Koetsu surprise

We all have opinions, but none of us value our own opinions as much as Raul values his. He's uniquely equipped to win any war of words via pure attrition.

Dear @mulveling : """ We all have opinions...""" and agree with you on this regards.

Now, for some years now I posted several FACTS not opinions in at least 3 critical audio subjects: digital vs analog, tubes vs SS and damped vs non-damped metal tonearms.

Those facts where explained in very long posts not one time but more than twice and I don’t have the time to post it again.

Were very precise facts, incontrovertible ones even measurable ones. In all those years some gentlemans that disagree with me on the superior quality performance levels of digital/SS/damped tonearms over tubes/analog/non damped tonearms they never posted any single FACT that can prove the other FACTS were wrong.

They gave only opinions, subjective opinions that can’t makes sense against objective facts where common sense is mandatory and not opinions that at the end only means: " I like it ".

When I talk about facts on those audio subjects I never speak on what I like or what any one likes, it’s totally irrelevant against what should be through those facts.

No, I’m not posting ( in that regards/subjects. ) my opinion about because my opinion is totally irrelevant.

Same happens in other forums where I posted out of Agon.

But you or any other gentleman can post facts/objective where help all of us to understand why the rigth road ( as should be. ) are: tubes, analog and undamped metal tonearms when is the other way around: SS/DIGITAL/DAMPED TONEARMS.

Remember that my MAIN TARGET is to stay nearest to the recording not what I like it as you and several other audiophiles.
Now, those 3 important and critical audio subjects must be surrounded by a fine tunned each single link at the room/system chain.

Remember too that when our system quality level performance puts us nearest to the recording then in an incontrovertible way we always will loves that kind of sound, we don’t have to worry if " we like it or not " because always we like it if we are ( first than all. ) music lovers and we are not deaf.


Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

Don't forgot that to stay nearest to the recording we need the lowest ( everykind ) distortions levels at each link, so tubes and non damped metal tonearms are absolutely out of question against that target.

R.

I think what many of us are saying is that ultimate neutrality or faithfulness to the recording isn't necessarily the goal. Even if perfect accuracy was achieved it would not automatically ensure listening pleasure, and we all perceive sounds differently anyway. Different brands and technologies exist to cater to personal subjective preferences, which can change day to day!  This is why so many analog enthusiasts run multiple carts. A little coolness here, some romanticism there. I like a system that in some ways caters to my whims and values, which change all the time. Appreciating neutrality is different than loving it. Any car can get us from point a to point b however we drive what we like. A formula one car more accurately follows the road than than your typical auto but few of us would find it pleasurable as a daily driver. In short, I think accuracy is fine but not an end in itself. 

Raul, You are a never ending riot.  Your opinions are "facts". Anyone else's opinion to the contrary is merely an opinion. I can't even get angry any more.

Dear @13blm: """  Even if perfect accuracy was achieved it would not automatically ensure listening pleasure ... """

we can't have listening pleasure with true bad recordings even if the room/system is nearest to the recording.

The other reason is that each one room/system audiophile has different main target. You posted exactly that:

"  many of us are saying is that ultimate neutrality or faithfulness to the recording isn't necessarily the goal.  """


@lewm :  """  Your opinions are "facts". """, totally wrong. My opinions is only that: an opinion but ( again . ) I 'm talking of true facts not opinion and I can see you have a very short memory because you participated more than one time against those facts but you never gave any single fact but opinions.
You can re-read my posts about and is there where those facts are.

Just an example: everything the same what do you think is nearest to " perfection ": an electronic item with a 60 db signal to noise ratio against other electronic item with 85db on that same figure. The same items where one has a RIAA eq. deviation of 3db against the other with 1db deviation or one with limeted frequency response against the other with wider frequency response?  what do you prefer ( everything the same. ) a cartridge with a frequency response inside 0.5db at 10hz to 100khz  to other with 3db of deviations. Or a measurable ( same cartridges ) where the first one has higher tracking abilities than the other.

All those are facts and I prefer to listen the ones that measures the better because puts me nearest to the recording due that has lower inherent distortions/colorations.

That you don't want to change your self even with facts that proves you are wrong this is different.

Problem is and I posted several times that everyone is willing to gives opinions and be " severe " critics when can't understand the main subject and can't understand because they don't give his self the opportunity to understand it.
I posted what to do ( an experiment or whaever. ) to confirm  by it self that those facts will tell everyone how wrong they are but no one is willing to discovery the " true ".

So how almost any one of you already knows my facts are wrong if never  had a single self experience on what I'm talking about ????? ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ and I already had for years the experiences you are living today.
At least I know both sides of the today " moon ".

It's as some people that do not like to go to the doctor because they are afraid that the doctor can tell they have cancer. Exactly as many of you in the whole audio subject: we are fear of reality and hide behind that: I like it, it does not matters I'm wrong.

Regards and enjoy the Music Not Distortions,
R.

@terry9 
The stylus visibility is all varies a lot with Koetsus. On my Coralstone, it barely protrudes from the cantilever towards the record -- certainly hard to see. On my other Koetsus (including vintage RSP), the shank protrudes quite a bit and is very easy to spot even with a naked eye. 

@13blm I totally agree with your sentiment here.  A goal for a good hifi in my opinion allows one to cater to their moods.  For most that means a high relolution low distortion system, most of the time. I finding that the KRSP is giving me all these things, with just a dash of beauty.

The late Peter Aczel (an Objectivist) gave the Koetsu Rosewood his highest rating as the best sounding phono cartridge - even though he was a bit appalled by its price of (then - 1979) $1000. His second choice was the GAS Sleeping Beauty Shibata (this was a Coral 777 in a custom body - I owned the Super Elliptical version - $200) A great sounding cartridge for its time (late 70's).

Just an update after dialing in the Koetsu RSP on the FR-64S tonearm. I have tried a couple different headshells including a stock Jelco, a Jelco HS-30 Rosewood (which is heavier and with different headshell leads but still contacts the cartridge with its metal underside), a Yamamoto HS-6S (all titanium), and an Ortofon LH-8000 (all oak headshell with Urishi lacquer). I have on hand a Yamamoto HS-4 (all carbon fiber) that I have yet to mount. 

My favorite combination is with the ortofon wooden headshell.  This seems to bring out the best characteristics of this cartridge which I hear as dynamics, clarity and midrange naturalness.  This is such a musically informative cartridge.  

For anyone else using tonearms with headshells and Koetsu, what have you found to work best?

@karl_desch Try the Ortofon LW 800 S lead wires with your favorite headshell.

@james1969  It would make sense to match the Ortofon headshell with those leads however I have read that they are difficult to use due to stiffness and have low quality clips.  Maybe that is not your experience?

@nandric In this hobby, command of your own money requires self-restraint. Thanks for the recommendation.  I take it that Mr. Acoustical Systems thought that this setting allows for a reduction in possible resonance from the VTF spring while taking advantage of the dynamic VTF?  I give it a whirl. 

Those lead wires were easy to install for me.  They are using rhodium clips.  I simply removed the stock copper lead wires and replaced them with the LW 800 S wires.  Not too stiff for me.  I need flexible lead wires because I am using the Cartridge Man Isolator dampening interface between the cartridge and the headshell.

@james1969 I will check them out for sure then.  I think I will also try to solder up some headshell leads with some Cardas tone arm wire and rhodium clips I have on hand. I know those are flexible and like the Cardas clips in general.