Carts that sound like a Koetsu

You're right Dazzdax, it was a silly question. Trying for a sound you've never heard and know nothing about is risky and non-educational. Why hand off responsibility for your sonics (and your money) to the unexplored priorities of strangers?

All you know so far is that some people with unknown systems and unknown sonic priorities like something called the "Koetsu sound". That tells you nothing useful. I dislike the Koetsu sound, but that tells you nothing useful either. Unless you understand what the Koetsu sound is, you have no idea whether you'd like it or hate it.

Better to listen to more things (if you can) and develop an understanding of your own sonic priorities. Describe these and people who share them (or at least understand them) could provide meaningful guidance.

Not rainin' on your parade. Just trying to save you some aimless and possibly unnecessary purchases.

Doug

P.S. Stone body Koetsus and wood body Koetsus sound very different. One possible response to your, "What else sounds like a Koetsu?", would be, "Which Koetsu?". You begin to see the difficulty of this approach...

Nghiep,

I've compared the 901 and RSP, in two systems and on several arms (Graham 2.2, Basis Vector, Schroeder Ref, modded OL Silver, TriPlanar VII).

In general I liked the review Fretless posted, and I also agree with him that the 901 lacks the midrange "magic" of the RSP. For me that is a good thing, since I find the the RSP's midrange "magic" intolerable. OTOH, if that's the kind of thing you like, you'd like it very much!

The 901 has stronger bass, crisper highs and greater macrodynamics. On some arms it gets to the point of being edgy, which the RSP never does. OTOH, the 901 on a Schroeder Ref sings like a Koetsu, but without that rounding and gentling of transients that Koetsu lovers love. Until I got a ZYX that was perhaps the nicest cartridge/arm combo I'd heard.

How these two cartridges sound is very arm-dependent, especially the 901. Which one you'd prefer is very you-dependent.

Doug

"OTOH, the 901 on a Schroeder Ref sings like a Koetsu, but without that rounding and gentling of transients that Koetsu lovers love."

That's quite a mouthful in a short statement. I don't like the rounding of transients. I've talked a lot about the leading edge of a curve. This just does not represent what I get with my Rosewood Signature. That is the calling card of the Rosewood.

" I find the the RSP's midrange "magic" intolerable. OTOH, if that's the kind of thing you like, you'd like it very much!"
Ouch! I suppose everyone has thier own preferences. I just have to disagree.
I'd be the first to admit the Koetsu is a better match for lean components. "Intolerable" that's a bit much.

Doug, have you ever considered that it could be that the Koetsu sound does not match your system and therefore you do not like it? IMO the B&W speakers tend to have a boxy coloration which enhances the mid-bass, the exact freqs which the Koetsu also has some emphasis. The ZYX would therefore provide a better balance in your system. OTOH, Greg ML panel speakers do not have the box and are fast, thus the Koetsu would give his system better balance. IMO its really a case of system matching and tastes.

Gregadd,

What can I say other than the old YMMV? We have heard rounded transients from multiple models in multiple systems. You haven't heard that. Music is mysterious. ;-)

It was wrong of me to ascribe that, or an enjoyment of it, to anyone else however. My apologies.

FWIW, "intolerable" was an accurate description of our reactions. I understand you may react differently.

***
Cmk,

As already stated, we've heard this artifact from several models, on several arms, in several systems using several speakers. There is no reason to suspect it has anything to do with our system or our speakers. It may indeed have everything to do with our ears.

Doug