Need a new MC phono cartridge - suggestions?

[zaphod]

Er - no thanks - I have a Best Offer from a bloke in the UK of £210 for a new OC9 - that is a TREMENDOUS bargain for that cart - it cost way more than that many years ago!!!!

needle dr has the OC9 for $349 (USD). and it's almost guaranteed that i'll be going that way if i can't get the MM interface for the pre-amp i want to move into the LP12 system (currently running a MM on the Linn).

 

[aliveatfive]

Hm there is no AT OC30 re-release:

"Thank you for your email. Well, re-release item is at-oc9 which was released before oc30 and same series of oc family, the name is at-oc9ml2. However this model is limited only 500 peaces, very rare. price is GBP270 including shipping cost. If you would like to have it hurry up!It will soon run out. Please check it out below.
http://ichinose.tblog.jp/?day=20080507
If you are ok, please reply us asap.

Best Regards
Taku"

Er - no thanks - I have a Best Offer from a bloke in the UK of £210 for a new OC9 - that is a TREMENDOUS bargain for that cart - it cost way more than that many years ago!!!!

Koetsu prices:

Dear Sir,
Koetsu Coralstone Platinum at US$5,800-
Koetsu Tigereye Platinum at US$5,800-
Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum at US$4,410-
Koetsu Rosewood Signature at US$2,800-
Koetsu Urushi Vermillion (Red) at US$3,180-
Koetsu Urushi Wajima (Gold) at US$3,180-
Koetsu Urushi Tsugaru (Black) at US$3,180-
Koetsu Rosewood Standard at US$2,000-
Koetsu Black at US$1,340-

One of each then!

I must admit I think I am tempted to go for the Rosewood and cancel the Denon order... at least I have heard the Koetsu on a number of occasions, and I know I like it. It also dishes out a healthy 0.6mV... nice.

But what if the Expert Styles Co is right about their upgraded Denon DL 103? It is stretching the limits of belief - but it IS possible it is as good, I suppose... GOD this is hard!!!

Your USD prices are extremely low. If you can get them for the prices that you quote, you could re-sell them and make quite a profit. The Urushi series starts at $4,300 and it goes up from there. (I have first-hand knowledge. I bought one.) The Black is $1,800. I've had Shelter, Lyra and Koetsu in my system and would recommend them all.

 

[RichTeer]

Your USD prices are extremely low. If you can get them for the prices that you quote, you could re-sell them and make quite a profit. The Urushi series starts at $4,300 and it goes up from there. (I have first-hand knowledge. I bought one.) The Black is $1,800. I've had Shelter, Lyra and Koetsu in my system and would recommend them all.

Maybe the Koetsu prices User211 was quoting are the trade prices?

 

[User211]

The prices are from an oriental source, which shall remain undisclosed. There is probably no warranty associated with a purchase. I shouldn't have posted them, really - wasn't thinking!

 

[Bernard]

If you have no problem with no warranty, go for it. IIRC, I paid around $2,500 for my Rosewood about a decade ago, so $2,000 now would be a bargain.

 

[RichTeer]

If you have no problem with no warranty, go for it. IIRC, I paid around $2,500 for my Rosewood about a decade ago, so $2,000 now would be a bargain.

Just curious: Rosewood, or Rosewood Signature? I heard the latter in a Goldmund turntable (not the Reference!) years ago, and was very impressed.

 

[Bernard]

Just curious: Rosewood, or Rosewood Signature? I heard the latter in a Goldmund turntable (not the Reference!) years ago, and was very impressed.

The Rosewood. I hear the Signature is much better.

 

[User211]

Oh no I DIDN'T buy a Koetsu... and I have always wanted one!

As it turns out I have gone for a used Transfiguration Orpheus. I checked and they can be re-tipped. Hi-FI News gave it 19/20 - that's pretty high - it MUST be very special. I reckon it must be better than a basic Rosewood, but I honestly don't know if it is my cup of tea.

If not, back on ebay/Audiogon it goes with very little monetary loss.

I'll dump some feedback on this thread after I get it and have had a chnace to evaluate it. That's assuming it actually works when I get it, IF I get it!!!

Auctions...:devil:

 

[Bernard]

Oh no I DIDN'T buy a Koetsu... and I have always wanted one!

You do realize, I hope, that the only way to stop an itch is to scratch it ! :devil:

As it turns out I have gone for a used Transfiguration Orpheus. I checked and they can be re-tipped. Hi-FI News gave it 19/20 - that's pretty high - it MUST be very special. I reckon it must be better than a basic Rosewood, but I honestly don't know if it is my cup of tea.

But what are the reviewer's biases? Does he like accurate or lush (hic!) ? I'm an unapologetic lush when it comes to cartridges (did not like an expensive Benz that the dealer loaned me when I was waiting for my Rosewood).

If not, back on ebay/Audiogon it goes with very little monetary loss.

Unless you have to retip it first.

 

[User211]

Bernard - it should be OK - it has 180 hours on it... and the original sales receipt from Jan this year.

I can only agree with what you are saying - I have no clue what it will be like. Neil (nsgarch) had some considerable influence on me in private e-mails, I am afraid I just can't demo cartridges of this ilk with the local shops around here. This is the ONLY way.

It is a good eff. mass / compliance match with my arm, and it has a good, strong output. Negatives? The guy that owns it obviously does not like it, as he is going for a Benz LP.

As I say - if it is a lemon, I'll re-sell it.

Assuming it doesn't need a re-tip. To repeat:

Auctions...:devil:

 

[Bernard]

Auctions...:devil:

Auctions are not all bad. I bought a Klyne SK2A head amp at an auction on Audiogon, then sold it 2 years later for more money than I paid for it.

 

[tonyc]

I'm with Bernard. I love my Rosewood Signature, but I have heard the Black and I cannot believe you wouldn't like it if you can't spring for the Rosewood.

 

[tonepub]

One of our staff has a pair of Rosewood Signature Platinum Koetsus and Im pretty sure he wants to get rid of one of them...

Both brand new in box. Let me know if you would like me to investigate.

THis is a primo cartridge!

 

[User211]

One of our staff has a pair of Rosewood Signature Platinum Koetsus and Im pretty sure he wants to get rid of one of them...

Both brand new in box. Let me know if you would like me to investigate.

THis is a primo cartridge!

From what I have read (I know, I haven't heard it myself so what does it mean?) I am expecting the Trans Orpheus to be pretty fantastic... I'd be surprised if is nothing less than excellent.

The Air Tight PC-1, I have heard from a source (if he can be believed, and of course it is subjective anyway), annihilates all Koetsus, no matter what the model. But that really does cost money.

Anyway, in all seriousness, I will sell it if I don't personally like it. And please don't take it personally I didn't go for the Koetsu - I think they are GREAT cartridges. I just think The Orpheus has some interesting design features that make sense to me, as a engineer, and which "should" make it killer. I am ready to be proven wrong, though at the moment I am arrogant enough to think that I won't be

Jeff - a Rosewood Sig. is serious money, even on a "good deal". Thanks for the offer, though.

Oh Bernard - I sold my Air Tight ATM2 for considerably more than I paid for it - and I owned it for 4 years! Not bad at all. Great amp, too.

 

[tonepub]

Actually, He just bought the Air Tight cartridge, but after hearing it, I wouldn't say it destroys the Koetsus, just a different presentation. The Airtight has a lot of the analog warmth of the Koetsu, RSP but a little more detail and resolution.

I have close to the same thing with my Dynavector XV-1s.

It's hard buying cartridges at that level, very system dependent.

 

[User211]

Yup buying cartridges is hard - esp. for me where I have no access to demos of carts costing much more than a few hundred pounds.

Just heard the CLX, Jeff, in London. Can't say I blame you for getting a pair. I think they are the best loudspeaker I have ever heard by some appreciable margin. I have plenty of pics, some video and some CD and 24/96 resolution recordings to share... but I am all tied up for a couple of days.

I'll try and post some material before a bulk that will be posted on Monday...

 

[User211]

Michell Gyrodec/Moerch DP6/Trichord Delphini/Transfiguration Orpheus 1
Musical Fidelity Tri-Vista SACD 0

Not enough expletives... this cart is killer good, now I have the loading right, at least to my ears and not the book! Not normal. Created by a space alien from a more technically advanced race - no doubt about it

Also, as it only hits about 10Hz, as opposed to the old Ortofon MC5000's 5Hz, it is very useable with the Descent, without causing extreme cone excursions.

Needless to say, my TT is no longer on top of the Descent! (I never used the Descent with the Ortofon...).

So Bernard - tis an excellent choice, and one I will keep and treasure. And thanks, Neil, for all your advice. Why did the owner sell it? Temporary lapse of sanity? Who knows...

 

[Bernard]

So Bernard - tis an excellent choice, and one I will keep and treasure.

Ah yes, but the siren song of the Koetsu will always be in your subconscious.

So are you going to do a review of your new baby ? Get out the pornograph and post a few pics....by any chance is it a nude cartridge? :devil:

 

[tonepub]

I got cured of the Koetsu bug by buying the Dynavector XV-1s....



But they still make awesome stuff. And I might fall off the wagon
and pick up that RSP from our guy on the staff, just to have one.

Another great cartridge if you like the Koetsu sound is the Sumiko
Celebration II. About 2000 bucks and very close to the mid level
Koetsus.

Even looks like one!

 

[User211]

I got cured of the Koetsu bug by buying the Dynavector XV-1s....



But they still make awesome stuff. And I might fall off the wagon
and pick up that RSP from our guy on the staff, just to have one!

Tonepub - re-read that... may I suggest, you have NOT been cured:devil:

Bernard - taking pics of carts is hard. Will give it a go, later. It is NOT as pretty as a Urushi Wajima, though, by a long shot... eek - have I been cured?

Here it is - best of a bad bunch... in need of a dust. No looker, that's for sure.

"The Greeks of the Classical age venerated the legendary figure of Orpheus as chief among poets and musicians, and the perfector of the lyre invented by Hermes. Poets like Simonides of Ceos said that, with his music and singing, he could charm birds, fishes and wild beasts, coax the trees and rocks into dance,[4] and even divert the course of rivers. He was one of the handful of Greek heroes[5] to visit the Underworld and return; even in Hades his song and lyre did not lose their power."