JICO SAS for V15XMR - first impression

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Posted on November 4, 2009 at 11:57:38

junkboy
Audiophile

Posts: 555
Location: LA Calif
Joined: February 23, 2007

After a 3 week's wait, finally got it yesterday. I was going to hold off until my AT440mLA reached 1,500 hours (currently at a little over 1,000 hours) but who am I kidding?

So went home early from work and spent a good 2 3 hours' worth of installation, alignment, setting correct VTF, VTA, dial in antiskate etc. Then the rest of the night, listening.

Since I no longer have the expired V15xMR stylus, I cannot do comparison to the original microridge design from Shure. From memory, and without breaking in yet, this new stylus doesn't sound like the Shure. It sounds more lively, more exquisite, more like the AT440 I've been using but without the bright edge. I think breaking in might bring back some of that bottom heavy sound I've remembered the Shure to excel in. But for now, I'm still missing that not-quite-dull but definitely heavy accent. It has other qualities that I don't remember the Shure to possess though. After the first hour, soundstage begins to stabilize and the imagery is fantastic. I never heard such vividness on the Shure before.

One thing I also notice. In using the Guru's method to set antiskate, namely my ears paying attention to both channels' sound decay, I've found this stylus to need minimal antiskate - maybe about 0.2g at most. My VTF is set at 1.5g with the brush down. Previously I've set the Shure at 1.75g but this new dynamic stablizer seems flimsy and I don't want to chance the actual tracking at more than 1.25g.

I'll probably have to re-set antiskate after breaking-in.

jb

I was determined not to like this thing.

Dave Pogue

18:40:00 11/06/09

RE: JICO SAS for V15XMR - first impression

Munkie_NL

02:59:36 11/06/09

RE: JICO SAS for V15XMR - first impression

junkboy

14:12:26 11/04/09

Friction coefficient is

Thomas_A

13:40:24 11/04/09

A guy did a brush measurement here

beach cruiser

12:22:52 11/04/09

I was determined not to like this thing., posted on November 6, 2009 at 18:40:00

Dave Pogue
Audiophile

Posts: 7491
Location: DC Area
Joined: October 9, 2001
Contributor
Since: March 18, 2003

I only bought the JICO stylus in the first place because I had wrecked the original one trying to denude it and figured I'd at least have a "whole" cartridge to sell on Audiogon. Besides, I had just found an Ortofon 2M Black at a very reasonable price and was liking it a lot.

First impressions of the Shure/JICO didn't change anything. It sounded totally blah and uninvolving. But I stuck with it and damned that after 20-25 hours it really started to sing. So now what? I figure I'll give it another 20 hours or so and then compare it to the Ortofon and my Soundsmith retipped, UWE podded Denon DL-103.

I'm sure everyone feels sorry as hell for me :-)

RE: JICO SAS for V15XMR - first impression, posted on November 6, 2009 at 02:59:36

Munkie_NL
Audiophile

Posts: 3609
Location: Netherlands
Joined: August 24, 2003

Thanks for posting your review. I once tried to set AS by listening to a Linda Ronstadt record. Female vocal in the middle of the stereo image, reverb in the mix. Upping the AS little by little. And wow there it was, a nice deep soundstage. AS a little lower than VTF. So e.g. VTF=1.75 and AS=1.5.

"The torture never stops"

Greetings Freek.

RE: JICO SAS for V15XMR - first impression, posted on November 4, 2009 at 14:12:26
junkboy Audiophile Posts: 555 Location: LA Calif Joined: February 23, 2007	Thanks for the info. I'm tracking at 1.3g then. Will report back after 20 hours or so. Probably will have a better adjustment of antiskate after break-in. jb

Friction coefficient is, posted on November 4, 2009 at 13:40:24

Thomas_A
Audiophile

Posts: 275
Joined: June 19, 2004

around 0.33 or so. According to this, antiskate should be quite low, but not "unusually low". I do get lowest IM dist around zero AS setting, but...

I did some realignment of azimuth using washers (but I really need finer shims, in 0.1 mm steps to set azimuth) and got lowered crosstalk and also lower IMD values. This may also be caused by small changes i lateral tracking angle, since I needed to remove and align again. (Azimuth "should" not affect IMD, only crosstalk. But I am not sure.)

Anyhow, the JICO stylus sound good in my ears.

A guy did a brush measurement here, posted on November 4, 2009 at 12:22:52
beach cruiser Audiophile Posts: 2605 Location: so cal Joined: September 24, 2003	He said the brush down was .2 as opposed to the Shure .5 . I read this post with interest as I have a killed stylus on a Shure top of line cart.

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JICO SAS for V15XMR - first impression

208.179.160.194