Kiseki Blue N.S. vs van den Hul Frog Gold

Retip- Soundsmith 

Currently using the KB. 

Thank you, but the problem of not retipping from the original manufactory is, that it dosnt sound as the original.

@idv 

The internal mechanics of the cartridge don't change when you retip and you could have either soundsmith or Steve at VAS put on the same type of stylus. I'd give one of them a call. The retipping will likely be under 1k and you'll get your stylus that you love back. If, in the end, you don't like it you can always sell it. 

+1 on re-tipping. Done it twice on my Lyra Kleos at Soundsmith with no significant change to sound signature. And under $500.

Ok +1 for retipping.

I am from Germany ( you cant know it) so Soundsmith is a little bit far away.

I could send it to van den Hul 😜 he is doing great retipping too.

But nobody some words to my origin question, Kiseki vs VdH Frog🙏

I have owned the VDH MC-One Special which sits below the Frog in the lineup and currently have the Van den Hul Crimson XGW Stradivarius which is above the Frog.  I also have the Blue N.S., which I would describe as being a bit more lush than the VDH sound, which tends to be very neutral, at least with the two carts I've owned.  The Kiseki had more detail and a little more "magic" than the MC-One, while the Crimson XGW Stradivarius has more detail, great soundstage and imaging, but is still more "flat" (neutral, not flat sounding) than the Kiseki. 

If you like that lushness that the Kiseki brings to the table, why not get it retipped vs. buying a new cart, as others have suggested?  Sorry I can't speak to the Frog, it may be a different animal than the two VDH carts I have owned.

I have not heard the VdH Frog but when I could not get a Kiseki Blackheart I ended up with a Charisma Audio Signature One Moving Coil, which has quite a similar presentation. It might be worth looking at their lineup - I have been very pleased with my Charisma!