Kiseki Purpleheart


I currently have an Ortofon Cadenza Bronze. I'm thinking about a switch to the Kiseki Purpleheart.
In this price range-3K..what other carts should I consider?
Associated gear- Pass XP-17- Pass Int-60- Martin Logan Montis-VPI Prime Signature
I want to stay with a Low Output/MC...but would consider a Moving Iron.
Any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
krelldog

I am a Ortofon user and have a experience of listening to a variety of Ortofon Designs released since the early 00's.

With the most recent models released having elevated prices and not any Trickle Down Ranges being produced at present. I have looked towards Japan.

The Mutech Hayabusa and MSL Cart's are on Shortlist to receive demo's off.

Recently I read the review in the attachment, and have come away with the impression, this might be a very suitable replacement for a Ortofon, especially with the asking price for this model.

 https://trackingangle.com/equipment/hanna-umami-blue-cartridge-review

Bargain hunters versus connoisseurs. The first mentioned look at the price

the second for ''the master'' who made them. Say Ikeda-san, Takeda-san,

(Jan) Allaers, Reto Andreoli, J.Carr , etc. Those which are rarely offered for sell.

This is the indication that the owners are not willing to part from them.

They do not ask for price but use the opportunity to ''grab'' the wanted one.

I for example (sic!) was waiting for two years to find  Ikeda's REX ,  his

latest cantileverless kind. What is common to them all is ''made by the

master himself''. One can see, for example, many Van den Hul's for sell.

But nobady is sure if the ''master himself'' made them. Nobody even

knows how many employee he has,

And regarding new Kiseki's one can see that many are offered second

hand. I owned all of the old and still own 4 kinds. The difference can

be seen in the used parts. The old used Dynavector parts the new

unknown kind. Anyway the old sound much better than the new .

I am sure that Raul has never heard any new Kiseki otherwise

he would not recommend the new  purpleheart.

 

Dear nandric, it's ironic that the quality control issues that apparently plague current Kisekis was the reason for Van den Dungen to start the original Kiseki back in the 70's. The story goes that the Koetsus of the day - which he distributed in the Netherlands - had wildly inconsistent sound quality from sample to sample. So he decided to release an 'alternative' for his customers. These 'original' Kiseki disappeared again in the late '80 but had become as famous as Koetsu. There was an intentional lack of information about its 'maker', although it has been confirmed they were built in Japan (Dynavector or Kondo were the most likely candidates). It's unknown to me who makes the current Kisekis, but I agree with you that they sound nowhere near the originals.

As for Van den Hul, I have it on good authority that AJ is the only one building the 'open' systems like Colibri and Condor. For the more 'budget' priced models like the Frog and MC-10 I'm not sure. How long he will be able to continue is anybody's guess, but a recent interview with AJ in a Dutch magazine introduced both his sons as his successors. The oldest is handling the business side, while the youngest is being tutored by the master to become the cartridge builder and designer.

In the UK in the Mid' 90's, Cartridge Manufacturers were desperate to get products into the mainstream market.

This has been explained to me, as being the result of the Rise in CD Usage gathering converts from the Older Generation Recording Medium to the State of the Art Recording Medium at a exponential rate.

I have come to know through having good relationships with certain retail outlets at at this era, and at a later date having been in discussion with individuals who were working within the HiFi Mainstream, of which one is a Magazines Editor form this same era, that heavily discounted Cart's being offered was the norm.

In the case of the Media, Cart's were supplied less than Trade Prices to the retail. It has been explained as the Golden Years of Cart' Trials, as the Turnover of Cart's purchased to be trialed and the remuneration on a partially used Cart' was extremely attractive and profitable.

This was a period when numerous TOTR Cart's from a variety of Brands, especially Brands Incorporated in Japan, were seen for sale as used items with substantial price reductions.

I myself had met known magazine journalists in London and bought for cash Cart's that had been trialled by the magazine and a article had been done on the purchased Cart'.

If I had savvy of foresight I am sure I would have gone to extra expense and hoarded a few models, that have a desirable heritage in today's market.

If I wanted the Rich Tones that can be found in certain Japanese Cart's from this era, I feel confident, I would have been looking at a Ortofon or Denon, there was not too much steering of one toward Japanese Models at this time in the UK.

From pure recollection, Cart's with a Lean Sonic were the rave, or Bespoke Built Cart's from certain individuals, were getting coverage at he main HiFi Events I was attending at this time. I stand by this being the era, where I was becoming wed to a lean, transparent presentation, but certainly not in the realms of what a CDP was able to present.

Roll the Clock forward the best part of 30 Years. If I was in possession of a Cart' from this era, with a Japanese Origin and produced by a particular individual who was the knowledge behind a certain Brand. I would certainly tell the story regularly.

I would be off one opinion only, from my end, the Story would be told the assist with keeping said item a fantastical item, suggesting it to be unobtanium and 'hopefully' keeping such an item at a place where good remuneration will be realised.

The reality check for me is, it is a Tool produced many many years past to carry out a specific purpose, no different from the likes of a Valve TV.

If I had a Valve TV or Cart' produced by Mr ? from a Japanese Brand, it would be enjoyed for being in the state of intactness it has survived to kept be in and the  rarity/curiosity factor and nothing else. 

In recent conversations, I have already detected the same developing for Mr Tim De Paravicini Products. It is now seemingly a growing talking point about items being a TDP Legacy Item, as it was produced at the time when Tim was prolific in his design and production for EAR.

I have also seen a resurgence of Items being offered for sale, that are realised, as a result of TDP having been influential in the designs for items being produced not by EAR. 

Watch the Markets and even in these very tough times, watch the prices slowly appreciate.

'It all looks like a little bit of history repeating itself'.    

Dear edgewear,

I wrote to Durob Audio in Holland (which owner is Van den Dungen who also

owns an factory in China for tubed amps)  about my problem with Agaat. 

To my big surprise I got an answer from the ''master himself''. He propsed

to me to post my Agaat to him because he was looking for ''someone'' for

his own Kiseki's. (???). 

Regarding Van den Hul our (Dutch) information is that he spend the most

of his time in Ukraine with his cables meant for aircraft industry. He himslef

make some of his carts in order  to keep his skills in order. He also owns

''some more'' companies so it is very difficult to believe that he make all

''his'' Colibries . On German site ''audio-markt.de'' one can see many 

Colibries offered as second hand. This means for less than half of their

retail price. I hope you got the ''good one''(grin). 

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