Miyajima Takumi

[Ammonite Audio]

I have a Miyajima Takumi to play with. Actually, I've bought it, unheard, as an ex-review example from Timestep Distribution.

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s301/hugocass/Takumi_zpsrlvgisc3.jpg

It's the very one that Paul Rigby reviewed here http://www.theaudiophileman.com/#!miyajima-takumi/c1xbf , and it is shortly going on the Jelco SA-750E mounted on my Kenwood KD-990.

I'm quite excited about this, having heard some other Miyajima cartridges over at Tom's last year. Miyajima's take on MC cartridge design is different and rather intelligent, doing away with the traditional tie-wire; instead they use a fixed pivot that supports the cross ring coil assembly very precisely at its pivot point. The compliant suspension element is thus placed in front of the coil assembly, rather than behind as is usually the case. Anyway, IIRC Rega are the only other MC cartridge maker to eliminate the tie-wire and its inherent limitations. The Takumi sits at the bottom of the Miyajima range, having an elliptical stylus - models further up have Shibata stylii.

For those interested in reading more, the authorised UK website is www.miyajima-lab.co.uk .

[Jimbo]

I would like to hear a Mijajima cartridge Hugo as I have been informed they are a very musical MC design due to their use of wooden cartridge bodies etc.

[Ammonite Audio]

There's nothing novel about the use of wood for the bodies, but the internal design does make them different (unique, actually).

I set up the Takumi in an Oyaide HS-TF headshell (http://ammonite-acoustics.co.uk/product/oyaide-hs-tf-carbon-fibre-headshell-with-copper-wires/), set the tracking at 2.25g and the armtube level. I was greeted with a soft, over-blown sound, but raising the arm pillar soon found the optimum VTA that brought a nice balance to the sound. I am struck by the virtual absence of surface noise, but that aside the Takumi does have a very nicely ordered, smooth and natural sound. It's not rolled-off smooth, but rather there are no hard edges to what it does. Using a rather nice old Philips recording of Beethoven late string quartets, it's clear that the Takumi conveys what the musicians are doing very nicely.

So, early days, but I am already somewhat taken with the Takumi, and I will be taking it to Scalford where it will help to show off my Jelco stuff in the Pavillion.

[Jimbo]

There's nothing novel about the use of wood for the bodies, but the internal design does make them different (unique, actually).

I set up the Takumi in an Oyaide HS-TF headshell (http://ammonite-acoustics.co.uk/product/oyaide-hs-tf-carbon-fibre-headshell-with-copper-wires/), set the tracking at 2.25g and the armtube level. I was greeted with a soft, over-blown sound, but raising the arm pillar soon found the optimum VTA that brought a nice balance to the sound. I am struck by the virtual absence of surface noise, but that aside the Takumi does have a very nicely ordered, smooth and natural sound. It's not rolled-off smooth, but rather there are no hard edges to what it does. Using a rather nice old Philips recording of Beethoven late string quartets, it's clear that the Takumi conveys what the musicians are doing very nicely.

So, early days, but I am already somewhat taken with the Takumi, and I will be taking it to Scalford where it will help to show off my Jelco stuff in the Pavillion.

Your description of this cartridge Hugo sounds exactly like my Denon 301 MK2. However my cartridge is a couple of £1000 cheaper!:)

[anubisgrau]

just treated myself to shilabe too. will be with me by the end of month... mijayima cult growing ;)


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Itsukushima-jinja_torii_(Miyajima)_-_DSC02164.JPG

[flapland]

I love Miyajima and was able to walk up close to the Tori gate and with a lot less people when visited few years ago.

I must admit I didn't realise the cartridges were in high terms not too badly priced. Temptations perhaps later in the year.

[anubisgrau]

ah yes, they have good prices for what they deliver. shilabe gives a hard time to stone koetsus for about 1/4 - 1/3 price (imho sounds better but maybe my taste)

[Ammonite Audio]

A few more hours under the Miyajima Takumi has only confirmed and reinforced my initial impressions. This thing produces the most beautiful sound, completely without harshness, that makes my beloved Kontrapunkt B sound like CD, but it's not syrupy and certainly does not miss anything out. How can surface noise be so much lower from the Takumi than from the Kontrapunkt? I don't know, but its relative silence is blissful. This is a classy bit of kit.

I'm so glad that I took a punt on this Miyajima Takumi - I was fascinated by its novel and clever internal design and hoped that it would be special. It is. And then some ..... :)

[Ammonite Audio]

Here's a video animation showing how Miyajima cartridges work, compared with traditional designs


https://youtu.be/-UArwUMW7YE

[Ammonite Audio]

Your description of this cartridge Hugo sounds exactly like my Denon 301 MK2. However my cartridge is a couple of £1000 cheaper!:)

The Takumi retails at £1295 (see http://www.miyajima-lab.co.uk/ )

[Barry]

just treated myself to shilabe too. will be with me by the end of month... mijayima cult growing ;)


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Itsukushima-jinja_torii_(Miyajima)_-_DSC02164.JPG

That photo brought back happy memories of my trip to Japan and to Miyajima. :)

[Ammonite Audio]

At Scalford yesterday:

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s301/hugocass/IMG_20160320_134915_zpsxpej6uzh.jpg

[cuddles]

That's the cleanest record I've ever seen:stalks: Great pic.

[Ammonite Audio]

That's the cleanest record I've ever seen:stalks: Great pic.

That's a plug for Paul Stewart's 'The Right One (http://theartofsound.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?74-The-Right-One)' record cleaning products, then!

Not a bad pic considering it was taken with a Blackberry Classic phone.

[pure sound]

There was a Madake mounted on an Air Tangent on the Kodo Beat turntable at Scalford. Sounded spectacular.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/pure_sound/25939861405_22f236bc44_c.jpg

[Ammonite Audio]

There was a Madake mounted on an Air Tangent on the Kodo Beat turntable at Scalford. Sounded spectacular.

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh107/pure_sound/25939861405_22f236bc44_c.jpg

Very nice. The Ikeda looks nice too!

It was a shame that I could not get away from the Pavillion to have a wander around - next year I'll bring a helper!