{"product_id":"madake-stereo-cartridge","title":"Madake Stereo MC Cartridge","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA highly distinctive cartridge built around a rare natural material...\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIntroducing the \u003c\/span\u003eMiyajima Madake \u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Madake uses special Japanese bamboo from Kyoto for its cantilever, a material Miyajima chose in pursuit of a firm, non-metal cantilever with its own unique sonic signature. This rare bamboo is noted by the maker for its strength and special sound quality, and gives the cartridge a character all of its own.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCombined with Miyajima’s Cross Ring generator and African Blackwood body, the Madake offers a natural, highly expressive performance with a strong sense of identity and musical presence.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e—\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecs\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable style=\"width: 100%;\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 44.6%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBody\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 54.5%;\"\u003eAfrican Blackwood\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 44.6%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequency Range\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 54.5%;\"\u003e20 Hz - 32 kHz\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 44.6%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOutput Level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 54.5%;\"\u003eAbout 0.23 mV\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 44.6%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImpedance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 54.5%;\"\u003eAbout 16 ohms\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 44.6%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracking Force\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 54.5%;\"\u003e2.5 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 44.6%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStylus Shape\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 54.5%;\"\u003eShibata diamond stylus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 44.6%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompliance (10Hz)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 54.5%;\"\u003eAround 9×10-6 cm\/dyne\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 44.6%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 54.5%;\"\u003eAbout 9.7 g\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 44.6%;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd style=\"width: 54.5%;\"\u003eW 18.8 mm × D 21.9 mm (excluding terminals)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat Makes Miyajima Cartridges Special? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThere is nothing unique about using wood for cartridge bodies, but Miyajima cartridges have a unique, patented design that really is different to any other moving coil cartridge available.  Miyajima understood that traditional moving coil cartridges suffer from resonances and distortion, firstly due to the tie-wire that typically holds the cantilever and coil assembly against the magnet pole piece with a compliant insert between to allow some movement.  The tie wire has to be very precisely tightened so that the coil assembly is correctly aligned, but its disadvantage is that it resonates, introducing distortion.  The second source of distortion is the typical iron coil former of a moving coil cartridge, which actually distorts the lines of magnetic flux between the pole pieces, as it moves through those lines.  Miyajima have a patented cross ring coil structure that has a non-magnetic core, neatly side-stepping this problem.  The next innovation was to eliminate the tie-wire altogether.  Instead, Miyajima use a pointed slide bar that  locates the coil assembly very precisely from behind at its pivot point, which is also the centre point of the magnet, while gently pushing the coil assembly against a compliant insert.  This means that the coil assembly can pivot unimpeded by a tensioning wire.  \u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/-UArwUMW7YE\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHere\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/a\u003eis a helpful animation showing how Miyajima cartridges work:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat's The End Result? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eMiyajima cartridges really do have dramatically lower distortion, compared to other MC cartridges, and these can sound like CD in comparison.  The sound is smooth, but don't think that they are 'rolled off' or lacking in 'bite' - the smoothness is a reflection of the low distortion.  Miyajima cartridges are effortlessly musical too.  Paul Rigby reviewed the original Takumi \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.theaudiophileman.com\/#!miyajima-takumi\/c1xbf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, and gave it a 'Groovy' award.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"simco-audio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44492684787847,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0596\/4886\/8487\/files\/madake.jpg?v=1776445129","url":"https:\/\/simcoaudio.com\/products\/madake-stereo-cartridge","provider":"simco-audio","version":"1.0","type":"link"}