Jico’s First, Original Cartridge: A Masterclass in Style and Substance
Jico has long been regarded as one of Japan’s foremost experts in analog engineering and playback technology. With more than a half-century of exceptional craftsmanship, Jico developed the Clipper, its debut original moving-magnet (MM) cartridge. This state-of-the-art cartridge is a culmination of Jico’s commitment to enhancing listeners’ record-playing experiences. Jico’s extensive experience in the vinyl market over the decades has granted it unique insights into the needs of next-generation cartridges, enabling the company to design a product that meets those requirements precisely. Everything about this cartridge exudes vintage-meets-modern panache, from its natural-diamond tip and mid-century-inspired design to its UVRMC (Ultra-violet Curable Resin Mixture) resin ApexGlide headshell and audiophile-caliber output. Jico’s spirit of innovation and historic craftsmanship have left Sweetwater’s hi-fi experts aghast at the Clipper’s indelible mix of audiovisual aesthetics, sparing no effort to align form and function like never before. Look no further than Jico’s first-of-its-kind Tapered S-cantilever — itself a nod to speed and aerodynamics that inspired the Clipper’s design — that brings unprecedented balance to your playback experience. Read on to learn more, and then take flight with the Jico Clipper.
The art of balance
The Clipper’s design, engineering, and material construction derive from its namesake inspiration, an ode to the sky-faring innovation of Pan American Airways’ invention of the “Clipper” flying class, which would become what we now refer to as “business class.” Like Pan Am’s global aviation influences from the 1930s through the ’80s, the Clipper cartridge marries sleek aesthetics, cutting-edge performance, and all-around panache that’s equal parts classic and contemporary — and everything’s intentional.
The tail-fin-like finger lift is centered rather than off to one side, contributing to the exacting balance of the cartridge that is essential to its hi-fi business-class output. To that end, the Clipper also features a Tapered S-cantilever, an innovation that creates lower mass at the tip and stylus, with a widened base that amplifies sound as it’s funneled away from the record, resulting in a more powerful and resounding output that generates nuanced, detailed soundstages.
These attributes go double for the conical-shaped 0.12mm ND tip, with a solid, natural-diamond construction. Finally, the ApexGlide headshell completes this masterclass of the balancing arts, methodically crafted to situate the stylus snuggly between the left- and right-channel grooves, capturing high-fidelity stereo sonics with serious style.
Jico Clipper Features:
- Debut of Jico’s all-original cartridge channels years of expertise and unmatched craftsmanship for a truly distinct, cutting-edge, hi-fi MM cartridge
- Solid, natural-diamond conical tip with a 0.12mm diameter elicits rich, musical playback that preserves details and creates deep, lifelike soundstages
- Aluminum Tapered S-cantilever optimizes balance, weight, and tracking precision for unmatched aural accuracy
- ApexGlide headshell utilizes UVRMC resin for lightweight, durable, and immaculately balanced performance
- 2.0±0.2g maximum tracking force ensures full-spectrum fidelity without risk of tracking-induced wear over a 200-hr. stylus lifespan
- 0.7mm stylus tip provides focused yet flexible playback support
- Standard 0.5-in. tonearm mount guarantees seamless installation with virtually any turntable
- Mid-century airline style inspires the design, yielding streamlined, aerodynamic aesthetics that marry form and function for an unrivaled audiovisual experience
