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Koetsu cartridges - myth or reality?

Hi guys - I am looking to upgrade my 1 year old Dynavector xx1 MC cartridge - I have heard (and read) for many years that Koetsu cartridges are a great option for those looking for musicality, right timbre and lush-sounding analog.

Digging further I find that some cathegorize them as slow sounding, not great tracking and poor price/performance ratio as well... I am looking for advise from those who have experience with Koetsu - particulary those who moved from a fast sounding cartrdige like Dyna, Clearaudio or Lyra - missing anything once you moved?

Thanks

Fernando
128x128flg2001
lewm
12,994 posts
 
My point is that the effective mass of the tonearm is largely governed by the mass between the pivot and the stylus contact point. The CW is on the "other" side of the pivot and I don't think makes much contribution to effective mass. I saw a discussion of this once on Vinyl Asylum between two very knowledgable persons, but I don't recall the final outcome. At the moment I have no time to look up the formula for eff mass, but it's available on the net.
sirspeedy
738 posts
 
Well,on the mass over pivot subject(which IS very interesting,btw)take a look at the Caliburn Copperhead white pages,on this subject.
They feel(which is a very good point)that low mass over the pivot allows for a far better ability of an arm to navigate the groove walls,and allow the arm to be freed up to give more detail.
Quite interesting actually!

Best.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
isanchez
276 posts
 


This is a link to a graph you can use to calculate tonearm-cartridge resonance.

http://www.simplyblack.net/Images/pdf/Arm-cartridge_Resonance,_July29,_2007,_B8c.pdf

dgad
782 posts
 
Calculating it & verifying it are 2 different things. Play the test tracks on the HFNRR for vertical & horizontal. It will tell you more. Then you can calculate what your cartridges true compliance is. It often varies.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
isanchez
276 posts
 

Dear Dgad, you're right. Playing a resonance test record should yield a more accurate result. I just thought that it would be important to first check with the resonance graph, or something similar, before purchasing a cartridge-tonearm. I personally would not buy a cartridge if I know beforehand that it will have a resonance problem with a particular tonearm.

Regards,

iSanchez

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