What Cartridge(s) Is Everyone Using

rockitman

Member Sponsor
Sep 20, 2011
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Can anybody who tried both Azule and Coralstone comment on how these Koetsus compare to each other?

I have Coralstone and a Tiger Eye which is one step up from Azule. You are really splitting hairs as performance wise they are nearly identical save for some tonal flavor differences. I expect Azule to provide a similar level of performance and enjoyment.
 

Bruce B

WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
Apr 25, 2010
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From what I'm hearing, the 2 cartridges everyone must have in their stable are the Coralstone and the Air Tight Supreme. Hopefully I should have a Supreme soon after RMAF.
 

PeterA

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Dec 6, 2011
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From what I'm hearing, the 2 cartridges everyone must have in their stable are the Coralstone and the Air Tight Supreme. Hopefully I should have a Supreme soon after RMAF.

Koetsu and AirTight are known to work well with your SME arm Bruce. Don't forget the Atlas which Albert Porter has along with the Supreme on two SME V-12s. I actually very slightly prefer the My Sonic Labs Signature Gold to the Supreme as it adds just a touch more detail and extension. The MSL may come in right between the Supreme and the Atlas in overall character. These are all top tier, IMO.
 

number95

Well-Known Member
May 14, 2014
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I have Coralstone and a Tiger Eye which is one step up from Azule. You are really splitting hairs as performance wise they are nearly identical save for some tonal flavor differences. I expect Azule to provide a similar level of performance and enjoyment.

Great info! Thank you Christian. My Koetsu bug inside me calling for one :)
 

microstrip

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May 30, 2010
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From what I'm hearing, the 2 cartridges everyone must have in their stable are the Coralstone and the Air Tight Supreme. Hopefully I should have a Supreme soon after RMAF.

I have no experience with the Coralstone, but I am quite happy with the Sumiko Palo Santos and the van dan Hul Black Beauty. Both are an excellent match with the SME, I was told that the PS was designed using the SME V.

The Sumiko PS also has a micro stylus - when I took it out of the box I called my dealer complaining I cot a broken stylus!
 

Dentdog

Well-Known Member
Jan 5, 2014
39
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Atlanta
Really nice cart. While I can only surmise, Ikeda put out some Fidelity Research carts in the 70s-early 80s. I picked up a FR MC202 a few months ago and can't force myself to listen to anything else as of yet. Looks like he uses a similar body, kinda wide and I guess sealed to prevent rubber exposure to the elements.
 

hongkongfoufou

Well-Known Member
Mar 3, 2018
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I have two Audio-Technica ART9.
I had before one Audio-Technica AT-OC9MLIII.
I will try ZYX Ultimate 4D 0.24 mV SB2 I think.
 

daytona600

Well-Known Member
Sep 9, 2012
724
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Ortofon MCA95 & Grado Eeon
 

Ron Resnick

Site Co-Owner, Administrator
Jan 24, 2015
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DasguteOhr

Well-Known Member
Sep 26, 2013
2,354
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Germany
Zyx Airy III X low amazing deep tight bass
Zyx Rs 30 Series I retipped Shibata /Boron love that little cart energy pure
Audiotechnica ART One nice old gear
Lyra Titan i...left coil brocken... WTF
Ortofon Vienna my favorite for eighties vinyl and metal
Lyra Helikon ...magic with right phonoamp

Grace MM, Grado MI Reference..and lot more
 

drrsutliff

Well-Known Member
May 6, 2013
39
19
330
Fleming Island, FL
Miyajima Madake
Ortofon Windfeld Ti
 

kodomo

Well-Known Member
Apr 26, 2017
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Miyajima Madake, Kuzma Car40 and I have a Miyabi Fuuga on its way!
 
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hongkongfoufou

Well-Known Member
Mar 3, 2018
469
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2 Art9 (Audio-technica)
Ortofon X3-Mc

I am waiting my Zyx Ultimate 4D....
 

loki1957

Well-Known Member
Sep 19, 2012
131
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Santa Fe NM
Koetsu rosewood standard
Allnic Amber
I use the Koetsu on an Integrity True Glide and the Allnic On the stock arm on my HW 40. I must say I prefer the Koetsu, true glide combo over the Allnic VPI. Is it the arm? Is it the cartridge? I can't say.
 
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Chop

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2020
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England
I use a Koetsu Urushi Black, SPU Synergy, & a Miyajima Zero 0.7 for mono duties. Also have a very old Allaerts MC1B Mk2 which needs re-tipping and I haven't got round to it.
 

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