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
Scan-Tech made it those Audioquest models under Audioquest very specific targets.

@ rauliruegas  Exactly
I have read through this thread and been gathering information on Cantilever Materials that I do not usually consider.
There has been points made that I will need to spend more time with and see where they take me.
According to information within this thread Audio Technica have in the Past used a Gold Plated Boron Tube for a Cantilever.
Today on certain AT cartridges, they are using a Gold Plated Boron Rod.
The Marketing claims this is an improved damping design.

Is there any thoughts on the benefits of a Gold Plated Boron Rod in place of a Boron Rod when used as cantilever. 
  
All these cartridges have 3 things in common....
  • Koetsu Urushi
  • Symphonic Line RG Gold LO
  • Lyra Helikon
  • Lyra Titan i
  • Lyra Atlas
  • Clearaudio Concerto
  • Clearaudio Insider Gold
  • Dynavector XV-1S
  • ZYX UNIverse
  1. They were all expensive current-model LOMC cartridges which I’ve owned over the last 40 years
  2. They all have Boron Cantilevers
  3. They all no longer exist in my System
I’ve also had one or two MM cartridges with Boron Cantilevers like the Technics EPC-100C Mk3.
It also no longer exists in my System......🙏

There are many audiophiles who claim to clearly hear the differences between MC and MM cartridges.....I’m not one of those 🤔

There are many audiophiles who will only praise the virtues of exotic-profile Line-Contact type styli...I’m almost in that ’camp’ but am not dogmatic 🤗

I never have been able to listen to anything ’Digital’....even digitally recorded/produced/mastered/mixed VINYL RECORDS generally leave me unmoved 😢

And I have never been ’entranced’ by ANY cartridges with Boron Cantilevers 🥱

The majority (over 20) of my cartridge collection have Beryllium Cantilevers. Aluminium Cantilevers make up the next highest number whilst Sapphire, Ruby, Diamond and exotic composites make up the numbers.
 
Just saying........🙃
whilst Sapphire, Ruby, Diamond and exotic composites make up the numbers.

you are worse than a woman who loves rings with these stones!  ha ha haaa
Dear Halcro, as you know we agree on many things, but a 'ban on boron'? I haven't heard any of the ones you mention, but this is rather too categorical. Van den Hul Colibri, Transfiguration Orpheus & Proteus and Ortofon A95 all have boron cantilevers and they're some of the best cartridges I ever heard. Be careful what you (don't) wish for....