2. analog
  3. 151721-486

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
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,492 posts
 
I guess my brain works differently than lewm and chakster. When I have multiple set ups I always wind up preferring one of them and the others sit and languish taking up space and money. I have never had more than 4 cartridges at a time. I'll buy a cartridge and decide whether or not I like it better then sell the loser. Occasionally I'll use a cartridge for an extended period preferring to spend money on other parts of the system that require upgrade. I used a Grado Statement for over a decade.Ā 
I might in the future go for a Dohmann Helix after he develops his vacuum clamping and dust cover. That table takes two arms. I can keep an high output cartridge on one and a low impedance moving coil on the other for different types of music but that is a very expensive endeavor. I really have not got room for two tables.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,005 posts
 
Dear @mijostyn : "Ā  I am beginning to think moving coil cartridges are a waste of money and that you can get equal or better performance out of much less expensive moving magnet and iron cartridges. "

Everything the same ( as I posted before. ) there is no single MM that can outperform the LOMC.

You said that the LOMC cartridges has not the " punch " of the MM and by coincidence this kind of " punch " was what impressed me with hundreds of cartridge in the long thread and I posted several times down there.Ā 
But that " punch " is non-accurated, the MM bass range it's not it has not the tigth LOMC bass performance that's more as what we listen in a live MUSIC even at near field position.Ā 
Yes that " punch " could be addictive but " false ", it's a distorted frequency sound. The time decay in MM ( especially vintages. ) is way longer and with overhang. The best MM by a wide margin is the Technics EPC100 C MK4 ( stand alone version. ) and the closer one to a LOMC cartridge.

MI makes a better overal job and certainly are nearer to the LOMC ones but as @doverĀ  posted if you have the rigth phonolinepreamp LOMC is a little superior design.Ā 

""Ā  My point is there are MM and MI cartridges that out perform some LOMC cartridges. ""

Of course that could be true but depends the choosed MM/MI against which LOMC is the comparison and in which room/audio system.

""Ā  JC may think they are better...""

I think that he not only " think " that LOMC are better but can prove it if necessary.

Unfortunatelly we audiophiles puit a lot of subjectivity in our opinionsĀ  and almost no facts as comparisons against live MUSIC events seated a near field position. The main issue is not what we like but what is rigth or wrong.

Anyway, the thread is about diamond cantilevers.

R.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I think itā€™s the wrong thread to discuss MC vs. MM again...

Cartridge is not a girlfriend (not a wife), so you can have as many as you wish at the same time if you like them.



Itā€™s funny how some people trying to find a cartridge that combines everything in one (normally for insane price), they want ā€œthe best of the bestā€ and theyā€™re ready to pay their dues.


They can deny their previous love, just like after divorce, pretending their next relations is better and will last forever, but then ... oops ... another love affair and someone lost his mind.


And he thought brunettes are better, but once he met blonde and she blew his mind away! Sheā€™s so different, but they are together for much longer... Life in harmony even at the shelter.


His ex girlfriend was looking for very special treatment, luxury life and money, and finally left him.


Discussion about MC vs. MM is like discussion about Brunettes vs. Blondes.

What is good enough for YOU is the most important. Someone else opinion is irrelevant!

For some people a $10k - 30k MC cartridge is just a part of their luxury life, just another disposable unit with 3000hrs life span, whatever. But the level of distortion is a bit lower at this price :)) Try to tell it to the musicians who recorded those records in the studio, it will be cheaper to hire the whole band to perform live several times with the whole studio PA rented (just infront of you).





Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,005 posts
 
Dear @mijostyn : which one of these cartridges performs the best: Lyra Etna or Lyra Etna SL ).

Rigth, the SL that has lower output and this meansĀ  less wire in the coils where the sensitive audio signal always takes degradation. Lower inductance too.

I like a lot Vdh cartridges but I don't like its medium/high output models but the lower than 0.3mv.

To much coil wire in the MM cartridges.

Anyway, as I posted we can follow with the diamond cantilevers that in some ways looks as a builded " mirage ".

R.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,005 posts
 
to make very good busine$$ today.

Nothing wrong with that because customers are free to choose or not about.
More to discover