Just arrived .. Ikeda 9C III

[montesquieu]

Cantilever-less design with a nod to the Deccas .. though moving coil and hand built by Ikeda personally

Took a bit of setting up ... has some similarities to the Decca in terms of 'realness', 'vividness', 'energy' .. seems to have impressive transparency as well and a great back to front sense of space. I like it. Quite different presentation to the SPU Royal (big and bold) and the Miyajima Madake (harmonically rich). Similar levels of detail in all but quite a different way of presenting it.

Quite different in design and sound to the current Ikeda 9TT that I had (which had a short but relatively normal cantilever - as does the Fidelity Research MC-702 I currently have on loan, which is much closer to the current Ikeda).

[farflungstar]

I've often thought about trying one of these. Just need a Glanz arm for it ....

[montesquieu]

From the design documentation



No cantilever just a curved bridge that is directly connected to the pole pieces.

35.5g on the scales ... heavier than any of my SPUs.

[Barry]

I believe Rowland Research 'badged' and distributed this cartridge in the US, during the '80s.

...has some similarities to the Decca in terms of 'realness', 'vividness', 'energy' .. seems to have impressive transparency as well and a great back to front sense of space. I like it. Quite different presentation to the SPU Royal (big and bold) and the Miyajima Madake (harmonically rich). Similar levels of detail in all but quite a different way of presenting it.

Quite different in design and sound to the current Ikeda 9TT that I had (which had a short but relatively normal cantilever - as does the Fidelity Research MC-702 I currently have on loan, which is much closer to the current Ikeda).

Umm - sounds ideal; I shall be following your findings with great interest.

[keith1962]

So Tom,
If you had to nominate one cartridge to "rule them all", which would it be???????

[montesquieu]

So Tom,
If you had to nominate one cartridge to "rule them all", which would it be???????

Lol ... the Ikeda is shaping up well but far too early to make a judgment. I've already noticed that it's less forgiving of less than pristine vinyl than, say, your average SPU. It has a strange characeristic of appearing 'loud' from any starting volume level (just as a live string quartet or Lieder recital does) - really grabs attention. It also captures fine expression very well indeed. All characteristics of Deccas too but this feels less flat to me - properly 'walk-in' 3D.

Current favourite remains the Miyajima Madake. It has a similar quiet but all-round expert quality to the Audio Note Io2 I had for a couple of years (used with an AN-S6c all-silver step-up), but in my setup, more musical, expressive; also tonally rich and deep, solid bass without overdoing it, and an unforced, silvery quality to the treble.

But I still enjoy what SPUs do too and indeed one of my favourite cartridges of all time is an SPU 95th anniversary that I don't own (Petrat brought his round) - that felt as close to perfection as vinyl can do. Hard to imagine being without an SPU and the 95th anniversary is definitely on the list.

This Ikeda is another dimension again. I can't be bothered with hyper-real/hyper detailed cartridges, they have to move me, not impress me, and the Ikeda certainly does that.

Though interestingly on one level all of these cartridges sound surprisingly similar despite their differing approaches, like they are converging on a point.

Noting also so far that I'm using it on an 'unimproved' AT1010 (awaiting modding by Angus). My Ikeda IT-345 CR1 is off for service (and so, briefly - just to have the arm lift re-filled - is the Ortofon RMG-309 Limited). With a better arm I'm sure this will give me even more. Can't wait till the Ikeda arm comes back ... I read recently - by Jonathan Carr, the guy behind Lyra, who apprenticed with Ikeda - that this is the master's favourite of the arms he created- the design dates from the same era as this cartridge and they are surely intended to be used together.

[dwhistance]

Looks very interesting, unusually for me I'm suffering from a touch of cartridge envy! I look forward to reading how it improves in the Ikeda arm,

David Whistance

[RobbieGong]

Nice one Tom, another interesting piece there I'd never heard of.

Like the way you indulge and try all kinds of stuf - great !

[keith1962]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply Tom. I really quite fancy an SPU A95 but I would think almost impossible to find now due to the limited run and people wanting to hold onto them. Having said that the Centenary SPU is due ( if they are doing one?) So there might be some movement on the second hand market.
I run a Shilabe and your views on the Madake interest me. Next move might be a Royal N in my Arche headshell though given the current price of Miyajimas.

[montesquieu]

Nice one Tom, another interesting piece there I'd never heard of.

Like the way you indulge and try all kinds of stuf - great !

what's the proverb ... something like 'curiosity emptied the wallet' (or something)

Thanks for the comprehensive reply Tom. I really quite fancy an SPU A95 but I would think almost impossible to find now due to the limited run and people wanting to hold onto them. Having said that the Centenary SPU is due ( if they are doing one?) So there might be some movement on the second hand market.
I run a Shilabe and your views on the Madake interest me. Next move might be a Royal N in my Arche headshell though given the current price of Miyajimas.

I certainly hope they do a centenary SPU .. I've seen the odd 90th anniversary for sale . that will be interesting.

Just looked up the Arche headshell .. hmmm