{"product_id":"shilabe-stereo-cartridge","title":"Shilabe Stereo MC Cartridge","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA highly refined cartridge with superb stability and poise...\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIntroducing the \u003c\/span\u003eMiyajima Shilabe \u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Shilabe uses African Blackwood for its main body, a dense and resonant wood also used in clarinets and oboes. Miyajima note that its rubber damper was improved in 2024, allowing more stable tracing and a wider range of tracking forces without altering the cartridge’s sound quality.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe result is a cartridge of impressive composure, lustre and control, with the sense of precision and natural flow that defines the best Miyajima designs.\u003cbr\u003eThe gold plate has changed from CR to Shilabe.\u003cbr\u003e\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 - 3.0 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 8×10-6 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":44492659589255,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0596\/4886\/8487\/files\/cr.jpg?v=1776445039","url":"https:\/\/simcoaudio.com\/products\/shilabe-stereo-cartridge","provider":"simco-audio","version":"1.0","type":"link"}