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Compliance of a First Generation Kiseki Blackheart

I have a 1st generation Kiseki Blackheart cartridge that has a compliance of 20x16-10 dyne listed on Vinyl Engine. What I cannot tell is if this is listed at 10 Hz or 100 Hz. If 10 Hz this makes it a relatively high compliance cartridge. If 100 Hz then not so much, a somewhat high low compliance design. No one seems to know who built the Kiseki cartridges with any certainty, so we do not know if this is a Japanese builders spec or not.

I am thinking of installing it on a SME V. That leads to another interesting question. The V is a 9.5 gram arm, and I do seem to remember owners and even reviewers pairing it with cartridges such as a Koetsu Rosewood. Seems like a significant mass and compliance mismatch. Matter of fact, most moving coils from the time of the original SME V seem ill suited to use with this arm. Even a good number of current moving coils are not likely to be compliant enough. So aside from some of the Audio Technica cartridges, what are favorable pairings?

I currently have a Transfiguration Proteus on it, and I had someone contact me interested in purchasing it. Now I had not given thought of selling it, but this has tickled my what if button. It also can make me think of selling my V and refitting my SOTA Cosmos with new arm and cartridge. Or selecting an appropriate arm for the Blackheart if the V is not compatible.

There would be ultimate kudos if someone ever answered with conviction who built the Kiseki. I don’t think Mr Foduko ever clipped a lock of hair and began polishing away to build super diamonds. But it’s a great story, isn’t it?

neonknight

Showing 1 response by mulveling

mulveling's avatar
mulveling
1,774 posts
 

I think it’s the other way - 20 dyne at 10Hz is moderately high compliance. 20 @ 100Hz is super high compliance.

Kiseki’s business side is Netherlands, so there’s at least a good chance it’s Euro 10Hz spec. I can’t see a 20 dyne @ 100Hz MC cartridge being a good choice. Hard to trust any purported information on such an old cartridge anyways.

The 8Hz - 12Hz window isn’t gospel. I’ve had good results with Koetsu RSP on lower mass arms like Graham Phantom (14g) and even VPI 3D Reference arm w/ dual pivot (11g?). I like them best on Fidelity Research (best bass & dynamics, more vivid crisp sound) but they’re still phenomenal on those other 2 arms. They like stability (gimbal, magna-glide or dual pivot mod) and you need to ensure a good sonic pairing with the arm materials, which is not easy to quantify. I had bad results with Jade on Clearaudio Universal 12" - I suspect the carbon fiber wand is not a good match. I’ve never liked carbon fiber in my analog chain, as it turns out.

You can go a bit below 8Hz especially if your turntable and isolation are top notch. If you’re too far above 12Hz and find audible bass response is affected, you can always add mass at the headshell.

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