I’ve heard Sony XL-55 with Boron cantilever and did not like it at all.
@halcro
my mistake, but anyway a sample of my ex flat mate was not impressive against my Zyx Airy III at that time, compared on my EPA-100
the one i like better is Sony XL-50 MM with Boron Pipe cantilever, i have it NOS, very nice for the money. Have you tried ?
Neither the Sony XL-55 nor XL-88 (in standard form) had Boron cantilevers.
You’re right. So it was even more compicated cantilever on the Sony XL-55 MC sample i did not like :)) The cantilever on XL-55 MC was "A triple-layer carbon clad cantilever using a special light alloy is used." The next one on PRO model was "A triple-structure carbon clad cantilever using beryllium / aluminum / carbon fiber is used. " But i never tried a PRO version. On XL-88 we can see the same "Triple cladding of beryllium / aluminum / carbon fiber is used to achieve high rigidity and light weight." And on your XL-88D we have Gemstone "cantilever integrated super elliptical diamond needle". On all models only elliptical tip :((
150K Yen =$714 =$2223 (today)
7500 DM =$4400 =$13700 (today)
Actually the price for XL-88D in the 80’s was 150 000 YEN as you can see here.
(Same price for Dynavector KARAT Nova 13D), very expensive for its time, but not as much as you think.
I don’t know why do you think the price was 7500 DM ($4400) in the 80’s ? In Japan the price for XL-88D was just 150 000 YEN ($714) in the 80s, not $4400, i don’t think the difference between Japan and German retailers is so big, can’t be true!
I think you mixed up two different models, there was a regular XL-88D and limited edition version that was made in very small quantity! J.Carr has mentioned this mega rare model on a’gon years ago. I think that model was expensive, but not the XL-88D that you have.