New Zirconia Pipe Cantilever .. What's up with that ?


Reading Namiki website i discovered new type of cantilever available today:

Zirconia cantilever (Pipe) , well this is the only pipe cantilever (except for aluminum) available today to my knowledge, correct me if i’m wrong. This is something new.

"Because the material’s relative density is comparatively high at 6.0, we make full use of our technology to process it into a pipe shape. This cantilever plays a charming sound that is different from other materials."

Physical properties for currently available cantilevers described here.

**Any new cartridges with Zirconia Pipe cantilever available on the market ?

BTW: Browsing Namiki website, to my surprise, on top of the page i recognized that "unique cantilever" of my ex ZYX Premium 4D cartridge. In many of my posts i have mentioned this construction as something special, because the MR diamond is press-fit and the cantilever described by ZYX as Boron. Now i think that joint pipe for stylus tip (press-fit) was made of Zirconia and the rest is Boron Rod.

Since they are both hollow PIPES (black color) i assume they are Zirconia (no other black pipes from namiki).
This is what Nakatsuka-San using in Airy III and Premium 4D ZYX models (owned both models).




128x128chakster
I stopped responding to the rude M.......n egom....c long time ago and life is much better when i ignore all his messages. What i’ve noticed long time ago is that i like cartridges and tonearm that he does not like (and i have what he likes too, but i don’t like it), so i don’t care about his opinion at all. I do not use any other forums and i can sell my spares anytime i want to, just like anyone here, so please go away with your poin......s comments.

I have no income in this pandemic period and i am not crazy to buy those multi thousand dollar modern cartridges.

Vintage cartridges are always cheaper and most of them are better, i believe we have many rational people in this hobby, not just ag.......ve rich over 60s club who can retip their Technics cartridges with VdH for higher prices than a cartridge itself. If Technics motor is the best then buy Jico SAS and 205 series and go on. It’s obvious that Technics motor is not the best at all (i tried them all). I’m s....k of that richness, people buying $5000 - $20000 cartridges.... This is not the world i’m living in. Promote it in the circle of your rich friend and tell them cartridges are better each time you pay more for them.

*to all:

This thread is about Zirconia Pipe Cantilever cantilever, but none of the posters here provided any useful information about this NEW TYPE of cantilever for MODERN CARTRIDGES! I am very disappointed.

It’s like every thread on audiogon that going off-topic after first few posts.

I always happy to share some high resolution pictures of exotic cartridges from my collection, some stuff that i really like myself!

I have nearly all type of cartridges i was looking for, and Boron ROD is not better, all Boron is Rod nowadays, who cares ?

Even if the rob is best for Lyra there are many other cartridges, but none of them can use any other Boron than Rod, simply because Boron Pipe is not available anymore from Ogura or Namiki.

For me it’s more an academic research, i do not sell Zirconia or Boron Pipe.

Actually i don’t care Boron or not.

I see what’s new on the market, but i’m not gonna buy any modern MC or MM cartridges anyway. After i bought Miyajima Kansui i’m done with modern cartridges.

Your Lyra, latest Dynavector, ZYX ... everything over $1.5k is waste of time and money in my situation, because in this price limit vintage NOS always better (if you know what to look for). And i will never ever spend even $3k on a phono cartridge, no matter what your reviewers bla-bla-bla about it (same about turntables).

I agree with you @chakster about expensive cartridges and notice some people having too strong of opinions criticizing others preferences in what they enjoy. I am experiencing difficulties too with my business. But I try to be greatful for what I have. Any of us that are talking about affordable  $1000 cartridges should realize we are the wealthy and be greatful for that. Especially when some of us own a few of these. Most people around me are looking at extreme  difficulties. I own a gym and don’t know what the future will be for the Fitness industry. But even if it fails I know that I won’t loose my house and my family won’t  go hungry. For that I am greatful. And, I have my expensive audio equipment to sell if it came to that. Thanks @rauliruegas for getting us onto affordable mm cartridges. That may be all that we can afford in the future.
Steve.
There has been some discussion by various users of the new cantilever used in the SAS line. Results are mixed But it does appear there is a resonance at 10 to 12k that cannot be resolved. Some feel boron is still preferable.

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/newest-jico-stuff.859161/
Thanks for the link @neonknight

They are testing various JICO replacement styli on Shute MM:

Thomas_AA (from Sweden) said:

"Here is the comparison where the boron is in black and the zirconia in red. This is white noise from the Elipson test record. The loading is 130 pF and 47 kOhm. As seen the zirconia has a high Q resonance but then also keeps level after the resonant peak. A bit odd and not the same behaviour of the boron rod.

My favourite loading for the boron is however 600 pF and 36 (or 33) kOhm, seen below. I do loose >16 kHz, but then I can’t really hear those frequencies. The benefit is a less dip in the 2-8 kHz region and a dampened peaking. This setting gives -0.5/+2 dB up to ca 16 kHz, which is good for me. Note that the colors are switched, the boron is red and the zirconia is black. I cannot really dampen the hump in the zirconia with this loading.

If you like a bit brighter sound, you would benefit with a zirconia stylus.Tracking and distortion appears to be on par with the boron and better than my original MR stylus ever was.

Now, if there only was a way to get hold of BORON TUBE cantilevers, JICO would be able to push the resonance just a bit higher."




I see the logic of zirconia in hollow pipe - far stronger structure than a solid rod. But are we talking the metal (zirconium) or the ceramic (zirconia) - Zirconia is often used in bearings (i know this from radio control car racing)
My point being that ceramics are a more crystalline structure and can shatter (it can happend with zirconia bearings) - the zirconia is often used just as a coating. If it is zirconium alloy - how much is zirconium. Titanium is a funny material for cartridges and tonearms - the reason being that it is resilient and bendy - know this from mountain biking - that's why titanium front forks are rubbish as they don't give precise handling - that said when used in the main frame they are very light and comfortable.