Koetsu Blue Lace Onyx vs. Coralstone

@mulveling 

Expect I'm preaching to the Pope, but just wanted to say that I've had great results with ultrasonic cleaning. I use a German commercial unit, the Elmasonic, which has an 80KHz option. The results are obvious sonically, but also you can see the grunge in the bottom of the tank.

That's important because the grunge in a record groove is said to be equal parts of fluff, grease, and diamond dust. If true, it is an ideal grinding compound. And I don't need my stylus reshaped with every record. 

Had a photomicrograph of the stylus taken with a scanning electron microscope after 980 hours. According to the dealer, wear was "minimal", and absolutely not ready for rebuilding. Unless I had a LOT more money than he suspected.

Hope this might help a little. 

@terry9
It speaks very highly of your regimen that your stylus is like new after 980 hours. I hope I can say the same! Currently at 350 hours on my Blue Lace.

I have a Clearaudio Double Matrix Sonic Pro, mainly because it's quick enough to use during a listening session without interrupting the flow. It seem to do a great job, but who knows how it compares to Ultrasonic. Ideally I’d have both. And I do need to get more disciplined about re-cleaning records after a few plays!

@mulveling

Tell you what, Mulvening. If you want to pay the mail too and fro, I’ll clean a record for you (free) and you can see if it's worth the investment. I hang out in Victoria, Canada, on the wet coast.

Koetsu Blue Lace Onyx vs. Coralstone

wondering if anyone has had the opportunity to compare these 2 cartridges?

would also like to know if anyone feels the "diamond cantilever" to be a worthwhile upgrade?!

I currently own both Koetsu's.  Both are wonderful.  Difficult choice, depending on the music one may prefer one slightly over the other.  The vast majority of the time, the slightly more musically visceral Blue Lace pulls slightly ahead of the immensely beautiful sounding and immersive Coralstone with the musical genres I enjoy. 

I have a friend overseas who swears by the Diamond Cantilever Coralstone, swears it can do everything! ......I think I need to try one sooner than later.  :~)