Newbie needs some cart advice for a SME V/Dyn P75

Dear Zanth,

I own a Koetsu Urushi. The Koetsu midrange is colored as Raul says. The coloration bothers some people. For other people, the coloration results in a to-die-for midrange. You really need to listen to a Koetsu and decide for yourself.

If it were me, I would retip the Black, listen to it and sell it if the coloration bothered me. If it does not, then you may have a cartridge you will love for life. You will never know which camp you fall into until you listen.

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I really appreciate all the advice. I have some good news I guess. I had a friend of mine who is also a professional at setting up turn tables come by last night and properly setup my rig. After a few hours he had the setup sounding wonderful. He suspects that the Koetsu has about 200 hours left on it. Perhaps more perhaps less but at least in the ball park of the time that I require to burn in the P-75. That said, what I will do is use the Koetsu until it is done. Then, if after having listened to it over this time, I have come to enjoy it, then I will retip, perhaps from the Cartridge Man in the UK, or perhaps this fine fellow in Switzerland. Otherwise, I will look to a Dynavector 17D2 or as has been suggested, the Sumiko Celebration (if I can find one cheap enough).

Since the Gyro is a fairly neutral table that some say lack PRaT and the arm that is quite neutral, what cart would be preferable to bring out the life of the music with a concetration on PRaT? I am planning on upgrading to the HR PSU very shortly which is said to greatly improve the PRaT of the table. Also, I suppose my phono could be a problem as well, not sure yet. I am looking into an Ear 834p to tinker with and A/B against the ss P-75.

Thanks again for all the input.

My take on the Koetsu house sound is very similar to Raul's, but perhaps even more critical. Personally I find even the RSP annoying. I haven't heard a Jade or Onyx either, and if my money's involved I'm not likely to! ;-) It's an acquired taste perhaps, but one that bears little resemblance to live music.

IME some people who like or think they might like Koetsu warmth are coming from CD's. If you're just moving from CD to vinyl it's understandable that you'd seek a warmed over midrange and gladly sacrifice clear and extended highs. Not musically right of course, but understandable. The upper mids and highs of most CD's and CDP's are so intolerable that most of us would do anything to escape the glare and grain.

What kind of sound Zanth will end up wanting from his vinyl rig is anyone's guess. For the moment, another cartrdige choice might be a Benz, which IME has exactly the character he asked for but without the syrupy coloration of a Koetsu. Raul would know better than me which Benz's mate well with an SME V.

Raul, I respect your point of view and experience of many, many arms and cartridges, however the current SME arms are neutral with a slight tendency to emphasise bass (in many combinations). Because the Koetsu is bass light (agreed!) it works better with an SME than many other arms (Naim Aro, etc.).

My intention was to encourage Zanth (who says he is new to vinyl) to try the Black out before letting it go cheaply.

My affection for the Koetsu Black is probably nostalgic - when I first heard one 20 years ago it blew me away - one of those "I've got to have one" moments. I've nurtured my KB ever since, swapping it out with a more workaday cart on my FR64s for special listening sessions.

I also like detail and absence of coloration - I'm expecting a Dynavector XX-2 to arrive early next week, which should be quite a contrast.

Zanth I'm pleased you've got your table running well and have the opportunity to appreciate the Koetsu.

fwiw, i am currently using a sumiko celebration with the p-75, on my vpi scoutmaster and the match has been terrific. beyond the beautiful music this combo produces, i find the celebration to be the least fussy/sensitive cartridge i have ever used. in other words, get a good middle ground setting for vta/vtf you're good to go. also very easy to align.

that being said, my understanding is that the 17d2/p75 combo is a match made in heaven for obvious reasons. so if you can't find a used celebration(or just don't want a used cart) i don't think you can go wrong with the all dyna set up. and don't give up on the p75 before you've put at least 100-200 hours on it. and make sure to leave it on 24/7 for best performance. and with the koetsu, or any low output mc, it's best performance will be in "enhanced" mode. it really is a very underrated performer, especially with lo mc's.

good luck.