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TRAVELING TO JAPAN! Recommendations for shops for cartridges?

Hi all,

 

I'll be traveling somewhat unexpectedly to Japan this week. I will be spending a couple days in both Kyoto and Tokyo. 

 

I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for shops I should stop into? Record Stores? 

Specifically i'm seeking a new cartridge under $1500 along with records and cds.

I'm good with both new and vintage cartridges that would pair with with a VPI Prime Scout. 

As for what kind of sound I'm looking for from my cart, I've only ever run the Ortofon 2m Bronze and Black on the VPI, both of which I've liked. Between them I prefer the detail, space and speed from the black over the warmer rounded edges of the bronze...but it could be fun to get two carts with different sound signatures. I'm all ears!

Thank in advance!

 

Sammy

128x128sammyshaps
jnovak's avatar
jnovak
423 posts
 

Thanks a lot Sammy! Now you have me all amped up to want to go to Japan. I'm afraid it'll never happen unless we all charter a trip there. I've dreamed of going to Japan for a long time. Keep us posted on your success and details. Joe

herman
2,259 posts
 

 

.. the vast majority of all cartridges are made in Japan or elsewhere in Asia. In fact, Grado is the only exception I can think of, even assuming Grado cartridges are made in USA ...

Benz Micro are made in Switzerland

Clearaudio are made in Germany

Ortofon are made in Denmark

 

 

 

lewm
13,110 posts
 

And yet, the vast majority of all cartridges are made in Japan or elsewhere in Asia, and I wouldn't be so sure that Clearaudio cartridges are all made in Germany.

herman
2,259 posts
 

And yet, the vast majority of all cartridges are made in Japan or elsewhere in Asia,

 

Do you have any data or just guessing? I'm going with guessing.

Ortofon is the largest in the world

Rega is made in the UK

BUT... this debate is really pretty stupid. You made a claim you can’t back up yet you steadfastly stand by it. And I can’t completely refute it, but in any case, you can’t back up what you said so why do you keep defending it ?

 

Good Day

 

herman
2,259 posts
 

so back to the original question. You also need to consider the compliance of your arm.

You say you are using MM cartridges so do you have a phono stage that  can handle the moving coils some are recommending? If the phono stage can take an MC, does your system have enough gain to work with a much lower output MC than your current MM? 

 

it's a system

 

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