Koetsu. The King of Cartridges.
The humble phono needle has a monumental task.
Once described as one of the greatest creations of the 20th century for it's seemingly impossible requirement. A task likened to a jet aircraft dragging a boulder down the Grand Canyon in the seemingly futile task of reproducing music.
Yosiaki Sugano (1907 - 2002) founder of Koetsu and master craftsman, legend in his own time and father of the revival of the moving coil phono cartridge in the 1970s. Anybody who was anybody wanted a Koetsu cartridge in the 1970s and but for it's price any audiophile worth his (or her) salt.
Today the Koetsu legend lives on ably led by Yosiaki's son. The range is more refined than those produced in the 1970s some using exotic materials like silver, platinum and Solid diamond cantilevers.
The Listening Room decided to take the plunge and order the most exotic Koetsu, the Blue Lace complete with diamond cantilever.
Hi Fi Choice had this to say about the Blue Lace.....
"A magnificent cartridge, then - one of the best money can buy. When it comes to turning those squiggly grooves on your records into living breathing music, there's little better. Result? You listen to your hi fi with rapt attention - much like you'd listen to musicians playing live in front of you."
But for a taste of the Koetsu cartridge you can always get the Rosewood. A superb performer at a reasonable price.
