Re koetsu vs my Bordeaux, to be honest I have changed too many variables - different arms, and different phono cables with my new brinkmann balance.
what I can say is that the Glanz/coralstone diamond/ stealth helios is by far the best combination - by far my go to for best sound serious listening and the best sound I’ve ever had at home, no contest.
the vermillion in the same combination is not as open, nor as resolved, but has enough detail, pace, resolution and openness to be highly satisfying while a little on the warm side of neutral which I prefer and balances my tidal electronics and speakers.
the Bordeaux is on a brinkmann 12.1 arm with an ansuz c2 phono cable. This combination is no comparision to the coralstone/Glanz setup. Compared to the vermillion/glanz, I find the Bordeaux/ 12.1 to be more resolving and more neutral, while still slightly warm. The sound is slightly more open and leaner (I suppose neutral), more treble détail.
i haven’t tried the koetsu in the brinkmann arm, and I did buy the balance with two arms and the Glanz (rather than an old fr66) to endulge my liking of koetsu.
when I first changed my turntable (previously avid Acutus SP - SME v) I swapped the listening quite regularly between the Glanz/Vermillion and 12.1/Bordeaux. But since got the coral stone, and in particular, the Steath Hélios I don’t think I’ve listened to the Bordeaux at all.......
when I had the Avid and SME, I preferred the Bordeaux to the vermillion which was closed in, slow and a bit lifeless in this combination.
so impressed have I been with the Glanz that I think this would suit the Bordeaux better and I’ve been toying with swapping out the 12.1, although there is nothing at all wrong with it.
but maybe the biggest change in all this is the Stealth Helios phono cable which has made a larger improvement than changing the cartridges and arms, and I’ll try swapping this on the 12.1 before playing with a new arm....
as I don’t listen too much in the summer (even the poor UK summer we have had), I’ll experiment more in the autumn.
Simon