years!
I can truly state that my quest is over...šŸ˜ and if I buy another cartridge....itā€™s because Iā€™m really really sick šŸ¤®
Yes....$2,000 is a lot for a ā€™usedā€™ cartridge, but how much do you think ā€™usedā€™ Lyra cartridges are selling for? Or Koetsu Stone Bodies or Colibri Master Signatures or top Ortofon MCs?
Donā€™t forget....the XL-88D cost $13,700 at todayā€™s prices so I consider $2,000 a ā€™stealā€™ šŸ˜‰
Was the original box and paper provided with the purchase?
Unfortunately not.....but beggars canā€™t be choosers šŸ„“
Iā€™ve seen a few XL-88Ds for sale with box and papers....but the cantilevers and styli did not look likeĀ THIS!
@halcroĀ  Ā I have not seen and followed the auction, but were the hours of use declared or was it bought only by viewing photos?