Analog Gear News

Make way for the mighty Clipper! In this case, we’re referring to JICO’s Clipper moving magnet (MM) cartridge, which is purported to be the world’s first dual-fitting model. This new MM cart features the world’s first tapered S-cantilever that is said to be inspired by the designs of Audio Empire and Swing record needles. Its tapered structure is intended to reduce mass at the tip, allowing for “more accurate” vibration transmission.

For the Clipper MM cart, JICO — the noted Japanese cartridge and vinyl accessory brand — went with a solid natural diamond (ND) conical tip. The Clipper’s design, which is said to balance the center of gravity between the left and right channels, also features a glossy black UVCRM resin body. The conical tip has a diameter of 0.12mm, and its tip size of 0.7mil.

The Clipper’s ApexGlide headshell finger-lift has been designed with an aerodynamic look that’s very much reminiscent of an airliner’s tail fin — and the company has a very specific reason for that. According to JICO, the Clipper name was inspired by Pan American Airways (a.k.a. Pan Am), a well-known flagship U.S. carrier from the 1930s through the 1980s. (Some of you might be visualizing the infamous, blue Pan Am logo after reading that.) At one point, Pan Am introduced what was dubbed the “Clipper Class,” which eventually became known as business class and was essentially intended to be a step above economy class. Thus, JICO’s logic here for their Clipper line is to produce a “slightly higher quality” cart compared to “standard, mass-market MM cartridges.”

The Clipper MM cart is compatible with JICO’s N44-7 and N44G styli, in addition to the CRCP/MK1 stylus. It is also compatible with Shure 44-series replacement needles, including JICO’s ND (Nude Diamond), SD (Synthetic Diamond), Morita (Wood Cantilever), and SAS models, as well as other vintage Shure styli. (A number of these options will be shown throughout this News post.)

Other Clipper MM cart specs include a frequency response given as 20Hz to 20kHz, output voltage as 5.0mV to 8.0mV, load impedance as 47kohms, DC resistance as 1.38kohms, channel balance as <1.5, channel separation as 20dB, tracking force as 2.0±0.2g, stylus life as 200hr, and weight as “approximately” 16.7g (including headshell). The Clipper boasts a 1-year warranty for the cartridge, and a 30-day warranty for the stylus.

Finally, the SRP for the JICO Clipper MM cartridge is $500 including the stylus, and $135 for the CRCP/MK1 stylus separately.

For more about JICO, go here.
To find an authorized JICO distributor, go here.