Who needs a Diamond Cantilever...? 💍


So suddenly, there seems to be a trend for Uber-LOMC cartridges released with Diamond Cantilevers...😱
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 there’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 ’cheap’ 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 🤯🙏🏽

I’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 😃

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 ’blows my mind’...which is hard to do when I’ve had over 80 cartridges on 10 different arms mounted on two different turntables 🤯
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
I’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 I’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 ’killing’ it a bit more 🥴😥
If I knew how long I had left to live......I could program my ’listening sessions’ 🤪
But failing this.....I can’t help but feel slightly uncomfortable listening to this amazing machine.
128x128halcro
Dear Halcro,

Yes, I'm eagerly anticipating its arrival and will report my findings. Based on its construction and design I would expect it to have some similarities with my Ikeda 9 Rex (which is definitely NOT shy in the lower registers). We'll see how it turns out. 

This was my first Yahoo auction, but I'll admit I'm less brave than you are. I know a trusted person in Japan doing the bidding for me and handling the transaction. He reads the Japanese description (the English translation as you say is useless) and will even contact the seller for more info if needed.

@best-groove: good to know Daniele can fix it if there's a problem. I hope it won't be needed, but thanks for the tip.

@best-groove

Cartridgelab Italy

How many Victor Direct Couple MC did you fix with him ?
Even Mr. Peter Ledermann (SoundSmith) told me it’s not guaranteed and more like a project, so you never know is it possible to fix or not. I have a few non working samples, one with one channel, another one is dead.

A tiny "printed coil" located right on top of the cantilever, very close to the stylus. Everything is very fragile with this cartridge and repair is difficult. It is not like any conventional cartridge.
@best-groove: good to know Daniele can fix it if there’s a problem. I hope it won’t be needed, but thanks for the tip.

Yes and and also @halcro can sleep peacefully and use the XL88D without fear.
In my country Cartridgelab has diamond cantilevers/stylus  for when it will be consumed
How many Victor Direct Couple MC did you fix with him ?

has already solved problems on a Victor MC L1000  that it knows very well.

if you want more information send him an email, I don’t think Daniele has problems telling if the job becomes impossible.
@edgewear, ''Based on its construction and design I would expect 
''it'' to have some similarities with my Ikeda 9 Rex''. I also own
Ikeda's Rex but need to guess what you mean with ''similar'' ?
Do you mean Halcro's Decca?