Sony XL-33L Moving Coil Cartridge

[absolon]

Just bought one of these, apparently NIB from a reputable seller.

It has pretty good specs at the cartridge database but that could mean anything where it meets my ears. Anyone know what I'm dealing with here; did Sony make a decent cartridge or put their name on one?

Picture from http://www.cartridgedb.com/

 

[Fred Longworth]

Over the years, Sony made many high-end, limited-production items. (No . . . I'm not doing a commercial for the ill-fated Elcassette!)

Often the target consumer was Japanese, and only a small percentage of the devices made it across the Pacific.

I would let my EARS make the judgment here. Adjust stylus force for 1.5 gm (the middle of the recommended range) and put on some really demanding program material, such as female voices, violins, or complex jazz with lots of percussion and saxophone.

Fred Longworth
StereoTech Classic Audio Repair
http://www.repairaudio.com

 

[absolon]

Thanks Fred, no need for the commercial; I'm already a fan of Sony with 6 1970's vintage pieces including an EL4.

Given the absence of information, this cartridge must be fairly scarce. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed the rubber supporting the cantilever hasn't hardened beyond serviceability. If it is functional, I've got high hopes for it based on my experience with the company's gear. I'll test it against an Ortofon X3-MC and a V15-III and report on how it stands up to the comparison.

 

[absolon]

Not sure why the original picture I posted was removed :scratch2:

Here is another instead of the unit I bought. We'll see what happens to it.

Found a bit of info. According to one post I found at the vinylengine, the XL-55, a cartridge two steps up the hierarchy, was used on the PS-X9.

 

[axel]

Can't find anything on the XL-33L in my japanese or european lit'... there's an MM XL-30(L), blue like yours but no XL-33(L)... Given the shape and packaging, it's much later than the XL-55 (1976) anyway - most of the variations start appearing in late '78/'79.

XL-44 (44, 44L or 44B) was the one just below the original XL-55 (55, 55Pro, 55ProII).

The 55 appeared in '76 and was developped for use in conjunction with the HA-55 head-amp ; the 55Pro was made for the PS-X9/PUA-9 combo but available separately on special order ; it's a hand-picked version within a heavy magnesium headshell. The phono preamps inside the PS-X9 and TA-E88 preamp are onboard HA-55s btw.

The 55ProII was a last gasp but I'm not sure yet of the details concerning the upgrade(s) done...

HA-55: http://www.thevintageknob.org/SONY/sonyesprit/HA55/HA55.html
XL-55: http://www.thevintageknob.org/SONY/sonyesprit/XL55/XL55.html
PS-X9: http://www.thevintageknob.org/SONY/sonyesprit/PSX9/PSX9.html

Sony made some excellent carts but, as usual, kept the (discreet) distribution of them (and their many versions) for its home-market. Annoying habit, isn't it?

 

[absolon]

Thanks for checking axel.

It should be here in a week or so; perhaps the paperwork packed with it will be more enlightening. I'll post more info once I've received it and tried it out.

 

[absolon]

It got here and I finally had a chance to try it out. Seems to be in perfect working order; probably hasn't even been removed from the package mounts. Unfortunately no Sony paperwork came with it.

In spite of an untweaked initial setup and no break-in, it is easily a better cartridge than the V15. There is a very apparent clarity the Shure can't match. Haven't compared against the Ortofon yet but will do that after I've given the Sony a few weeks use.

I am pleased

 

[13D3User]

It got here and I finally had a chance to try it out. Seems to be in perfect working order; probably hasn't even been removed from the package mounts. Unfortunately no Sony paperwork came with it.

In spite of an untweaked initial setup and no break-in, it is easily a better cartridge than the V15. There is a very apparent clarity the Shure can't match. Haven't compared against the Ortofon yet but will do that after I've given the Sony a few weeks use.
I am pleased

Having read your "review" of the Sony XL-33, I decided to take mine out of its drawer. I had only used it for a few hours, and felt it lacked dynamics in relation to my Denon 103. That was what the person who sold it to me on ebay said, that it was much less dynamic than his Ortofon (MC20?, if I remember), and that was why he had sold it.

Well, I have had it on my Garrard 301 in the Sme 3012 and it seems to have gained some dynamics. It began by being very shut-in and undynamic, and unbright. It is now going through a stage of being almost too bright. This sometimes happens with new cartridges. Perhaps, it wasn't run-in.

How do you now judge this cartridge compared to the Ortofon?

I do have the paper-work with my cartrdige, I can give you any information you may need. Although, most of it is on cartridgedatabase.
Anthony

 

[absolon]

Sad to say it dropped a channel and now resides in a drawer; I keep hoping it will magically repair itself but no luck so far.

I liked it better than the X3; it's less dynamic but clearer and more refined which suits my musical taste and system. I currently have in rotation a Sony MC-103P, the P-mount version of the MC-10 HOMC, also a nice cartridge, but I do prefer the XL-33.

 

[13D3User]

Sad to say it dropped a channel and now resides in a drawer; I keep hoping it will magically repair itself but no luck so far.

I am sorry to hear that. Could you tell me what transformer you used, or do you have an MC input?
I am thinking that the dynamics could also be effected by lack of gain.
There are a few people who repare cartridges, and I suppose it could just be a soldering problem: the wires to the output pins.
Regards
13D3

 

[absolon]

I used the phono section of my Sony TA2000F which has adjustable capacity for LOMCs. I didn't find any lack of gain. I likened the Ortofon to a fiery Italian woman singing after drinking wine; passionate but slightly slurred. The Sony was more like a proper English woman carefully enunciating her words.

The cartridge appears to be "potted", no easy way to open it or I would have tried it myself. The cartridge is nice, but not worth an expensive repair bill and I have quite a collection of alternates of similar quality.