Koetsu

The retail price for a Koetsu Rosewood Signature in Japan is 189,000yen. I live in Japan but Koetsu is not a cartridge that ever interested me until a German gentleman who bought an SME tonearm off me on eBay asked me to get a price for one which he duly bought. The price pretty much stunned me as they are $3500 in the States. That cartridge came with all the warranty papers, etc so I would see no problem if he ever had an issue with the cartridge, getting it serviced. So, the prices in Asia are not a 'hoax' or ripoff.
However, I have been told Koetsu cartridges are now made in China......The founder of Koetsu has passed away; apparently he was the artist, the son who now runs the company is by all accounts a 'businessman'.
Hope that helps.

Though I have always loved and owned Koetsus in the past,there is something suspiciously "silly" about the newer models.It seems that as of now,Koetsu has gone overboard with the "stone type" body housings,and their apparent cache in how the particular body affects the rediculous pricing."I know,I know" that they are "real pretty",but like the dumb handbag industry(see Coach and Louis Vuitton)the price for "pretty" is getting almost laughable!Talk to me about cantilever material,and design,or purity of coils,or magnetics.NOT cosmetics!!

I am still aware that these are superior designs,but my way of justifying a product is to see "definitive" design parameters,and details OTHER than some "fancy schmancy" body material.

Perplexed,stupified,and bewildered!!

-- Sirspeedy--

For Platinum model onwards, the "heart" of the cartridge for all models remains the same except for the housing material. It was claimed that these different housing materials make the final cartridges sound different to each other. If you think that slight sound difference worth for the extra amount, than just go for it. This is business!!

You can always check with Melvin Ang, the south East asia distributor if more info is required, and no Koetsu are not made in China, the late Suguno passed his know-how to his sons before he passed away....check with Melvin, he visits the Sugano household ever now and then.

http://home.pacific.net.sg/~angmelvin/