I listened to this on my phone and the weird part is when I looked up and just listened to your video, I could tell a difference. I think the music sounds more alive and vibrant on your new cartridge. Very fascinating. Your Led Zeppelin album would be killer to own as well. 🤩 Thank you and take care.
Based the couple videos you've made so far on your Rega, I am hoping you can hear what a difference an MC cart can make. You have an Apheta installed, right? If so that should make the most excellent pairing. The Led Zeppelin was really a lucky score. I picked it up in a Classic Records auction eight years ago at a decent price before the resurgence in vinyl really kicked into high gear. If it went up for auction now, I am sure I would lose out.
Believe or not Paul, I could tell the difference listening with my phone! Very open and dynamic. It's like your old cart was being choked off. When you switched to the new cart, there was a definite open soundstage. I'll listen again on my tv. I definitely heard a difference. I could only imagine what it must sound like in person. Sounds like money well spent. Dude let's face it. You're a gear head 😁 It was your review of the schitt mani and nagaoka mp-110 that sold me a few years back. Keep up the gear reviews 👌 Your bud in the other Rocket City 🚀 Todd.
Ahh thanks Todd! It sounds spectacular in person and I like to do these comparisons to see if it's really a placebo effect. I've had some comparisons that have turned out to be surprising. For example, I thought my Bellari would have done better against the Schitt. Boy was I ever wrong. It also shows that spending more money doesn't always mean you get a better product.
@@BarakaPDub In this case. I think you made the right choice. Definitely do a follow up after the break in period. Maybe run it through audacity. When you can hear a difference through a phone, there is definitely some magic going on😁
I couldn't tell the difference on my dinky phone speaker but that doesn't matter. If it sounds better to you and makes you happy, that's all that counts. Great review, Paul and great to see a video from you!
Thanks Jeff. Yeah, I've changed jobs internally within the agency and I have a boat load of more responsibility with the new gig. I am still learning the ropes so I haven't had much time for video making but I had a bit of free time this past week so I decided to see if I could eek a video out. I've been loving your vinyl finds and spin zone videos.
Yep, even through my laptop speakers I could hear the improvement. The cymbal brushes through the Dyna sounded smeared in comparison, overall a much tighter and fuller performance from the Kiseki. Hope you're doing well, Paul :)
Thanks Andrew and I am glad you could hear the difference on your laptop speakers. I am doing good but can't wait for this whole pandemic thing to end. If there has been one silver lining to it all, I've been able to save a bit more money for trivial items like this ;p
So good to see another vid from you. Those intro's are just awesome!!!! Have learnt so much from your channel. Hope you stay safe 👍 Cheers, Steve from Australia
Thanks Steve. I've basically been living like a hermit the past eighteen months, with only a once a week trip to the grocery store. While these COVID precautions suck, I've been saving a lot of money on the flip side. I am happy to see you guys are fairing far better than us in the United States.
My last comment was made at the beginning of the video. This comes at the end. Yes, there is no denying that the Kiseki sounds sweeter and less in-your-face than the DV, but, like most high end reviews, only modern reissues were heard. It's sad that people trust them blindly, and, BTW, it would have been nice to hear the 2 carts side by side on the Steely Dan, as I produced the reissue that my friend, Kevin Gray, mastered. Also, it seems to me that with the internal impedance of the 2 cartridges being so vastly different, it's very likely that what we are hearing is mostly loading. Indeed the Kiseki sounds better in this video, and it may very well be the better cartridges, but unfortunately what we have here, while impressive, is not exactly reliable. Having said all of this, this is a fun video. Also, while 5 digits is indeed better spent on a European vacation, for the price of the Coupdarchete Oistrakh 5-10 vintage gems could have been purchased.
Unfortunately, there are RUclips limitations on what can be played. Many things owned by the majors will get you an automatic copyright strike if you play something longer than five seconds so I tried to go with a few things that I knew I could get away with. I do own the Cisco copy of the Steely Dan's Aja and I assume that's the one you are referring too? And you are right about the electrical impedance of the carts, they are different but I tried to give the listener the best possible apples to apples comparison that I could even though there are some limitations. Thanks for watching and commenting Robert. And thank you for producing the Steely Dan reissue. I am hoping that they will be repressed and I would love to see the rest of their catalog given the same treatment.
Thanks for getting back to me. I picked the Steely Dan, and if I hadn't I might have been forced into working on a slimy Jennifer Warnes LP! BTW, I'm even more proud of my work on The Guess Who's American Woman, Doc Watson's Southbound, and Nathan Milstein's recording Dvorak and Glazounov Concerti. Re. your demo, there's no doubt, the Kiseki did sound better, but I'm just wondering about the degree of its superiority had you optimized the DV just a little more (VTA and loading). Your prestige jazz reissues reeked of the typical hot top end that improperly the improperly EQ'd reissues, as in something that I didn't work on, have. Tons of LPs just like that have been rejected in this house. Most people just roll over and say yep the Kiseki sounds better, without any regard for the possibility that the Kiseki might a dip, and the DV was actually sounding more accurate.
I heard a Kiseki on some pretty sophisticated equipment and it sounded great (magical) on classical, jazz, acoustic music, and softer music in general. Then we played Elvis Costello, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Fela Kuti, and Primus and it was not really able to deliver the punch, the rawness, and the energy inherent to that music. It was a bit frustrating as it did some things so very well, and fell a bit short in others. It was a bit like electrostatic speakers in that way. Glorious when good, and a bit disappointing outside the sweet spot. The only thing that matters, however, is that you love it.
Good point Thomas. Some people prefer cartridges for different reasons and how it colors the sound to a certain degree. If I had more foresight, I would have included some samples of different music but I didn't have any good Rock samples recorded with the Dyna for this video.
I wish I could get a sense of how dramatic the difference is between the two cartridges. I can only hear that the Kiseki is providing a fuller bodied sound. The bass is plodding and laboured sounding in the intro of sound sample 1. In sound sample 1 with Kiseki, the bass is musical and "plucky", gone is the lumbering plodding. (You did tell us to listen to the high end, so the contrarian in me went right to the bass instead.😀) Thank you for the video/review.
Listened through Apple TV > Onkyo P-304/M-504 > Yamaha NS 1000M. Great demo. Both sound great, and that’s one of my favorite Dynavector carts, but you can hear an apparent airiness. Sort of like master tapes vs. the vinyl type of difference. Would love to hear some more familiar heavier music. Even non audiophile stuff to see how it handles that stuff. Master of Puppets for example. Great vid though!!!
Wish I had a little more forethought before I took the Dyna off to record some more rock records. I hope to use this cartridge for some more sound comparisons down the road. Thanks for watching Sotirios.
Do you not hear the tipped up treble typical of many MC cartridges. The Kiseki has it in spades and it's measurements back this up. If you like it's more analytical sound, great. But on some records listener fatigue could result.
Its certainly a bit more tipped up. It reminds me a lot of the upper end Nagaoka carts which have a slight boost to those frequencies where cymbals typically lie. Great for Jazz in particular which fits me since I now listen to a lot of it, my MP200 does me good. Just have to retip a Micro type stylus on it and Im set until I possibly try a cart much more expensive like you. But I think Im set at that price range.
Hello Leon. Nagaoka does carts extremely well and they're the ones I highly recommend for anyone getting into the hobby. I haven't heard the MP200 but I am sure it does Jazz extremely well and I like that you can get replacement styli for it easily.
@@BarakaPDub I do like that the replacement styli are cheap as well, but theres also a reason for it. They are quite fat Elipticals and that dont last very long, which is why I want to retip mine with a Micro type stylus.
Hi Paul. Looks awesome! The complete setup :) I'm still amazed how much music is hidden in that groove. With every upgrade it shows you can go a little deeper. Cheers. /Paul2
It's all a bit more inches on the mile. If I wasn't so preoccupied with getting another inch, I should just remain content with a Nagaoka MP-110 and leave well enough alone.
I noticed that the kiseki tracks heavier and 16 gram weight is much heavier than the typical 7 to 10 grams for compliance. Maybe your arm prefers the double the weight of the Kiseki to the DV? Like my friend Robert stated, just the impedance match could account for the differences (I have 40 adjustments with my Zesto SUT). I went from a Benz Ruby 3 to a DV 20XL2 after hearing the wonderful 20XH2 in multiple systems. The Kiseki is also a pain to install and difficult to cue (hidden stylus). It probably sounds as great as it does here if all the installation and compliance factors are accounted for while the DV does not here.
Yes the compliance is different on both carts but the AudioMods allows for adjustments; whereas, the stock Rega arms do not. Impedance on both carts are also different but I tried to do my best to give a listener the experience of what was coming directly from my phono stage. At least, as good as RUclips's audio compression would give. I do agree with the pain on the install on the Kiseki. The design of the cart is not optimal for setup.
If you find it, you can also try a very cheap cartridge: DENON DL103D and set the tracking force al 1.364g you will be astonished by the sound results. In my cartridge collection I have the Kiseki Purple Heart, the Lyra Clavis, the koetsu rosewood signature platinum and others…
Thanks so much for the tip. I will seek that one out since it's really a reasonably priced cart and it just goes to show you don't need to spend a lot of money to get great sound at all.
Wow What a intro!! The Kiseki sounds really nice, i think that you got a great one there. That Led Zeppelin would be something to own, congrats on that one and the new cartridge, great review!!
Thanks ;) I had to have a bit of fun with the intro. The Led Zeppelin is one of the gems of my collection and I was lucky to pick it up eight or nine years ago at a very decent price.
Funny...first time I saw/heard your vid was on the phone. There was "no" comparo...the KPH was way more detailed and delineated. So much so I went to the computer to watch it a second time with satellites and sub to revel in the diff's but...I didn't hear anywhere near as much difference as I did on the phone..? Strange, not sure why. That being said, as much as I am a DV guy, the KPH hands down sounded better..to me. Guess I will have to listen to all comparo's on my iPhone. LOL
I still love DV and it's the product I recommend for anyone wanting to get in moving coils at a reasonable price. I likely won't be spending this much on a cart again so I got a feeling I'll be going back the DV route ;)
Great piece, Kiseki is a wonderful cartridge, Koetsu also but you may have found Koetsu a little warmer plus they have a reputation for not being the longest lasting (I was a Koetsu agent in Europe). Personally I love the Lyra cartridges.
Lyra cartridges are great and I am contemplating going that route when my Purpleheart ends it's life. I seriously looked at the Koetsu line before finding the Kiseki. Thanks for watching and commenting DJWerkz.
Love this Paul. For me it’s always difficult to hear big differences via these videos but there somewhat of a difference. I assume the new cart is an MC? Did you share that ? Did I miss it ? I remember living my Hana ML when I upgraded and the about fifty hours later I heard an even bigger wow. Let’s chat on a new music video sometime in September 🌟
Great review I have been putting a system together for the past few years have the turntable and phono stage now ..the purpleheart is $4500 in Oz ..so I am thinking of the Blue ? Would have been interesting to see how that stacked up against your Dynvector cartridge .. Great taste in music too for your Demos... Stay safe from Down Under 🙏🦘🎵
I've heard many great things about the Blue but I also still think Dynavector does wonderful cartridges. When I stepped up to the Dynavector from an Ortofon 2M Black, it made world of difference. Thanks for watching and commenting Fred.
Marvellous cartridge but far out of my salary earning now. Food more important. Use a Grace F-9 retipped Ruby cantilever,Nude hyper elliptical stylus mm cartridge, restored TD Thorens turntable, new Jelco 550S tonearm York phono stage. Cheers guy
Thanks Joe for watching and commenting. I hear you on the food completely as I am having to curtail a lot of my spending. I am betting that Grace sounds pretty sweet with a Ruby Cantilever. A good stiff cantilever is really critical to getting good sound.
Thanks Bill. I am quite happy with it and I can't see myself spending this kind of money on a cart again...unless there is another long pandemic. And I hope there isn't.
Great video as usual! I looked up the price for this thing and quickly reached for my heart medication. I don’t doubt the quality but geez…once in a lifetime purchase, yeah I can see why. One could buy an outstanding (and complete) stereo system for the price of that single cartridge. But if one has the will and means, I can’t criticize. I’ll probably stick with my Ortofon Blue for the time being. 😜 This brings me to a question for you as I’m clearly a novice regarding vinyl. I do know that one must have an amplifier capable of handling an MC as MM amps seem to be more common, so here’s my question….actually I have two questions. What does a MC cartridge do differently than a MM cartridge? What brand of turntable is that? Thanks in advance!
Great comment and I hear you on the heart medication. Is it ten times better than your Ortofon Blue...probably not. It's like going from an A minus to an A plus student really. For your first question, the premise behind the cartridges are different. A Moving Magnet is really the design that's been around for a very long time. As the stylus moves, the vibrations move a small magnet between coiled copper and that generates your electrical signal to your amplifier. With a Moving Coil, the process is reversed. Your moving a very small coil around a magnet to generate your electrical field. The signal strength (or voltage) is usually smaller with a Moving Coil so you need greater amplification. The amount of output voltage varies greatly with Moving Coils; whereas, Moving Magnets are pretty much fixed. I hope that helps explain things a bit. Most Moving Coils are bit more sensitive so they're really good at retrieving detail. My turntable...ah, it's a heavily modified Rega P3.
@@BarakaPDub Thank you very much for the explanation. Now I know and understand the difference. This is my setup… My turntable is an Audio Technica AT-LP120USB. I added the Ortofon Blue cartridge, and an acrylic slip mat as an upgrade over the included felt mat. The turntable is connected to a mini Fosi Audio Tube phono pre-amp (I upgraded the tubes with a Russian military grade) that runs into my SONY STR-ZA3100 ES A/V receiver because that receiver lacks a phono input but the a sound it produces as a Sony ES product is wonderfully wonderful. All of that is playing through two Definitive Technology BP 9040 tower speakers which gives me two built-in 8” 300 watt subwoofers as I have limited floor space. I will say this about 7 channel stereo. If you got a center channel with a built-in powered subwoofer (I have the Definitive Technology CS9060) that really adds a nice soundstage element especially with jazz and classical. Davis, Coltrane, the Cars, the Eagles, Police, and John Williams never sounded better. Thanks again for taking the time to explain the differences regarding MM & MC’s! Speaking as a subscriber, this has proved to be a very outstanding channel. Keep up your great work. It’s appreciated.
Don’t dismiss your Ortofon 2M Blue. I have one on a vintage Dual on my second system and enjoy it just as much as the fancy-ass Linn Troika MC on a Linn LP-12 on my main rig. The Blue is supremely well balanced and one hell of a tracker. Under the microscope, the diamond stylus is of excellent quality and should last a long time, barring a raging cleaning lady of course 😆
Hi, I could not tell much of a difference. That being said both sound great and I do believe you hear a difference on your system at home. Do you feel that it's objectively better or just a different flavor? I listened through my Samsung Galaxy buds pro.
I think any cart at this level, really is going to give you a different flavor. There might be a little more hear or there. The pure audiophiles will disagree with me but with any gear, the sound will be colored in some fashion. You really have to go with what you like.
Thanks Brian. What I am using is a heavily modified Rega P3-24 which is now over a decade old. I think the only things original on it now are the plinth and the motor to some degree. The Tonearm is an AudioMods 6. I think the cart would work on a Michel.
The difference is very apparent even via shitty RUclips. You've got me wanting to try one...! I'm currently using a fully serviced Lyra Skala which I love but as you know with high-end HiFi when you ask yourself can it really get that much better the answer is always yes. Nice to see you using the Series Six. I've had much more expensive arms & the Series Six in my opinion is as good as anything around $5k. I would only change it for the SAT arm!
Thanks for the kind comments Kowinaida. Whenever, I make a change now, I want to put some audio samples out there for folks to judge. To my ears, I believe I got some improvements in my system and I am glad that's coming across through RUclips. Lyra puts out some great cartridges and I would grab this one if you're looking to try something different. Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I do hope to try an SAT arm someday ;)
say that earlier Kiseki was oem by Dynavector, remake Kiseki still use stock generator to build the cartridge, also Kiseki is more fine, basic sound behavior same as Dynavector.
Thanks for watching John and commenting. I am glad you could pick up on what the cartridge does really well through a compressed RUclips stream. When it comes to classical recordings, I have yet to hear it done better.
My ears nudged me and smiled. The separation is much more defined and the instruments sound like they've been re-strung with newer strings. The bass guitar on the Steely Dan song for instance, you can hear the intonation or slight ringing of the strings as the fingers move from fret to fret. Just amazing !! Ty for the demo.
By the way, i listen to all the you tube tests through my main system. That's the way to go if you want to be sure of the results and the evaluation.....!!!
Thanks for the demo’. It never fails to amaze me how much information can be contained in a groove in a piece of plastic. And how much of that information can be extracted by a sliver of diamond waggling about in that groove. And how different the various models of cartridges can sound. I’m confident your going to have many, many happy hours listening.
Thanks Woc 'n' Wol. It is really amazing given how basic the premise is and the fact the technology really isn't too much different than what was used over a 100 years ago.
mc was tighter, faster, more delicate but this system have smear in high register certainly not cartridge problems as mid was still lovely, body, sense of good bite but long time listening not my tea.
As with any piece of gear you'll find those that love it and those that hate it. Thanks for taking the time to watch the video though and leaving your honest feedback.
It's impossible to criticize the elite "out of (my) category" that now tickles your microgrooves. At the same time, it was impossible to say anything bad about your Dynavector 😂😂😂 ! _I recently had a tussle (again) with another schmuck who didn't understand the point of listening to music with crackles and whistles (his words) not to mention the fools (aka.me) who think that a stylus for the price of a used car can make these ridiculous marketing items better. I'm not the kind of person who likes to participate in this kind of alpha hormone contest haha... especially after I realize he's using a free Stotify account in 160 kbps._ We can say that you know how to upgrade your Rega ! Looooove iiiitttttt !!!! (Still with Nagaoka MP-110 without schiit mani here in France...). Always a pleasure to watch your videos with your intros crazier one after the other. Enjoy your new friend and take care Mister BarakaPDub !
So Robert, what's weird is, this comment pops up in my RUclips Comments feed today. I don't know why this comment all the sudden appeared like four months after the fact. Happy New Year my friend. I'll say it again, you're missed. 160 kbps should be outlawed! I mean, I'll take an mp3 in the car for convenience but it has to by 320 kbps. I won't be spending this money on a cart again....unless I win the lottery.
Another great video! What with the lovely tonearm you have and this cart, it's quite the turntable you've built! I reckon you should do a full system vid soon :)
I really noticed it on the violin how sweet the sound, And the classical was played with such ease I didn't hear any strain or any congestion it was just effortless Congratulations beautiful cartridge and I still love that tone arm
Thanks Ron. Shortly after I picked up the AudioMods, I wanted to see if I could take things up a notch by getting a new cart. I have not been disappointed with the decision. The two pair quite well together.
It's totally raw. Recorded at the highest resolution with no post processing at all. Koetsu makes great carts and I want to try one of their carts next.
That was a great intro, Paul! That Kiseki Purpleheart sounds insane!!! High dollar, but you should treat yourself to it! I’m sure it sounds fabulous on your set-up! 💜🎶💜
Thanks Terri. I guess if there has been one silver lining to the pandemic I am spending less on a lot of things so I thought what better way to enjoy my time at home.
I'll give this a listen on headphones later, but just based on my laptop speakers, the Kiseki sounded a lot smoother in the highs, the Dynavector almost sounded a bit "splatty" with the horns by comparison. Congrats on the cart, it's a keeper.
Thanks Michael. That's where I am hearing the biggest difference is in the high end and I don't feel guilty about snagging this cartridge at all. I know purists would shame me for hot rodding my Toyota with a Porsche engine but I don't care ;)
The Kiseki betters the Dynavector by a noticeable amount. The reason I found your video is because I am lucky enough to still have my original Purpleheart, serial no 249 that I bought in 1986. It probably has only 250-300 hours on it to date and still sounds glorious. It just sounds real. One note on your review-you can clearly hear it’s superiority with the cellos-this cartridge brings out the woodiness of the cello.
Wow! What I wouldn't do to hear an original Purpleheart. Everyone is telling me they're a notch above an original. Finding one that has that amount of hours on it is quite the find. Thanks for chiming in Richard!
@@BarakaPDub I am also lucky enough to have purchased a Kiseki Gold tone arm when they were available. I have both running thru a SOTA Sapphire ‘table into the moving coil input on an old Electrocompaniet EC-1 preamp. For an amplifier I am running the preamp into a new DENON AVR-X4800h receiver because my main amp (Electrocompaniet AW-100) is dying of old age. All this goes to Klipsch Lascala II loudspeakers. Note to everybody-Klipsch Heritage speakers can run on transistor amps IF the transistor amps are really good. I have taken very good care of my Purpleheart because I don’t want to lose the magic through excessive wear. Thanks for commenting!
@@BarakaPDubIf I could without breaking RUclips rules I would upload an Audacity recording I made of the Steely Dan song Glamour Profession. It was from my original early pressing of Gaucho that I bought in 1980.
sorry man, I couldn't tell the difference between the two on You Tube. The appreciation of audiophile equipment basically comes down the amount of money you can spend on it. Enjoy what you can afford because there is always something better. thanks for the video.
No worries if the difference wasn't coming through. Not everyone has been able to hear it through RUclips. And you're right about something better being out there. Honestly though, it's all inches on the mile. Any modestly priced system should get 99.9% of the sound out.
I am betting it's RUclips which is weird. Even in Premiere Pro, I am seeing it export to Stereo. I'll have to watch that again on my next set of needle drops. Thanks for watching MacXpert74.
@@BarakaPDub Thanks for your reply. The Mono sound only occurs with the samples of the cartridges. Other sounds in the video, like the intro and ending, do have Stereo sound. So I guess it’s not RUclips this time, but more likely something that happend during editing.
Good question and it's all an estimate. I know some audiophiles that track it in a log book but I am not that anal. I base my calculation off of when I purchased the cartridge and my average play time per week. Each week, with work and family, I am luck to get in about 3 hours of dedicated play time. Some weeks it's more and some it's less. So I've had the Dynavector for about four and a half years. (4.5 years X 52 weeks/year X 3 hours/week = 702 hours)
I do actually. At least a US copy of it. It's my favorite Police album and sadly, I think I have three or four copies. I do prefer the original of the Abbey Road remaster on this on.
@@BarakaPDub Miles Showell is a hack. I don’t buy anything that’s been remastered at Abby Roads. Rumor is they can’t even do AAA mastering. It all sounds like glass breaking.
I loved watching this video. I have been looking for something better than the Koetsu Black and was thinking about the Kiseki. Did you adjust the volume output to compensate for the lower DV output?
I had to adjust the loading for the different cartridges and their relative output but in the video, I really didn't have to make any adjustments at all between the two.
@@BarakaPDub Great. Thanks for the reply! That’s where I ended up, per Kiseki’s recommendation. Sometimes it helps to get feedback to reinforce your own listening judgment. Happy listening!
Hey Paul! I missed this video when it dropped as we were on vacation. I made sure to circle back though. I could hear the difference here at work on my iMac on all of the samples but the most noticeable was with the Mal 2 clip. Love that album, by the way. The inset of the cantilever looked like a real challenge to lineup and dial in. Thanks for those magnified pictures. I really enjoyed this video and am happy you splurged on yourself. Enjoy your time with the cart! I know you are already. I hope all is well on your end! Enjoy the last bit of summer!
Hey Bill. Sorry about taking so long to reply. I've changed jobs internally and the one I took on is a lot more involved so I haven't had a lot of free time as of late. Less time with the vinyl too which is a bit of a drag. I've been enjoying you videos by the way but I've been bad about circling back to comment.
So glad you splurged on yourself - I can't hear the difference with my earphone and resolution I'm watching this at, but I will take your word for it :)
Sitting at home and rarely venturing out for the past 18 months or so, I figured I would splurge a little bit. I guess that might be one of the rare benefits to this pandemic. Thanks for watching Kris and the honest feedback on not hearing any difference. I am always curious what people will be able to hear in RUclips's compressed stream. Enjoyed the Florida Travel VLOG by the way.
I don't know there's a big price difference between that and the dynavector, same prices as van den Hul crimson what theoretically is a better cartridge, how much did you pay? You didn't show what crosstalk separation was what is it? Get soundsmith to re- tip the dynavector $250. You're enjoying the arm are you using the vta a lot? Was quite tempted to get the audiomod arm but I might consider more the supartrac blackbird might be my choice! No anybody who's had one! I was looking at the the sumiko blackbird cartridge now that looks very good and a good price think it's better than the dynavector good channel separation Never tempted, what's your capacitance leads and the capacitance of the cartridge? can you go balanced into the phono stage? Are you receiving my comments??
Definitely sounds better. On the Beethoven Violin Concerto selections the Kiseki was clearer and had a better frequency range with virtually no distortion.
Thank Ole Rocker. My experience with carts is that it's best to try and grab quieter passages with not a whole lot going on to really highlight some of the differences.
Normally when "a Hoffman" and then "a Weisfeld"; people of that renowned (who gain nothing by going overboard and recommending a cart) give a phono cart that type of kudos, you know you really can't go wrong. What I could pick up (through the compression of RUclips) is that the Dynavector had slightly more detail in the mid and the high, but not that greatly over the Kiseki. But, the Kiseki is greatly warmer and extended (especially in the low end frequency). They're both great carts, but definitley the Kiseki took it. Great review! - TONE
Thanks TONE. I am just getting to three weeks of comment back log so I apologize for my lack of promptness in my reply. The Hoffman comment is what won me over. Anymore, I look for feedback outside of the audiophile magazines which are always a bit tainted with advertising revenue as a back thought to anything they publish.
Hit this one up way late Paul but glad you're enjoying your Kiseki. Beautiful looking cart!!! I think I heard a slight difference on my MBP speakers... the Kiseki seems to have a little more play >> almost like I could hear the extra detail of motion on the drum brushes and felt I heard more dynamics on the orchestral piece. Love that! I'm enjoying the Nagaoka 500; I've yet to put 50 hrs on it; but the sound is getting better with every hour. More detail and it almost sounds sweeter... not sure how to put it into words. But I like it. :-) And there is a BIG difference between the 2M Blue and the MP-500; I think I would be able to pick out a blind A/B test every time... Good seeing you again and hope you're doing well!
Brad...so good to hear from you. You're sorely missed. I am sure you have other things going on. Work has had me tied up and it's impacting my pacing. Not to mention I've complicated things for myself in the editing process ;) The Nagaoka should be a huge step up for anyone, regardless of the model. I used to think Ortfon was the thing but I think you get a better bang for your buck with the Nagaoka. I bet the 500 would give the 2m Black a run for the money, if not exceed it.
Opinions are like rectums; everyone has one. However… I own three excellent CD players. An Oppo 105 modded with a linear power supply, a Sony ES with stationary disk drive and a Rega Planet. Also three turntables… an early model Rega Planar 3 with a Grace 707 arm ( Rega did not produce their own arms when I bought the table ), an AR ES1 with a Sumiko MMT arm and a Technics 1200 modded with a Rega 330 arm, acrylic platter, Isonoe feet, and more. All the tt’s sound more like music than any of the CD players!
That was definitely a noticeable difference. It was an all around difference too. I especially heard it on the jazz samples, but that may come down to volume or speaker placement. A side question. How has your luck been with Analogue Productions been lately? Of the last 10 albums I've bought, 4 have been noisy pressings, even after multiple clamming in the cleaning machine. Have you had the same issues? I hope all is good Paul. Take care.
It's great to hear from you. I have been catching your videos in the mornings during my runs on the treadmill but I have been bad about returning to comment. On the AP front, my luck has been really good but it's weird for me that you've been impacted. I wonder if quality for all of the plants has gone down hill with the demand going up. What titles have you been getting noise on? I am curious.
@@BarakaPDub Now that I think about it. it's pretty much been limited to the 33 1/3 pressings, but there was one 45 rpm. It was one of the Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Bruno Walter Beethoven, the LA Woman 45rpm, and most recently the Miles Davis UHQR. They are supposed to be sending a replacement. The Miles sounds amazing, but there are a number of pops on both side. I have heard the same from a lot of people online. I'm afraid to open the Aqualung and spin it, because there are no replacements for that one.
👍 Great seeing that you're doing some more vids over the last 12 mos. Always enjoyable. Ever start to buy or actually buy a new red (insert brand) truck or new gray (insert brand) sports coupe and all of a sudden, you see the EXACT SAME model on every road or at every🚦!?? That's been my experience over the last 3-4 weeks 😂. Am looking to upgrade an accurately mounted & trusted Sumiko Blue Point Special EVO III w/ ~1,100 hrs. on a Pro-ject Perspective Carbon w/ souped up enhancements over 20 yrs. Though I've thought about an upgrade for a year, the Music Direct catalog(s) DO indeed rev up the effort & scope! 😂 Had the suggestion by an acquaintance last month to look at what he purchased within the last 12(?) mos for his VPI Scout; a K. Purple Heart. Frankly, I had NOT heard of it, prob. because I've only paid attention to the likes of Ortofon, Dynavectors, Hanas, and the Koetsu line, etc. but I trust his multiple cart experience. Now, whether from printed & online reviews to RUclips testimonials, it seems like the vaunted cart is everywhere!! And w/ many TT owners I respect. Kudos & congrats. 👍👍
When it comes to the Dynavector, I honestly, think they are an excellent cartridge and I would happily go back to it. Even the 10X5 is a wonderfully priced cart and gives you a lot of bang for the buch.
Sorry brother but if you want ppl to appreciate any nuisance in sound quality you MUST supply some lossless (CD quality) files. It really does sound the same over Pootube and my system makes Spotify premium sound quite acceptable. I do know that Kiseki make extremely good carts though so congrats on that😊 FYI manufacturers are well aware of all the popular forums and have paid trolls placing recommendations for gear. Not Kiseki perhaps but whoever their retailer is for sure.
It's definitely a fair point Eddie. I have been thinking about a clean way of hosting hi resolution audio files without opening up myself to some security risks. You're right about the manufacturers. I am big on video/photography gear and that's about 10 times worse with the manufactures handing out demo and promo gear to RUclipsrs to make a glam video.
Listening on home system, …>Apple TV>CJ PV14L>Adcom 535…>ProAc Studio ii (yes, I know)…+Emotiva BasX 12” sub. Your recording absolutely revealed precisely what you said.
Hi Paul. Even on my iPhone speakers (this means with all the noise a house can produce) I could hear the difference : - on the first clip the cymbals are crisper and the snare is more « expressive », - on the second the brush is muffled almost damped with the DV whereas I could hear it swirling on the drumhead with the K, - the third one was more difficult but I did find more soundstage, - the fourth one is a no-brainer ; the attack on the strings is more punchy almost « joyful ». Great review. Peace- P@
Hello Patrick. I hope you are doing well and I am glad you could pick up the differences, even with an iPhone. A small percentage of folks haven't been able to hear anything at all but many have been able to hear the differences. Your description is exactly what I am hearing as well.
I appreciate the video and the time you put in here. However, I could not hear the difference at all. This is not a criticism, nor am I challenging your review. It is the same issue I find with all these videos that feature sound comparisons on RUclips. This simply isn't the best forum to listen to high end audio samples. I think that if we really want to experience this cart, we should go to a dealer to REALLY hear it in a live setting. Perhaps even ask the dealer in advance if they can set up other carts to compare this to, prior to our arrival. I am definately going to check this one out as it is in my budget range. Have you looked at the Jasmine Tiger MC cartridge? It is another cart that has sneaked in under the radar that has received some great reviews as well. Just an FYI Thanks again!
Thanks for the honest feedback Stephen. Not everyone has been able to hear the difference and that's okay if you can't hear it. I do agree that in person listening is the best. I haven't heard of the Jasmine Tiger MC cartridge. I'll have to check it out.
This Purpleheart's design dates back decades. Truth is we haven't progressed much in hifi in years, only prices have been driven up to insane levels that are all but destroying the high end market. Iconic products from 40 to 50 years ago still sound fantsitic by today's standards.
Even through my $15 Sony headphones, the Kiseki sounded better with the Jazz and classical recordings; the frequency response seemed smoother. But none of the rock selections really blew me away; maybe with all of the production tricks that even 1970s producers employed, there was less fidelity to preserve. I can't say that there is no $50 cartridge that would sound just as good to my ears, but I'm sure there are plenty that wouldn't.
Thanks for the feedback and I am glad you could pick up on the differences with a set of $15 headphones. I had to balance it out with a little rock music because there are a lot of folks that complain with reviewers that just cover Jazz or Classical.
As long as you hear the difference thats all that is important i would never spend over $300.00 on a cartridge but thats just me , If i wasnt happy with that i would just give up listening to records .
The Kiseki sounds more live more transparent and more open but also more thin and bright compared to the Dynavector which sounds thicker more full bodied. Great test. Thank you. The Kiseki is not for everyone. It will not sound great in all set ups.
Love my old Koetsu Black very much. Running through the Parasound JC3+ on a VPI Prime. The combination is magic. Hope the Kiseki gives at least a decade or two of good listening!
What a difference. It’s almost like adding a limiter to the whole thing. It’s louder and more punchy and those highs like u said. It’s just crystal. From background flutes to high metalics of a horn or the strings higher frequencies.
Thanks Suburban Shaman. I am glad you could pick up on the differences through the RUclips compression. Sometimes these comparisons are always a bit of a gamble. In person listening, it sounds even better for all the reasons you describe.
Is it the coloring of tone here which you enjoy from this cartridge or breadth of detail? Can you contrast the play from cart to play from SACD of same music?
Great video Paul & congrats on the new cartridge. I could hear better soundstage even out of my tv's speakers. BTW I'm really enjoying the production value of your videos - pretty slick titles & editing. Cheers.
Thank you. Editing is just another side hobby for me and it's fun when I can marry the two hobbies together. I am glad your TV speakers were giving you a better soundstage. Most people are hearing a difference but there are a few where it's not coming through.
So...as with most diamond carts, you're lucky to get about 1000 hours out of them before needing to change out the cart or have them re-tipped. The different geometries in the tip design might give you a hundred hours more or less. I haven't seen any specs on the Kiseki and what information they do provide, it's pretty darn sparse.
As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then sound quality is likewise for your ears. What sounds best to you is your own choice and has to be enjoyable to you, as you have to pay for it, nobody else.
Hi Paul, Congratulations, it's a fantastic cartridge, indeed. As you have already mentioned - the Dynavector sounds impressive, but the Kiseki is better. My experience so far is that for specific music (for instance Led Zeppelin), a reasonably priced cartridge like a MoFi StudioMaster can convince in terms of punch and power. The Kiseki is a good investment, and I hope you have found your perfect setup!! All the best. Andreas.
Thanks Kara Ben Nemsi. Are you lined up with a StudioDeck and do you like it? When Mofi first debuted their gear, I was skeptical but as the months pasted, I started to hear fantastic things about them.
@@BarakaPDub I've recently bought a MoFi StudioMaster because I was curious - what shall I say - for the given price it's fantastic. Unfortunately, I have no experience with the StudioDeck itself, but I also heard positive feedback.
Paul, this is great! So glad you jumped up to that level. Your new tonearm and cart must’ve elevated your system quite a bit. I entered the world of MC carts a few years back. I picked up a Goldring Eroica cart and had it for a few years. I then last year purchased a Denon DL103r which cost almost $800 less than the Goldring, and I absolutely prefer the Denon. Congrats on that beautiful Kiseki Purpleheart, Paul. Compared to the Deynavector, it’s more dynamic, detailed, the instrument separation is amazing, and it’s just got an overall punch to it. It’s extremely well balanced too. Just an awesome cart.
Thanks Nick. I've heard many good things about the Denon DL 103r line and now that I've had the taste of an MC cart, it would be hard to go back to MM. MC is what I recommend to people now but it requires a little more investment to get into it for the amplification.
The mono Beethoven violin concerto allowed me to hear which cartridge could better separate the direct sound from the hall sound. The Kiseki really shone through, a tough act without stereo separation.
Thanks Martin. The Classical piece is what is making it easiest for folks to pick up on the difference. I really love this cartridge for classical records.
I listened to this on my phone and the weird part is when I looked up and just listened to your video, I could tell a difference. I think the music sounds more alive and vibrant on your new cartridge. Very fascinating. Your Led Zeppelin album would be killer to own as well. 🤩 Thank you and take care.
Based the couple videos you've made so far on your Rega, I am hoping you can hear what a difference an MC cart can make. You have an Apheta installed, right? If so that should make the most excellent pairing. The Led Zeppelin was really a lucky score. I picked it up in a Classic Records auction eight years ago at a decent price before the resurgence in vinyl really kicked into high gear. If it went up for auction now, I am sure I would lose out.
Believe or not Paul, I could tell the difference listening with my phone! Very open and dynamic.
It's like your old cart was being choked off. When you switched to the new cart, there was a definite open soundstage. I'll listen again on my tv. I definitely heard a difference. I could only imagine what it must sound like in person.
Sounds like money well spent. Dude let's face it. You're a gear head 😁 It was your review of the schitt mani and nagaoka mp-110 that sold me a few years back. Keep up the gear reviews 👌
Your bud in the other Rocket City 🚀 Todd.
Ahh thanks Todd! It sounds spectacular in person and I like to do these comparisons to see if it's really a placebo effect. I've had some comparisons that have turned out to be surprising. For example, I thought my Bellari would have done better against the Schitt. Boy was I ever wrong. It also shows that spending more money doesn't always mean you get a better product.
@@BarakaPDub In this case. I think you made the right choice. Definitely do a follow up after the break in period. Maybe run it through audacity. When you can hear a difference through a phone, there is definitely some magic going on😁
I couldn't tell the difference on my dinky phone speaker but that doesn't matter. If it sounds better to you and makes you happy, that's all that counts. Great review, Paul and great to see a video from you!
Thanks Jeff. Yeah, I've changed jobs internally within the agency and I have a boat load of more responsibility with the new gig. I am still learning the ropes so I haven't had much time for video making but I had a bit of free time this past week so I decided to see if I could eek a video out. I've been loving your vinyl finds and spin zone videos.
@@BarakaPDub You're capture isn't great, maybe try another recorder, even direct to your PC may sound better. Great channel!
Yep, even through my laptop speakers I could hear the improvement. The cymbal brushes through the Dyna sounded smeared in comparison, overall a much tighter and fuller performance from the Kiseki. Hope you're doing well, Paul :)
Thanks Andrew and I am glad you could hear the difference on your laptop speakers. I am doing good but can't wait for this whole pandemic thing to end. If there has been one silver lining to it all, I've been able to save a bit more money for trivial items like this ;p
So good to see another vid from you. Those intro's are just awesome!!!! Have learnt so much from your channel. Hope you stay safe 👍
Cheers,
Steve from Australia
Thanks Steve. I've basically been living like a hermit the past eighteen months, with only a once a week trip to the grocery store. While these COVID precautions suck, I've been saving a lot of money on the flip side. I am happy to see you guys are fairing far better than us in the United States.
Yes yes yes... I could hear the difference. The notes were more round and full. Well done.
Thanks so much Troy for giving this video a listen. I am glad you could pick up on the difference even with RUclips's compression.
My last comment was made at the beginning of the video. This comes at the end. Yes, there is no denying that the Kiseki sounds sweeter and less in-your-face than the DV, but, like most high end reviews, only modern reissues were heard. It's sad that people trust them blindly, and, BTW, it would have been nice to hear the 2 carts side by side on the Steely Dan, as I produced the reissue that my friend, Kevin Gray, mastered. Also, it seems to me that with the internal impedance of the 2 cartridges being so vastly different, it's very likely that what we are hearing is mostly loading. Indeed the Kiseki sounds better in this video, and it may very well be the better cartridges, but unfortunately what we have here, while impressive, is not exactly reliable. Having said all of this, this is a fun video. Also, while 5 digits is indeed better spent on a European vacation, for the price of the Coupdarchete Oistrakh 5-10 vintage gems could have been purchased.
Unfortunately, there are RUclips limitations on what can be played. Many things owned by the majors will get you an automatic copyright strike if you play something longer than five seconds so I tried to go with a few things that I knew I could get away with. I do own the Cisco copy of the Steely Dan's Aja and I assume that's the one you are referring too?
And you are right about the electrical impedance of the carts, they are different but I tried to give the listener the best possible apples to apples comparison that I could even though there are some limitations. Thanks for watching and commenting Robert. And thank you for producing the Steely Dan reissue. I am hoping that they will be repressed and I would love to see the rest of their catalog given the same treatment.
Thanks for getting back to me. I picked the Steely Dan, and if I hadn't I might have been forced into working on a slimy Jennifer Warnes LP! BTW, I'm even more proud of my work on The Guess Who's American Woman, Doc Watson's Southbound, and Nathan Milstein's recording Dvorak and Glazounov Concerti. Re. your demo, there's no doubt, the Kiseki did sound better, but I'm just wondering about the degree of its superiority had you optimized the DV just a little more (VTA and loading). Your prestige jazz reissues reeked of the typical hot top end that improperly the improperly EQ'd reissues, as in something that I didn't work on, have. Tons of LPs just like that have been rejected in this house. Most people just roll over and say yep the Kiseki sounds better, without any regard for the possibility that the Kiseki might a dip, and the DV was actually sounding more accurate.
I heard a Kiseki on some pretty sophisticated equipment and it sounded great (magical) on classical, jazz, acoustic music, and softer music in general. Then we played Elvis Costello, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Fela Kuti, and Primus and it was not really able to deliver the punch, the rawness, and the energy inherent to that music. It was a bit frustrating as it did some things so very well, and fell a bit short in others. It was a bit like electrostatic speakers in that way. Glorious when good, and a bit disappointing outside the sweet spot. The only thing that matters, however, is that you love it.
Good point Thomas. Some people prefer cartridges for different reasons and how it colors the sound to a certain degree. If I had more foresight, I would have included some samples of different music but I didn't have any good Rock samples recorded with the Dyna for this video.
I love my Supex moving coil cartridge and my Acoustat full range electrostatic speakers.
The Supex was made by the same guy who made Koetsu cartridges. It was known as the poor man's Koetsu. Koetsu makes $20K cartridges now.
I wish I could get a sense of how dramatic the difference is between the two cartridges. I can only hear that the Kiseki is providing a fuller bodied sound. The bass is plodding and laboured sounding in the intro of sound sample 1. In sound sample 1 with Kiseki, the bass is musical and "plucky", gone is the lumbering plodding.
(You did tell us to listen to the high end, so the contrarian in me went right to the bass instead.😀)
Thank you for the video/review.
Forget the cost. Enjoy your new toy. 👍
This one I'm definitely going to savor ;) Thanks for watching Shawn.
I can even hear the difference in the treble on ipad speakers 😮. The kiseki gives more highs and very refine indeed.
Wow! So happy it's coming across on an iPad. I am always curious to know if people will pick up the differences on portable devices.
Listened through Apple TV > Onkyo P-304/M-504 > Yamaha NS 1000M. Great demo. Both sound great, and that’s one of my favorite Dynavector carts, but you can hear an apparent airiness. Sort of like master tapes vs. the vinyl type of difference. Would love to hear some more familiar heavier music. Even non audiophile stuff to see how it handles that stuff. Master of Puppets for example. Great vid though!!!
Wish I had a little more forethought before I took the Dyna off to record some more rock records. I hope to use this cartridge for some more sound comparisons down the road. Thanks for watching Sotirios.
Do you not hear the tipped up treble typical of many MC cartridges. The Kiseki has it in spades and it's measurements back this up. If you like it's more analytical sound, great. But on some records listener fatigue could result.
Its certainly a bit more tipped up. It reminds me a lot of the upper end Nagaoka carts which have a slight boost to those frequencies where cymbals typically lie. Great for Jazz in particular which fits me since I now listen to a lot of it, my MP200 does me good. Just have to retip a Micro type stylus on it and Im set until I possibly try a cart much more expensive like you.
But I think Im set at that price range.
Hello Leon. Nagaoka does carts extremely well and they're the ones I highly recommend for anyone getting into the hobby. I haven't heard the MP200 but I am sure it does Jazz extremely well and I like that you can get replacement styli for it easily.
@@BarakaPDub I do like that the replacement styli are cheap as well, but theres also a reason for it. They are quite fat Elipticals and that dont last very long, which is why I want to retip mine with a Micro type stylus.
Hi Paul. Looks awesome! The complete setup :) I'm still amazed how much music is hidden in that groove. With every upgrade it shows you can go a little deeper. Cheers. /Paul2
It's all centimeters on the kilometer but it's fun getting gear that heightens the imaging a bit more. Thanks for watching Paul.
I've been considering a new cartridge but I'm thinking at my age of 80 that my hi end hearing loss might make it moot.
It's all a bit more inches on the mile. If I wasn't so preoccupied with getting another inch, I should just remain content with a Nagaoka MP-110 and leave well enough alone.
I noticed that the kiseki tracks heavier and 16 gram weight is much heavier than the typical 7 to 10 grams for compliance. Maybe your arm prefers the double the weight of the Kiseki to the DV? Like my friend Robert stated, just the impedance match could account for the differences (I have 40 adjustments with my Zesto SUT). I went from a Benz Ruby 3 to a DV 20XL2 after hearing the wonderful 20XH2 in multiple systems. The Kiseki is also a pain to install and difficult to cue (hidden stylus). It probably sounds as great as it does here if all the installation and compliance factors are accounted for while the DV does not here.
Yes the compliance is different on both carts but the AudioMods allows for adjustments; whereas, the stock Rega arms do not. Impedance on both carts are also different but I tried to do my best to give a listener the experience of what was coming directly from my phono stage. At least, as good as RUclips's audio compression would give. I do agree with the pain on the install on the Kiseki. The design of the cart is not optimal for setup.
If you find it, you can also try a very cheap cartridge: DENON DL103D and set the tracking force al 1.364g you will be astonished by the sound results. In my cartridge collection I have the Kiseki Purple Heart, the Lyra Clavis, the koetsu rosewood signature platinum and others…
Thanks so much for the tip. I will seek that one out since it's really a reasonably priced cart and it just goes to show you don't need to spend a lot of money to get great sound at all.
Wow What a intro!! The Kiseki sounds really nice, i think that you got a great one there. That Led Zeppelin would be something to own, congrats on that one and the new cartridge, great review!!
Thanks ;) I had to have a bit of fun with the intro. The Led Zeppelin is one of the gems of my collection and I was lucky to pick it up eight or nine years ago at a very decent price.
@@BarakaPDub Indeed you did, great gem in the collection, something I wish I had! Cheers Janne
Funny...first time I saw/heard your vid was on the phone. There was "no" comparo...the KPH was way more detailed and delineated. So much so I went to the computer to watch it a second time with satellites and sub to revel in the diff's but...I didn't hear anywhere near as much difference as I did on the phone..? Strange, not sure why. That being said, as much as I am a DV guy, the KPH hands down sounded better..to me. Guess I will have to listen to all comparo's on my iPhone. LOL
I still love DV and it's the product I recommend for anyone wanting to get in moving coils at a reasonable price. I likely won't be spending this much on a cart again so I got a feeling I'll be going back the DV route ;)
Great piece, Kiseki is a wonderful cartridge, Koetsu also but you may have found Koetsu a little warmer plus they have a reputation for not being the longest lasting (I was a Koetsu agent in Europe). Personally I love the Lyra cartridges.
Lyra cartridges are great and I am contemplating going that route when my Purpleheart ends it's life. I seriously looked at the Koetsu line before finding the Kiseki. Thanks for watching and commenting DJWerkz.
Love this Paul. For me it’s always difficult to hear big differences via these videos but there somewhat of a difference. I assume the new cart is an MC? Did you share that ? Did I miss it ?
I remember living my Hana ML when I upgraded and the about fifty hours later I heard an even bigger wow.
Let’s chat on a new music video sometime in September 🌟
Yep. Both carts are MC. I think once you've gone MC, you never go back to MM ;) Such an enticing drug. I am totally down for a new joint video Mazzy.
Great review I have been putting a system together for the past few years have the turntable and phono stage now ..the purpleheart is $4500 in Oz ..so I am thinking of the Blue ? Would have been interesting to see how that stacked up against your Dynvector cartridge .. Great taste in music too for your Demos... Stay safe from Down Under 🙏🦘🎵
I've heard many great things about the Blue but I also still think Dynavector does wonderful cartridges. When I stepped up to the Dynavector from an Ortofon 2M Black, it made world of difference. Thanks for watching and commenting Fred.
Hi.. I'm also in Oz. You can read my review in the comments. If you haven't pulled the pin yet really think about the PH. It's sensational.
Marvellous cartridge but far out of my salary earning now. Food more important. Use a Grace F-9 retipped Ruby cantilever,Nude hyper elliptical stylus mm cartridge, restored TD Thorens turntable, new Jelco 550S tonearm York phono stage. Cheers guy
Thanks Joe for watching and commenting. I hear you on the food completely as I am having to curtail a lot of my spending. I am betting that Grace sounds pretty sweet with a Ruby Cantilever. A good stiff cantilever is really critical to getting good sound.
Wow. Lots of differences, especially in the high-end detail. Congratulations on getting this and thanks for the samples!
Thanks Bill. I am quite happy with it and I can't see myself spending this kind of money on a cart again...unless there is another long pandemic. And I hope there isn't.
Great video as usual!
I looked up the price for this thing and quickly reached for my heart medication. I don’t doubt the quality but geez…once in a lifetime purchase, yeah I can see why. One could buy an outstanding (and complete) stereo system for the price of that single cartridge. But if one has the will and means, I can’t criticize.
I’ll probably stick with my Ortofon Blue for the time being. 😜
This brings me to a question for you as I’m clearly a novice regarding vinyl. I do know that one must have an amplifier capable of handling an MC as MM amps seem to be more common, so here’s my question….actually I have two questions.
What does a MC cartridge do differently than a MM cartridge?
What brand of turntable is that?
Thanks in advance!
Great comment and I hear you on the heart medication. Is it ten times better than your Ortofon Blue...probably not. It's like going from an A minus to an A plus student really. For your first question, the premise behind the cartridges are different. A Moving Magnet is really the design that's been around for a very long time. As the stylus moves, the vibrations move a small magnet between coiled copper and that generates your electrical signal to your amplifier. With a Moving Coil, the process is reversed. Your moving a very small coil around a magnet to generate your electrical field. The signal strength (or voltage) is usually smaller with a Moving Coil so you need greater amplification. The amount of output voltage varies greatly with Moving Coils; whereas, Moving Magnets are pretty much fixed. I hope that helps explain things a bit. Most Moving Coils are bit more sensitive so they're really good at retrieving detail. My turntable...ah, it's a heavily modified Rega P3.
@@BarakaPDub
Thank you very much for the explanation.
Now I know and understand the difference.
This is my setup…
My turntable is an
Audio Technica AT-LP120USB. I added the Ortofon Blue cartridge, and an acrylic slip mat as an upgrade over the included felt mat.
The turntable is connected to a mini Fosi Audio Tube phono pre-amp (I upgraded the tubes with a Russian military grade) that runs into my SONY STR-ZA3100 ES A/V receiver because that receiver lacks a phono input but the a sound it produces as a Sony ES product is wonderfully wonderful.
All of that is playing through two Definitive Technology BP 9040 tower speakers which gives me two built-in 8” 300 watt subwoofers as I have limited floor space.
I will say this about 7 channel stereo. If you got a center channel with a built-in powered subwoofer (I have the Definitive Technology CS9060) that really adds a nice soundstage element especially with jazz and classical.
Davis, Coltrane, the Cars, the Eagles, Police, and John Williams never sounded better.
Thanks again for taking the time to explain the differences regarding MM & MC’s!
Speaking as a subscriber, this has proved to be a very outstanding channel. Keep up your great work. It’s appreciated.
Don’t dismiss your Ortofon 2M Blue. I have one on a vintage Dual on my second system and enjoy it just as much as the fancy-ass Linn Troika MC on a Linn LP-12 on my main rig. The Blue is supremely well balanced and one hell of a tracker. Under the microscope, the diamond stylus is of excellent quality and should last a long time, barring a raging cleaning lady of course 😆
Hi, I could not tell much of a difference. That being said both sound great and I do believe you hear a difference on your system at home. Do you feel that it's objectively better or just a different flavor? I listened through my Samsung Galaxy buds pro.
I think any cart at this level, really is going to give you a different flavor. There might be a little more hear or there. The pure audiophiles will disagree with me but with any gear, the sound will be colored in some fashion. You really have to go with what you like.
Hi there,
What was the partnering equipment, turntable, tonearm. Would this cart work in the Michel tecno arm..?
Keep up the fab reviews…..
Thanks Brian. What I am using is a heavily modified Rega P3-24 which is now over a decade old. I think the only things original on it now are the plinth and the motor to some degree. The Tonearm is an AudioMods 6. I think the cart would work on a Michel.
The difference is very apparent even via shitty RUclips. You've got me wanting to try one...! I'm currently using a fully serviced Lyra Skala which I love but as you know with high-end HiFi when you ask yourself can it really get that much better the answer is always yes.
Nice to see you using the Series Six. I've had much more expensive arms & the Series Six in my opinion is as good as anything around $5k. I would only change it for the SAT arm!
Thanks for the kind comments Kowinaida. Whenever, I make a change now, I want to put some audio samples out there for folks to judge. To my ears, I believe I got some improvements in my system and I am glad that's coming across through RUclips. Lyra puts out some great cartridges and I would grab this one if you're looking to try something different. Thanks so much for watching and commenting. I do hope to try an SAT arm someday ;)
say that earlier Kiseki was oem by Dynavector, remake Kiseki still use stock generator to build the cartridge, also Kiseki is more fine, basic sound behavior same as Dynavector.
Good comment. Thanks for chiming in.
I noticed its strengths particularly in the Beethoven Violin Concerto and Donald Fagen sounder excellent in the Steely Dan excerpt too.
Thanks for watching John and commenting. I am glad you could pick up on what the cartridge does really well through a compressed RUclips stream. When it comes to classical recordings, I have yet to hear it done better.
@@BarakaPDub It certainly seems like a really fine cartridge. My late brother owned a Koetsu Black and that was fabulous.
My ears nudged me and smiled. The separation is much more defined and the instruments sound like they've been re-strung with newer strings. The bass guitar on the Steely Dan song for instance, you can hear the intonation or slight ringing of the strings as the fingers move from fret to fret. Just amazing !! Ty for the demo.
Thanks Like Kane! I am loving Steely Dan on this cart and I can't wait to see how the AP Reissues might sing with it.
By the way, i listen to all the you tube tests through my main system. That's the way to go if you want to be sure of the results and the evaluation.....!!!
Thanks Bill K. I try to do the same with my own.
Thanks for the demo’. It never fails to amaze me how much information can be contained in a groove in a piece of plastic. And how much of that information can be extracted by a sliver of diamond waggling about in that groove. And how different the various models of cartridges can sound. I’m confident your going to have many, many happy hours listening.
Thanks Woc 'n' Wol. It is really amazing given how basic the premise is and the fact the technology really isn't too much different than what was used over a 100 years ago.
mc was tighter, faster, more delicate but this system have smear in high register certainly not cartridge problems as mid was still lovely, body, sense of good bite but long time listening not my tea.
As with any piece of gear you'll find those that love it and those that hate it. Thanks for taking the time to watch the video though and leaving your honest feedback.
It's impossible to criticize the elite "out of (my) category" that now tickles your microgrooves. At the same time, it was impossible to say anything bad about your Dynavector 😂😂😂 !
_I recently had a tussle (again) with another schmuck who didn't understand the point of listening to music with crackles and whistles (his words) not to mention the fools (aka.me) who think that a stylus for the price of a used car can make these ridiculous marketing items better. I'm not the kind of person who likes to participate in this kind of alpha hormone contest haha... especially after I realize he's using a free Stotify account in 160 kbps._ We can say that you know how to upgrade your Rega ! Looooove iiiitttttt !!!! (Still with Nagaoka MP-110 without schiit mani here in France...). Always a pleasure to watch your videos with your intros crazier one after the other. Enjoy your new friend and take care Mister BarakaPDub !
So Robert, what's weird is, this comment pops up in my RUclips Comments feed today. I don't know why this comment all the sudden appeared like four months after the fact. Happy New Year my friend. I'll say it again, you're missed. 160 kbps should be outlawed! I mean, I'll take an mp3 in the car for convenience but it has to by 320 kbps. I won't be spending this money on a cart again....unless I win the lottery.
@@BarakaPDub Thank you Monsieur BarakPDub. Happy new year ! ! !
Another great video! What with the lovely tonearm you have and this cart, it's quite the turntable you've built! I reckon you should do a full system vid soon :)
Thanks Norliss. I think eventually, I might do a full system breakdown. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Have you went out and picked up Prince's new album " Welcome to America" yet.......
Not yet. I hope to pick it up sometime.
I really noticed it on the violin how sweet the sound, And the classical was played with such ease I didn't hear any strain or any congestion it was just effortless Congratulations beautiful cartridge and I still love that tone arm
Thanks Ron. Shortly after I picked up the AudioMods, I wanted to see if I could take things up a notch by getting a new cart. I have not been disappointed with the decision. The two pair quite well together.
i have kiseki purple safier heart the origenal But :))l with gold coils , wonderfull sound.
I am sure that has to slay any other cart around. Glad to hear from another Kiseki user.
Better resolution on Kiseki. Is your sound "raw", or did you process it using software? I am also a Koetsu fan, black of course.
It's totally raw. Recorded at the highest resolution with no post processing at all. Koetsu makes great carts and I want to try one of their carts next.
That was a great intro, Paul! That Kiseki Purpleheart sounds insane!!! High dollar, but you should treat yourself to it! I’m sure it sounds fabulous on your set-up! 💜🎶💜
Thanks Terri. I guess if there has been one silver lining to the pandemic I am spending less on a lot of things so I thought what better way to enjoy my time at home.
I'll give this a listen on headphones later, but just based on my laptop speakers, the Kiseki sounded a lot smoother in the highs, the Dynavector almost sounded a bit "splatty" with the horns by comparison. Congrats on the cart, it's a keeper.
Thanks Michael. That's where I am hearing the biggest difference is in the high end and I don't feel guilty about snagging this cartridge at all. I know purists would shame me for hot rodding my Toyota with a Porsche engine but I don't care ;)
really? all this fuss and money spent for a tiny improvement in sonics? c'mon
Too each his own I guess. I'll concede, it's not going to be for most everyone.
Hey Paull...... Wait a min..... Have you upgraded your arm tell me tell me
I sure did! I went with the AudioMods 6 Tone Arm. It's a real step above the old RB 301 tonearm I was using.
I use the Benz Ruby 3 cartridge, how do you think it compares?
It would be an interesting comparison but I don't have any experience with Benz carts. The Benz Ruby 3 is supposed to be a great cart though.
The sound is in mono but you can still hear more separation and air with the Kiseki.
Weird on the Mono bit. I wonder if it's RUclips doing that? Thanks for commenting Anders.
Can I ask, where is the catalog from? Is that from music direct?
Yes. Music Direct is one of the dealers for this cart and I am pretty sure this is where I picked it up.
Why would you play through a compressed format as RUclips ?
Because it's the only way to get to the masses and if you're doing video, you're always going to be compressed.
The Kiseki betters the Dynavector by a noticeable amount. The reason I found your video is because I am lucky enough to still have my original Purpleheart, serial no 249 that I bought in 1986. It probably has only 250-300 hours on it to date and still sounds glorious. It just sounds real. One note on your review-you can clearly hear it’s superiority with the cellos-this cartridge brings out the woodiness of the cello.
Wow! What I wouldn't do to hear an original Purpleheart. Everyone is telling me they're a notch above an original. Finding one that has that amount of hours on it is quite the find. Thanks for chiming in Richard!
@@BarakaPDub I am also lucky enough to have purchased a Kiseki Gold tone arm when they were available. I have both running thru a SOTA Sapphire ‘table into the moving coil input on an old Electrocompaniet EC-1 preamp. For an amplifier I am running the preamp into a new DENON AVR-X4800h receiver because my main amp (Electrocompaniet AW-100) is dying of old age. All this goes to Klipsch Lascala II loudspeakers. Note to everybody-Klipsch Heritage speakers can run on transistor amps IF the transistor amps are really good. I have taken very good care of my Purpleheart because I don’t want to lose the magic through excessive wear. Thanks for commenting!
@@BarakaPDubIf I could without breaking RUclips rules I would upload an Audacity recording I made of the Steely Dan song Glamour Profession. It was from my original early pressing of Gaucho that I bought in 1980.
Hey. Ten Rings huh? The Mandarin will not be pleased. Lol
No I don't think he will ;) Glad you picked up that nuance in the trailer ;)
Thanks a lot for your video. Which turntable do you have?
Many people might chuckle at me but it's a heavily modified Rega P3-24. The only thing that's original on it now is the motor and plinth.
Perfectly audible with Beethoven Violin concerto by Oistrach. Kiseki is clearer and tighter!
Thanks Marc. I am glad you could pick up the difference. The difference on the classical piece is pretty stark.
sorry man, I couldn't tell the difference between the two on You Tube. The appreciation of audiophile equipment basically comes down the amount of money you can spend on it. Enjoy what you can afford because there is always something better. thanks for the video.
No worries if the difference wasn't coming through. Not everyone has been able to hear it through RUclips. And you're right about something better being out there. Honestly though, it's all inches on the mile. Any modestly priced system should get 99.9% of the sound out.
Nice review. For some reason the samples are in Mono here on RUclips. Did something go wrong with the conversion to digital or in the video editing?
I am betting it's RUclips which is weird. Even in Premiere Pro, I am seeing it export to Stereo. I'll have to watch that again on my next set of needle drops. Thanks for watching MacXpert74.
@@BarakaPDub Thanks for your reply. The Mono sound only occurs with the samples of the cartridges. Other sounds in the video, like the intro and ending, do have Stereo sound. So I guess it’s not RUclips this time, but more likely something that happend during editing.
Should I take this review with a pinch of salt?
Or pepper, if salt is your seasoning of choice ;)
how do you know you have 700 hrs on your cartridge ?
Good question and it's all an estimate. I know some audiophiles that track it in a log book but I am not that anal. I base my calculation off of when I purchased the cartridge and my average play time per week. Each week, with work and family, I am luck to get in about 3 hours of dedicated play time. Some weeks it's more and some it's less. So I've had the Dynavector for about four and a half years. (4.5 years X 52 weeks/year X 3 hours/week = 702 hours)
How about hip-hop listening? Peace.
While I don't have a lot of hip hop, I did just recently play A Tribe Called Quest's debut and it does the bottom end, really well.
Why is it in mono? How do you review separation?
Measured with a range meter.
Get an original copy if Ghost in the Machine. Trust me you will notice with that cartridge.
I do actually. At least a US copy of it. It's my favorite Police album and sadly, I think I have three or four copies. I do prefer the original of the Abbey Road remaster on this on.
@@BarakaPDub Miles Showell is a hack. I don’t buy anything that’s been remastered at Abby Roads. Rumor is they can’t even do AAA mastering. It all sounds like glass breaking.
I loved watching this video. I have been looking for something better than the Koetsu Black and was thinking about the Kiseki. Did you adjust the volume output to compensate for the lower DV output?
I had to adjust the loading for the different cartridges and their relative output but in the video, I really didn't have to make any adjustments at all between the two.
What input impedance did you use on your JC3+ when pairing with the Kiseki PH?
400 Ohms if I remember correctly.
@@BarakaPDub Great. Thanks for the reply! That’s where I ended up, per Kiseki’s recommendation. Sometimes it helps to get feedback to reinforce your own listening judgment. Happy listening!
Hey Paul! I missed this video when it dropped as we were on vacation. I made sure to circle back though. I could hear the difference here at work on my iMac on all of the samples but the most noticeable was with the Mal 2 clip. Love that album, by the way. The inset of the cantilever looked like a real challenge to lineup and dial in. Thanks for those magnified pictures. I really enjoyed this video and am happy you splurged on yourself. Enjoy your time with the cart! I know you are already. I hope all is well on your end! Enjoy the last bit of summer!
Hey Bill. Sorry about taking so long to reply. I've changed jobs internally and the one I took on is a lot more involved so I haven't had a lot of free time as of late. Less time with the vinyl too which is a bit of a drag. I've been enjoying you videos by the way but I've been bad about circling back to comment.
So glad you splurged on yourself - I can't hear the difference with my earphone and resolution I'm watching this at, but I will take your word for it :)
Sitting at home and rarely venturing out for the past 18 months or so, I figured I would splurge a little bit. I guess that might be one of the rare benefits to this pandemic. Thanks for watching Kris and the honest feedback on not hearing any difference. I am always curious what people will be able to hear in RUclips's compressed stream. Enjoyed the Florida Travel VLOG by the way.
I don't know there's a big price difference between that and the dynavector, same prices as van den Hul crimson what theoretically is a better cartridge,
how much did you pay? You didn't show what crosstalk separation was what is it? Get soundsmith to re- tip the dynavector $250.
You're enjoying the arm are you using the vta a lot? Was quite tempted to get the audiomod arm but I might consider more the supartrac blackbird might be my choice! No anybody who's had one! I was looking at the the sumiko blackbird cartridge now that looks very good and a good price think it's better than the dynavector good channel separation Never tempted,
what's your capacitance leads and the capacitance of the cartridge? can you go balanced into the phono stage?
Are you receiving my comments??
Definitely sounds better. On the Beethoven Violin Concerto selections the Kiseki was clearer and had a better frequency range with virtually no distortion.
Thank Ole Rocker. My experience with carts is that it's best to try and grab quieter passages with not a whole lot going on to really highlight some of the differences.
Normally when "a Hoffman" and then "a Weisfeld"; people of that renowned (who gain nothing by going overboard and recommending a cart) give a phono cart that type of kudos, you know you really can't go wrong. What I could pick up (through the compression of RUclips) is that the Dynavector had slightly more detail in the mid and the high, but not that greatly over the Kiseki. But, the Kiseki is greatly warmer and extended (especially in the low end frequency). They're both great carts, but definitley the Kiseki took it. Great review! - TONE
Thanks TONE. I am just getting to three weeks of comment back log so I apologize for my lack of promptness in my reply. The Hoffman comment is what won me over. Anymore, I look for feedback outside of the audiophile magazines which are always a bit tainted with advertising revenue as a back thought to anything they publish.
Hit this one up way late Paul but glad you're enjoying your Kiseki. Beautiful looking cart!!! I think I heard a slight difference on my MBP speakers... the Kiseki seems to have a little more play >> almost like I could hear the extra detail of motion on the drum brushes and felt I heard more dynamics on the orchestral piece. Love that!
I'm enjoying the Nagaoka 500; I've yet to put 50 hrs on it; but the sound is getting better with every hour. More detail and it almost sounds sweeter... not sure how to put it into words. But I like it. :-) And there is a BIG difference between the 2M Blue and the MP-500; I think I would be able to pick out a blind A/B test every time...
Good seeing you again and hope you're doing well!
Brad...so good to hear from you. You're sorely missed. I am sure you have other things going on. Work has had me tied up and it's impacting my pacing. Not to mention I've complicated things for myself in the editing process ;) The Nagaoka should be a huge step up for anyone, regardless of the model. I used to think Ortfon was the thing but I think you get a better bang for your buck with the Nagaoka. I bet the 500 would give the 2m Black a run for the money, if not exceed it.
A cheap CD player would still sound better
Different strokes for different folks I guess.
Opinions are like rectums; everyone has one. However… I own three excellent CD players. An Oppo 105 modded with a linear power supply, a Sony ES with stationary disk drive and a Rega Planet. Also three turntables… an early model Rega Planar 3 with a Grace 707 arm ( Rega did not produce their own arms when I bought the table ), an AR ES1 with a Sumiko MMT arm and a Technics 1200 modded with a Rega 330 arm, acrylic platter, Isonoe feet, and more. All the tt’s sound more like music than any of the CD players!
Thanks for the video. I can make a nice trip with 3 grants ;-)
This is true. You could make for a good week on 3 grand.
That was definitely a noticeable difference. It was an all around difference too. I especially heard it on the jazz samples, but that may come down to volume or speaker placement. A side question. How has your luck been with Analogue Productions been lately? Of the last 10 albums I've bought, 4 have been noisy pressings, even after multiple clamming in the cleaning machine. Have you had the same issues? I hope all is good Paul. Take care.
It's great to hear from you. I have been catching your videos in the mornings during my runs on the treadmill but I have been bad about returning to comment. On the AP front, my luck has been really good but it's weird for me that you've been impacted. I wonder if quality for all of the plants has gone down hill with the demand going up. What titles have you been getting noise on? I am curious.
@@BarakaPDub Now that I think about it. it's pretty much been limited to the 33 1/3 pressings, but there was one 45 rpm. It was one of the Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Bruno Walter Beethoven, the LA Woman 45rpm, and most recently the Miles Davis UHQR. They are supposed to be sending a replacement. The Miles sounds amazing, but there are a number of pops on both side. I have heard the same from a lot of people online. I'm afraid to open the Aqualung and spin it, because there are no replacements for that one.
Is that an xx-2 mk2?
It sure is. Thanks for checking this video out Cesar.
👍 Great seeing that you're doing some more vids over the last 12 mos. Always enjoyable.
Ever start to buy or actually buy a new red (insert brand) truck or new gray (insert brand) sports coupe and all of a sudden, you see the EXACT SAME model on every road or at every🚦!??
That's been my experience over the last 3-4 weeks 😂. Am looking to upgrade an accurately mounted & trusted Sumiko Blue Point Special EVO III w/ ~1,100 hrs. on a Pro-ject Perspective Carbon w/ souped up enhancements over 20 yrs. Though I've thought about an upgrade for a year, the Music Direct catalog(s) DO indeed rev up the effort & scope! 😂
Had the suggestion by an acquaintance last month to look at what he purchased within the last 12(?) mos for his VPI Scout; a K. Purple Heart. Frankly, I had NOT heard of it, prob. because I've only paid attention to the likes of Ortofon, Dynavectors, Hanas, and
the Koetsu line, etc. but I trust his multiple cart experience.
Now, whether from printed & online reviews to RUclips testimonials, it seems like the vaunted cart is everywhere!! And w/ many TT owners I respect.
Kudos & congrats. 👍👍
When it comes to the Dynavector, I honestly, think they are an excellent cartridge and I would happily go back to it. Even the 10X5 is a wonderfully priced cart and gives you a lot of bang for the buch.
Sorry brother but if you want ppl to appreciate any nuisance in sound quality you MUST supply some lossless (CD quality) files. It really does sound the same over Pootube and my system makes Spotify premium sound quite acceptable.
I do know that Kiseki make extremely good carts though so congrats on that😊
FYI manufacturers are well aware of all the popular forums and have paid trolls placing recommendations for gear. Not Kiseki perhaps but whoever their retailer is for sure.
It's definitely a fair point Eddie. I have been thinking about a clean way of hosting hi resolution audio files without opening up myself to some security risks. You're right about the manufacturers. I am big on video/photography gear and that's about 10 times worse with the manufactures handing out demo and promo gear to RUclipsrs to make a glam video.
Listening on home system, …>Apple TV>CJ PV14L>Adcom 535…>ProAc Studio ii (yes, I know)…+Emotiva BasX 12” sub.
Your recording absolutely revealed precisely what you said.
Thanks John. Out of curiosity, what do you think of your Emotiva Sub? Emotiva makes some great gear.
I listen on my phone so I cannot really tell a difference but I always enjoy your videos my man. And the Kiseki looks gorgeous
No worries on not hearing the differences. Not everyone has been able to pick up on it. Thanks for watching Stavros and I hope you're doing well.
Hi Paul.
Even on my iPhone speakers (this means with all the noise a house can produce) I could hear the difference :
- on the first clip the cymbals are crisper and the snare is more « expressive »,
- on the second the brush is muffled almost damped with the DV whereas I could hear it swirling on the drumhead with the K,
- the third one was more difficult but I did find more soundstage,
- the fourth one is a no-brainer ; the attack on the strings is more punchy almost « joyful ».
Great review. Peace- P@
Hello Patrick. I hope you are doing well and I am glad you could pick up the differences, even with an iPhone. A small percentage of folks haven't been able to hear anything at all but many have been able to hear the differences. Your description is exactly what I am hearing as well.
Denon 103r!
Sure!
I appreciate the video and the time you put in here. However, I could not hear the difference at all. This is not a criticism, nor am I challenging your review. It is the same issue I find with all these videos that feature sound comparisons on RUclips. This simply isn't the best forum to listen to high end audio samples. I think that if we really want to experience this cart, we should go to a dealer to REALLY hear it in a live setting. Perhaps even ask the dealer in advance if they can set up other carts to compare this to, prior to our arrival. I am definately going to check this one out as it is in my budget range.
Have you looked at the Jasmine Tiger MC cartridge? It is another cart that has sneaked in under the radar that has received some great reviews as well. Just an FYI Thanks again!
Thanks for the honest feedback Stephen. Not everyone has been able to hear the difference and that's okay if you can't hear it. I do agree that in person listening is the best. I haven't heard of the Jasmine Tiger MC cartridge. I'll have to check it out.
This Purpleheart's design dates back decades. Truth is we haven't progressed much in hifi in years, only prices have been driven up to insane levels that are all but destroying the high end market. Iconic products from 40 to 50 years ago still sound fantsitic by today's standards.
I agree there are a lot of solid products from 40 to 50 years ago that still hold up quite well.
Even through my $15 Sony headphones, the Kiseki sounded better with the Jazz and classical recordings; the frequency response seemed smoother. But none of the rock selections really blew me away; maybe with all of the production tricks that even 1970s producers employed, there was less fidelity to preserve. I can't say that there is no $50 cartridge that would sound just as good to my ears, but I'm sure there are plenty that wouldn't.
Thanks for the feedback and I am glad you could pick up on the differences with a set of $15 headphones. I had to balance it out with a little rock music because there are a lot of folks that complain with reviewers that just cover Jazz or Classical.
As long as you hear the difference thats all that is important i would never spend over $300.00 on a cartridge but thats just me , If i wasnt happy with that i would just give up listening to records .
It's a fair point. I know some that won't even break $100 for a cartridge.
The Kiseki sounds more live more transparent and more open but also more thin and bright compared to the Dynavector which sounds thicker more full bodied. Great test. Thank you. The Kiseki is not for everyone. It will not sound great in all set ups.
Definitely a fair point bill k. Thanks for chiming in with your thoughts on the sound.
Love my old Koetsu Black very much. Running through the Parasound JC3+ on a VPI Prime. The combination is magic. Hope the Kiseki gives at least a decade or two of good listening!
If I get another cart in this range again, Koetsu's Black is high on my list. Glad to hear about another JC3+ user. Thanks for watching Rick.
Great review. I too roll with a Purple Heart on a Jelco TK-850L (soon to be replaced w a Kuzma 4 point) on a Dr. Feickert Woody. Cheers
I think you'll love that Kuzma! Kuzma makes the best arms in my humble opinion. Thanks for watching Ventoux.
What a difference. It’s almost like adding a limiter to the whole thing. It’s louder and more punchy and those highs like u said. It’s just crystal. From background flutes to high metalics of a horn or the strings higher frequencies.
Thanks Suburban Shaman. I am glad you could pick up on the differences through the RUclips compression. Sometimes these comparisons are always a bit of a gamble. In person listening, it sounds even better for all the reasons you describe.
Is it the coloring of tone here which you enjoy from this cartridge or breadth of detail? Can you contrast the play from cart to play from SACD of same music?
It's hard to compare an SACD to an LP as most of the time they are mastered differently so it's an apples to oranges comparison.
Great video Paul & congrats on the new cartridge. I could hear better soundstage even out of my tv's speakers. BTW I'm really enjoying the production value of your videos - pretty slick titles & editing. Cheers.
Thank you. Editing is just another side hobby for me and it's fun when I can marry the two hobbies together. I am glad your TV speakers were giving you a better soundstage. Most people are hearing a difference but there are a few where it's not coming through.
I much prefer the Kiseki even from a youtube feed to a PC speaker. But how many hours can you get from the Kiseki?
So...as with most diamond carts, you're lucky to get about 1000 hours out of them before needing to change out the cart or have them re-tipped. The different geometries in the tip design might give you a hundred hours more or less. I haven't seen any specs on the Kiseki and what information they do provide, it's pretty darn sparse.
I have a Linn Arkivemoving coil cartridge which is running out of life (rather like its owner) so will investigate. Many thanks for sharing
If you have the means, I can't recommend this cartridge enough. Thanks for watching Barrie.
Fantastic video as always , beautiful equipment, outstanding sounds
Thanks Bob. It's a fantastic cart but I am not sure I will spend this kind of money on a cartridge again.
I checked it out and it’s a pretty serious purchase, for this I salute you! Cheers Paul
As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then sound quality is likewise for your ears. What sounds best to you is your own choice and has to be enjoyable to you, as you have to pay for it, nobody else.
That's absolutely true in all cases for everyone.
If you get a chance get your hands on a audio technica at-33 ptg, unbelievable value and sound reproduction
Sure. I'll try and give it a listen sometimee.
The thing is Paul.... If you spend on that, you'll really be upgrading your tt!
True. very true Mike. I am really enjoying the sound now!
Hi Paul,
Congratulations, it's a fantastic cartridge, indeed. As you have already mentioned - the Dynavector sounds impressive, but the Kiseki is better. My experience so far is that for specific music (for instance Led Zeppelin), a reasonably priced cartridge like a MoFi StudioMaster can convince in terms of punch and power. The Kiseki is a good investment, and I hope you have found your perfect setup!! All the best. Andreas.
Thanks Kara Ben Nemsi. Are you lined up with a StudioDeck and do you like it? When Mofi first debuted their gear, I was skeptical but as the months pasted, I started to hear fantastic things about them.
@@BarakaPDub I've recently bought a MoFi StudioMaster because I was curious - what shall I say - for the given price it's fantastic. Unfortunately, I have no experience with the StudioDeck itself, but I also heard positive feedback.
Great video and comparisons. With the new modifications the turntable is looking slick.
Thank you Vinyl Drinks. I think serious audiophiles would laugh at my set up but I love my hot rodded, Toyota Camary of a turntable ;)
Paul, this is great! So glad you jumped up to that level. Your new tonearm and cart must’ve elevated your system quite a bit. I entered the world of MC carts a few years back. I picked up a Goldring Eroica cart and had it for a few years. I then last year purchased a Denon DL103r which cost almost $800 less than the Goldring, and I absolutely prefer the Denon. Congrats on that beautiful Kiseki Purpleheart, Paul. Compared to the Deynavector, it’s more dynamic, detailed, the instrument separation is amazing, and it’s just got an overall punch to it. It’s extremely well balanced too. Just an awesome cart.
Thanks Nick. I've heard many good things about the Denon DL 103r line and now that I've had the taste of an MC cart, it would be hard to go back to MM. MC is what I recommend to people now but it requires a little more investment to get into it for the amplification.
The Dynavector seemed to have a richer bass tone during the jazz samples
That's definitely a fair point QRM.
The mono Beethoven violin concerto allowed me to hear which cartridge could better separate the direct sound from the hall sound. The Kiseki really shone through, a tough act without stereo separation.
Thanks Martin. The Classical piece is what is making it easiest for folks to pick up on the difference. I really love this cartridge for classical records.
wow even sounds good on my laptop
Thanks Michael. I am glad the difference is even coming through good on a Laptop set up.