koetsu

I have a Koetsu Urushi Gold and I don't know how I ever lived without it. It is an amazing cartridge, but takes at least 50 hours to sound its best. I went from a Grado Statement 1 that I've had retipped twice by Soundsmith. I thought I would never change from this cartridge because I always thought it did everything right for me and my system. I've always wondered about Koetsu's, so I took the plunge. Now I know why people never give them up, they're magical! They sound so right they put a spell on you. I know I'm never going to give it up now! Ha ha!

I have the koetsu black. Must have over 2000 hours on it and it is just starting to degrade a bit. How long do these last? Bought it new about 13 years ago.

I'd hazard to guess you had more than 2,000 hours in 13 years, but I'm thinking of myself.
I have limited cart experience; started with a benz gold (didn't enjoy it much), but with the great trade-in program they used(?) To have i soon went to a medium output woodbody benz. Loved it. Then when Lyra replaced the Helikon with the Kleos i jumped ship, and haven't missed much.
It seems to me that there's an entry "price for admission" as I've changed brands, and if that holds true in moving to Koetsu then itseems (to me) probable that without going to at least a Urushi it would only be a step sideways.
Bear in mind that the Kleos, when it first came out, was 2.5K. Now look at the price.
I'd like to state again how i appreciate the input. All of it. Ours can sometimes seem such a tiny, closed-off world.

I would definitely go for the Koetsu Black. It`s hugely dynamic, and a real bargain compared to the other Koetsus. I have owned one, and I still regret selling it. 
Moving further up the Koetsu line brings still more dynamics and better holography, but at a cost. 
I have owned Koetsus off and on for the last 30 years, and my current one is a Coralstone. An amazing cartridge, but the Black was more fun, IMO.