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Anyone Ever Figure Out Who Really Designs And Build the Kiseki Cartridges?

I am thinking of adding one more cartridge to my collection, well because I can. Back in the days that I got into analog, the arena of rarefied cartridgees was quite small. I remember offerings such as the Ortofon MC 200, Koetsu Rosewood, and the Kiseki cartridges. I never got a chance to experience the original Kiseki cartridges, heck I never got a chance to see one.

As you know, in 2011 these cartridges were reborn. I have never been able to read who actually designs and builds these cartridges. Oh I read the back stories on their page, and I am a bit put off by some of the "mystique" or hype surrounding certain build aspects. Diamonds polished by human hair? I dunno. But with that being said, I still want to own one, just to fill a long standing question of how does a Kiseki perform?

So I am tentatively planning on ordering a Purpleheart in the coming days. But like everyone else, I really wonder who designed and builds them. One thing I notice is the internal impedance is much higher than what is considered the top tier modern MC’s. The Koetsu are 5 ohms, ZYX 4 ohms, Ortofon A95 or Winfeld TI are 5 ohms, Lyra 8 ohms, Benz Micro wood 12 ohms. The Purpleheart is listed at 42 ohms, and the only higher internal impedance cartridges I find are from Hana, Clearaudio, a couple of the Denon, and that is it in a basic search.

Has anyone ever heard any credible information on who builds and designed this cartridge?

And out of curiosity, anyone ever heard of who builds the Sumiko Pearwood or the Palo Santos?


neonknight

Showing 2 responses by lewm

lewm
13,591 posts
 
Wow, Nandric.  Your knowledge of this history is impressive. Would I be correct in now thinking that the old and new KP ought to be quite alike in terms of construction?

Perhaps Mr. Van den Dungen was consternated that fate should have endowed him with such a ponderous name, suggesting long term incarceration in a dreary cell. This no doubt caused him to be short-tempered with the revered Sugano-san.

lewm
13,591 posts
 
If it were me, I would only wonder whether there are any similarities between an "old" Kiseki Purpleheart and the new revival of the Purpleheart, with respect to construction and performance parameters, before investing. Chances are, the resemblance is limited.  So, you would be buying the name only, if you buy a new Purpleheart.  (Well, I guess the body of the new one is made of purpleheartwood, like the original.  That is something, at least.)  I always thought that the KP was made by Sugano before he started up Koetsu.  Beyond that, I had no reason to care.  The old KP always had a good reputation for sounding good, however.

Can you find out about weight, compliance, voltage output, cantilever type, stylus shape, inductance, etc, for old vs new?  Did the old KP have such a high internal resistance as you mention for the new one? The high resistance suggests high-ish inductance compared to most LOMCs.
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