Ikeda 9TT or Air Tight PC-3

simplicity · Dec 12, 2012

Good evening

I currently use an Ortofon A90 in my Thales Simplicty on my TW Acustic Raven AC.
Am putting a lot of mileage on this and am looking to buy a 2nd cartridge in the new year to rotate with the A90 - I don't want to change the A90, am very happy with it.
I fancy something interesting! I have previously had stone bodied Koetsu's, a Miyabi Standard, DV XV1s, etc - all the usual high end suspects.
The two carts that have appeared on my radar are the Ikeda 9TT and the Air Tight PC-3.
Anyone have any views or comments on either if these? Either in isolation or as a comparisons!
I'm leaning towards the Ikeda at the moment ...
Thanks and best wishes - Lee

Peter Breuninger · Dec 12, 2012

I am winding down my time with the 9TT. It has been featured with the IT-407 in a series of video shoots on the Onedof turntable and now on the surprisingly excellent Triangle Art Signature turntable. The 9TT offers a holographic midrange more 3D than the Koetsus I've heard or owned (Rosewood, Rosewood Siggie, Pro-IV, The Urushi Vermillion). Now be warned I've not heard the $10K plus Koetsus, but the 9TT falls well under this mark. It is very low in output and I would not use a tube phono stage with it without a SET. My results are based on the Wyetech Ruby P1 combo; reference midrange, robust low frequency, sweet top-end and a simply unreal midrange, like Miles Davis in your room quality.

MylesBAstor · Dec 12, 2012

simplicity said:
Good evening
I currently use an Ortofon A90 in my Thales Simplicty on my TW Acustic Raven AC.
Am putting a lot of mileage on this and am looking to buy a 2nd cartridge in the new year to rotate with the A90 - I don't want to change the A90, am very happy with it.
I fancy something interesting! I have previously had stone bodied Koetsu's, a Miyabi Standard, DV XV1s, etc - all the usual high end suspects.
The two carts that have appeared on my radar are the Ikeda 9TT and the Air Tight PC-3.
Anyone have any views or comments on either if these? Either in isolation or as a comparisons!
I'm leaning towards the Ikeda at the moment ...
Thanks and best wishes - Lee

http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?8197-New-Cartridge&highlight=ikeda

simplicity · Dec 12, 2012

Interesting Myles. When will the full review happen? The thread seemed to be all about tracking and not about SQ - but I guess you are saving your comments until you properly commit a full review.
Looking fwd to your thoughts and conclusions

MylesBAstor · Dec 12, 2012

simplicity said:
Interesting Myles. When will the full review happen? The thread seemed to be all about tracking and not about SQ - but I guess you are saving your comments until you properly commit a full review.
Looking fwd to your thoughts and conclusions

Things as usual in the reviewing realm didn't exactly work out as planned but hope to have the cartridge in a month or so. (fingers crossed!)

Yes, the OT got sidetracked but I did make a few comments; somewhere and I can't find it, Rich Brown/U47 added his comments about what he heard over at my place that day.

rockitman · Dec 12, 2012

I love my 9TT mono, I recently auditioned and subsequently acquired..

simplicity · Dec 13, 2012

Thanks for the comments

I will mull this over the Xmas break. Being in the UK, I have 2 choices purchase wise - I go via the US dealer/importer or I buy from Juki via that well known auction site!
Interesting that no-one has made any comment on the PC-3, maybe it is the poor relation to the PC-1 (& Supreme).

JackD201 · Dec 13, 2012

Peter Breuninger said:
I am winding down my time with the 9TT. It has been featured with the IT-407 in a series of video shoots on the Onedof turntable and now on the surprisingly excellent Triangle Art Signature turntable. The 9TT offers a holographic midrange more 3D than the Koetsus I've heard or owned (Rosewood, Rosewood Siggie, Pro-IV, The Urushi Vermillion). Now be warned I've not heard the $10K plus Koetsus, but the 9TT falls well under this mark. It is very low in output and I would not use a tube phono stage with it without a SET. My results are based on the Wyetech Ruby P1 combo; reference midrange, robust low frequency, sweet top-end and a simply unreal midrange, like Miles Davis in your room quality.

View attachment 7006

I see you've got Peter N's big boys in the house Peter. You having fun?

Peter Breuninger · Dec 13, 2012

Yes Jack, the Stealth bombers. They are indeed the BOMB, they do so many things really well. Actually they are authored by Tom at Quintessence and built at Peter's factory. They are crated as I write these words and are due to be picked up this am- going to CA for a visit and check up and then to T.H.E. Show. If you are going to Las Vegas keep your eyes peeled for me

Bill Demars · Dec 13, 2012

Please know that 2Juki is not affiliated with Ikeda in any way and is not autorized to sell or service anything relating to the Ikeda brand.
A few quotes from my Ikeda rep in Tokyo: "He is selling many of Ikeda products on eBay, but we realize almost all of cables/wires are imitations made in China as Ikeda Sound Labs never sold such small wires/cables to others before. In addition, we have no idea if these tonearms and cartridges are new or 2nd hand or used ones or faulty ones. 2JUKI is a really cunning broker, so that sometime it is out of our control, although 2JUKI is on our black list. We do hope 2JUKI will be disappeared from eBay soon.
Of course, we never sold to 2JUKI at all because we have the authorized distributor in Hong Kong and also we have realized more than 3 years ago that 2JUKI is an annoying illegal broker."
In other words, buyer beware.

JackD201 · Dec 13, 2012

Peter Breuninger said:
Yes Jack, the Stealth bombers. They are indeed the BOMB, they do so many things really well. Actually they are authored by Tom at Quintessence and built at Peter's factory. They are crated as I write these words and are due to be picked up this am- going to CA for a visit and check up and then to T.H.E. Show. If you are going to Las Vegas keep your eyes peeled for me

Ah, so it's Tom

Unfortunately I'll be in the US but not in Vegas come CES. I've got a long list of stuff I'm curious to hear and the 9TT and the Stealths are both on it.

I'm a certifiable cartridge addict. They are such little things of beauty. So much so that to this day I do not want to carry any cartridge brands just so I can write about them to my hearts content without fear of being accused of being a shill! LOL!

Search

Search

Ikeda 9TT or Air Tight PC-3

simplicity

New Member

Peter Breuninger

[Industry Expert] Member Sponsor

MylesBAstor

Well-Known Member

simplicity

New Member

MylesBAstor

Well-Known Member

rockitman

Member Sponsor

simplicity

New Member

JackD201

WBF Founding Member

Peter Breuninger

[Industry Expert] Member Sponsor

Bill Demars

Well-Known Member

JackD201

WBF Founding Member

Similar threads

Staff online

Members online