ripblade
Addicted Member
Sounds like fun.
Newest JICO stuff
- Thread starter ghamilton
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lorne
Sonic Lizard
I've had an SAS in a V15-IV for years. I'd say it tracks very well. If yours doesn't, I'd start from scratch: set the overhang exactly, then align (Baerwald maybe) ... check the overhang again, set azimuth, test for sibilance and adjust arm accordingly. It should track as good as anything you may ever own — IMHO.
Comnoz
New Member
I use an ultra-light Grace arm with a v15-IV.
When I replaced the vn45-mr with a SAS stylus [boron] I had to add several grams to the headshell to settle it down. Without the extra weight the tonearm would get to shaking and jump right out of the groove on a couple different albums.
But it sounds almost as good as an MR...
When I replaced the vn45-mr with a SAS stylus [boron] I had to add several grams to the headshell to settle it down. Without the extra weight the tonearm would get to shaking and jump right out of the groove on a couple different albums.
But it sounds almost as good as an MR...
AudioJag
Active Member
I agree 100% ---- I have been using an SAS in a V15 IV now for over a year. It is fantanstic! Thorens TD160 B MkII with SME Series III Tonearm.... Aligned Baerwald. Tracking adjustments using the HiFi News Analogue Test LP... side 2 Tracks 1,4,8. I don't think it gets any better (my opinion of course ;-)
Thomas_AA
Well-Known Member
I’ve also made the comparison previously with the original MR stylus for the V15Vx. The original is a bit dark sounding using standard loading but can be fixed by increasing R. The SAS boron on the other hand shows some peaking due to cantilever resonance. Besides these parameters, the JICO SAS beats the original in terms of better channel balance, lower crosstalk and lower distortion. It tracks 100 um using the Ortofon test record.
Thomas_AA
Well-Known Member
Sounds a bit strange that you need to load the arm with more mass. The only time when my stylus jumps is severe scratches or big dirt stuck in the groove. I use a 4 g tonearm, Moerch UP-4.
Comnoz
New Member
I can't say what my tonearm mass was. It was a Grace 707 that had been lightened considerably beyond stock.
The recording that was guaranteed to dislodge the stylus was Tha Mi Sgith by Silly Wizard- or was it A.B. Corsie
I agree it was strange to think I needed to add mass but since there was nothing left to remove, it was the only way to go.
Since then I have grafted a magnesium headshell from a Thorens to the end of my Grace arm and everything is happy.
I no longer have an MR stylus to do a A-B comparison but the V15-IV SAS sounds very good and is my favorite choice from my cartridge assortment.
The recording that was guaranteed to dislodge the stylus was Tha Mi Sgith by Silly Wizard- or was it A.B. Corsie
I agree it was strange to think I needed to add mass but since there was nothing left to remove, it was the only way to go.
Since then I have grafted a magnesium headshell from a Thorens to the end of my Grace arm and everything is happy.
I no longer have an MR stylus to do a A-B comparison but the V15-IV SAS sounds very good and is my favorite choice from my cartridge assortment.
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lorne
Sonic Lizard
I have the same setup — an SAS in a V15-IV aligned on Baerwald.
Under a loupe, the cantilever is plainly seen to be the two parts — what I take to be the aluminum tube with the smaller boron tube projecting from it. I removed the brush. I never used it, and besides I don't think Jico replicates the viscous damping fluid in the hinges — at least I didn't find it in my assembly. IMHO this makes the Jico brush rather redundant.
This is a very versatile combination. It sounds great and it tracks impeccably. I can play old, used records after a wash, and the Jico won't issue a pop or crackle. I bought mine before the prices went up. It's on a Micro MA-505 II arm and a Micro Seiki DD-8 TT
Thomas_AA
Well-Known Member
lorne
Sonic Lizard
Hello Thomas! I dunno how you got this, but in two different Shure cartridge models with brushes, I think that your graph represents what I heard. When I first removed the brushes, I felt like a vandal. But, that dissipated in a few hours. Thanks for the contribution ... and ... er ... confirmation.
Attachments
). After I measured the first one in 2009 (the one above) I have filled them up a little more with silicone fluid, it is very easily done.
AudioJag
Active Member
Lorne and Thomas AA..... I'm slightly confused.... I'm getting from Thomas_AA statement above and graph that the "resonances" of the cartridge and SAS stylus are "better" controlled with the stylus brush down (being used). That overall performance is better using the brush.
What am I missing here??
What am I missing here??
AudioJag
Active Member
So then..... "using" the brush is a good thing ... right? And improves the overall quality. I've always used it and believed it should be the right way even though I have read that having the brush "up" should improve performance. There is always bad info out there.... and there is always good info out there... sometimes very hard to know which is the better.....;-)
How about describing how you put "fluid" in the brush system to improve them.??
Thomas_AA
Well-Known Member
The brush is a good thing. To fix the JICO brush, remove the caps of the hinges and add a tiny amount of silicon oil with a tooth pick or similar. I guess around 100 000-200 000 cst should do it. Remove excess with small piece of paper. Add the caps back. Note not to pressure the caps to far in, there should be a free play so the hinges can move freely.
LexDM3
Super Member
I wanted to pass on an interesting experience I just had with Jico Canada. Realizing that LP Tunes, LP Gear and Jico Canada are related, I hunted through their websites and noticed two things:
- They seem to have different prices between the 3 companies for the same SKUs.
- They often have multiple listings and SKUs for what seems to be the same thing and they vary between the companies.
I recently bought a V15VMR with a worn Shure VN5MR stylus and wanted to get an SAS for it. I ordered this one.
https://jicocanada.com/products/jico-sas-replacement-shure-vn5mr-stylus
The description there says that it’s a Boron stylus. I thought Jico had stopped using Boron when the neoSAS came along so I was surprised to see that offered. When I checked with Jico Canada they said they could get it but I would have to wait for it.
It took about a month but I received it a few days ago. The printed text on the outer box says,
“MODEL No. SH VN5MR HG SAS/S” (Notice that it doesn’t say “neoSAS/S”)
The label on the inner plastic box says “Saphire” and “Jico No. 192-VN5MR HG”
The cantilever is translucent and looks like a crystalline material. Boron should be medium to dark gray and opaque, right? So this has to be sapphire as the labels indicate.
When I checked back with Jico Canada and mentioned that the product listing says Boron but mine appears to be sapphire, I was told that they had sent me what I ordered. I don’t think so but I’ll stick with this. I think I received a neoSAS/S and I can certainly be happy with that.
If you want to get one, order it before they figure this out.
I need to mount and set up the cartridge so I haven’t tried it yet.
Jico seems to confuse their customers and dealers with what they offer, when, and what they call it. Maybe they confuse themselves too...
- They seem to have different prices between the 3 companies for the same SKUs.
- They often have multiple listings and SKUs for what seems to be the same thing and they vary between the companies.
I recently bought a V15VMR with a worn Shure VN5MR stylus and wanted to get an SAS for it. I ordered this one.
https://jicocanada.com/products/jico-sas-replacement-shure-vn5mr-stylus
The description there says that it’s a Boron stylus. I thought Jico had stopped using Boron when the neoSAS came along so I was surprised to see that offered. When I checked with Jico Canada they said they could get it but I would have to wait for it.
It took about a month but I received it a few days ago. The printed text on the outer box says,
“MODEL No. SH VN5MR HG SAS/S” (Notice that it doesn’t say “neoSAS/S”)
The label on the inner plastic box says “Saphire” and “Jico No. 192-VN5MR HG”
The cantilever is translucent and looks like a crystalline material. Boron should be medium to dark gray and opaque, right? So this has to be sapphire as the labels indicate.
When I checked back with Jico Canada and mentioned that the product listing says Boron but mine appears to be sapphire, I was told that they had sent me what I ordered. I don’t think so but I’ll stick with this. I think I received a neoSAS/S and I can certainly be happy with that.
If you want to get one, order it before they figure this out.
I need to mount and set up the cartridge so I haven’t tried it yet.
Jico seems to confuse their customers and dealers with what they offer, when, and what they call it. Maybe they confuse themselves too...
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I ordered the Jico Shure N21D stylus for $22 plus $5 shipping from Jico Canada yesterday. What I assume is the same stylus at LP Gear is nearly $60 shipped, and $44 shipped from Jico Japan. No brainer. I already have another Jico N21 from Japan, and will compare when I receive my current shipment.
Thomas_AA
Well-Known Member
I've had a little time to measure and compare to the boron. The positives first; the zirconia model tracks at least as well as the boron variant. Also it appears to have a stretched out frequency response > 20 kHz which the boron does not at 130 pF 47 kOhm. Unfortunately there is a quite high Q peak around 10-12 kHz at around +5-6 dB. There is no way around this one by changing loading unless you want to drop most high frequency content. I prefer the boron still over the zirconia.
