Dover, Thank you for correcting me. But we are talking about two different things. However, I do take your point; there is a "cantilever" upstream from the coils. What I do not appreciate is your inability to make a point without also throwing in an insult. If you knew me better, you might find that I am not in fact stupid.
Dynavector cartridges, old and new
For more than 40 years Dynavector has been producing very high quality moving coil cartridges in Japan. Sadly we don't have a dedicated Dynavector thread here on audiogon. It would be nice to collect info about some nice rare models in one topic.
My first Dynavector was high output model, very attractive headshell integrated as one piece - Dynavector DV-30A was released in Japan 1 year before the Karat series and 4 years before the fabulous Karat Nova. The first high output Moving Coil Dynavector DV-30 series was the next generation of the Ultimo cartridges. The Ultimo’s were manufactured by Onlife Research Inc., which later became Dynavector. The 30-series was introduced in 1978 with 3 different models DV-30A & DV-30B (HOMC) and DV-30C (LOMC). Till the early 80s it was top of the line Dynavector models....
But then the KARAT was released with short Ruby and Diamond cantilevers (depends on the model). I've been looking for KARAT for a long time, i found the Dynavector KARAT 23RS special calibrated version with Micro Ridge stylus tip and prism Ruby cantilever. This particular model has been introduced in 1988 and claimed to be superior to the earlier generation of Karat carts. I'd like to seek more info about this rare cartridge, but very little info available online. Anyone can comment on Karat Ruby 23RS mkI (not mkII) ?
I know some mebers are enjoing the more expensive Karat Nova series, XV-1, XX-2, Te Kaitora Rua etc
Modern Dynavector site is: http://www.dynavector.com/
But the rare models can be found here.
My first Dynavector was high output model, very attractive headshell integrated as one piece - Dynavector DV-30A was released in Japan 1 year before the Karat series and 4 years before the fabulous Karat Nova. The first high output Moving Coil Dynavector DV-30 series was the next generation of the Ultimo cartridges. The Ultimo’s were manufactured by Onlife Research Inc., which later became Dynavector. The 30-series was introduced in 1978 with 3 different models DV-30A & DV-30B (HOMC) and DV-30C (LOMC). Till the early 80s it was top of the line Dynavector models....
But then the KARAT was released with short Ruby and Diamond cantilevers (depends on the model). I've been looking for KARAT for a long time, i found the Dynavector KARAT 23RS special calibrated version with Micro Ridge stylus tip and prism Ruby cantilever. This particular model has been introduced in 1988 and claimed to be superior to the earlier generation of Karat carts. I'd like to seek more info about this rare cartridge, but very little info available online. Anyone can comment on Karat Ruby 23RS mkI (not mkII) ?
I know some mebers are enjoing the more expensive Karat Nova series, XV-1, XX-2, Te Kaitora Rua etc
Modern Dynavector site is: http://www.dynavector.com/
But the rare models can be found here.
132 responses Add your response
The problem of ''wholes and parts'' is obviously where to put the border line and prevent this way the inclusion of the whole universe (grin). However why should extension of cartridge ''subject'' include ''only'' the tonearm , TT and phono-pre? I, for example, still consider speakers as the most important ''part'' of the whole (''system'') while avoiding or overlooking the most important part is obviously ''strange''. The case is, as I see this, that we assume implicit knowledge by others. This help to keep the amount of our explicit statements in check. Otherwise we will get ''endless'' Mexican stories (grin). The other problem is the assumed ''difference'' between (MC) carts. The usual assumption is that the whole construction is ''simple'' and nearly as old as its invention (by Ortofon?). This problem is connected with our desire to see and describe differences among ,uh, ''identical ''. ''The same construction'' imply some kind of ''indiscernibles''. The real problem is ''exaggeration'' of assumed differences. The so called ''marginal value addition'' suggest the ''same'' problem. |
I´m glad that also Dover keeps bravely carrying the torch. Actually I was waiting for his entrance. He has that mighty Karat Nova 13D you see. " ... ultimately each design they can only be described in the context of the environment in which they are placed..." Exactly. TAs in particular and TTs/decks plays another key role, addition to phono preamps. Decca, Dynavector, Soundsmith, Ikeda , Audio-Technica etc have a different approach to the questing we are asking for. The finest there are but all different. |
Dear chakster, Our MM thread remind me of Wittgensteins ''phiiosophical investigation''. He was not able to formulate any consistent theory but made ''endless many'' philosophical ''remarks''. I was not able to remember more than 10. I have no idea about the others. According to me you can remember more contributions in the MM thread than anybody else. Even so you overlooked J. Carr's contribution about cantilevers ''materials''. The only advantage of aluminum (alloy) in comparison with other is that the stylus can be ''pressure fitted'' . All other kinds are fragile and will shatter by so doing. That is why styli in such cantilevers must be glued. This however ''imply'' glue between the stylus and the cantilever preventing this way ''rigid connection'' between them. As he also explained there are many other material properties involved and in this context he also explained why he uses boron. Dear Dover, Wittgenstein deed state that there is no such thing as ''private language''. As social invention and means for communication we need to understand ''words in use''. In this context we say about Decca and Ikeda 9 C series that they are ''cantileverless''. This imply that for you ''cantilevers'' means something else than , uh, ''cantilevers'' for us. Anyway thanks for your kindness to answer Lew's difficult question addresses to me. I never made any ''schematics'' in my life and he wants me to draw one of Ikeda 9 C? (grin). |
The closest to no cantilever I know about would be the new Audio Technica ART1000, where the coils are just aft of the stylus tip. Has anyone here heard that one?On the contrary - the Art 1000 has quite a long cantilever. http://www.the-ear.net/review-hardware/audio-technica-art1000-moving-coil-cartridge What you fail to comprehend is that the coils are mounted at the end of the cantilever where the stylus is located, but there is still a long cantilever slewing around whilst tracking the groove. By locating the coils at the end of the cantilever any flex in the cantilever will be magnified to a greater degree than say the more rigid Decca/Ikeda system. With the Decca and Ikeda there are cantilevers. In the case of the Decca it is a vertical cantilever with little compliance in the vertical plane. In the case of the Ikeda from the 90’s the cantilever is a vertical inverted hoop. Contrary to what some have published in this thread there is some compliance in the vertical plane and much more in the horizontal plane. The hoop flexes side to side. http://illusionofsound.blogspot.com/2013/10/cartridgetransducer.html I have owned several of both the Decca and Ikeda cartridges, and still use the Ikeda and Dynavector Karat Nova 13D which I also own. I have used these in a multitude of tonearms over the years. In my experience tonearms and phono stages play a significant role in how these individual cartridges perform and sound. Shortcomings elsewhere in the system are ruthlessly exposed by any of these cartridges. So whilst we can pontificate on the various merits on each design ultimately they can only be described in the context of the environment in which they are placed. Comparing these cartridges in the same arm is irrelevant, you have to try them in multiple arms to ensure a good assessment of each cartridges merit within each individual system. |
@nandric well, the conventional glued stylus looks like your recent re-tip with a drop of glue around the tip, so you can check and compare to Dyna. I'm not trying to say Dynavector is better than others, but Dynavector has its own originality in many aspects of design. To like it or not is a matter of taste, personal preferences and system. That's it. |
My statement was hyperbole for sure. But sometimes, some folks sound as though the very rarity of the cartridge, in terms of its structure, is cause for excitement. I agree one has to listen to each cartridge, case by case. It’s almost a separate hobby unto itself. I’m really not that into it, even though I confess to owning more cartridges now, of all types, than I ever thought possible or sensible. But I tend to leave cartridges up and running for months and months, if I like them, while the others rot in a drawer. Having four working turntables does help me to at least audition a variety of the ones I own. Nandric, How can a cartridge have "no cantilever"? Can you show a diagram or drawing? The motion of the stylus has to be transmitted to coils or magnets in order for transduction to occur. The structural element that connects the two is to my mind a "cantilever". The closest to no cantilever I know about would be the new Audio Technica ART1000, where the coils are just aft of the stylus tip. Has anyone here heard that one? |
Dear chakster, Your ''argument'' remind me about our secretary of social affairs who stated the following: ''there are no homo's in our socialist society. But if there are they are in such small numbers that is not worth mentioning''. So your Dyna has an cantilever in which no stylus is glued but '' if'' then with very small amount of glue. The cantilevers ''as short and stiff as possible'' wil also not do. As I already mentioned my Ikeda 9CII has no cantilever whatever while my Allaerts MC 2 has (boron) cantilever of ''ordinary'' length + Gyger 2 (aka Van den Hul) stylus. Despite of this ''huge disadvantage'' this is my best cart. |
It's obvious that Dyna's "Micro Reach" nude diamond goes throught the whole Diamond cantilever for superb rigidity, not just glued on top. So there is no amount of glue visible even under my macro lens, must be minimum. This generation of Micro Reach stylus has low mass and the cartridges have relatively high compliance for an MC, about 30cu @ 10Hz Tominari-San explained in the interview: "I get my gemstone cantilevers from Namiki, and the first time I asked them about constructing one they couldn’t understand what I wanted such a large stylus for! But I was convinced that you should use as short and stiff a cantilever as possible. This was quite widely recognised but no one believed that the technology existed to create such a short gemstone cantilever. They thought it was impossible but I dared to try it. It was a very unusual solution at that time. In order to achieve it we had to develop a parallel technique that enabled us to wind incredibly fine wire for the coil. Our wires are only 11 microns in diameter. Every other cartridge uses at least 20 microns." I believe he was the FIRST designed who asked NAMIKI to produce gemstone cantilever for him. |
Dear chakster, It is not my intetion to get involved in disputes about ''either or'' questions. Your Karat 17DS has clearly glued stylus in the cantilever. The reason is simple. The combo is not made from one piece of diamond. By one piece diamond the stylus need to be grinded and polished ''in'' the cantilever , so to speak. The so called ''rubber ring'' behind the coils has ''suspension'' as function. This function is called compliance. One of the so called parametres by arm/cart combinations. I have no idea about resonances in this connetion. Those can be tamed with resistor networks. Reduction of the ''moving mass'' should not be exaggerated. I own Ikeda 9 CII which is without cantilever. So only the stylus moves . However my Allaerts MC 2 sounds better. |
@nandric the advantages of KARAT is that with 100Khz resonance of the cantilever there is no need to use rubber as a damping medium as it used in conventional design. In the KARAT, rubber is used only for seating the cantilever on the pole piece. SONY cartridges you’re talking about are notorius for suspension/damper problems, so the design is competely different. P.S. Check my image of KARAT 17DS MR and tell me if you can see any glue. This is the 23RS MR Ruby version: https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/36226177_2287496551268499_2734494721178075136_n.jpg?_n... |
Addition, I forget my question for Lew. The friction caused by interaction between stylus and groves produces heat for which smaller diamonds are more ,say, ''vulnerable'' than bigger kind. I assume that Newton should explain the difference and also assume Lew as Newton expert. This may explain the ''shorter lifetime'' of micro ridge styli ? |
Dear chakster, each cantilever is glued in the so called ''joint pipe'' which is usually made from aluminum. On this ''pipe'' is also coil glued. Together with the stylus they are also called ''moving part'' of the cartridge. So we need to include the length of the ''pipe'' by the length of whatever cantilever. Then there is the question if the stylus is glued in the diamond cantilever or if the whole cantilever/stylus combo is made from one piece of diamond. I own Sony XL 88 D (D=diamond) with cantilever/stylus combo made from one piece of diamond. The stylus shape is , I think, super elliptical. Anyway the ''exotic story'' about the ''exotic cantilevers'' needs some moderation because of the aluminum pipe (length) in which the exote's are glued (grin).
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Didn´t I tell you : ) Raul, when old Micro-Ridge starts to lose its ridge (when it wears out) that immediately affects on sound quality: it first gradually and soon rapidly looses nuances (accuracy) and dynamics (power), i.g. sound becomes lame and that can be heard easily, IME since mid 80´s. At 600 point there´s nothing left what Micro-Ridge´s superiority initially was all about, and I never went further simply because of stylus tip start to wear the record groove itself really. Today my maximum is that 500 hours (app. 750 LPs). I think all this applies for SAS Micro-Ridge as well ? If new Dynavector´s Micro-Ridge´s ridge is 4 times thicker than old´s it will last 2000 h. The question is, how tall the new Micro-Ridge really is. Very interesting... |
Diamond cantilever invented by Dr.Tominari of Dynavector Systems is completely different from any other diamond cantilevers. This is was Tominari-San explained in his interview i’ve posted above. If anyone can add any other cantilever like that please post here. The shape of this Diamond Prism remind me a bit of the cantilever of the Glanz 71L (but that one was aluminum and longer). Diamond cantilever of SONY is way too long compared to Dyna Karat 17D cantilever is 1.7mm long, but the Karat Nova 13D diamond cantilever is only 1.3mm long (extremely short). I don’t know of any other cartridges with such a short diamond cantilevers. Anyone? |
Dear @harold-not-the-barrel : Yes, the Karat Nova 13D si very good performer in stand alone fashion to look for the adequated headshell where testing it found out the headshell that mate it better. Btw, the first diamond cantilever cartridge was made it by Sony and after that AT and Supex. Then Dynavector and Koetsu and I think Yamaha. It's weird than out of Asia only Ortofon choosed diamond as cantilever in one of its models. At least I can't remember other cartridge manufacturer because VDH, Lyra, Linn, EMT, or Benz Micro did not. In the other side, that some manufacturers tell us that the stylus tip of their cartridges is good for over 2k hours is really a misunderstanding because any diamond stylus tip on line contact like shape starts to degrading after 500 humdred hours. That certainly we can't be aware off ( normally. ) it does not says it does not happens and after 1K hours it's time to think in re-tip it . Yes, some audiophiles can say their cartridges has over 1.5K hours and still performs fine but this is not the issue. R. |
That´s good news. If the ridge is much more thicker, it may last for 2000 h. I will study this very carefully. Actually elliptical lasts longer, i.e. maintain its functionality and thus its quality level longer than old Micro-Ridge because it has no ridge that wears out and changes sound quality dramatically. Elliptical loses its quality level more slowly, when correctly adjusted of course. But old Micro-Ridge lasts a short time (only 500 hours IME). Don´t take my word alone, Peter Ledermann of Soundsmith knows this (and some others too). |
This Karat Nova 13D is seriously a rare find: https://www.audiogon.com/listings/1443678 The very finest from Dynavector IMO. However, I´m not interested because of its integrated headshell design. However, it can be used without its headshell as well. I think the cart itself alone is a superlative performer when fitted on an appropriate tonearm. Good luck for all ! |
Btw, Micro-Ridge´s ridges literally wear out surprisingly fast. In fact, the sound starts to loose dynamics and nuances (detail) after 500 hours play, even on clean records IME. I noticed this more than thirty years ago using SHURE´s Micro-Ridge carts. Micro-Ridge may very well be the finest stylus profile resulting in best sound but you will need replacement stylii to maintain this quality level and if you care for your records. |
thanks @harold-not-the-barrel @nandric yes, my latest story with Dynavector (with slightly off-centered cantilever) ended up with refund via ebay/paypal, which i am still waiting. Paypal even covers return shipping, but anyway ... no problem with the seller of Dyna who's accepted return. Normally i am getting mad when professional sellers trying to play a fools when it comes to cartridge defects they are trying to hide from the potential buyers. It is not forgiving for pro sellers, but the story with that japanese seller was at least 5-6 years ago and i was too naive. I was cheated at that time by several sellers, some of them are well known, but dishonest. |
@chakster , I have no idea if Russian PayPal provide warranty for items ''which are not as described'' but the European do. The only precondition is to pay via PayPal for purchased items. Money transfer to family& friends are not covered. The procedure is boring and annoying but one get his money back. Actually this ''warranty'' is without any risk for PayPal because the buyer money function as warranty. |
@harold-not-the-barrel i've bought one of my Technics cartridges from this seller long time ago and will never buy again as the suspension was dead and he has not mentioned that in the listing, then claimed it's normal. Basically i do not trust the sellers who's trying to hide defects of the goods in their listing, it's unfair. |
That´s the point indeed. I personally would buy a NOS or even used Karat 17D(2 or 3) than the ridiculously priced Hyperion not to mention the Ortofon Anniversary. The latter ain´t worth its price, it just can´t be that good. For that price level I´d buy a totally new (MC) cartridge technology. And if I was rolling on money I´d go for Hyperion ... Btw, this Japanese eBayer has a few couple of Dyna Karats for sale: http://www.ebay.de/usr/samurai_electronics**?_trksid=p2047675.l2559 . Has anyone bought carts from that guy ? |
The goal of Dynavector is not ONLY diamond cantilever as an eye candy factor, but a very short 1.7 mm length diamond cantilever, here is a picture of my Karat 17DS Super under macro lens (they even made 1.3 mm version of Karat Nova for US market only), the self resonance of such cantilever is above 100kHz! Also extremely thin coil wire that even Eric Rohmann (ex Ortofon president) was trying to buy Dynavector machines to produce such wires. Read Dr.Tominari (Dynavector Systems) interview: "Most high quality cartridges are based on extremely simple structures developed fifty years ago, and very old fashioned in their use of magnetic materials. Instead I use eight Alnico magnets to create a much more uniform magnetic field. The results of experiments were so impressive to me that I immediately incorporated this technique into a new cartridge, the XV1." The prism RUBY cantilever of my DV-23RS MR does not looks like a conventional Ruby cantilevers, actually conventional Ruby cantilevers has the same length as the Boron or Aluminum cantilevers. I think averyone can buy Dynavector with Diamond cantilever for reasonable price around $700, but Orotofon Anniversary for $16k is insane (it's a form of illness, imo) ! |
Bimasta and others, my basic point was that my experience tells me that selecting a cartridge based on its having an exotic cantilever material or an exotic stylus shape or a rare or unusual magnet structure does not consistently result in a revelation of sonic Nirvana. Conversely, many cartridges which seem quite ordinary in their structural qualities end up sounding just great. One example of the latter is the Grace Ruby cartridge, and probably other related Grace cartridges. There’s nothing to write home about in terms of how these cartridges are made (save for the ruby cantilever in the case of the Grace Ruby), yet they are outstanding. It can go either way. |
I just don’t know of any modern LOMC cartridges than can be purchased for $500-700 like those NOS vintage top models we’re talking about here. Especially with Ruby or Diamond cantilevers. Remember the price for a brand new Ortofon Anniversary with Diamond cantilever, was it $16k? Diamond cantilever was invented by Dr.Tominari of Dynavector Systems, KARAT was the first cartridge with Diamond cantilever in the world. |
"What I reject, is the notion that any cartridge that is no longer made, made with this or that exotic material in the cantilever, or has some unusual property or structure (magnet, coil, stylus shape) is therefore to be sought and probably sounds better than anything one can more easily acquire or which is more conventionally constructed." I'd reject that too — but is that really the premise? Who has the "the notion that any cartridge that is no longer made, or has some..." etc "... probably sounds better..."? We just don't know. The only way to know is to hear it — it's a mystery and a gamble — but if an obscure and interesting cartridge shows up and ante is right, I'll take the chance. Some favorite cartridges, and other components, came to me that way. Forgive my edits and italics; I don't think they don't alter your meaning. |
Sure it would be very interesting to read his reviews on much more expensive carts, vintage MC kind and modern FC (of Soundsmith) kind and other "exotic" designs, in near future hopefully. That would be fun... Actually some time ago I was very interested in the Hyperion, the finest from Soundsmith, but I can get handful of vintage quality carts for its price so I suddenly lost interest. Still, I may very well try one in the future as it surely is one of the very finest cartridges ever. But I will never try Strain Gauge system no matter how much it possibly will be hyped. The point is he (and we others) keeps searching for greatest carts and hopefully not totally change his mind to digital, no matter how "perfect" it may eventually become. |
What I reject, is the notion that any cartridge that is no longer made, made with this or that exotic material in the cantilever, or has some unusual property or structure (magnet, coil, stylus shape) is therefore to be sought and probably sounds better than anything one can more easily acquire or which is more conventionally constructed.. I try to keep in mind that some things are rare, because they were originally a failure in the marketplace. I’m not saying that Chakster is any more guilty of this than any others of us. We all do it. |
Thanks @harold-not-the-barrel for a kind words, i am glad my contribution on this forum is interesting for some people. I miss old days of the audiogon when we had a cartridge of the month over the years when i was only a reader of this forum. Now when we have "what's the best phono stage" threads every week from different users it's getting a bit boring. Also when cartridge recommendations comes to the same 3-5 modern models in every thread it is also boring. Luckily we have the world of vintage cartridges and i am trying to discover some hidden gems (at least for myself). I don't care about digital at all, you are right, my passion is vintage vinyl (original pressings). Appart from my short experience with KARAT 23RS MR from the 80's i was very impressed by this NOS Klipsch MCZ-10 i've bought recently. Both cartridges have Ruby cantilevers, but they are completely different. The Klipsch has push-pull damper, nude VITAL profiles diamond (i'd like to find more about this profile), Samarium-Cobalt magnet, Special Yoke ... Impedance is 2 Ohm, Output is 0.2mV, Recommended tracking force is 1.8g and the compliance is 10cu (it's a low compliance cartridge if this figure measured at 10Hz, no info in the manual). Since it was a sealed ( NOS) cartridge i need some time to mage judgement. But this is one of those MC that you love from the start, i use ZYX CPP-1 headamp and JLTi MM input and this is a pure magic, it could be a cart of the month and probably it will be. Not so long ago i bought NOS Lustre GST-801 toneam new in the box, this sample works just fine (magnetic tracking force, magnetic antiskating), much better than my previous sample of this arm which i sold. I am very positive about this Klipsch cartridge, love the silky bass, liquid midrange, and not overestimated highs. @nandric I have not exceeded my red line for cartridges or tonearms, everything fine, it is not more expensive for me, i love to keep on digging and sometimes i got my prize like some rare cartridge in NOS condition for reasonable price (what can be better). When we have many great cartridges it's hard to choose which one is better, because good cartridges are all good. This is became my problem, so it is more about how to use them (which arm, phono stage etc). Still a lot of things to learn and try. |
I don't think it is good idea to praise chakster to much. He already thinks to know everything better. He is actually ''second Raul'' but we don't need an second Raul. The one we already have is more than sufficient. Chakster is moving to the more expensive stuff so we may get some interesting information from him in the future (grin). |
That was funny, but I think he won´t mind. Seriously, for me a texter is a writer and what a great writer he is. His approach to cartridges in particular is actually very scientific and usually he is right IMO because he uses his true HQ gear meticulously as tools which they actually are. We are all kinda scientists here but he often explains his opinions in a convincing way, for me at least. All given info and true quality pics is quite astonishing, this speaks only how seriously he takes this strange hobby of ours and carts especially. He is not always 100 % right but he is a serious audiophile because he seems to spend all his time on Hi-Fi. Wish I had that much time ! He seems to be an analog fan and that´s just refreshing in this darn perfect digital world we are now living in. He has become a significant and one of the most important contributors on vintage cartridges especially on MM kind and also is becoming on MC kind as we can see also in this new thread. Actually he carries the torch Raul used to do some years ago. And as now Raul praises digital as the only true kind it´s very enlightening to read Chakster´s comments on both vintage and modern cartridges here. Keep ´em coming |
Texter, doing what you suggested and then reporting on it sounds a lot like work. And I retired four months ago. I am loving every minute of retirement. However I may be curious enough myself to give it a shot. I was staring at my second DV505 tonearm last night and thinking that it would be easy to mount it on the slate plinth where my Lenco with DV505 #1 and ART7 reside. |
@lewm Guys. This must be an Eastern European thing. I never ever heard of a Klipsch cartridge or a Zenn cartridge, either. Then it would be easier for you to check your DV-17D3 which must be great cartridge. If you can compare them side by side with ART-7 on DV tonearms it would be a great mini review. I am looking forward to read your opinion. |
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Guys. This must be an Eastern European thing. I never ever heard of a Klipsch cartridge or a Zenn cartridge, either. Of course, I have led a sheltered life on the East Coast of the US. However, "MCZ" was the designation of a Grado cartridge model, back when the TLZ and XTZ were top of their line. I recall auditioning an MCZ in comparison to a TLZ. TLZ was so far superior that it was evident in 2 minutes of listening. Chakster, you keep quoting long passages, but you don't say where you found the quotes. If you would cite them, then perhaps I would be more impressed with their content. However, it's reassuring to know that the alu cantilever was "special", the boron cantilever was "extra stiff" (If only I could make such a claim), and the diamond cantilever was "pure". (I hope you guys know that, in our parlance, I am "pulling your chain", which means I am kidding. However, it is true that I never heard of Klipsch or Zenn cartridges.) Since my son makes his home in Tokyo, it behooves me to know about Dr Hibino. |
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Dear chakster, The story I know is different. According to this story Prof. Hibino was very fond of Klipsch speakers but not satisfy with dynamic performance of the existing (MC) cartridges. So he designed his own. When he was in America he visited Klipsch and demonstrated to him his cart. Klipsch was so impressed that he ordered 4 kinds each with other cantilever kind. The idea being that with different cantilever different timbre can be achieved satisfying different subjective preferences. Later on Hibino established his own company and produced the same carts under his own brand ''Zenn''. I own ''Klipsch'' with aluminum cantilever. |
@lewm Western world is not familiar what's going on in Japan, here is a prime example.
Dr Hibino also produced the same carts under his own brand name Zenn MCZ in Japan. In the 80's, Klipsch company designed a special moving coil cartridge with four models: - MCZ-2 (with special aluminum alloy cantilever) - MCZ-7 (with ultra stiff boron cantilever) - MCZ-10 (with pure ruby cantilever) - MCZ-110 (with pure diamond cantilever) and commissioned famous Hinoaki Hibino (from Hibino Electro Sound, Inc., Japan) with their manufacturing. Each Klipsch cartridge was handcrafted, made to precise specs and tested under direct supervision of Mr. Hibino. |
Thinking about model numbers i just realized where it came from, how simple, just the magic of the numbers: DV-23r is for 2.3mm cantilever, DV-17d is for 1.7mm cantilever. Here is a picture of gemstone Ruby cantilever of my 23RS-MR under macro lens. Reading the manual i’ve noticed the "S" is for "Super" and applied to both 23 and 17 models with Micro Reach styli. @harold-not-the-barrel I thing so, but off-centered cantilevers are not for perfectionists, and when it comes to sales the price must be rediced for this reason, so i decided to ship it back to the seller. At least i know that 23RS-MR is a great cartridge after a demo of the perfect one from my mate. I wish i could find a perfect sample. This is definitely one of the carts that Technics GAE, G, GR owners should try on Technics tonearm! Also EPA-100 tonearm owners. P.S. Sending back my defective DV23RS MR i got NOS Klipsch MCZ-10 Ruby in. I think @nandric owned some of them, but not Ruby. There is a Diamond version too. They are designed by another legend Mr. Hiroaki Hibino for Paul Klipsch. |
Chakster, you got a slightly off-centered cart off eBay or whatever? Then you were just lucky this time as you may have received a junk instead. Keep your slightly off-centered sample as you can adjust your headshell to its spot position. A few degrees off-centered cantilever does not mean a thing, at least IME. Don´t let it go without auditioning, I think it would sound just fine on your TA. Ah, now I see you have already tried it. Well done and good for you ! I´m very interested in those very short cantilevered Dynas and might purchase one some day. In fact, my SME III w/ its very light titanium-nitride arm wand will fit perfectly 23RS MR, very tempting to try one... And it will fit my Trans-Fi linear tracker perfectly too. Very interesting indeed |
