Wanted: Low Compliance Moving Coil Cartridge? SPU Royal N? Koetsu?

[montesquieu]

I am looking for another cartridge to complement/contrast with the Miyajima Kansui ...

Has to be low compliance as I run things heavy here (SPU headshell weight or 30g+ cartridge and headshell combined) so of the order of an SPU, Koetsu or something along those lines.

Prefer something not re-tipped (at least, not re-tipped by ESCO) as on the whole I've found re-tips disappointing.

So what's out there? Budget is under £1k, preferably rather less than that. Not too worried if it has a few miles on the clock as it won't be a main cartridge.

I've been specifically on the hunt for an SPU Royal N but they are thin on the ground so casting the net wider.

[walpurgis]

ZYX R100 H2?

60 hours (approx) use from bought new by me. Use was logged up to 40 hours.......the 'run in' period. Boxed, superb condition, and sounding very fine indeed. Compliance quoted as 15cu. Not getting the use it should and deserves, 'cos I have a dozen carts including three other ZYXs and keep chopping and changing. £480 PayPal delivered, if it's of interest.

(I should point out that it comes in an R100 box, not specifically marked H2, as that is how it came, but it is an H2 with the boron cantilever)

[Marco]

Hi Tom,

If you're interested, I could be tempted to let my (minty-mint) 1959-vintage SPU-G/T go, as realistically I've got too many cartridges at the moment, and I'm turning into a bit of a Denon fanboy! The SPU's not getting used much and deserves to go to a good home

Comes in its original box, which itself is in mint condition:



You won't find a finer example of this classic cartridge.

If you're interested (or indeed if anyone else is), PM me and we'll talk turkey

Marco.

[montesquieu]

Hi Tom,

If you're interested, I could be tempted to let my (minty-mint) 1959-vintage SPU-G/T go, as realistically I've got too many cartridges at the moment, and I'm turning into a bit of a Denon fanboy! The SPU's not getting used much and deserves to go to a good home

Comes in its original box, which itself is in mint condition:



You won't find a finer example of this classic cartridge.

If you're interested (or indeed if anyone else is), PM me and we'll talk turkey

Marco.

Hi Marco

Tempting but I've just pinged Geoff about the ZXY, never owned one and curious. That's a gorgeous example though my goodness, real rupture in the space time continuum going on there, it's fallen through a crack from 1959!

[Marco]

No worries, matey.

Yes, it is truly gorgeous (hence why I bought it in the first place), and sounds superb. An old guy who died had it in his drawer as NOS (as part of his estate), so only one 'proper' owner from new, and that's me! I doubt you'd see a finer example anywhere. It reproduces the classic sound of vintage SPUs, like nothing else I've heard. Truly an ear-opener....

If you change your mind, let me know. I'll be advertising it 'officially' shortly

Marco.

[krugdoktor]

Hi Marco
(@ montesquieu: sorry for hijacking your thread)
If the price for the SPU is not too high, I would be VERY interested!

[Marco]

Hi Michael,

Send me a PM and we'll discuss it

Marco.

[Marco]

PM sent, Michael.

Guys, if you're interested in the cartridge, let me know ASAP, before 3pm today, otherwise it'll be advertised separately here in Private Exhibitions.

Cheers!

Marco.

[montesquieu]

Decided to pass on both of these

I'm ideally looking for something under 10cu compliance for optimal compliance ... the SPU would fit but having owned several vintage ones I'm now more up for a later one (specifically an SPU Gold or Royal N).

Anyone got a Koetsu at the back of the drawer?

[Ammonite Audio]

Bearing in mind that you sold your Shilabe recently, which to me is the obvious choice of low-compliance cartridge (albeit not at <£1k), what sort of 'sound' are you after? Maybe worth looking at Allnic, Kiseki or even Ikeda? I'd love to hear an Ikeda cartridge, and one day I'll treat myself to an Ikeda tonearm.