!!!Tonar: Diabolic E!!!

[SunOfSky]

One of our administrators gave another one of our administrators the advice that he (the other administrator) should check out the Tonar Diabolic E cartridge for his wife's reelin'-and-a-rockin'-specific turntable. The other administrator did not take the advice; I did.

Output: 8 millivolt
VTF: 4-5gr.
Color: Pink & Gold

That's right. This thing is terrifying. And since it is only $55, I had to try it.

Here's the thing. While there is something intoxicating about its sound, there is some break-up around drums and other dynamic passages.

Chris, the Autobayer, aforementioned Administrator numero uno, said that the Stickmaker uses one, but that he cut away much of the plastic and that it is -- at that nearly nude point, I'm guessing -- a surprisingly "refined rocker." I took this to mean: not so much break-up.

Has anyone else used this cartridge? And, if so, did you cut away the plastic?

Here's mine happily tracking some Davie Allen & the Arrows.

(I would take a better picture, but I don't have a proper digital camera. This was taken with my laptop's built-in camera -- hence the shitty composition and mucho grain.)

[Rotsch]

Lil bit more datas...

    Type: MM
    Fixing: Half-inch mount
    Output voltage: 8,0mV bei 1kHz, 5cm/sec.
    Amplifier-connection: Phono MM
    Frequency range: 20-24.000Hz ±4dB
    Compliance: 6 x 10 – 6 cm/dyne (100 Hz)
    Material: diamond, bonded
    Stylus type: elliptical
    Tracking force range: 4-5g
    Tracking force, recommended: 4,5g
    Weight: 5,0g

Haven't tried one, yet.... but i'm tempted !! 

[analogadikt]

The combination of eliptical stylus and high tracking force worries me. Is this a DJ cartridge?

Regards,

[Tussenwiel]

The combination of eliptical stylus and high tracking force worries me. Is this a DJ cartridge?

Regards,

It is a DJ cartridge and here are the specs.
http://pickupnaalden.com/images/pdf/2987.pdf

[Rotsch]

It is a DJ cartridge and here are the specs.
http://pickupnaalden.com/images/pdf/2987.pdf

Of course it is....
but it hasn't to be bad for that reaon !?  

[analogadikt]

Roger,

I did not mean to say "if it is DJ it is bad", sorry if what I said came across like that. Just wanted to confirm because a modern MM with such high VTF is usually meant for DJ work. I have read quite a few posts here and elsewhere about the fine performance that can be had from these carts after few tweaks.

Regards,

[SunOfSky]

Very DJ. Notice that the penultimate specification says, "Scratching: Suitable."



Thanks for supplying the additional info, Roger.

I listened to some Beat Happening after the Davie Allen and it really sounded superb. There is a thickness to the tone that really suits the Calvin Johnson voice and aesthetic. Also, the break-up I was hearing on the Davie Allen was absent on the Beat Happening. Strange.

The high tracking force worries me too. Picking records last night was nerve racking. I decided to play stuff that would be relatively easy to replace.

So does anyone have any advice re which parts to cut away? My fine motor skills aren't great, but I think that they're good enough for the Diabolic!

[Kvaal]

Appears to be a variant of Nagaoka 321 also branded as Technics epc 270c. Very good cart, but if you think the vtf is high you can try the Technics or Nagaoka needle. It tracks at 1,8 gram.

Both are sold here: http://www.pickupnaalden.com/english/turntable_needles.asp

[hatehifi]

To 'nude' a stylus, simply snip away all of the plastic with a small wire cutter (the way I did it) until just the diamond and cantilever remain. I found tweezers handy for re-inserting the cantilever and don't push in further than it was with the plastic.

FWIW, I've done three nudes to date on three different carts and yes, improvement on all.

Cheers!

[Rotsch]

Personaly i wouldn't bother about the VTF
Even the DL 103 is recommended with 2.5 gr !!

 

What really disturbing me is the note...
"Scratching: Suitable." !!!!   

Thank god they doesn't print: "Scratching: Required." on it.....

 

[SunOfSky]

Simply snip away all of the plastic with a small wire cutter (the way I did it) until just the diamond and cantilever remain.

So you left all the plastic on the actual body -- e.g. the mounting apparatus -- but removed the plastic around the removable cantilever/stylus?

I ask because I have only nuded a dl 103, which was remarkably simple, what with Mr. Schick's video instructions. I didn't like the nuded 103 and have since gone back to a standard body 103, but nuding it was a neat little exercise. (Though I forced myself to deal with the consequence for nearly a year before purchasing a new 103.)

Many thanks,

[hatehifi]

So you left all the plastic on the actual body -- e.g. the mounting apparatus -- but removed the plastic around the removable cantilever/...

Exactly. Leave the body fully intact (unless you decide to also do a re-body, e.g. a Midas - but that is an entirely different story, experiment). You can always buy a replacement stylus to compare. But, imho, if Thomas says it 'works', well I'm in without any doubts. FWIW, Thomas suggested I use a nuded Tonar on my Xeres Tabriz tt/arm I very luckly purchased from him. As this unit mainly gets Classic duty, I went with another combination. My other tt already sports a nuded Empire EDR9 MI which 'rocks' for Pop & Jazz genres.

Cheers!

[analogadikt]

Even the DL 103 is recommended with 2.5 gr !!

But that is a spherical tip. This is eliptical

[SunOfSky]

Thank you for the confirmation, John.

But, imho, if Thomas says it 'works', well I'm in without any doubts.

I guess I'm of the same opinion; I use his arm.

Now it's time to cut it up and see how it goes. Or buy a slipmat and start beat making.

[da-jack]

hi andrew,

maybe this helps as a reference, 'nuding' the stylus of an AT95e with a hot knife by fellow lencoist Ilkka:
http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=8995.0

best,
dan