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
@halcro I found by chance some more info about the XC88D. It made the cover of the German magazine Stereoplay in June 1983. It was ranked among the most exclusive and expensive cartridges of the time and it was very very hard to get. The official price was 5750 DM in Western Germany
That's interesting Gallus....
I had the figure of 7500 DM but that was 'here-say' from the Internet...
Is it possible for you to post a Link to that particular issue.....or perhaps some further comments from the article?
Halcro, I unfortunately don´t have this issue at hand and it is not online anywhere. You can however take a look at the cover on this link:  http://www.hifimuseum.de/stereoplay-1983.html

Thanks Gallus,
When I opened the 'Contents' on that Link, under cartridges:-

Audio Technica AT 1000 HC68thBoston MC-1H Van den Hul68thDenon DL-1000 A68thDynavector DV-50A68thExcel PROB1 MC68thGloss GMD-10EX68thGold ring 920 / IGC68thJVC MC-5 E68thKiseki Lapis Lazuli1066Mission 773 HC68thOrtofon MC Exclusive68thOrtofon MC 100 Universal392Ortofon MC 200068thSonyXL-MC368th
Sony XL88D Custom
68th
Technics EPC-205CMk368thYamaha MC-9
You see it lists the Sony XL88D Custom.....
Now I don't know if that means that the 88D was only available to 'Customer Order'...or whether there was another model of the 88D called 88D Custom? 🤔

Halcro, the XL-88D custom has an integrated headshell, like the XL-55 Pro. There are better pictures that also show the words 'Sony Sound Tec' on the red upper part of the shell. This version may even be more rare than your - uh - 'regular' 88D. I've never seen one for sale, but it's the version I'd most like to get my hands on......