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.
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Unfortunately the timing is all wrong for me at the moment, as I just took delivery of a Dynavector Karat Nova 13D. Yep, also diamond cantilever, but not a one piece cantilever/stylus assembly like the Sony. I don't know if it's down to the (very short) diamond cantilever or other design aspects, but it's in a totally different universe than my Karat Ruby 23RS. It sounds very smooth and relaxed, but with a sense of energy reserve just waiting to jump up on you. Which it most certainly does when the music calls for it.

This is the diamond cantilever of my ex Karat 17DS MicroReach, diamond cantilever length is 1.7mm, the 13D is even shorter (1.3mm). The design aspect explained in the interview with Dr.Tominari and here is the dynavector thread with more info.    

I have upgraded to Karat 17D2 and it's still in the box (NOS). 

The stylus cantilever assembly of the SONY is pretty much like ADC TRX II with very long metal collar behind the cantilever, ADC however is only a sapphire, but the stylus tip mounting style is state of the art.  



So it only sold for $1900.....a bargain 🤗
Why did I pay $2100.....?
Someone owes me $200....😂
Yeah, it's always difficult to predict the outcome of auctions. But if there's one - albeit counter intuitive - rule, it's this: auctions that are pretty high up early on often get 'stuck' somewhere, probably because many bidders drop out before the end thinking it will go through the roof. Just as you expected what would happen here.

So, after missing out on the 88D twice, I'm gearing up for a third chance in 2020 on a 88D Custom........ 😉

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