Who needs a Diamond Cantilever...? 💍
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 dynamicsI’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.
Modern adhesives are very strong and light. It is easier to align the stylus and keep it aligned while the glue is set by UV With the gluing system without embed as indicated by Chakster, it is necessary to be very careful in cleaning the stylus with the appropriate cleaning liquids; there is a serious danger of unglue the stylus from the cantilever. |
Your argument seems to be that boron pipe is no longer available. I agree. Boron Pipe is lighter than Boron Rod, laser mounted stylus tip on Boron pipe is also lighter, the moving mass is lighter and this is important for a high-end cartridge. It is extremely important for MM or MI cartridges and their high frequency reproduction. Ceramic Pipe cantilever from Grace is no longer availabe, that was one of the rarest cantilever ever! Beryllium Pipe from Audio-Technica is not available, it was Gold-Plated. Beryllium cantilever from Victor is no longer available and it was quite unusual, look at the stylus. Also look at Titanium Pipe from Victor. The rest of your argument makes no sense. So you ignored my point about Ortofon and SoundSmith cantilever systems with the diamond mounted not under the cantilever, but in front of the cantilever rod? If you are saying nobody nude mounts like your boron pipe example, namiki does it with zirconium tube. Zicronia pipe is nowhere near Boron Pipe properties. My thread about Zirconia Pipe Cantilever is on audiogon since 2020 and people know nothing about this type of cantilever. Do you have any cartridge with Zirconia cantilever? I think titanium pipe may be still available, I'm not sure.
The diamond cantilever and stylus mentioned in this thread by OP is cut from one piece of diamond, this is unique method, no longer available. Sapphire or Ruby from Namiki are OK (not identical to old Sapphire or Ruby though). But look at SoundSmith Ruby is you want to see something completely different from anything else. Enough said, when we discuss cantilevers I always think that people have no memory at all, it's been said so many times on audiogon. |
Dear @best-groove @intactaudio : Today and in the past ( too. ) I don't know how many cartridge buyers check how the stylus tip is atached to the cantilever before buy that cartridge. Maybe not one because who cares about ! !. Like in other kind of industries and in different times the manufacturers take the build parts that are available in that time in the market and that goes with the quality level they are looking for at an specific price. I don't know you or other of the gentlemans in this thread but what I buy is a cartridge ( not a cantilever. ) and I don't care about that " no sense/stupid " stylus tip/cantilever issue . Just imagine a Lyra Etna SL where a buyer decides not to buy it because the cantilever is solid and not a pipe ! ! go figure ! ! As I said that is an STUPIDITY and with all respect to all of you ( me included. ) is stupid to follow arguing about....but......... R. |
Chakster, I am only trying to address your statement that i loosely interpret as 'they do not mount diamonds like they used to'. Here are the pictures of your historical examples along side current offerings from Namiki and I do not see any appreciable difference. Can you explain how they differ? You will get no argument from me about materials that are no longer available as being 'better' or that Fritz Gyger offers options with just an adhesion bond (as does Namiki with their Microridge). I also understand the uniqueness of the XL88. I just take issue with the thought that the heyday of the diamond cantilever junction is long past. dave |
There is no image on your link, Dave. Maybe you can re-attach it. I have modern cartridges with Boron Rod (Phasemation for example) and I took some nice picture using my macro lens, so I know the method. Some of my favorite MC cartridges are low compliance with aluminum cantilever (FR-7f, FR-7fz, Miyabi Standard, Miyabi MCA ... just to name a few). But my favorite MM are often with Beryllium Pipe or Boron Pipe and I believe this is critical for high frequency extention to have a low moving mass and high compliance. Pipe is always lighter than Rod so the moving mass is lighter with Boron Pipe (or Beryllium pipe). Audio-Technica made gold-plated pipes, after Beryllium was restricted they could only continue with Boron Pipe, but not anymore! |
