Koetsu

puroagave

puroagave

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If you've been in the hobby a while you've probably owned a Koetsu at one time or another. I just received a 2014 model Koetsu Rosewood (standard). The last time i owned one (1980's) they were using elliptical styli, aluminum cantilevers etc. and supex guts. They were always known for being on the warm side of neutral with soft or rolled off highs (but always sweet) and the bass wasn't a strong suit either.

i'm very impressed with the current production, they're nothing like the old models (new motors, boron cantilever, line contact styli, etc.) The highs are very extended, and the bass is hardly a shortcoming and as good as any of the recent carts in my quiver (ZYX, Lyra, VDH, Transfiguration, Allaerts, Benz, Dynavector, etc). stage width, depth and layering are up there with the best I've owned.

this has got me interested in the current platinum and stone bodied models. I'm interested in impressions from those that own one, and comparisons with other carts you own.
 
puroagave said:
If you've been in the hobby a while you've probably owned a Koetsu at one time or another. I just received a 2014 model Koetsu Rosewood (standard). The last time i owned one (1980's) they were using elliptical styli, aluminum cantilevers etc. and supex guts. They were always known for being on the warm side of neutral with soft or rolled off highs (but always sweet) and the bass wasn't a strong suit either.

i'm very impressed with the current production, they're nothing like the old models (new motors, boron cantilever, line contact styli, etc.) The highs are very extended, and the bass is hardly a shortcoming and as good as any of the recent carts in my quiver (ZYX, Lyra, VDH, Transfiguration, Allaerts, Benz, Dynavector, etc). stage width, depth and layering are up there with the best I've owned.

this has got me interested in the current platinum and stone bodied models. I'm interested in impressions from those that own one, and comparisons with other carts you own.
Click to expand...

My review of the Azule Platinum stone body should be online very shortly.

Christian has the Coralstone that uses the same guts (the legendary platinum magnets) as the Azule Platinum but obviously different gemstone and is tighter spec'd.
 
Myles B. Astor said:
Forgive me if you already posted the information somewhere else but what arm and table are you using?
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Myles I think we did talk before
Anyway always follow your posts and reviews looking forward to the Azule Platinum
I have the graham phantom supreme not latest model.On a AMG deck which for me works very well
Phono stage is ARC ref 10
And I believe we have the same speakers S5's
Have found Koetsu one of the most important pieces of my system
 
I have a Coralstone Platinum and a Goldfinger Statement. I prefer the Coralstone by a significant margin from top to bottom. Can't seem to get the Goldfinger back on the table.
 
Frank750 said:
I have a Coralstone Platinum and a Goldfinger Statement. I prefer the Coralstone by a significant margin from top to bottom. Can't seem to get the Goldfinger back on the table.
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Frank-please send the Goldfinger to me and I will see if I can get it on my table. ��
 
Frank750 said:
I have a Coralstone Platinum and a Goldfinger Statement. I prefer the Coralstone by a significant margin from top to bottom. Can't seem to get the Goldfinger back on the table.
Click to expand...

Wow Frank, it must be very special.

Could anyone explain the house sound of the Koetsu compared to the newer Lyra sound ?
 
MDP said:
Very cool Rob !
I've never heard a Koetsu cartridge , how would it compare to my Lyra Kleos ?
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I owned a skala and kleos, i now have the older Clavis and helikon. take this in the broadest terms possible because so many variables exist with phono set up and playback (arm matching, cartridge loading, SUT vs active gain, etc). Lyras have always struck me as having high dynamic contrast and an extended treble that can make you believe its more detailed than it is. detractors like to say the Lyra house sound is bright, I disagree - it is very detailed but not annoyingly so. koetsu turns a new page as it has all the resolution I get with Lyras and very very good bass definition and weight, pretty close to lyra standards. the Rosewood excels is in micro dynamics, tone color and as someone else put it, a "natural" presentation that suspends your disbelief to greater degree. no spot lighting or exaggerated anything. Other carts I've owned that most share these traits are the Transfiguration and wood benzes.
 
Yes, I remember hearing that Koetsu magic for the first time. I've tried to get away from it because the carts are so expensive, but it's proven almost impossible to give up that KOetsu sound -- 5 years going now. I only went up to the Ref 3 in the Benz line, and it doesn't come anywhere close to the Koetsus I've heard (i.e. it gets stomped, as it should given the price discrepancy). I've also dabbled in Ortofons up to the Windfeld -- and I do like them quite a lot; they have increasingly superb detail and dynamics (superior to Koetsu at the Windfeld level) as you go up the line. But they can't touch the Koetsus in midrange or 3D image & depth. The Onyx/Jade platinums have slightly better bass than the RSP. And the modern platinums all have a more resolving, extended sound compared to the pre-platinum Onyx Signature. Highly recommend any of them, though I paid used prices (and got lucky), not new.
 
I would like to solicit the members who own Koetsu stone body cartridges to try to rationalize and understand the stone body cartridge line-up. (With certain different stone body cartridges at the same price point it almost seems as though Koetsu is having fun trying to drive neurotically-inclined audiophiles a bit daft!)

I think it was Mike Lavigne who wrote that the different sonic characteristics of the stone body cartridges are attributable to the MOH (hardness) of each of the stone materials. I have attempted to line up each of the Koetsu names (i.e., stones) of the stone body cartridges against the MOH list of stones, but, based on the subjective comments I have read about the sonic characteristic of the stone body cartridges, there does not seem to be a consistent, linear relationship between MOH number and sound (i.e., the harder stone bodies being progressively more detail-oriented and analytical as you go up the MOH scale, and the softer stone bodies progressively having a warmer total balance as you go down the MOH scale).

Is there a way to rationalize the Koetsu stone body line-up (or not because different people will hear different things from each model of cartridge)?

(Selfishly, if I could determine conclusively which of the Koetsu stone bodies is lowest on the hardness scale and prove that that cartridge, for that reason, produces the least detail- oriented/"analytical" sound, with the slightly warmest tonal balance of the whole group, then I could compare that stone body winner to the Rosewood Signature Platinum and my personal cartridge puzzle would be narrowed down to two contenders!)

Thank you!
 
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