Andro Treiber CI OFF vs Nittaku Violin: Which Should You Buy?
| Andro Treiber CI OFF | Nittaku Violin | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 |
| feel | woody with carbon kick; firm primary touch, softer follow-through | Soft, warm and flexible with long dwell, premium hand-crafted Japanese all-wood feedback |
| handle | FL / AN / ST | FL |
| plies | 5 plies (3 wood + 2 inner KVL carbon layers) | 5-ply all wood (Kiri core with White Ash outer plies) |
| speed | OFF | ALL+ |
| thickness_mm | approx 5.9mm | 5.3 |
| type | — | ALL+ |
| weight_g | approx 84-90g | 86 |
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The Treiber CI OFF at 8.4 and the Nittaku Violin at 8.4 are rated identically but offer different characters. The Treiber is an inner-carbon specialist with distinctive kick and outstanding spin. The Violin is a premium all-wood 5-ply blade with exceptional control, warm soft feel, and long dwell—praised for pinpoint placement and technique-building. The Violin is Made in Japan with consistent quality and excels for looping and close-to-mid distance all-round play.
Choose the Treiber if you want inner-carbon speed, distinctive elasticity, and are ready for a more demanding blade. Pick the Violin if you prize control over inherent speed, want premium hand-crafted Japanese quality, value feel and spin, and are developing your offensive game—it’s an excellent first custom blade for intermediates stepping away from fast carbon setups. The Violin is slower than its OFF- billing suggests and needs harder or tackier rubbers to reach full potential, whereas the Treiber delivers more immediate speed.
FAQ
Which blade is better for spinny close-to-table play?
The Violin is purpose-built for this with its warm soft feel, long dwell time, and excellent feedback. The Treiber is also spinny but more forceful.
Is the Violin really as slow as reviewers say?
Yes. It plays slower than OFF- suggests and weak at long-distance pace. Its strength is close-to-mid distance control and spin, not raw power.
Why is the Violin more expensive?
Premium Made-in-Japan craftsmanship, consistent quality, and Nittaku’s reputation for hand-crafted blades justify the price.
What rubber works best with the Violin?
It comes alive with Tensor rubbers and pairs well with harder or tackier rubbers to reach its potential. The Treiber is less selective.