Glanz moving magnet cartridges

Hi All,

I have recently received my Technics EPC-P100 MK4 back from Van den Hul following his full treatment of it. It's only had 8 hours play in this new condition so far but WOW! It does sound different to its previous state but I had bought it NOS and it apparently had become 'brittle' in certain areas (VdH report).

Anyway, my initial playing of it has emphasised one or two of the characteristics that I am enjoying with the Glanz G5. The latter doing slightly more with dramatic contrast in its dynamics. However, I cannot (should I feel the need to) compare until I have optimised the set up for both and given them far more time. My Technics also seems truly great at this early stage.

Fun times ahead

Hi Dgob,

May I know what exactly did Van Den Hul perform on your EPC-Pq00mk4? I have one too and wondering if I should also send it to VdH. How much did it cost and how long did it take? Is there a weblink to contact Vdh for this work?

Rgds

Ddriveman,

I wanted a retip following initial play and asked for a complete overall to obtain the optimum performance and maintain its original character.

The report is very brief and I have asked for more information from our VdH representative in the UK. However, the costed report notes the following:

"Tip, boron brittle, boron".

I hope this helps and will let you have more information once/if I get it.

Hi All,

I recently asked a technician who is a friend in Japan for any information on my Glanz cartridges. His initial and fairly brief response was as follows:

"Glanz is very good cartridge and performance is excellent... Phono cartridge for this brand come from Mitachi Onkyo Seisakusho factory. Mr Kazuhiro Ikeda some time provide design input and make patent for induced magnet cartridge design plus Mr Tsugikuma Minamizono provide design input and make patent for moving flux cartridge design."

This points to the above discussed links with and distinction from the mighty Astatic MF100. I deeply respect both his knowledge and judgement and I will probe him further once his travel demands have calmed down a bit.

Dgob,
I just noticed this thread. Indeed the Glanz (pronounced "glants") cartridges were a brand of Mitachi Onkyo Seisakusho, which also made tonearms. They were an OEM brand for a number of companies in Japan. I have seen a picture of a line of ladies checking built tonearms as they roll by on a conveyor belt.

Mitachi in particular made stylus assemblies for other mfrs. In particular, I remember reading on a Japanese forum a comment by a guy who did some work on carts (the guy worked with Shibata of Shibata stylus fame). He said that Victor entrusted its stylus work to Mitachi because they were so good at it (and did not entrust it to another famous maker because they had too many stylii which came out bad). My understanding is that the Z-1 was made there.

The company did other stuff too but went under a bunch of years ago. It was recently re-established under some other name, I think by a guy who used to do design work there. I think it is a hobby more than anything else and there are no carts involved. I seem to remember a ridiculously over-priced tonearm.