Thank you for giving us your feedback on different tonearms + Koetsu. The Glanz sounds like a great combination and reminds me of the Fidelity Research FR-66s.
Ekki,
Thanks for that very informative post. You have clearly studied this issue very carefully and how the mating of Koetsus with the various Schroder arms and headshells affects the sound. More often than not, Koetsus get (mis)characterized as having "sluggish bass, rolled off highs" as most...
What tonearm(s) are people using with their Koetsu cartridges?
I’m considering changing my tonearm to one better suited to the Koetsu cartridges. Although my VPI unipivot Fat Boy arm sounds very good, its relatively low effective mass might not be bringing out the best in the Koetsus even with...
I was hoping for better news from the Sugano family about the future of the Koetsu line. However, the longer it took to hear any news, the less likely it seemed Koetsu would return to business as usual. I respect the family for not wanting to sell the Koetsu name and legacy to just anyone...
I am designing an arm board that attaches to the left rear tower on a TNT 6, similar to ones used on the Avenger (and HRX) turntables. Can someone who owns an Avenger check some measurements for me?
Overall width, length and thickness of the Avenger or outrigger HRX arm board;
Diameter of the...
Not long after the Russia-Ukraine war started, the availability of the Tung Sol KT150 tubes decreased dramatically. It appears some of the usual vendors now have them in stock although still at slightly higher prices than previously. What has changed? Is there now an alternate source of...
I’ve been traveling across Japan and came upon this plaque at the Kanazawa train station. Thought it might be interesting to Koetsu lovers especially those with Urushi cartridges. How surprised those original master artists would be to learn their craft is still admired today for their visual...
Until we hear definitively from Koetsu regarding its long-term plans, what are people’s “Plan B” regarding future restoration (rebuild) of their cartridges and the usage of their current Koetsu cartridges?
Any other details regarding the new Mark II version of the 160M? Same cosmetics, power rating? What are the changes? How does it compare to the original 160M if you've listened to both?
Kcin,
Thanks for the clarification. The Aesthetix IO may be unique among active phono stages with 80 dB gain. I was not aware that a SUT could cause the deterioration of sound you describe. No free lunch is right.
Wilson
Kcin,
Thanks for your comments. Can you clarify how a "SUT destroys what the Aesthetix does well." By "tons of drive," do you mean its 80dB gain? Yes, it would interesting to see if your friend has ever tried a SUT with the Etna SL as I have the same electronics.
There are times where active is just not going to work in existing designs for certain cartridge choices and a SUT is a good option.
How does one know when a SUT is needed vs. just using an active phono stage other than through experimentation? As noted in your post, the Etna SL works well with...
Thanks Solypsa for your comments. Do you have a preference for a current sensing phono vs. using a SUT? As posed earlier, why is the current sensing phono preferred (over voltage sensing)? Any particular SUTs you favor? Yes, it's about a 6 month backlog for orders - yikes!
Wilson
Hey Arnie,
Thanks for your input on the questions posed in my original post, much appreciated. Your assessment of how the new Lambda SL versions compared to your original Etna SL was very helpful. Your reasoning with regards to choosing a Lambda SL vs. a non-SL Lambda makes a lot sense.
A...
Mtemur,
Thank you very much for your response to my questions. Much appreciated. Regarding the use of SUTs, I know there is a camp of LOMC analog users, who feel SUTs are the preferred way to go. Do you have any specific models that you particularly like?
I'm currently using RCA from...
Thanks Tim. Yes, I read Roy Gregory's review in TAB, one of several that recommend that most people should go with the standard Etna/Atlas, and not the SL versions unless one has a system that is geared toward optimizing a very low output cartridge. However, without actually hearing both...