Shakti's walk throughout the exciting Koetsu experience :-)

[shakti]

I have that record, but playing it through the Phasemation PP-2000 MC cartridge on Reed 5A pivoted tangential-tracking tonearm, Classic Turntable Reference 301 on Panzerholz, Phasemation T-2000 SUT's into Ypsilon VPS100 phono, Ayon Spitfire 30 watt SET integrated and Altec A7's no way sounds as smooth and integrated, real, as your YouTube video here. I am depressed. Is it my system, or is the Koetsu Rosewood with boron cantilever and non-platinum magnets that much better than the Phasemation PP-2000?

I heard PP-2000 and Koetsu Rosewood standard side by side.

The PP-2000 is a far better cartridge. You have to climb up the ladder to find a matching Koetsu.

But I prefer the PP-2000 (and the Koetsu) on heavier tonearms.
Reed 5a can do 10g to 16g effective mass (depending on tonearm material). Ikeda 407 or Glanz 124 /1200 are more in the 30g section.

I have seen some turntables showing the PP-2000 on lighter tonearms, but their focus was more on the resolution and not too much on the heavy weight upper bass / lower midrange area.

Depending on the gear is use both combinations can work fine, I prefer with my set up the pairing with the heavier tonearms.

 

[bonzo75]

I have that record, but playing it through the Phasemation PP-2000 MC cartridge on Reed 5A pivoted tangential-tracking tonearm, Classic Turntable Reference 301 on Panzerholz, Phasemation T-2000 SUT's into Ypsilon VPS100 phono, Ayon Spitfire 30 watt SET integrated and Altec A7's no way sounds as smooth and integrated, real, as your YouTube video here. I am depressed. Is it my system, or is the Koetsu Rosewood with boron cantilever and non-platinum magnets that much better than the Phasemation PP-2000?

what are you referring to? shakti is not playing his system in that video

 

[shakti]

what are you referring to? shakti is not playing his system in that video

correct!

 

[Rensselaer]

what are you referring to? shakti is not playing his system in that video

Oh sorry, what system was playing that record in the YouTube video he included with his note?

 

[Rensselaer]

I heard PP-2000 and Koetsu Rosewood standard side by side.

The PP-2000 is a far better cartridge. You have to climb up the ladder to find a matching Koetsu.

But I prefer the PP-2000 (and the Koetsu) on heavier tonearms.
Reed 5a can do 10g to 16g effective mass (depending on tonearm material). Ikeda 407 or Glanz 124 /1200 are more in the 30g section.

I have seen some turntables showing the PP-2000 on lighter tonearms, but their focus was more on the resolution and not too much on the heavy weight upper bass / lower midrange area.

Depending on the gear is use both combinations can work fine, I prefer with my set up the pairing with the heavier tonearms.

Would adding a small weight to the top of the cartridge holder then resetting tracking force give me the bass and lower midrange that you covet, or is such superstitious foolery (there isn’t room on my plinth for a 12” arm, and I really would prefer to keep the Reed if at all possible)? If it might work, how much weight would be enough?

 

[shakti]

Would adding a small weight to the top of the cartridge holder then resetting tracking force give me the bass and lower midrange that you covet, or is such superstitious foolery (there isn’t room on my plinth for a 12” arm, and I really would prefer to keep the Reed if at all possible)? If it might work, how much weight would be enough?

what tonearm tube are you using? Already the heavy one?
maybe you can change there to a more heavy version?

I am not a big friend of adding too much weight to the front.
This is such a sensitive area, every material added will have a sonic signature as well.

 

[bonzo75]

Oh sorry, what system was playing that record in the YouTube video he included with his note?

it isn’t a system

 

[Johan K]

now I am listening to the current

Koetsu Rosewood Standard

version, using a Jelco Rosewood headshell (OEM to Koetsu) and a Ikeda IT 407cr tonearm
(Phonopre is Phasemation EA-1200)

The wood looks darker than previous, like wetted with a fluid.

Sound is more superior, compared to the Koetsu Black, which was used before on this position.

As Koetsu is part of my audiophile life since decades, I listened today to a very old audiophile record,
the famous "Antiphone Blues"

The Rosewood Standard gives the church of the recording a larger and more realistic size,
lower registers of the organ are more realistic as well.

At least, the emotional aspect of the record becomes more easy to understand, to feel with.

In Germany the price point of the two carts is not too far away from each other,
and by now, the Rosewood standard is more close to my understanding of the Koetsu sound signature.

View attachment 87749View attachment 87747

Looks beautiful there, shakti!
I had the RSP on a Jelco HS-30 headshell too about 3 years ago, on my SL-1200G…
It worked very well… I really loved the sound.
Could not hold my horses, so I went all in and bought a BlueLace. At the present moment I have the Vermillion on the SL-1200G… and I tell you… with 50 Ohms of loading on my Momenum phono… It’s just magic ??

All the best

/ Jk

 

[RickS]

Which overhang protractor are you able to use with the Technics table?

 

[Johan K]

Which overhang protractor are you able to use with the Technics table?

Dear Rick,

I use the ”WallyTractor Universal v2.01” from WallyTools in California (wallyanalog.com). Very easy to use and very accurate. I don’t have that much music pressed before 1990, so I usually go with the ”New Collection” curves on the protractor, when setting up my cartridges.

For my Technics SL-1200G, I normally go with the ”230mm ”New Collection” Lofgren curve” to set the overhang, but it depends on what cartridge I set up and what I decide to play on that particular cartridge.
If for some reason the ”New Collection” curve doesn’t live up to my expectations - then I just go for the (on the SL-1200G) ”230mm ”Older Collection” curve” to set the overhang.
After that it is the usual angles that have to be set, to get the cantilever as strait in the grooves as possible, which I also do with the WallyTractor. So as I said… very good, very easy and quite fast setup time with the WallyTractor.

To set the VTA/SRA, the Antiskate, the VTF and the Azimuth, I use other tools… Then when I’m finished with the setup - I take a stetoscope to feel the puls on the turntable… If I can hear a puls - than I know ”IT’S ALIVE”!!!
Hahaha…

I’ll quote J.R. Boisclair -”Enjoy Analog Forever”

All the best

/ Jk

 

[RickS]

Wow, thanks Johan for the very nice pictures with the protractor.

 

[Johan K]

Wow, thanks Johan for the very nice pictures with the protractor.

Haha… -No problem at all Rick, you’re most welcome !
If you take a careful look at one of the pics, you can clearly see the Koetsu Blue Lace from the side… as well from underneeth at the same time due to that well thought out mirror protractor.

/ Jk

 

[cuntigh]

it seems the cantilever is in the middle of the cart’s body : isn’t it difficult to see if it is well seated in the alignment line ?

 

[Johan K]

it seems the cantilever is in the middle of the cart’s body : isn’t it difficult to see if it is well seated in the alignment line ?

Dear cuntigh,

It sure is… and Koetsu’s in particular… They are pain in the *** to align. You need to be alone when aligning a Koetsu… that’s for sure, hahaha..!!!
No kids, no dogs, no cats, no pets what so ever… and the wife’y… you better send her on holiday… Because there’s gonna be shouting, cursing, anger and you will most truly become something in the class of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde…

Then… if you’ve done everything right, down to last Angstrom of precision…. then and only then, you will have your reward…. There will be musical joy beyond compare…??..!!!

All the best

/ Jk

 

[shakti]

Today I installed an old Koetsu Onyx (no diamond cantilever, no platinum) in a SAEC Ceramic Headshell to listen to the pure classic Koetsu sound, using an Ikeda 407 tonearm.

I like this classic Koetsu sound a lot, listening to Ella and Ben and enjoying their music a lot

 

[Johan K]

Toast I installed an old Koetsu Onyx (no diamond cantilever, no platinum) in a SAEC Ceramic Headshell to listen to the pure classic Koetsu sound, using an Ikeda 407 tonearm.

I like this classic Koetsu sound a lot, listening to Ella and Ben and enjoying their music a lot

View attachment 120595

Wow !!! Looks amazing… wish I could have a listen at your place right now, haha..!!

Hope you have a great evening !

Sincerely / Johan

 

[shakti]

Now it looks like, that the company Koetsu stopped their services and my personal Journey to Koetsu will find an end as well.

Now I am considering, which Koetsu I should buy to keep this great manufacturer in the best memory.

A standard wood body?, painted with Urushi, like the founder, the old Sugano preferred,
or one of those more younger with platinum generator?.,

looking back, the Coralstone platinum was one of my sonic high lights,
may be I should start to look for a platinum version of this cart as my last Koetsu...

Still I have a Rosewood Signature in use, which already gives me a kind of deep Koetsu listening experience always while listing to this special way of voice reproduction.

I will see , what carts will get into the market in the next months.

 

[dan31]

Sad if it is the end of Koetsu. I have been enjoying a Black Goldline lately. I know it’s entry level but a great cartridge.