Hello Avid and welcome to AS! I find your post very interesting in that you replaced a Koetsu Urushi Vermillion with a Grado Statement 1. I'd be curious to know what table and arm you use if you'd be so kind to share. I see that Grado currently has the Statement v2 ($3,500) as well as their even newer and considerably more costly Aeon ($6K) and Epoch ($12K!) cartridges.Hello volks.
Did you ever get a grado cartridge?
I listened to the entire range around 5 years ago and found them all to be very good value for money and I liked the top of the range so much I replaced my koetsu urushi vermilion with the statement 1.
It remains in my arm to this day after being re tipped and I have no inclination to look at anything else such is the natural music making of the grado cartridges.
In case you haven't seen these, the new TOTL $12K Grado Epoch has also been reviewed by Positive Feedback concluding:The positive feedback review of the statement 1 cartridge is even more glowing.