Let's Say A Guy Wanted To Chose Between A Koetsu Jade and

Dear @lewm  : Before the Jade was the Rosewood Signature Platinum that I bougth directly from Japan.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

You’re correct. My error in saying the Jade was the first with platinum magnets. But was the Jade offered both ways, with vs without platinum? 

@lewm 

I've never heard of a non-Platinum Jade, yet. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, of course. Onyx and Rosewood are the models which have been available with different magnets over the years. The older "long body" models (Rosewood and Onyx) are alnico, because it was physically a very long magnet cylinder compared to the compact samarium-cobalt and platinum.

With the exception of Onyx, I believe all stones (Onyx was first, then Jade, then everything else) can be assumed to have platinum magnets. A top-plate serial # beginning with P (e.g. P022) always indicates the platinum magnet. I sometimes see old Onyx short bodies for sale (gold pins is the clue), where the seller clearly has no clue what they actually are but listed as "Onyx Platinum" when they're almost certainly not.

@lewm  : Yes but for short time.

R.

Dear @mulveling  : "  most dynamic Koetsu but still sweet " , that speaks a lot of a way cartridge signature quality level performance.

Koetsu maybe is the LOMC cartridge more over-rated in history due that from its start was surrounded by on purpose manufacturer " mistery halo ". In those times audiophiles not even know where to buy it and when finally they got it they do not knew nothing of the cartridge specs not even its cartridge VTF or output level that was " mouth to mouth " the way they finally know it. The underground magasines helped to that " halo " and almost all those reviewer (tas/STHP. ) loved in the same way they loved tubes.

I began with through Japanese Stereo in CA for 600.00 that was to way expensive for its really poor quality performance. In those times in the magasines as Audio, Stereo Review or HiFi never found out a Koetsu review and certainly never listed in their Year " bibles ". Always a mistery.

With that poor performance the cartridge still sold my dozens and price till today goes up and up and up. I owned several samples and was with the RSP the very first time that the cartridge can be listen it with a little better frequency extremes but even the Blue Lace is nothing to " die for ".

For me really poor performance with a " monstrous " price tag. Not for me any more, I learned in the hard way spending money for it. Yes, exist audiophiles that can live very happy with as you and nothing wrong with that.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.