Etsuro Urushi MC cartridge

[pure sound]

We're pleased to announce the UK launch of a new high end cartridge from Japan. The Etsuro Urushi features a super fine line (80u) diamond mounted in a sapphire cantilever. The copper wound coils are suspended in a field generated by a Samarium Cobalt magnet. The mounting plate is 2.5mm sapphire.
The Duralumin body is handcoated in Urushi lacquer, work being undertaken by the specialists Etsuro. It gives the cartridge a gorgeous jewel like appearance, that coating itself being a miniature work of art.





It should be at the upcoming Scalford show, probably in the Colman room and will be available from Unique Audio in Herts

www.unique-audio.co.uk/

Price to be finalised but probably equivalent to the $10K figure being shown in other countries.

[Barry]

For that sort of money I would expect the cartridge to be accompanied by a stylus guard.

[Wakefield Turntables]

For that sort of money I'd expect it to be accompanied by a human guard.

[rubber duck]

For that sort of money I would expect the cartridge to be accompanied by a stylus guard.

Stylus guards are a threat to cantilevers. Best protection is a turntable lid really.

[pure sound]

For that sort of money I would expect the cartridge to be accompanied by a stylus guard.

I completely agree and have already raised it with them. Their concern is for the lacquer coating which would be damaged by the repeated fitting & removal of the typical hard plastic moulded guard. I've made some alternative suggestions & am waiting for their response.

EDIT: As Jeff points out, it's not uncommon for mis-fitted guards to do the damage & wipe out cantilevers. It doesn't have to be a duster or woolly jumper!


You'll note I haven't said much about the sound of this cartridge. Suffice to say it isn't of the clinical, spotlit, analytical school. If you want that, then there are Lyras & modern Ortofons to suit every pocket. But it isn't SPU lush either.

[struth]

I only fit a guard when in storage, and then very carefully. Fitting one when on an arm is a bit dodgy

[YNWaN]

That looks super interesting Guy - I look forward to hearing it at the show this weekend - catch up with you then.

[Barry]

My comment about the lack of a stylus guard expresses my concern of possible damage to the cantilever during installation of the cartridge to a fixed headshell arm in situ. Once the cartridge is fitted, the stylus guard is then removed. I wouldn't, and don't, fit a stylus guard when a cartridge is not being used (that is when not playing a record).

[pure sound]

If someone lacked the confidence to install such a cartridge I'd hope they would delegate that responsibility to their dealer.
This one is actually relatively simple compared to some as it has threaded inserts so no nuts are required.

Mark, it may be on a Kodo Beat/Air Tangent which would be cool.

[User211]

Mark, it may be on a Kodo Beat/Air Tangent which would be cool.

Indeed it would.

It'd also be expensive.

But cool expensive. Kind of 'almost worth the money'.