While some may think that vinyl record players are a thing of the past, Swiss high-end audio equipment manufacturer HiFiction AG is proving otherwise. The company has released a groundbreaking product under its brand X-quisite, integrating cutting-edge components such as a ceramic 3D printed shell designed for its moving coil cartridge, elevating the listening experience to new heights.
The product, named X-quisite VORO, pioneers in the high-fidelity (hi-fi) field. Its moving coil cartridge offers higher sound resolution and clarity, encapsulated in a unique 3D printed shell. This striking shell is made from engineering ceramic zirconia and incorporates a Voronoi lattice structure.
German professional ceramic additive manufacturing (AM) company Steinbach AG brought this unique product to life. They utilized Lithoz’s Lithography-based Ceramic Manufacturing (LCM) technology to create the shell in a single piece without any support structures. Notably, this component requires almost no post-processing beyond sintering (manual post-processing is nearly impossible due to the intricate design). During this phase, Steinbach ensured that the shell’s geometry was optimized for stress-free production.
In addition to the obvious aesthetic appeal of this compact cartridge component, its shell also has functional advantages, designed to meet mechanical and acoustic specifications, including extremely light weight and excellent resonance characteristics. The rigidity of zirconia and the structure of the component play a crucial role in minimizing sensitivity to sound propagation through air. This, combined with the overall structure of the cartridge, reduces the risk of sound leakage.
For those familiar with ceramic additive manufacturing applications, the choice of material is no coincidence: when exploring polymer and metal 3D printing failed to meet all three goals pursued by HiFiction—weight, design, and sound—engineering ceramics became the obvious choice. As a niche but highly promising field within the broader additive manufacturing market, engineering ceramics often stand out when other materials do not possess suitable properties, as evidenced by increasing users in the medical, dental, and aerospace sectors.
The 3D printed shell of the X-quisite VORO moving coil cartridge measures 17.7 x 21.9 x 11.45 millimeters, with a wall thickness of less than 1 millimeter. In printing this component, Steinbach used Lithoz’s LCM platform, capable of printing 15 components per batch (with a layer thickness of 25 microns). This allows them to economically produce approximately 100 small batch orders for HiFiction. HiFiction’s turntables and audio equipment are sold to enthusiasts worldwide. Notably, the X-quisite VORO cartridge recently won the 2025 iF Design Award.
@ 3D Printing Insights
I am Xu Fanglei, a design professional, PhD, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, focusing on industrial design, additive manufacturing, and business models. Here, I will use my expertise and experience to take you deep into the world of 3D printing, sharing the latest industry trends, interpreting cutting-edge technologies, and discussing business applications.
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