Introducing the Phono Cartridge Measurement Library

[mackat]

That stylus shown in the picture is a SAS/S.

I’ve seen JICO use wrong pictures in listings, unfortunately.

 

[wpbilderback]

That stylus shown in the picture is a SAS/S.

Actually, it looks like one is the SAS/B and the other is the SAS/S. The package that is pictured looks like the one I received.

 

[JP]

You didn't get a SAS anything for $140.

 

[Thomas_A]

You didn't get a SAS anything for $140.

No, price is not equal to a SAS. Just the picture that shows one, which obviously is wrong. Other than SAS/B/S/R (denoted "VN35HE/VN35E"), JICO has an elliptical nude ("VN35E") and their exotic wooden cantilevers with conical ("VN35"). Never seen a true hyperelliptical stylus.

 

[narud]

JICO does not list that what I can see, so this is a previous model?

VN-35HE – JICO

www.jico-stylus.com

 

[wpbilderback]

VN-35HE – JICO

www.jico-stylus.com

That appears to be the same as what I have.

 

[Balle Clorin]

Jico website is a total disaster

 

[Elkerton]

A couple of years ago I visited Japan with my wife, who is Japanese.

I too tried to navigate the Jico website. It helps to be Japanese.

She found my VN45HE SAS/B, we bought one, and had it sent to my sister-in-law, free shipping in Japan. We saved a bundle.

 

[mackat]

If you need to buy a few SAS styli, it can be advantageous to order through a Japanese proxy shipper.

The SAS/B usually run about $180 domestically in Japan.

Of course, now that you need to pay tariffs along with shipping to the US, it’s not as cheap as it used to be.

 

[Danish ear]

1) maybe
2) instructions for the rejuvenation:
You need the stylus to be removed and the cantilever pointing up.
Get a toothpick or similar and wet it with power steering oil leak stop.
View attachment 516850
Place a tiny drop onto the suspension.
Make sure the stylus is sitting correctly and the suspension is sitting correctly, then leave it over night.
Next get a very thin thread to wick out the excess oil, maybe cut a thin piece of tissue and roll it up.
Next make sure there is no oil on the stylus or any on the plastic holder and the rubber should be good as new.

I learnt the trick long time ago and while no miracle is possible it really helps a lot quite often.

Technics EPC205L after the above treatment. Tracks 90um on Ortofon test record.

• Yamaha GT750
• TF 1.35 G
• Kenwood basic C2
  • 20pF, 48K
• Cable 120pF
• ADC Zoom TAC2R
• Record CA TRS 1007, Track 1&2

 

[Thomas_A]

Technics EPC205L after the above treatment. Tracks 90um on Ortofon test record.


View attachment 520916

• Yamaha GT750
• TF 1.35 G
• Kenwood basic C2
  • 20pF, 48K
• Cable 120pF
• ADC Zoom TAC2R
• Record CA TRS 1007, Track 1&2

Nice. I think though it can be perfectly linear with some higher C.

 

[Erogen]

Nice. I think though it can be perfectly linear with some higher C.

Ugly, terrible crosstalk between channels

 

[Danish ear]

Ugly, terrible crosstalk between channels

Crosstalk is more or less on par with original
Specs.

 

[JP]

He's trolling - engaging will lead nowhere.

 

[Erogen]

Crosstalk is more or less on par with original
Specs.

The problem here is that the crosstalk between the channels varies so much. This is very bad.

 

[Jimi Floyd]

Technics EPC205L after the above treatment. Tracks 90um on Ortofon test record.


View attachment 520916

• Yamaha GT750
• TF 1.35 G
• Kenwood basic C2
  • 20pF, 48K
• Cable 120pF
• ADC Zoom TAC2R
• Record CA TRS 1007, Track 1&2

OK. I don't really notice big changes in crosstalk or distortion, but the effect on FR is plain to see.

 

[Erogen]

OK. I don't really notice big changes in crosstalk or distortion, but the effect on FR is plain to see.

Yes, the frequency response is very, very good.
Interestingly, at higher frequencies, the response is quite smooth, not jagged. This is a very good effect.
Perhaps if you adjusted the azimuth even more precisely, the frequency response would be even more even in both channels.
Perhaps some of that fluid is still inside, and that's causing problems with uneven crosstalk. Perhaps you need to blow out the cantilever suspension thoroughly? Don't do it by mouth.
Good job.

 

[mackat]

Good news: I got a Dynavector Karat 17D2

Bad news: the right channel is completely dead

At least I was able to take a measurement of the left channel! (from 50 Hz, to avoid the subsonic filter)

I definitely want to get a working Karat.

 

[mackat]

Technics EPC-205CMK3 + JICO EPS-205EX SAS/B

This JICO SAS/B stylus is made for the older EPC-205C-II series, but it will fit.

After playing with some resistive loading, I was able to get it very flat at 15.3k ohms:

Here it is at 20k ohms:

And at 50k ohms:

While it seems that traditional thought aims for the flattest response closest to the outer groove, I wonder if the type of response shown at 20k ohms may actually be more ideal to obtain a more balanced frequency response across the whole record and limit roll-off at the inner groove.

 

[Thomas_A]

Technics EPC-205CMK3 + JICO EPS-205EX SAS/B

This JICO SAS/B stylus is made for the older EPC-205C-II series, but it will fit.

After playing with some resistive loading, I was able to get it very flat at 15.3k ohms:

View attachment 521552
View attachment 521551

Here it is at 20k ohms:

View attachment 521554
And at 50k ohms:

View attachment 521555
While it seems that traditional thought aims for the flattest response closest to the outer groove, I wonder if the type of response shown at 20k ohms may actually be more ideal to obtain a more balanced frequency response across the whole record and limit roll-off at the inner groove.

A +1 to +2 dB at 20 kHz is what I use. Sounds best and gives the best correspondence with digital copies using the same master.