Rare ADC TRX-2 SAPPHIRE Cantilever (UNUSED) IM cartridge in ORIGINAL BOX

Another superb vintage phono cartridge from my collection listed for sale here. It's prolonged storage unit , i've never used this particular sample and i believe it was unused when i bought it. Comes in fully original ADC packaging , but without printed documents (ask if you need digital copy of the manual).

I have extracted the cartridge from the box just to make high-resolution pictures. This is very rare model with SAPPHIRE CANTILEVER and "VITAL III" Nude LINE CONTACT type Diamond which looks unused under my macro lens on the images. SAPPHIRE cantilever is the most expensive among other types of cantilevers used in TRX series (such as Titanium and Beryllium). So you're looking at the very best version of the ADC TRX here! The price is always depends on condition when it comes to rare vintage cartridges.

When i sell something from my own collection it is nearly perfect or NOS. This cartridge and stylus are UNUSED even if the box does not looks like brand new. PLEASE REFER TO THE IMAGES, WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET! Why this ADC Sapphire tube cantilever is special. The Sapphire cantilever is an excellent choice for most High-End phono cartridges, and is basically the same material as Ruby!

Sapphire has been used as the original cantilever material in some of the finest cartridges made in the 70's and in the 80's. You're looking at the ADC's laser drilled Sapphire Tube cantilever with unused PH LineContact diamond. In ADC catalog they call it "Vital III" diamond (0.32 x 1.57 mil). The exact number of the ADC stylus replacement is TRX-2 for ADC TRX-2 Induced Magnet phono cartridge.

This Diamond has extended contact area in the vertical direction of the groove wall compared to an elliptical shaped diamond. This lowers the force per unit area on both the diamond and the record groove, resulting in lower record and diamond wear and improved high frequency performance - especially at the end of the record. Styli with Sapphire cantilever and LineContact diamond are very expensive compared to conventional styli. Sapphire, Ruby, Boron and Diamond cantilevers often called "exotic".

You can't go wrong with any of them. If you can find/afford a cartridge with any of those exotic cantilevers then try it, they are very special. Induced Magnet (IM) or Moving Iron (MI) principle has obvious advantages over MC and conventional MM , basically because of the very low moving mass system. If you want to know why simply search for "Peter Ledermann lecture at RMAF" on youtube and watch it. He will explain in details why MI & IM is better than MC and MM (it is his expert opinion). When replacement stylus assembly screwed directly in the cartridge body the maximum rigidity is guaranteed, it helps to avoid resonance and vibration. This is a HIGH COMPLIANCE cartridge for lightweight tonearms , the tracking ability is superb! This TRX-2 sample is in excellent cosmetic condition , except for the one hairline scratch, hardly visible by naked eye under the ADC logo on the cartridge plastic body.

The copper pins looks unused and i think this cartridge has never been mounted yet. In my opinion it's a beautiful sample, the box is nice. The most important is, of course, the Cantilever and Diamond shape. You don't have to worry about it , just take a closer look at the images , i've owned many cartridges, only unused diamonds and cantilevers looks like that.

Without that tiny hairline micro scratch i would call it NOS (New Old Stock), but using conservative grading i will call it EXCELLENT condition with one remark "UNUSED ORIGINAL STYLUS IN MINT CONDITION". About the box (original packaging). The box is strong VG+ condition , one side is still sealed with ADC inspection "passed" sticker, another side is opened with a little damage on the corner, sticker is still there. The inner plastic container is VG+ with minor scratches on surface, it was in the storage for decades! I lost the documents somehow (sorry), but i can supply a nice pictures of the original ADC booklet/manual for this cartridge with all the info, tech specs etc...

Upon request (ask if you need it). The most important information from the manual is here below. A little bit about ADC history and the inventor of TRX series.

Audio innovator Peter Pritchard founded ADC (Audio Dynamics Corporation) in USA in the early 1960's. ADC pickups were notable for their extremely high compliance and low tracking forces.

They were all based on his "induced magnet" principle , which derived from the older GE variable-reluctance cartridges that had been game-changers for affordable magnetic phono pick-ups in the 1950s. GE's patent, filed May 2, 1960, acknowledges Peter Ernest Pritchard as the inventor. Later, a very successful speaker line produced locally in New Milford.

ADC also made lightweight tonearms. However, the ADC (Audio Dynamics Corporation) under a new ownership continued making High-End cartridges.

To develop ADC sound they hired Nakansuka San from Japan , now he's the owner of ultra high-end brand ZYX. Nakatsuka San has been working for Namiki, Accuphase, Adcom, Ortofon...

Back in the 70's top of the line ADC TRX series was designed by Nakatsuka San (now ZYX owner). Flagship models ADC TRX-2 with Sapphire cantilever and "Vital III" nude diamond is one of the best ADC cartridge designed under new ownership. The tri-pole Induced Magnetic System has a unique internal construction featuring a three-pole armature made of mu-metal. Its advantages include low-distortion tracing of stereo signals and consistently wide stereo separation across a wide frequency range. In its magnetic circuit a samarium cobalt magnet is used which, together with the 3-pole armature, forms an efficient induced magnet system. The tension wire , of special resin, helps define the fulcrum of the cantilever. In combination with a damper made of selected rubber , it provides the cartridge with higher compliance, better tracking and wider dynamic range.

The cartridge body is fashioned from die-cast aluminum , and the stylus assembly is firmly fixed to the body by a screw so no part of the cartridge resonates or vibrates. About ADC TRX-2 Sapphire cantilever.

The TRX-2 cantilever is a precision-made sapphire tube. Due to its excellent hardness and rigidity resonance is reduced to practically zero. The stylus tip is a nude diamond , featuring low mass and large contact area (ADC Vital III type PH LineContact 0.32 x 1.57 mil) for lower record wear. This is a wire suspension system to define the fulcrum and provide extended frequency response and low distortion at low tracking force.

The stylus tip of the cartridge must be kept free from dust. Otherwise, distortion of the sound, or change in tonal quality may occur. Before playing, clean the stylus tip lightly with the enclosed brush, brushing from the base of the stylus/cantilever toward the stylus tip. Your ADC cartridge will meet its specifications with 275 pF capacitance and 47 000 Ohm load resistance.

Other load values may affect the high frequency response slightly. Specification of the ADC TRX-2 IM cartridge with Sapphire Cantilever: Stylus type: nude PH LineContact (Vital III / RTRX-2) 0.32 x 1.57 mil. It will be packed very well for international transit. I can declare whatever value you need for your custom control if that's important (just let me know).

The item "Rare ADC TRX-2 SAPPHIRE Cantilever (UNUSED) IM cartridge in ORIGINAL BOX" is in sale since Tuesday, May 14, 2019. This item is in the category "Consumer Electronics\Vintage Electronics\Vintage Audio & Video\Vintage Record Players". The seller is "djchak" and is located in St. This item can be shipped to North, South, or Latin America, all countries in Europe, all countries in continental Asia, Australia.

• Model: TRX-2 SAPPHIRE
• Country/Region of Manufacture: Japan
• Brand: ADC