Shure/Jico SAS changes

[Cantabury Guy]

I haven't seen mention here about the SAS changes at Jico recently. There was a price drop on the Neo SAS to $167/$200 and a reappearance of the original SAS. Now the Neo SAS are gone from the site and original(Boron) are back?

 

[tw1st]

The price drop and reintroduction of the non-Neo SAS came up briefly in a thread about JICO styli but not one specifically about SAS or the price drop. It was unclear if this is the original boron, or what the cantilever material is.

The disappearance of the Neo/SAS is news to me, though.

Maybe @noisemodule (Seth from JICO) can answer some questions here. He is very good at responding to e-mail as well, if not.

It's too bad too, as I was planning on jumping on a Neo/SAS after the holidays.

 

[totem]

Since the NEO's are gone just what is the material of the current SAS cantilever?

 

[Balifly]

Since the NEO's are gone just what is the material of the current SAS cantilever?

The web site may be under reconstruction due to changes....

The sapphire and ruby cantilever product may be back later at a different price.

 

[boreas]

As it happens, I did a little research in this on Sunday as part of a private conversation I was having. Below are some prices. As you'll see, the neos seemed then to be available but some pricing oddities needed addressing. Since Sunday, the neos have all been removed.

VN45HE $148.00 (non-SAS hyper elliptical)
VN45HE neoSAS-S $150.00
VN45HE neoSAS-R $196.00
VN45HE SAS (boron) $123.00

VN5xMR $150.00 (non-SAS micro ridge)
VN5xMRSAS (boron) $141.00
VN5xMR neoSAS-S $167.00
VN4xMR neoSAS-R $213.00

At least in some cases, they appear to be labeling the old style SAS the "High Grade". (Referring to them as "boron" above was an assumption on my part and perhaps inaccurate.)

John

 

[tw1st]

The "High Grade" label existed for the VN5MR and VN5xMR even with the Neo/SAS S+R styli. As such, I don't think it refers to cantilever but instead perhaps a specially selected or more polished stylus.

 

[boreas]

Searching "SAS" on the JICO site returns 78 results but searching "neoSAS" returns zero. One possible explanation for this is that they're in the process of figuring out a logical and doable pricing structure for three different levels of SAS, ruby, sapphire and metallic (boron?).

It also occurs to me that it was the non-availability/expense of boron cantilevers that prompted the demise of the original SAS. It could be that the "High Grade" SAS will have a less exotic cantilever, like the telescoped aluminum cantilever already in use on some Shures and other JICOs. They probably should have done that in the beginning rather than switch to gemstones.

John

 

[revox-b77]

Wonder if they were having too many neos break in shipping?

 

[boreas]

Has has that been an issue?

John

 

[Thomas_AA]

It is really strange I just managed to order a ruby at the price of 213 dollar a couple of days ago. The original SAS/boron seems to be back at 141 dollar. I will probably buy theboron as spare and/or compare to the ruby.

Since boron is better than sapphire as cantilever material, perhaps they decided to cancel the neoSAS line and return to the original boron again.

 

[DavidTT]

Please forgive the ignorance of those of us with less knowledge, but I'm interested in upgraded styli for the m97xe. I'm aware of the LPGear vivid line option ($114), along with their JICO SAS options ($289), but turntableneedles lists several VN5xMR styli (HE-$140 and Shibata-$180) plus a JICO ($270). Assuming a user rules out the $270+ JICO version, how does the vivid line compare to the VN5xMR HE and Shibata options? Lastly, the JICO website showing the VN5xMR SAS and micro ridge for $140 and $151 have me hopelessly confused. Can someone list these out for dummies like me please?

 

[Balifly]

Please forgive the ignorance of those of us with less knowledge, but I'm interested in upgraded styli for the m97xe. I'm aware of the LPGear vivid line option ($114), along with their JICO SAS options ($289), but turntableneedles lists several VN5xMR styli (HE-$140 and Shibata-$180) plus a JICO ($270). Assuming a user rules out the $270+ JICO version, how does the vivid line compare to the VN5xMR HE and Shibata options? Lastly, the JICO website showing the VN5xMR SAS and micro ridge for $140 and $151 have me hopelessly confused. Can someone list these out for dummies like me please?

Things are in flux right now, different sites have different price since yesterday or last week.

Either wait for the market to settle down, price re-alignment or get the best for your budget, for now.

 

[tw1st]

As this thread states, JICO has just reintroduced what we are assuming is the original Boron-cantilevered SAS at a lower price than any SAS-equipped stylus has been available for since it was discontinued early last year.

Never mind with any of the resellers, get yourself a "N97xE SAS" from jico-stylus.com directly. It will be $123 plus shipping from Japan, but well worth it.

 

[boreas]

The re-introduction or re-design of the metal cantilevered SAS and possible disappearance of the gemstone cantilevered versions would seem to favor waiting until things shake themselves out. Wait and see what exactly the new SAS is and where it's priced and, if the neoSAS is your preferred option, wait to see whether it reappears and at what price.

The current situation probably favors buying direct from JICO. If the neoSAS does reappear the JICO prices will likely be a lot less than the dealer's prices since their stuck would likely have been acquired at the old high price so they will probably be unable to match JICO's direct price. And it'll probably be a while before the dealers have the non-neos in stock.

John

 

[malden]

Please forgive the ignorance of those of us with less knowledge, but I'm interested in upgraded styli for the m97xe. I'm aware of the LPGear vivid line option ($114), along with their JICO SAS options ($289), but turntableneedles lists several VN5xMR styli (HE-$140 and Shibata-$180) plus a JICO ($270). Assuming a user rules out the $270+ JICO version, how does the vivid line compare to the VN5xMR HE and Shibata options? Lastly, the JICO website showing the VN5xMR SAS and micro ridge for $140 and $151 have me hopelessly confused. Can someone list these out for dummies like me please?

What turntable are you using with the M97xE ?

 

[DavidTT]

I use three different tables and swap carts around on them all; a Marantz TT15, Fluance RT81, U-Turn Orbit. I enjoy the smoothness and bass of the m97xe, but have not enjoyed the rolled off highs, the almost dull smoothness, and really get annoyed with the QC wonkiness of the cartridge. When I mount it I have to basically ignore the crookedness of the aluminum top plate as compared to the cart body, as then compared to the stylus assembly itself.

Still though, the liquidy-smooth nature of the cart can be enchanting and I'd really like to try an upgrade stylus because I have heard now many times about love for this cart when using an upgraded stylus.

What turntable are you using with the M97xE ?

 

[custom10]

I have a shure V15 type 4 or IV without stylus What JICO SAS stylus would I order? Thx.

 

[Balifly]

I have a shure V15 type 4 or IV without stylus What JICO SAS stylus would I order? Thx.

The only one listed at the present time is the:

Shure VN45 HE
https://www.jico-stylus.com/product_info.php?products_id=1049

 

[Multiplex]

Eeeeeeenteresting... If these are indeed the original boron SAS styli, isn't this an even lower price to what they were before they were disco'd? I thought most were $139, and models with the dynamic stabilizers (like the V15V and M97xE) were more like $169. Now the M97xE SAS is also $123. That's like a pre 2012 price!

 

[custom10]

Thanks for that link!