Spot the cartridge

[YNWaN]

The Bloodstone Platinum, the Blue Lace Onyx, but I believe you can have it fitted to any of them as a special order ($4K extra).

[Oldpinkman]

The Bloodstone Platinum, but I believe you can have it fitted to any of them as a special order.

Not as standard http://www.needledoctor.com/Koetsu-B...hono-Cartridge

[prestonchipfryer]

Says here one piece diamond -

http://www.stoneaudio.co.uk/?manufacturer=koetsu

[Oldpinkman]

Found one (bloodstone) claiming to have a diamond cantilever - but not a onesie specifically (although could be - no claims, photo not good enough to see). But, from the bad photo, it looks more like a 2 piece like the ruby cantilevers. Why is it so hard to get hard facts about cartridges these days - never mind a few performance graphs. It's not like its hard to measure a cartridge frequency response and a 1K and 10K square wave

[Oldpinkman]

Says here one piece diamond -

http://www.stoneaudio.co.uk/?manufacturer=koetsu

we crossed in the post

[YNWaN]

If you look at the Koetsu.com website they definitely state it is a one piece (or monocoque as they put it) construction and not two piece.

Another upgrade is the Diamond cantilever option. As the name suggests, the stylus/cantilever assembly is machined out of a solid piece of diamond. This 'monocoque' structure effectively removes the interface issues associated with regular stylus/cantilever assemblies.

[Oldpinkman]

352 views and nobody has asked me what it sounds like!

[YNWaN]

And, so far, you've posted 11 times on the thread and not said anything about its sound....

[Clive197]

352 views and nobody has asked me what it sounds like!

OK OK, What's it sound like?

[Oldpinkman]

And, so far, you've posted 11 times on the thread and not said anything about its sound....

Very good! But I like to be enigmatic. And actually I've been really naughty with that comment, because I alluded to my dissatisfaction with the reference system we were using and want to do it properly in September, and elsewhere noted I am not good at describing how kit sounds.

Will "flawless" do for a starter. All that MC detail and "sharpness" and delicacy but more so - and the bloody thing can track. Having tried it against the PT/FX3/1022 - which were "warmer" in a good, natural sort of way, but flatter and less spacious, and without that "real" sound to s guitar string plucked, we switched the FX3 onto the technics with the Sony and it really sang. Arthur phoned Germany and bought on the spot. I now wake up each morning with a google for "XL88". "sweet" doesn't really do it justice. Chilled might suggest something. Just fabulous midrange and treble detail and naturalness and space. I still wonder whether that FX3 isn't a bit subdued in the bass - and we explored an idea for another arm to address that, but don't go away with the idea this was bad in any way. Effortless, transparent, musical. I've said before - I hate describing these things.

But returning to my original fan-dance I'd really like to hear it in a proper system. Interestingly there was no hum on the FX3 with the XL88 even with the wick up full - it was only slight with the Goldring, so that aspect wasn't spoiling anything. But the Moving coil stage in the technics amp is hardly the last word - to say nothing of the poweramp and speakers.

Maybe the best cartridge I've heard. Just - seconds ago - had a text to say my gramophone needle from Arizona has cleared customs - so that will be an interesting comparison. And AK has dug out a spare Anni sub-chassis as a cheat to get my PT pimping project started. So September may be fun.