Koetsu

[Johan K]

Arturo Manzano ran the Accuphase distributor in USA, Axiss Audio, for >20 years. This is the same guy who jacked Accuphase prices in the USA to incredible levels vs Japan prices.

I am not optimistic that the services he provides will be of good value, especially if you know a good retipper/cartridge rebuilder already. The press releases and interviews I am sure will say that he/they love analog audio, etc etc, but the reality is that they love $. It is what it is, I guess.

Likely his outfit will follow the Kiseki model - local figurehead/shop front/main office in country A, everything made overseas or repaired in country B - the Adidas model of business. Obviously either Sugano did not hand make the wood bodies themselves, so it would not be complex to source them. Wasn't there a rumour that stone bodies were made by a Koetsu relative? May be that is why they are not included.

Koetsu have a client base in Europe/N America who are conditioned to (over-)pay for the cartridges, and Koetsus are not "complex" to make (cf Transfiguration Orpheus), so it would only be a matter of time before this happened. I am not optimistic, but we shall see.

Ohh I did not know - well I guess we’ll see what happens… Anyway, I would like to have a chance to service my Blue Stone when the time comes. Hopefully there will be ’something’ out there then….

 

[Perfect sense Audio]

More to follow I guess...

 

[RickS]

Awesome news!!

 

[shakti]

Arturo Manzano ran the Accuphase distributor in USA, Axiss Audio, for >20 years

Arturo imported Koetsu carts for decades to Europe (Axiss Europe) and knows the brand (and the Sugano family) very well.

It seems, that he spent a longer time in Japan to make the rebirth of the Koetsu brand possible.

I am very happy about his success!

Back in the Groove: Koetsu Returns to Vinyl’s Front Lines | Stereophile.com

Arturo Manzano, a longtime admirer of Koetsu phono cartridges, has reassembled Koetsu’s original team of artisans to bring the acclaimed brand back to the international market. “Koetsu was one of the first brands I distributed after I founded AXISS Audio Distribution over 30 years ago,” Manzano...

www.stereophile.com

Koetsu Reborn: Analog2Fidelity Resurrects Iconic Phono Cartridge Line with Original Artisans

Analog2Fidelity resurrects Koetsu phono cartridge line with original craftsmen. Announces world debut of three Koetsu cartridges at AXPONA 2025.

www.businesswire.com

 

[RickS]

 

[RickS]

Arturo imported Koetsu carts for decades to Europe (Axiss Europe) and knows the brand (and the Sugano family) very well.

It seems, that he spent a longer time in Japan to make the rebirth of the Koetsu brand possible.

I am very happy about his success!

Back in the Groove: Koetsu Returns to Vinyl’s Front Lines | Stereophile.com

Arturo Manzano, a longtime admirer of Koetsu phono cartridges, has reassembled Koetsu’s original team of artisans to bring the acclaimed brand back to the international market. “Koetsu was one of the first brands I distributed after I founded AXISS Audio Distribution over 30 years ago,” Manzano...

www.stereophile.com

Koetsu Reborn: Analog2Fidelity Resurrects Iconic Phono Cartridge Line with Original Artisans

Analog2Fidelity resurrects Koetsu phono cartridge line with original craftsmen. Announces world debut of three Koetsu cartridges at AXPONA 2025.

www.businesswire.com

Absolutely and I hope they will find time to train younger Koetsu apprentices in the fine art of awesome cartridge craft so the magic flourishes into the future.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I wish Arturo all the best on this project!

But won't it take some time for people to gain confidence that a new Blue Lace sounds substantially the same as the original Blue Lace?

 

[RickS]

I wish Arturo all the best on this project!

But won't it take some time for people to gain confidence that a new Blue Lace sounds substantially the same as the original Blue Lace?

Something like the Blue Lace would seem to be the hill to conquer. I’m definitely rooting for them!

 

[shakti]

I wish Arturo all the best on this project!

But won't it take some time for people to gain confidence that a new Blue Lace sounds substantially the same as the original Blue Lace?

The ramp up of the new set up started with servicing old Koetsu carts in Q4 2024.
(All Parts apart from the Body will be changed during the service process)

To my knowledge no complaints so far about serviced carts.

Now,at a first new cart step, new wooden bodies will be available and will be completed with the same ingredients as used for the service carts.

To me, this sounds promising to get the former original Koetsu sound.

 

[keithc]

I’ve joined the Koetsu club.
As they say, you only live once.
Appreciate all the Jedi masters here who have paved the way.
Will be comparing it against the Hana Umami Red on a Kuzma 4Point.

 

[sbo6]

Beautiful sounding cartridges, enjoy!

 

[Chop]

Congratulations!
IMO, Totally different animal to an Umami Red. When you have had it for a while I'll be very interested to hear your impressions.

 

[Johan K]

Congratulations @keithc - it looks amazing! As @Chop said, totally different animal than HANA! You figure it out…. LOL. Please give us all some feedback, two, three months from now… We all love to hear your impressions.

/ Jk