Your opinions about KOETSU URUSHI BLUE or VERMILLION

Found the following on the Whest audio site:

Quote

thought I'd share a few short words about the ART20 cartridge that I have had on my turntable for approximately 30 hours.  This ART20 replaces my Koetsu Urushi Vermillion MC as a 'stop gap' while the whole cartridge gets a rebuild because of a damaged coil.  Well 30 hours into this ART20 and I can tell you that it is far better than the KU Vermillion in every respect.  The separation is incredible and makes the Koetsu sound strident and nearly mono.  I am really quite shocked at the difference because I have recordings made on my Tascam DA3000 in DSD (dual-mono) and comparing the 2 cartridges even after recording the ART20 shows the ART20 to be far superior.

I am incredibly surprised and shocked.  I certainly won't be listening to my Koetsu dealer after this as he said there is NO WAY the Audio Technica ART20 could be better.

Brinkmann Bardo/ Brinkmann 10.5" arm/ ART20/ TITAN Pro II
Dr J P Benson - Edinburgh

@theophile  No big surprise. The build quality of Koetsus are nothing special. They also require a very heavy tonearm. The ART20 probably suites his tonearm better. If I were to get a stone body Koetsu I would put it in a 4 Point 14 which means I would have to buy another table. Not happening.  There are many cartridges that are better than the ART 20. The ART 20 is a great cartridge for the money assuming it is built well. I have not been able to look at one but I have looked at other AT cartridges and their quality control can fail on occasion.  When I say looked at I mean examined under both low and high power magnification with special lighting. I look at SRA under load, and stylus quality and mounting. It is much easier to mount and align a well built cartridge and the fact that a cartridge is well constructed is very reassuring.

For someone who has never examined an ART20, you know so much about it. I’m impressed.

Koetsus generally prefer a high mass tonearm. That is indisputable. It is easy to increase the mass of a tonearm. An appropriately additional weight at the headshell and corresponding weight at the other side of the pivot.