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Kiseki Blue N.S. vs van den Hul Frog Gold

Hello,

has someone compared a Kiseki Blue N.S. with a van den Hul Frog Gold?

At the moment i use the Kiseki, but it comes to the end of his life. Unfortunetly Kiseki didnt retipp, you have to buy a complete new one. 

I like the sound very much, but i think, thats not very consumer friendly, so i looked for an alternative one. What i read the vdH has a similar soundstage ( a little bit on the warm emotional side, good bass and heights) and the vdH does retipping for a realy fair price.

But reading is not hearing, so if someone had done a comparision, please share.

My phonostage is Goldnote Ph/Psu 10.

Thank you.

 

 

idv
idv OP
2 posts
 

Thank you, but the problem of not retipping from the original manufactory is, that it dosnt sound as the original.

rmdmoore
170 posts
 

@idv 

The internal mechanics of the cartridge don't change when you retip and you could have either soundsmith or Steve at VAS put on the same type of stylus. I'd give one of them a call. The retipping will likely be under 1k and you'll get your stylus that you love back. If, in the end, you don't like it you can always sell it. 

baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,468 posts
 

+1 on re-tipping. Done it twice on my Lyra Kleos at Soundsmith with no significant change to sound signature. And under $500.

idv OP
2 posts
 

Ok +1 for retipping.

I am from Germany ( you cant know it) so Soundsmith is a little bit far away.

I could send it to van den Hul 😜 he is doing great retipping too.

But nobody some words to my origin question, Kiseki vs VdH Frog🙏

big_greg
6,675 posts
 

I have owned the VDH MC-One Special which sits below the Frog in the lineup and currently have the Van den Hul Crimson XGW Stradivarius which is above the Frog.  I also have the Blue N.S., which I would describe as being a bit more lush than the VDH sound, which tends to be very neutral, at least with the two carts I've owned.  The Kiseki had more detail and a little more "magic" than the MC-One, while the Crimson XGW Stradivarius has more detail, great soundstage and imaging, but is still more "flat" (neutral, not flat sounding) than the Kiseki. 

If you like that lushness that the Kiseki brings to the table, why not get it retipped vs. buying a new cart, as others have suggested?  Sorry I can't speak to the Frog, it may be a different animal than the two VDH carts I have owned.

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