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Koetsu Rosewood Vs Rosewood Signature Vs HANA UMAMI RED advice please

I ended up buying an Acoustic Signature Typhoon, with a 11" Kuzma 4Point. Now the question is which cartridge I get.
I have a Hana E and M in my current VPI and really like them, but I looking forward to test something else. I like detail without much in your face(?), soundstage and some hint of warmth. 

I saved $4K for a cartridge and I am getting 25% off on any cartridge I want, and do not need to spend the $4k.

I am open to other brands, except Sound Smith which I had in my Bergmann Galder and did not like at all.

My system for the Typhoon is composed of
Tannoy Kensington
Pathos Heritage, or Primaluna 300
Manley Labs Steelhead 
all powered with a PS powerplant.
Thank you
astolfor
audiosaurusrex's avatar
audiosaurusrex
320 posts
 
@astolfor 
I am using the 12" TA1000 arm on the Triple X
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;image=20142
Switching back and forth between the AT-Art9xa , Hana SL and the Umami Red, there is no comparison. The Umami is stunning in its presentation and clarity of soundstage. 2X better? Possibly 3 or 4X.
I love the Hana's to begin with.
Don't see too many with AS tables.
Good Luck!
astolfor's avatar
astolfor OP
317 posts
 
@audiosaurusrex , Thanks. Are you a HANA dealer :) I am half German, so I love precision and I was able to visit the factory and see what they are doing so I decided to give it a try.

@rauliruegas thank you for the links I really appreciate it. Call me pharaonic, but buying a cartridge for someone I do not know scares me too much. I did it before and the stylus look just fine, but the stone was glued over 2degs off so there was nothing I could do. I reached out to the distributor and he would not take it under warranty, although it was new. If there is anything wrong with the cartridge I want to be able to get someone to help me. $4K is a lot of money

BTW how difficult are the Koetsu to align? it looks like the body hides the cantilever and it will be a pain to work with.
audiosaurusrex's avatar
audiosaurusrex
320 posts
 
@astolfor 
Haha I am not a Hana dealer but I am German/Polish. I find many things to like about German electronics, I own an Octave amp, RME Dac and the Triple X. My speakers though are US made Spatial M3 Sapphires which I absolutely love love! Are you in Germany or just visited there? My mother and grandparents lived in Munich and summered in Rotach/Tegernsee and have been many times but would love to visit w/Gunther and Andreas one day.
astolfor's avatar
astolfor OP
317 posts
 
 @ audiosaurusrex my family is from Stuttgart, and an uncle of mine brought AS to my attention. 
I talked to a friend that has the Koetsu and he told me that it is a pain to align them but they are fabulous. I reached out to the seller for the ZYX Ultimate Omega and see if he is a dealer/distributor. 

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
2,125 posts
 
@astolfor
Yes, Koetsus are a bit harrowing to align because of the big boxy body, and they tend to ride fairly low - overhang positioning is OK but it's a little challenging to see enough of the cantilever to align it. Usually the cantilever will be well matched to the outer body edges, if you want to "trust" that (ignore the gold metal cover plate, which is often cut slightly off-center). I use a SMARTractor and yeah - sometimes I just give up and use the body as the cantilever reference. I had a Mint LP which was the best I've ever used for precise alignment, but broke it a few years ago :( 

To be quite honest if you use a Simple GeoDisc to adjust overhang and align the Koetsu body to the grid, 9 times out of 10 it will be 99% as good as a painstaking session from the SMARTractor or whatever. I've never had a Koetsu sound "off" from the GeoDisc, yet. 
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