Acoustic Sounds

JICO

MORITA USHIKOROSHI VN5x

By: Michael Fremer

September 12th, 2024

Category:

Cartridges

Got a Shure V15V Type VxMR "Lying Around" With No Stylus?

even if you don't, read this!

Sometimes you just have to stop what you are doing and do this. I've been listening to a now vintage Shure V15V Type VxMR moving magnet cartridge, long considered "really good", really "linear", really great tracking at 1 gram, really worthy of "respect" but never considered "really exciting" sounding, that now sounds spectacular!

People were dumping these V15s at one time because replacement styli were no longer available. Then the Japanese stylus specialists JICO began making reasonably priced replacement styli and some aficionados thought these better than the originals, while others didn't, but everyone was happy they could get any replacement and keep their V15s "on the road".

Recently JICO sent me three variants of the MORITA series featuring special wooden cantilevers. You can read about them here. It's a fascinating story you can read more about here.

They are named after Kotaro Morita, the artisan who designed them.

The backstory, (which I didn't bother reading until the sound knocked me over) is this:

"In November 2019, Kotaro has introduced his first designed stylus using ‘black’ persimmon wood, which we call it “KUROGAKI”. This plant grows in colder region and normally the fruits are harvested in October. Upon cutting down the tree, the black stripes are widely visible on astringent persimmons but there are no specific reasons behind this. It is believed that black stripes appear on heartwood, which some parts contingently dye in pitch black. Ever since it was used in the masterpiece of carpentry for Shosoin (the treasure house that belongs to Todaiji temple in Nara prefecture), this Kurogaki has been prized as “high-standard noble wood” and also been used in Togu Palace (known as prince’s residence). After several months, Kotaro introduced new model, “USHIKOROSHI”; formally and commonly known as Christmas berry but also having devastating name, which can simply translated as “OX KILLER”.

The name “USHIKOROSHI” is derived from an ancient theory where farmers used this wood to make a nose ring for cows, or as it may sound cruel, they used this to slaughter cows. The wood itself is very strong and stiff, we have access to purchase limited number of quantities that have been selected by connoisseur of wood that had been naturally dried for more than 5 years."

The particular one that just set my ears ablaze is the VN5X USHIKOROSHI NUDE pictured above. It costs $338. If you have a V!5 "lying around" and you can spare $338, get this! Install it! It will blow your sonic mind. Well it did mine.

But even if you don't have a V15 "lying around" you can go on Ebay among other places and get one for another few hundred dollars and when you put them together even if you've spent $600 or $700 in total, I don't know anything that comes close for anywhere near the price. And of course you'll be tracking incredibly well at around 1 gram! If money's not an object try a few different ones in the series.....

Specifications

Description

Wood Cantilever Series

Manufacturer : SHURE

For V15VxMR

100% custom designed by one of the reticent craftsmen, Kotaro Morita.

2nd series of black wooden cantilever, USHIKOROSHI, also known as Christmas berry wood.

Please be very cautious upon handling this product as it is extremely fragile compared to Aluminum, which is generally used for cantilever

NUDE Tip is used for this product:

The entire tip of a NUDE Stylus is composed of diamond, as opposed to bonded tips.

The tip angle and round shape are identical to those of a standard bonded tip, while the diameter size is similar in comparison to the SAS series.

#VN-5x #VN5X

Additional information

Cantilever

Wood – USHIKOROSHI

Cartridge number

V15VxMR

Color

TR-RED

Tip

NUDE Conical Stylus

Tracking Force

0.75 – 1.25 g

Type: Moving Magnet

Manufacturer Information

Jico

Comments

  • 2024-09-13 03:24:43 AM

    Silk Dome Mid wrote:

    I don't have a Shure V15 "lying around", but I do have a Stanton 681EEE with a worn out stylus. Would love to reactivate it with one of these!

  • 2024-09-13 05:20:18 AM

    Anton wrote:

    Great call!

    I have experience with the Ushikoroshi and Kurogoki but not the new Urushi-Iro….i better get to it!

    Looking forward to reading everybody’s thoughts!!!

  • 2024-09-13 07:31:25 AM

    NLak wrote:

    I would like to try these but I think it’s only for the VxMR type stylus. I’ve got at least six V15 MK V MR’s, including a NOS waiting to be mounted, so my stylus replacement is the VN5MR. For what it’s worth, I have tried all three different cantilever types JICO offers for the V15 V MR and have not been able to tell any sonic differences between them, so the cheapest one is the best for my needs. Still, would love to try these if they make it for my cartridge, even if it’s a conical stylus.

    • 2024-09-13 11:54:42 PM

      Heidi E. wrote:

      They also offer them as VN5MR style. I'm tempted. https://www.jico-stylus.com/shure-2/

      • 2024-09-15 12:52:41 PM

        NLak wrote:

        Good call Heidi E., I only saw VN5 and didn’t think it was VN5MR. I am really tempted to try one.

  • 2024-09-13 03:19:33 PM

    Anton wrote:

    For continuity’s sake, MF’s previous endeavor has his 1997 original review of this cartridge.

  • 2024-09-13 03:26:50 PM

    Mr. Audio wrote:

    I have a Shure V15IIIHE with a Jico SAS stylus and it's really good. I bet these are wonderful.

    They make these for the V15 Type 3 & 4 & 5 and the N44. Click the link above in the story...

    • 2024-09-16 04:18:00 PM

      tim davis wrote:

      Mr. Audio, thanks for this info! I have a Type 4 laying around that came with a severely damaged Sharp Optonica RP 3636 from what turned out to be a very unethical Ebay seller (there are times that I'm ashamed to share a species with some other so called human beings) This new stylus opportunity will go a long way towards alleviating his deceitful behaviors.

  • 2024-09-14 01:45:37 AM

    Heidi E. wrote:

    Michael, could you elaborate a little on the sound? Spectacular how, what stood out? How do the different wood cantilevers differ in sound, if at all? I only have one old body to retrofit and I'd like all the information you can give us. Thanks!

    • 2024-09-14 03:19:37 AM

      Silk Dome Mid wrote:

      If only I could retrofit MY old body!

    • 2024-09-14 02:00:15 PM

      Heidi E. wrote:

      I read a review on TNT that these only have a lifespan of 200 hours. That's a deal breaker for me, but I don't see anything about it on the Jico website. Bueller?

      • 2024-09-14 03:42:36 PM

        Anton wrote:

        These new styli are conical. I have had the two wood cantilever models for 4+ years and they are going strong. I do tend to use different cartridges as part of my LP joy, but 200 hours is wrong.

        The JICO micro ridge styli have a pronounced ridge that wears quickly, but they sort of turn into elliptical styli with wear. They play well beyond that 200 hour window, as well. I think that stylus was the main origin of the 200 hour story.

        • 2024-09-14 04:14:47 PM

          Heidi E. wrote:

          Thanks Anton. Any pronounced differences between the two you own?

        • 2024-09-15 12:55:49 PM

          NLak wrote:

          I thought 200 hours was correct with a conical stylus. Jico told me years ago in an email, that my VN5MR replacement was good for 500 hours with the JICO SAS stylus. It would follow that the conical would probably be less. I might send them an email and ask.

        • 2024-09-15 12:55:51 PM

          NLak wrote:

          I thought 200 hours was correct with a conical stylus. Jico told me years ago in an email, that my VN5MR replacement was good for 500 hours with the JICO SAS stylus. It would follow that the conical would probably be less. I might send them an email and ask.

  • 2024-09-14 01:22:49 PM

    WJ Wicks wrote:

    Mikey, would you please define "...sounds spectacular!", and, "It will blow your sonic mind. Well it did mine."

  • 2024-09-14 05:08:03 PM

    Come on wrote:

    Indeed I have a spare one on a vintage Revox B795. It would be interesting to experience a better sound of this cart after all those years. But there are a few topics questioning an initiative like this:

    Is the condition of the inner parts of the cart still good enough, that it makes sense?

    Does it make sense regarding sound quality of the kind of record players it was used with in the past and why should I need a parallel additional record player of this kind?

    Due to the lightweight construction, it’s probably hardly usable with todays arms on better record players.

    A wooden cantilever is an interesting experience but 300+ bucks must have a peanuts character for the buyer in order to ignore durability thoughts.

    I’m aware of this cart‘s good reputation in terms of traceability and neutrality. But I really wonder who has arms today it can be used on in terms of cart/arm resonance compatibility?

  • 2024-09-16 03:34:57 AM

    Michael Fremer wrote:

    I must write an updated in depth report on this. I installed it listened for a few evenings, wrote what I wrote and then flew off to San Francisco to speak to the S.F. Audio Society. What most impressed me was the fundamental linearity of the cartridge, that enabled a tremendous amount of midrange detail to emerge…

  • 2024-09-16 06:06:12 PM

    rl1856 wrote:

    The "woodies" are cheaper than many of the SAS replacements. Bargain seems to be the ''woodie" styli for V15-III cartridges. Worth consideration...I have 2 V15vMR cartridges, and a V15-III !

  • 2024-09-20 05:47:28 PM

    Guy wrote:

    I have a Shure V15 III and installed a JICO Ruby. Staggering.Knocked my socks, well and truly off.