I bought a Koetsu Urishi Black a few years ago. I mounted it on a Pioneer PL-71, I had bought, back in ’74. At first, it sound very tinny and I was very disappointed in it’s performance. I spoke with Koetsu and they informed me my tonearm, may not have enough mass. I experimented and finally got excellent results, by adding a very thin strip of Dynamat to the full length of the tonearm. Man-the difference was like day and night. I had only been back into vinyl a short time and was still "Living In The Past." The Dynamat, not only gave me the mass I needed, but also acts as a vibration absorber too. I find the Urishi Black, plays my older LPs better, such as Sgt Pepper’s Lonely... The White Album and LPs like that. Anyway, to get the sound you’re looking for, try, as stated in the responses above, to increase the tonearm’s mass. It really does not have to be complicated, as I found out using the dynamat. I know-sounds ghetto, but it worked!
Koetsu surprise
I have to hand it to my wife. Like many of us, I have always plotted and schemed my own system upgrades based on my interests and perceived best bang for the buck. I have been concentrating on the analog front end for the past 4 years and have been listening to a lot more music. I had been enjoying a Lyra Delos for its detail and upper register energy, a SoundSmith Zephyr Star for its amazing instrumental separation and full frequency balance and an Ortofon MC A90, that I purchased used of Agon. Thought I was done with cartridges for a long time.
So when on the eve of our 20th wedding anniversary I received a little square box from her, I had no clue that she would gift me something for the stereo. But there in front of me is a pretty little Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum!
Its hard to describe the disbelief. I had never considered a Koetsu. My impression of them was that they were rolled off, romantic, old school cartridges that had been bettered long ago by the likes of Ortofon, Lyra and SoundSmith. Never really read up on their cartridges given that their cheapest models were about as much as I would ever consider spending.
Fast forward one month and I have put about 40 hours on the RSP. From the first needle drop I was very impressed with the midrange presence and the utter ease and extension into the very highest frequencies. The bass did sound a little soft in the first several hours but has tightened up considerably. It sounded its best loaded with 100 Ohms and mounted on my Mørch DP-6 with heavy brass headshell screws from SoundSmith. I currently have it on my Jelco 750D with a Jelco Rosewood headshell.
I don't think any of these arms are the best match but the RSP does sound quite special on all of them. Just purchased a 40 year old Fidelity Research FR-64S. Can't wait to listen to the RSP on this arm. Any recommendations on the FR-64S/RSP combo are welcome.
This whole experience has taught me an interesting lesson about assumptions in our little hobby. You just have to listen before you judge. This is a quantum leap in musical enjoyment that would never have happened if left to my own devices. Anyone else have this type of experience? First time you heard something that changed your mind about what you thought you knew about audio?
I married up!
So when on the eve of our 20th wedding anniversary I received a little square box from her, I had no clue that she would gift me something for the stereo. But there in front of me is a pretty little Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinum!
Its hard to describe the disbelief. I had never considered a Koetsu. My impression of them was that they were rolled off, romantic, old school cartridges that had been bettered long ago by the likes of Ortofon, Lyra and SoundSmith. Never really read up on their cartridges given that their cheapest models were about as much as I would ever consider spending.
Fast forward one month and I have put about 40 hours on the RSP. From the first needle drop I was very impressed with the midrange presence and the utter ease and extension into the very highest frequencies. The bass did sound a little soft in the first several hours but has tightened up considerably. It sounded its best loaded with 100 Ohms and mounted on my Mørch DP-6 with heavy brass headshell screws from SoundSmith. I currently have it on my Jelco 750D with a Jelco Rosewood headshell.
I don't think any of these arms are the best match but the RSP does sound quite special on all of them. Just purchased a 40 year old Fidelity Research FR-64S. Can't wait to listen to the RSP on this arm. Any recommendations on the FR-64S/RSP combo are welcome.
This whole experience has taught me an interesting lesson about assumptions in our little hobby. You just have to listen before you judge. This is a quantum leap in musical enjoyment that would never have happened if left to my own devices. Anyone else have this type of experience? First time you heard something that changed your mind about what you thought you knew about audio?
I married up!
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- 66 posts total
- 66 posts total