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Miyajima
Noriyuki Miyajima has had a love of
music forever, first as a hobby, then as
a specialist dealer and more recently as a manufacturer. Using real
wood, diamonds and delicate coils,
Noriyuki prides himself on honesty.
With several patents and a passion that
is most clear, Miyajima cartridges have had rave reviews all over the world and
deservedly so. Unlike some
cartridge brands Miyajima are made in-house with
six dedicated full-time people.
You can see the three Roland Camm-3 CNC
milling machines that make the bodies on
the right, microscopic inspection and
full electrical test are carried out to
ensure every cartridge meets or exceeds
its published specification.
African blackwood is also known as
mpingo and made famous by Shun Mook.
According to the BBC "The wood from
Tanzania's mpingo tree is used to make
flutes, clarinets, oboes and even
bagpipes, making it one of the most
valuable plants in the world" and
"musicians and musical instrument makers
value the timber for its unique tonal
qualities" Miyajima use mpingo in
their top-of-the-range cartridges because they
believe it is the best wood available.
Miyajima are one of only a very few
manufactures to fully embrace mono
cartridges. Rarer still, they make
true single coil designs for optimum
playback. The Beatles are
re-releasing their early LPs in true
mono directly from the original master
tapes. Using a Miyajima cartridge
is surely the best way to listen.
Michael Fremer of Stereophile reported :
Compared with the Shelter 7000 and Shun
Mook Signature cartridges I review this
month, the Shilabe easily sounded the
most natural and convincing (Sep 28,
2009) These are cartridges
that cost about twice as much as the
Shilabe.
"Like the Miyajima Shilabe, the
Kansui uses a cross-ring motor
design, weighs 10.4gm, has an internal
impedance of 16 ohms, is fitted with a
Shibata stylus, and has a curvaceous
body of African Blackwood. Because it
has a higher compliance, however, the
Kansui can track at a significantly
lower tracking force for greater speed
and resolution. Though it lacked the
Haniwa HCTR01's (twice the price)
resolution of spatial information, the
Shilabe offered a meatier and more
intimate sound, with forceful bass, rich
textures, and solid images" said Michael Fremer.
"The Zero Mono cartridge has an
output of 0.4mV, making it compatible
with a wide range of moving-coil phono
preamps. Compared to Miyajima Lab's
Premium BE, the Zero produced a
similarly big, rich, meaty sound, but
offered improvements in image focus,
clarity, transient detail, and bass
control" said Michael Fremer.
"If you treasure your mono albums, get a
Zero. It's infinitely better than any
other mono cartridge I've heard," he
summed up
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Stereo
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Takumi Stereo
The sound of Takumi is clear and soft.
This is a very usable cartridge that is
a good match to most arms. The
price of this cartridge has been kept
low so that it is possible for users to
experience Miyajima at a low entry cost.
Body type : African blackwood (second
quality)
Frequency response :
20Hz to 22kHz
Output level : 0.2mV
Impedance : 16 ohms
Recommended load : 100 ohms
Tracking force : 2.0 - 2.5g 2.25g
recommended
Stylus type : Elliptical
Compliance 100Hz :
7×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 9.0g
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Retail price £1,795.00
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Click here
to read the UK 2016 review by Paul
Rigby |
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Takumi Stereo L
The standard Takumi is inexpensive and easy to
use. This new "Takumi L" has an upgraded
nude Line Contact diamond stylus.
The Takumi L has a wider frequency range
than Takumi.
Body type : African blackwood
Frequency response :
20Hz to 32kHz
Output level : 0.21mV
Impedance : 16 ohms
Recommended load : 100 ohms
Tracking force : 2.0 - 2.5g 2.30g
recommended
Stylus type : nude Line Contact
Compliance 100Hz :
around 9×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 8.9g
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Retail price £2,575.00 |
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Shilabe Blackwood Stereo
The penultimate cartridge in the Miyajima
range, this African Blackwood bodied
masterpiece produces beautiful music.
What more can you ask for? Stereophile Class A recommended
component
Body type : African blackwood
Frequency response :
20Hz to 32kHz
Output level : 0.23mV
Impedance : 16 ohms
Recommended load : 100 ohms
Tracking force : 2.5 - 3.2g 3.0g
recommended
Stylus type :
Shibata
Compliance 100Hz :
5×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 10.4g
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Retail price £2,900.00
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Click here
to read the 10 Audio review
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Click here
to read the Stereophile review
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Click here
to read the 6Moons.com review |
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Kansui Blackwood Stereo
The Kansui cartridge is better still
than the Shilabe. Some parts
and the manufacturing process have been
refined. This is very much a hand
built-cartridge by Noriyuki Miyajima
that has balance, poise, stillness and
great dynamics when required. Stereophile Class A recommended
component
Body type : African blackwood
Frequency response :
20Hz to 32kHz
Output level : 0.23mV
Impedance : 16 ohms
Recommended load : 100 ohms
Tracking force : 2.0 - 2.5g 2.25g
recommended
Stylus type :
Shibata
Compliance 100Hz :
7×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 10.4g
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Retail price £3,375.00
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Click here
to read the UK 2015 HiFi+ review
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Click here
to read the 10 Audio review
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Click here
to read the High Fidelity review |
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Saboten - L Ebony Stereo
Stereophile said "In a nutshell, this
beautiful-sounding product embodies
everything that's special about this
brand. When it comes to the performance
characteristics that matter most to me,
I don't believe I've heard another
standard-mount cartridge as effective as
Miyajima."
Body type : Cameroon Ebony
Frequency response :
20Hz to 32kHz
Output level : 0.23mV
Impedance : 16 ohms
Recommended load : 100-250 ohm
Tracking force : 3.0g
Stylus type : nude line Contact diamond
stylus
Compliance: 100Hz 8×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 9.5g
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Retail price £4,500.00 (available to
order only, ask the dealers below) |
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Madake Blackwood Stereo
This stereo cartridge uses a cantilever made
of bamboo (Madake).
The material normally used to make a
cantilever has some small inherent
resonances and is often made from metal and/or a
stone of hard material. Unusually in
this cartridge Bamboo is used which
removes a lot of the extra resonance from
the cantilever. A very effective
result is thus achieved. For many
this is the ultimate cartridge
regardless of price.
Body type : African blackwood
Frequency response :
20Hz to 32kHz
Output level : 0.23mV
Impedance : 16 ohms
Recommended load : 100 ohms
Tracking force : 2.5g
Stylus type :
Shibata
Compliance 100Hz :
9×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 9.7g
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Click here
to read the
UK 2015 Hi
FI Critic review
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Retail price £4,950.00 |
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Monaural
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Why Mono ?
A mono cartridge is mechanically different
from a stereo cartridge.
Simply switching a stereo
cartridge to mono does not work
perfectly. Despite what
manufactures claim, mono
switches invariably add the two
channels by simply
shorting the two channels
together, even "very" expensive
units do this. Old school
preamplifiers such as the
Technics SU-9070 (we have one
here) sum the two channels with
extra electronics to eliminates
the vertical response and
improve the signal to noise by
3dB. However even summing
does not provide the ultimate, a
cartridge designed for mono,
with a single coil and no
vertical movement reduces
surface noise, vertical noise
and fits the groove properly.
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Paul Rigby wrote an article "Is
It Time For Mono" read it by
clicking here.
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Paul Rigby wrote another article
in HiFi Critic about mono
click here to read it
Pre 1967 Mono recordings
generally used a 1.0mil groove
width, and more importantly
often did not use any
transistors or IC's in the
recording process; as analogue
as analogue can get ! So
no digital and no
semiconductors, marvellous !
These early mono recordings were
simply mixed in mono without the
need to create the stereo
effect. They are pure and
simply lovely.
A feature that isn't on many
other mono cartridges is that
the vertical movement is totally
locked to give better
reproduction and less noise,
this is very important and not
often mentioned.
Most post 1967 Mono recordings
use a 0.7mil groove width and
this includes the wonderful
Beatles mono boxed set. In the
case of the Beatles, the
original master tapes were taken
out of the safe, it was never
meant to be a stereo recording
as not enough channels
(microphones) were used, and
hence the new mono mix without
the compression applied in the
early 60's, is simply
wonderful.
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A 1.0mil cartridge will play pre
1967 in breathtaking realism;
and will also played post 1967
better than any stereo
cartridge.
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A 0.7mil cartridge will play
post 1967 recordings like you
have never heard before; and
will play pre 1967 better than
any stereo cartridge.
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Kotetu Monaural
Using the same body as the Spirit and
Premium, the user can listen to a
monaural LP in real sound quality.
The price of this cartridge has been
kept low so that it is possible for
users to experience Miyajima monaural at
a low entry cost.
Body type : Composite
Frequency response : 20Hz - 20KHz
Output level : 0.5mV
Impedance : 4 ohm
Recommended load : 100 ohm
Tracking force : 3.0 - 4.5g 3.5g
recommended
Stylus type : 0.7 mil conical
Compliance 100Hz : 8×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 8.8g
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Retail price £525.00
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Click here
to read the UK Hifi Choice review |
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Premium BE II Blackwood Monaural
As above but in an African blackwood body
and with a slightly larger stylus profile.
Body type : African blackwood
Frequency response : 20Hz - 20KHz
Output level : 0.7mV
Impedance : 6 ohm
Recommended load : 100 ohm
Tracking force : 2.0 - 4.5g 3.5g
recommended
Stylus type : 1.0 mil or 0.7 conical
Compliance 100Hz : 8×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 11.8g
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Legacy product for info only
Retail price £1,125.00
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Click here
to read the UK HiFi World review
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Click here
to read
the Stereophile review
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Click here
to read the Ultra Audio review
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Click here
to read the Analog Sources review |
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Zero Monaural A/B
With its African blackwood body the Zero is the
ultimate monaural
cartridge. It produces the clearest and
most musical sound you will ever hear
from an monaural cartridge.
Expensive? Yes, but worth it!
Body type : African blackwood
Frequency response : 20Hz - 20KHz
Output level : 0.4mV
Impedance : 6 ohm
Recommended load : 100 ohm
Tracking force : 2.0 - 4.5g 3.5g
recommended
A version
Stylus type : 1.0 mil conical for pre
1967 mono recordings
B version Stylus type : 0.7 mil conical
for most post 1967 mono recordings
Compliance 100Hz : 8×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 11.8g
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Retail price £1,750.00
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Click here
to read the High Fidelity review
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Click here to read the 2014 UK Paul Rigby review
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Click here
to read the 2015 UK Hi Fi world review
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Click here to read the 2015 UK
0.7mil Paul Rigby review |
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Infinity Monaural A/B
"INFINITY MONO", made heavier than
ordinary cartridges to pursue the very
best.
It is a size bigger than usual
cartridges !
The size of the body is W 24.0 mm x D
28.6 mm.
The length of the terminal is 4.0 mm.
Please check whether it can be used for
the tone arm or head shell you have.
That sound expresses unprecedented low
tone volume, clear, three-dimensional,
and instrumental quality.
It is music, not audio. This cartridge
is special.
The wiring of the terminal of this
monaural cartridge is the same as
ordinary stereo cartridge.
Body type : African blackwood
Frequency response : 20Hz - 20KHz
Output level : 0.4mV
Impedance : 6 ohm
Recommended load : 100 ohm
Tracking force : 3.0 - 4.0g 3.5g
recommended
A version
Stylus type : 1.0 mil conical for pre
1967 mono recordings
B version Stylus type : 0.7 mil conical
for most post 1967 mono recordings
Compliance 100Hz : 8×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 14.8g
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Retail price £2,900.00
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78 rpm
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Kotetu 78 rpm
Using the same body as the old Spirit, the user can listen to
standard groove recordings in real sound quality.
The price of this cartridge has been
kept low so that it is possible for
users to experience Miyajima 78 rpm at a
low entry cost.
Body type : Composite
Frequency response : 20Hz - 20KHz
Output level : 0.5mV
Impedance : 4 ohm
Recommended load : 100 ohm
Tracking force : 3.0 - 4.55 3.5g
recommended
Stylus type : 3 mil conical
Compliance 100Hz :
8×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 8.8g
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Retail price £575.00 |
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Premium BE II
Blackwood 78 rpm
African blackwood
body
Body type : Blackwood
Frequency response : 20Hz - 20KHz
Output level : 0.7mV
Impedance : 6 ohm
Recommended load : 100 ohm
Tracking force : 3.0 - 4.5g 3.5g
recommended
Stylus type : 3 mil conical
Compliance 100Hz :
8×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 11.8g
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Legacy product for info only
Retail price £1,150.00 |
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Zero
78 rpm
In its African blackwood body the Zero is
the ultimate standard groove cartridge.
It produces the clearest and most
musical sound you will ever hear from
78 rpm recordings. Expensive? Yes, but
worth it!
Body type : African blackwood
Frequency response : 20Hz - 20KHz
Output level : 0.4mV
Impedance : 6 ohm
Recommended load : 100 ohm
Tracking force : 3.0 - 4.5g 3.5g
recommended
Stylus type : 3 mil conical
Compliance 100Hz :
8×10-6cm/dyne
Weight : 11.8g
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Retail price £1,850.00 |
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Step Up Transformers (SUT)
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Stereo
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Mono |
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Stereo
ETR-800P
Great value stereo SUT
● Retail price £1,900.00 |
Mono ETR
Great flexibly if you need it
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Retail price £1,450.00 |
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Stereo ETR-KSW
The best
● Retail price £2,475.00 |
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Stereo
ETR
Great flexibly if
you need it
● Retail price £2,700.00 |
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Three-point contact metal headshell
washer
This tiny split washer (the split
serving to clear the locating /
bayonet-locking pin that’s part of
the headshell fixing) is
ultra-thin and features three
indentations. The indentations
are designed to enable a more rigid and
less flexible joint, coupling the
headshell and
cartridge more tightly to the tonearm
and thereby providing a more
mechanically
secure connection. At the same time, the
three-point contact ensures optimal
mechanical grounding between headshell
and tonearm, improving damping and
reducing resonance.
This smallest of upgrades has been shown
to clearly improve sound quality, with
noted benefits including tighter bass
and a more vibrant, dynamic and
expressive
presentation.
So, whether your tonearm is a true
vintage model (think 1960s/70s SME) or
you’re a
fan of the modern ‘old-school’ designs
(Glanz, Jelco, Ortofon, Schick,
Timestep),
then swap your soft washer for
Miyajima’s metal one for an instant, and
‘so cheap it’s
almost almost free’, upgrade.
Metal Washer
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Retail price £10.00 each
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Available from specialist HiFi dealers
throughout the UK.
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