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….

 

[Hyperion]

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

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.

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]