Phasemation PP-500-500

[Rush2112]

As I'm in the throws of replacing my Koetsu Rosewood, I thought I would share my experience with the Phasemation PP-500 cartridge at £1,995 loaned from the very helpful Hugo at Ammonite Audio, Norwich.

I have posted elsewhere my reasons to change cartridge. My hope is to find something at around £2,000 that will be as satisfying as the Koetsu Rosewood and keep me within budget.

The Phasemation is beautifully presented in a wooden box complete with instructions etc, build quality is exemplary and a good quality well designed stylus guard is also provided.

This is a well run in demo cartridge so no run in was required. VTF is recommended at 1.9gms at which its tracking ability is excellent, as for Anti Skate, this is something where I start from the Frank Shroeder position, the SME V is not typical either, I have never had a cartridge where the VTF and Anti Skate values have been the same. The setting settled on was a touch over 1.15 on the dial. VTA is recommended as a level tonearm and I would agree with this but experimentation in your own arm is never a bad idea but in my SME V it was certainly my preference. Loading was recommended at 50ohms, I prefered it at 100ohms, giving the midrange a little more silkiness.

So how does it sound, well pretty damn good to be honest !

Bass is deep, tuneful and has authority never becoming over powering or "one note" but conveying suitable weight.

Midrange is very good the Koetsu is better, vocals have more inflection but this is a strength of Koetsu's but is it £500 better !

Treble is clean and extended with cymbals being detailed and shimmering appropriately.

Soundstage is wide, deep and high with muscians well located and defined. This is where the Koetsu has the distinct upper hand bettering it in every sense but not by a huge margin. Like the Koetsu, surface noise is very well handled by the Phasemation which is a blessing given the age of some of my vinyl.

So, is this the Koetsu's replacement, well very possibly, it's certainly a cartridge I could live with long term and there are many at much higher prices than the P500 that I couldn't live with!

My next auditions are Jasmine Audio TIger and Benz Micro LP-S. I know I have said my budget is £2,000 so where do I get off thinking the LP-S is within budget ! It isn't, however, I would push the budget to £3,000 for something that is significantly better than the Koetsu.