Koetsu cartridges - myth or reality?

Dear fernando: Less tan a week ago this is what you posted:

+++++ " 04-22-08: Flg2001
Based on my research - I am leaning towards an SME 309 for replacing my RB300 on my Volvere - yes, the iV looks great - but out of my reach if I look for a mint piece... " +++++

well the XX-2 is a better performer with a different tonearm tan your RB-300 but for a Koetsu you will need a better match tonearm too.

Now, if you go for one of the stone Koetsus ( like almost all here already posted and you are toward it ) you need between 7K and 15K plus 3k for the tonearm, this goes to a final figure: 10K to 18K big dollars.

This is what you posted on your speakers:

+++++ " particulary on keeping the midrange OUT of the horn - this might call to try first due to the midrange presentation you all described (and I feel tempted to try). " +++++

IMHO and according to your music priorities your " trouble " is not about cartridges but about speakers: the one that you own are not the right ones for you : a horn always be a horn and the Koetsu or different amplifiers ( like you already tested ) or anything else does not change that fact.

You have to put your money where it counts for a system ( speakers/room ) performance that can match your " coulered musical " sound ( that btw is out of my mind what does that's means exactly like your statement on Koetsu cartridges: +++++ " cathegorize them as slow sounding or all other " fast " ones????? ) priority.

Well, like you sometimes say: my two cents.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Wow, a lot of postings here that agree with my own personal taste/experience. I like the Koetsu stone series because they are reasonably "fast" (dynamic and clear and not overly warm). But, the other Koetsu cartridges sound very good too. As Lewm points out, the Urushi is a particularly good overall performer.

Outside of the Koetsu line, I think the Transfiguration Phoenix should be considered as a candidate for your upgrade. This is a lively sounding cartridge with a slightly prominent midrange that gives it clarity without being excessively bright. I like the Lyra line too, but, these are on the more detailed and analytical side (more open top end, but can be bright or slightly strident). I own, and like, the Lyra Titan.

I have owned about four Koetsu designs,ranging from "Black","ONYX","ONYX PLATINUM",and "URUSHI"....All were superb and musical designs.

I view the line,compared to other mfgrs like a musician would compare different "tone woods" on a specific acoustic guitar.

Some woods,like Maple,will give a dynamic hard/clean sound that best serves hard driving music,and some prefer a warm sounding "tone wood" like Rosewood or Mahogany,which gives full justice to some music types.

ALL are viable choices!!!....Btw,a friend has BOTH the Lyra Titan-i and the Koetsu Coral Stone.He loves both,but prefers the Coral Stone on vocal music,where he feels it has no peers.

Best of luck.

I recently purchased a Koetsu Black. It is Very nice, a bargain imo. A good place to start if you are curious. It replaced a denon 103R with ease.

I own the Koetsu Coral for two years. Noted its high frequencies extension compared to Urushi, another cartridge from Koetsu which I like and have been using it with Graham 2.2 tonearm. For my case, I found it to be critical for tonearm's effective mass matching with Coral and the fine tuning and adjustment of the settings prove extremely important to derive the best performance out of Coral, espeically to capture its high frequency intensity right. I use it with Triplanar and the ASR basis phonostage setting at 65ohms. It is definitely a fine cartridge with all the fine attributes that Urushi has, and maybe due to its stone body, the micro details is more focus at the upper frequency region as compared to Urushi. As for a wood body, Urushi when paired with 47lab Phonocube gives a very realistic and fine presentation in my system. Overall, lesser micro details as compared to Coral, but prove itself to be organic in the midrange with just sufficient frequency extension in both ends when heard in my system. Really a different taste with these two cartridges though they are from the same company. Top perfomers.