The new ‘L’ edition of Miyajima’s Takumi stereo moving coil cartridge is distinguished by a nude line contact stylus in place of the regular Takumi’s bonded elliptical stylus. The resulting much lowered tip mass allows the Takumi L to deliver a significantly extended frequency response of 20Hz-32kHz compared to the regular Takumi’s 20Hz-22kHz.
Like all of Miyajima’s stereo cartridges it features the company’s unique, patented ’cross ring’ design which is quite distinct from typical moving coil cartridge assemblies.
Noriyuki Miyajima sought to address the traditional problems inherent in moving coil cartridges that result in unwanted resonances, notably the use of a tie-wire to hold the cantilever and coil assembly against the magnet pole piece, and the iron coil former, both of which create distortions. Miyajima discovered a way to side-step these shortcomings entirely, by creating a new cross ring coil structure with a non-magnetic core. Instead of a tie-wire, it uses 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.
The end result is dramatically lower distortion leading to a ‘just right’ balance of silky smoothness and precise bite, of detail and delicacy. There is an incredible sense of air and space in and around vocals, and of instrumental separation, combining to deliver a gratifyingly fluent and eloquent musical presentation.
