Koetsu

[mtemur]

Signed by Sugano doesn’t mean that he was retipping or rebuilding all the cartridges. Maybe he did I don’t know but signature doesn’t guarantee that. IMHO it’s regular for the head of company to check and sign outgoing products. Especially for small and top artisan companies like Koetsu.

 

[jadis]

Signed by Sugano doesn’t mean that he was retipping or rebuilding all the cartridges. Maybe he did I don’t know but signature doesn’t guarantee that. IMHO it’s regular for the head of company to check and sign outgoing products. Especially for small and top artisan companies like Koetsu.

The certificates from decades ago said REBUILT all the time. As a country distributor there was no other kind of service I know of.

 

[mtemur]

The certificates from decades ago said REBUILT all the time.

That’s what I’m talking about. The certificate says it is rebuilt by Koetsu company. It doesn’t say rebuilt by Sugano San. It is a possibility that the cartridge is built by Sugano himself or maybe by other people working at Koetsu.

All Kondo products are tested and signed by the head of company, Masaki San, but clearly he is not manufacturing them. There are workers doing the job and maybe Masaki -San is involved in only key areas. Manufacturing/rebuilding and testing/signing, two different things.

 

[unreceivedogma]

Good afternoon everyone,

I have been using Koetsu cartridges since 1985. I started with the original Black, then moved up to a Rosewood signature. The cobalt Onyx was gifted to me about 8 years ago. I was planning to get a stone platinum in a few years. I had heart surgery last year, and forgot about everything audio specifically, and most everything generally for a while. Then I heard of the end of Koetsu only last month and went scrambling to find one.

Fate looked down kindly upon me, as I find myself in possession of this lovely Leopard. It came from a dealer in Florida with about 25 hours on it. I have added another 25, so break-in has a way to go. Someone else on this thread has posted a picture of this very same cartridge.

Compared to the Onyx, it is most everything the Onyx is, but faster with remarkably superb punch and detail on the bass end. Voices are "like buttah". It is not quite as airy as the Onyx but it may just need more of the break-in time for that.

I'm hoping that this community can help me with the following:
—This came in its wooden box but without specs. Anyone know? The dealer did not. It is decidedly lower output than the Onyx.
— Everyone tells me that Koetus MUST be matched with a high mass arm. I have been using the Sumiko MMT - a medium to high mass arm - on a VPI HW (now MK IV with SAM) since 1985: the Koetsu Black came as part of that package. I had been getting great results. I am now getting superb results with the Leopard. I will be upgrading the arm to the Jelco SA 750 EB, also a medium to high mass arm. It comes with a heavier weight: I presume that's what makes it high mass, but someone said that the heavier weigh is to be used only to balance heavier cartridges. Is there a science to this, or is it dogma, people's fetiches, or what?

Thanks everyone.
My website btw with a description of my system on the bottom left corner of the about page: theaudioatticvinylsundays.com

 

[krugdoktor]

Maybe your Onyx does not have platinum magnets (the difference between platinum magnets and samarium cobalt magnets is 0,3mV vs 0,4 mV). The Leopard has platinum magnets.
There is a great Koetsu story:

The Koetsu story – Japanese art Part I

There is something special about Japan, tradition and modern high tech are often separated with only a very small distance from each other. The attention to even the smallest detail in some …

medialux.blog

4 Koetsu compared – Japanese art Part II

In this essay I try my very best to describe the difference of 4 of the most famous Koetsu cartridges, namely the Black Goldline, the Rosewood Signature, as well as the Urushi Wajima and the somewh…

medialux.blog

Btw.: Your Leopard is absolutely gorgeous!

 

[RickS]

unreceivedogma, that is a phenomenal looking stone for that cartridge!! Congrats!

 

[jadis]

That’s what I’m talking about. The certificate says it is rebuilt by Koetsu company. It doesn’t say rebuilt by Sugano San. It is a possibility that the cartridge is built by Sugano himself or maybe by other people working at Koetsu.

All Kondo products are tested and signed by the head of company, Masaki San, but clearly he is not manufacturing them. There are workers doing the job and maybe Masaki -San is involved in only key areas. Manufacturing/rebuilding and testing/signing, two different things.

It would have been more accurate or give owners more confidence had Sugano San listed ALL the names of the workers/craftsmen? Will this new company be listing us the names of the craftsmen then and now with actual proof that they had worked under the Sugano family? And will they mention next that they have the blueprints of the exact materials, methods, and quality control when Sugano was still around. That would be the start of the 'provenance'. Some people have trusted Koetsu exactly because Sugano was there to sign papers and was there to hold the whole company, which basically was him, as the main glue. Otherwise, Koetsu lookalikes will be all over selling like hotcakes without Sugano. Remember this, Koetsu never had produced a single piece of paper mentioning anything for new products, yet it spawned 2 generations of great success, all because of the Sugano name. It is the enigma of this company. But still, there is no harm for anyone to try out this service, if they so trust that process.

 

[mtemur]

It would have been more accurate or give owners more confidence had Sugano San listed ALL the names of the workers/craftsmen? Will this new company be listing us the names of the craftsmen then and now with actual proof that they had worked under the Sugano family?

Look I share your concern. I don’t back or advocate the new company. All I’m saying is the possibility of the Koetsu workers forming new facility to rebuild cartridges which were originally doing the job. It may or may not be as Koetsu does while Sugano San running the company. Don’t make it predetermined as they will fail. It’s highly unlikely but they may succeed doing a rebuild. A rebuild as good as original Koetsu. Wait and see.

 

[jadis]

Look I share your concern. I don’t back or advocate the new company. All I’m saying is the possibility of the Koetsu workers forming new facility to rebuild cartridges which were originally doing the job. It may or may not be as Koetsu does while Sugano San running the company. Don’t make it predetermined as they will fail. It’s highly unlikely but they may succeed doing a rebuild. A rebuild as good as original Koetsu. Wait and see.

I agree with your positivism about his new service company. I really wish they succeed 100% but being a distributor for many years make me listen to various concerns of the buyer, and given such pricing, they do ask a lot more about service , and so far no one had even complained of past jobs and so we do all wish the new service company succeed, but there will be questions before old clients throw in thousands of dollars for a new service.

 

[Djcxxx]

The unique regard for the skill of the master craftsman is as old as human history. From swords to violins the hand of the master will always conjure legend, myth, and the desire to posses.

 

[JimmyJet]

My new collection complete with the elusive Vermilion!

As most of you know, I only discovered Koetsu this past December while listening at an audio club meet and have been all things Koetsu ever since. Then, when "the end" was announced, I frantically grabbed two more to add to my first purchase, a rosewood signature, but the one I most desired was the Vermilion based on Ekki's great write ups as well as many other articles. These past few months I've searched Japanese, Euro, and American stores and websites for a Vermilion but, alas, they were all gone (even if the website said "In stock" or had an "Add to Cart" button").

However, I discovered a small audio store located in Newport Beach, California, Excel Audio, that had an "Add to Cart" button next to the Vermilion, but I knew to call... Long story short, the owner knew he had it, but couldn't find it. He told me would look for it at home because he keeps some stock as his house, and if he found it, he'd call me back. Well, a few days went by, and sure enough, he found it! So, I like to say, I think I got the last Vermilion in the U.S.! -- (ha-ha, I know that's probably not true because I'm sure there are some squirreled away in stock rooms somewhere...)

Anyway, I feel very privileged to own my humble collection of recently acquired Koetsu's, especially this Vermilion, so late in "the final chapter." This Vermilion is everything I expected it to be and more! I've never heard a cart that can play all genres of music equally well - it excels at everything!

From left to right, Black Goldline, Rosewood Signature, Urushi Wajima, and Urushi Vermilion.


Happy listening all -- cheers!

 

[UEM]

In various comments above, the output voltage of the ONYX (Platinum) cartridge is specified as: 0.3mV.
Interestingly: this value I find also in most English / American internet sites
In my (German) Koetsu manual I read 0.2 mV, which is also stated in other (German) technical data infos/sites

Which is correct ?
OR where there two different models ? (Mine must be around 10 years old or so.)

Thanks & regards
Urs

 

[Johan K]

In various comments above, the output voltage of the ONYX (Platinum) cartridge is specified as: 0.3mV.
Interestingly: this value I find also in most English / American internet sites
In my (German) Koetsu manual I read 0.2 mV, which is also stated in other (German) technical data infos/sites

Which is correct ?
OR where there two different models ? (Mine must be around 10 years old or so.)

Thanks & regards
Urs

Only the Vermilion has 0,2mV output. The stones has 0,3mV, and the other wood cartridges, with an exception of Rosewood Signature Platinum, has 0,4mV. The RWSP has 0,3mV as well due to the platinum magnets. The Vermilion has the lowest output of all the Koetsu’s due to it’s double coil motor structure. Hope that helps .

/ Jk

 

[unreceivedogma]

I have been trying to figure out what stone the Leopard is made of. Someone suggested the Septarian, attached here. ?