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Koetsu Jade v SPU classic v FR 7 fz cartidges

Greetings to all !
I am hoping to get some advice concerning my analogue set up.
I use a Brinkmann La Grange turntable with a FR 66s tone arm.
I bought the FR 66 as a high mass "match" for my Koetsu Jade cartridge which has just been fully rebuilt by Koetsu with diamond cantilever.
The rest of the system is Allnic H 3000 phono stage , Allnic L 5000 line stage, Aklnic A 6000 monoblocks and Quad 2905 speakers / Audiophysic Rhea 2 subwoofers (pair).
I listen to a lot of choral classical music and for this the midrange needs to be really " organic" and free from any harshness or glassiness and , very importantly, the cartridge needs to track demanding loud and complex passages properly.
In this latter regard I am not 100% convinced by the Koetsu. It has been professionally installed in the FR 66 using proper alignment tools and is mounted in an Orsonic headshell. Yet to my ears it gets " nervous" in certain demanding passages of music .
I have tried increasing the VTF to 2.5 grams (the maximum recommended is apparently 2.2 gm ?) and this does seem to improve things but I assume that this will have som negative effects given it is some way over the " limit".
I just bought a " standard" SPU Classic (with spherical stylus) in the integrated headshell and, tracking this at 4 gm, I was instantly bowled over by the " organic" midrange in the type of music referred to above.
After a series of "A/B" comparisons with the Koetsu I am struggling to say I really prefer the Koetsu to listen to in my system , although it clearly has greater frequency extremes, transparency and detail than the basic SPU ( it costs over ten times as much !!)
I was wondering if anybody out there has had similar experiences with Koetsu stone bodied cartridges ?
I am now thinking of going for one of the FR 7 cartridges ( fz version) and again would welcome any comments on this and how it might compare to the Koetsu / SPU ?
With kind regards,
Howard
howardalex
halcro's avatar
halcro
2,664 posts
 
I suggest you try mounting the Koetsu in a different headshell to the Orsonic.
I have found that the design of the Orsonic headshells (most of them in the marketplace are cheap fakes) is structurally inadequate to hold a cartridge securely during demanding musical passages.
With a really fine rigid headshell...I believe you will find the Koetsu will lose its nervousness...
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
Hi I also use FR-66s with Koetsu Stone Bodies and also own FR-7fz but in my Set up I have no problem running even trough most demanding classic tracks and my max VTF with Koetsu is 1.80gr.
Any SPU is absolutely mediocre compared to those in general Performance. It is a midrange pusher and here it shines but from overall Performance it is no comparison. A 7fz is a total different chapter, when you can get one, do it.
Just a question:
When you turn the VTF knob, do you need some force, do you hear clicks when you pass the 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 signs?
audpulse
139 posts
 
I totally agree with Halcro on the headshell issue. Try the top of the line SAEC ceramic headshell.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Halcro, do you mean those fake Orsonic headshells from Juki?
How can you say which one is fake or not ?

Howardalex, for me it's hard to imagine that someone prefer classic spherical SPU, i've bough Schick tonearm especially for SPU and sold the cartridge quickly here on agon (for the lack of details and not involving presentation at all). Hard to believe that Koetsu can't cream the SPU Classic. Only limited edition SPU SPIRIT that i owned did the majic to my ears, but in the right set-up on Schick where Classic SPU tracks everything very well, the SPU SPIRIT (elliptical, ltd unit , with rare 8N copper coils) was a poor tracker even with 4g on some records. So i returned it to Japan, funny that they listed same cartridge (SPU Serial number 500 or 500) now for sale. I think it was deffected unit.
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