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'Diamond' cantilevers: a man's best friend?

An increasing number of cartridge manufacturers is offering models with 'diamond' cantilevers at the top of their range, generally priced at the wrong side of $10k. The price hike compared to - otherwise identical - models with boron (or other) cantilevers runs in the multiple thousands.

Can anyone explain why? Is this just an artificial price point to emphasize exclusivity or does it have to do with material or manufacturing cost, even if there's not much material to begin with? And speaking of artificial, are these cantilevers made from 'real' diamond, or some industrial type? Are all diamond cantilevers created equal or do we see a variety of diamond-like materials sold as 'real' diamond? And what about the rare 'one piece' diamond stylus/cantilevers used in a few vintage cartridges (Sony XL-88D, Dynavector, Kiseki Lapis Lazuli); are these new top dollar diamond cantilever cartridges (like some Koetsu's, Ortofon MC Century, Transfiguration Orpheus Diamond, etc.) of the 'one piece' type? And if not, what is the presumed advantage compared to ruby, sapphire, boron or any other cantilever materials? In short: does anyone know what the 'diamond' cantilever landscape really looks like?

And finally the really important question: do 'diamond' cantilevers - all else being equal - offer superior performance that would begin to justify the price difference? Has anyone done the required comparative listening?

PS: a have a nice collection of MC's with a variety of cantilever materials: sapphire, ruby, boron, aluminium, beryllium, or some combination of materials. But not 'diamond' (real or otherwise), so I'm curious to find out if I'm missing out on something.



edgewear
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
These last diverting opinions seem to emphasize that there is no intrinsic sonic benefit to the use of diamond cantilever.
A diamond cantilever per se, is simply a gemstone similar to sapphire or ruby.
To expect a 'revolution' in sound is perhaps a bit optimistic...?
The SONY XL-88D.....unlike the other cartridges wielding diamond cantileverS......is a ONE-PIECE diamond/cantilever construction and that is a massive difference.
One only needs to compare the sonic results of the NORMAL XL-88 to the DIAMOND XL-88D to hear this...🤗
howardalex's avatar
howardalex
64 posts
 
@halcro, my understanding is that the Koetsu diamond cantilevers are one-piece, ie the stylus and cantilever is hewn from one piece of diamond so as to eliminate the interface between stylus and cantilever.
I have a love/hate relationship with the Jade dc :)
nandric's avatar
nandric
4,086 posts
 
What about ''no cantilever at all?'' I already mentioned Decca and
Ikeda 9 series but nobody reacted. Decca is obviously beter known
than Ikeda but the lack of knowledge about Ikeda is very curious.
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
I have seen no evidence @howardalex that the Koetsu diamond styli/cantilevers are hewn from a single piece of diamond.
This is despite searching the Web for photos and even Koetsu's own official site.

As this 'fact' and photos displaying it, would be the No.1 selling and promotional point......the cynic in me is 90% sure that is not the case 🧐
howardalex's avatar
howardalex
64 posts
 
@halcro - I read that it was a single piece of diamond in a review in Absolute Sounds a few years ago, although I suppose that’s not direct from the horses mouth ...
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