JICO CUSTOM SHOP J50 MM CARTRIDGE LAUNCHED

Japanese cartridge brand Jico has released the new Jico Custom Shop J50 MM Cartridge, which can be personalised with a variety of styli kits.

Designed for audiophiles (the brand also produces DJ cartridges), the Jico Custom Shop J50 MM Cartridge has a higher output than the J44D and J44A 7 models.

Jico Custom Shop J50 MM Cartridge with IMP Nude stylus

JICO CUSTOM SHOP J50 MM CARTRIDGE

The Jico J50 has a Calm Transparent Brown ‘Coca Cola’ colour body with various kits available that include one to three individual styli. The main stylus for the J50 cartridge will be the Jico Custom Shop N-44-7 IMP NUDE and there is also a cartridge-only model.

AVAILABLE STYLI

The styli available for the J50 are the N-44-7 IMP Nude, N44 MORITA Kurogaki Nude and the N44 MORITA Ushikoroshi Nude.

The SHURE N447 and N44G are also compatible with the J50 and IMPACT.

KOTARO MORITA

“It was my desire to build a stylus that produces true sound coming from the cantilever made of special carved natural wood”

Kotaro Morita has been Jico’s craftsman for the past half century, the Morita products have been designed to ‘express Kotaro Morita’s spirit, technology, and achievements to future generations.

Jico’s master craftsman Kotaro Morita

In November 2019, Kotaro has introduced his first stylus using ‘black’ persimmon wood, which Jico call Kurogaki. This plant grows in colder regions and normally the fruits are harvested in October. Upon cutting down the tree, the black stripes are widely visible on astringent persimmons. The wood is prized as a high-standard noble wood and used in carpentry for Shosoin, the treasure house that belongs to Todaiji temple in Nara prefecture of Japan.

Kotaro Morita at work

Kotaro later introduced a new model, Ushikoroshi. The wood for this model is commonly known as Christmas Berry but also has the name Ox Killer, derived from when farmers used this wood to make nose rings for cows.

The woods are very strong and stiff, and Jico has purchased a limited quantity, specially selected and dried naturally for over five years.

MORITA KUROGAKI STYLUS

This model has a cantilever made of Kurogaki, which is the rare Japanese Black Persimmon wood.

Jico Custom Shop J50 MM Kurogaki

MORITA USHIKOROSHI STYLUS

The Ushikoroshi model has a cantilever made from Christmas Berry Wood, otherwise known as ‘Ox Killer’.

Jico Custom Shop J50 MM Cartridge Ushikoroshi

DJ IMPACT CARTRIDGE

The DJ version of the Jico J50 is called Impact and has been co-produced with former Vestax president Toshi Nakama. It was designed for the Club DJ specialising in House, Techno, DnB, EDM and Trance, with a heavier low-end sound.

Impact has a red transparent body and has the JICO N-44-7 DJ IMP Nude Solid Conical Stylus. An Omnia pre-assembled complete set is also be available which includes the Jico black or silver Headshells. It is priced at $205 for the cartridge and $265 with the headshell.

The DJ version of the cartridge, Impact

JICO CUSTOM SHOP J50 MM CARTRIDGE PRICING

From USD $205 (IMP Nude), $493 to $694 (two styli kit) $781 (three styli kit)

HiFi Pig Says: The story behind the manufacture of these cartridges and the materials used is fascinating.