Terry as you know Madake is top of the line and totally different:
"Instead of using a metal to fashion the cartridge's cantilever (aluminum, boron, etc) or a crystalline solid such as sapphire, ruby or diamond, the Madake actually uses BAMBOO. Madake is famously grown on one mountain in Kyoto, the site of a famous temple, and the source of the material used to make the cantilever of the Madake stereo phono cartridge."
How many cartridges with BAMBOO CANTILEVER exists in the history of Hi-End Audio ?
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A few images of the Bamboo cantilever linked below:
https://www.audiomeister.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/madake05.jpg
http://www.hfc.com.pl/Resources/news/miyajima-madake-XL.jpg |
And the specifications of Miyajima Madake MC:
Impedance: About 16 ohms (About 0.23mV output)
Frequency range: (-3dB) 20 Hz to 32 kHz
Tracking force: 2.5 g
Stylus Shape: Shibata (diamond needle)
Compliance (10Hz): around 9×10-6cm/dyne
Appropriate temperature: 20-30 Celsius (most suitable 25 C)
Weight: about 9.7g
Body: African Blackwood
source: www.miyajima-lab.com/e-stereo.html |
Stefano Bertoncello visited Miyajima-Lab in 2009 and reported this in his blog:
"There I met Miyajima-san and his beautiful, well sounding audio system, and... his daughter, an handsome and skilled young artisan whose little, good hands were the responsible for hand-assemblying of ALL the MC cartridges which I saw in a batch under her hands."
full article with pictures here:
http://twogoodears.blogspot.ru/2009/10/wjaas-hakata-blues-miyajima-sanotono.html |
I just noticed high resolution picture of all Miyajima cartridges can be found here: www.miyajima-lab.com/all-img.html
I can imagine how hard it could be to make alignment of this cartridge body with any pro-tractor. |
Hello Mosin
On which tonearm did you used Kansui at RMAF ? |
There shouldn't be any crazy marketing tricks as US distributor sell Miyajima cartridges on trial and accept return for full refund! Can you imagine, i wish European distributors could do the same, but they are not. Also retipping by Miyajima-San in Japan via US distributor cost just $1100 (for Kansui) as far as i know (when the cartridge cost $3600 new).
However Madake cost $5895 in USA. Awaiting Fremers review. |
Yes Lewm
The Hyperion, Soundsmiths moving-iron phono cartridge with cactus needle cantilever.
"Superior cantilever designs, Ledermann explained, have traditionally been tapereda technique thats difficult to accomplish with aluminum and even more difficult with extremely hard and durable materials such as boron, ruby, and diamond. Cactus needles, however, are naturally tapered, stiff, and durable, while their stacked fibers provide natural dampening."
"The Hyperion moving-iron phono cartridge ($7000) is available with Soundsmiths CL or OCL styli, has a recommended tracking force of 1.8 to 2.2 grams, an output of 0.3mV, and is compatible with MC phono preamps. It is also available in a linear-tracking version, the Hyperion LT. Soundsmith guarantees the Hyperion for 10 years, and Peter Ledermann will retip the cartridge for free if it wears out within that time."
Source: http://www.stereophile.com/content/soundsmiths-hyperion-phono-cartridge-cactus-needle-cantilever |
No so many users on agon ot they don't want to share their Madake experience ? Anything else is sonically close to this cartridge on the market ?
p.s. anothe Kansui right now in the sales section btw |
This is probably the latest (July 2015) article about Miyajima Kansui from Koetsu Rosewood user: https://darklanternforowen.wordpress.com/2015/07/31/miyajima-mc-cartridges-fresh-thinking/
"The Koetsu Rosewood paints a beautiful sound picture with magical emphasis on harmonic information and nuances revealed." "The Miyajima presents a more “solid” sound, surprisingly, with much more low-end power – and “stereo image” definition achieved without excess brightness. Voices and instruments are clearly located in space."
Any other Koetsu Rosewood Signature users here ? These cartridges are in the same league ? Very interesting.
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Hi Musicgene, do you have/had any other MC cartridges surpassed by Kansui or anything else sounds close to Kansui character? |
@ilikmangos i’m curious which "the best of the best" cartridges do you mean, can you recall some of them? It will help to understand how good is the Miyajima Madake. |
@montesquieu thanks for your story, i believe it was your post on theartofsound. Have you ever tried FR-7fz? And what was your source to buy hashinoto sut? |
@mhr1229
My other favourite cartridge is the Cartridgeman MusicMaster, which is similar to the Madake in presentation but somewhat weaker in the bass and hence not as "muscular" in its presentation (the "budget" option).
That's interesting. The Cartridgeman Musicmaster MI cartridge cost
£1,649.00 and looks similar to Grado cartridges. In fact the generator is Grado, but the stylus is different, they call it "Propriatery Line Contact". I've never owner Cartridgeman pickups, but i'm familiar with Grado house sound, the best i've heard is Joseph Grado's Signature model: Grado TXZ with very special stylus profile called "Twin Tip" (it was a $750 top of the line model back in the days) and probably better than current Grado cartridges of any kind, still cheaper than Cartridgeman. I'll be surprised if Madake is close to Grado XTZ as you said it is close to Cartridgeman based on Grado MI generator. Hmm. |
@labpro I think the metal tube is just for protection inside the display case (to make sure the cartridge can’t be smashed in the box).
Use non magnetic tool and screws. |
Anyone can explain the Miyajima Retip Service ?
In 2014-2015 Miyajima Lab provided relatively cheap retipping service for their own cartridges via distributors.
Yesterday i’ve been told that Miyajima Lab changed to replacement years go. So if anyone would like to retip they have to replace the whole cartridge for new one at 80% of the retail price. Well 80% is too much and unacceptable for many users i believe. Sad news.
Has anyone tried the aftermarket retipping for Miyajima? Seems like its the only reasonably priced option for normal people. |
@montesquieu I also have SPU Royal with Replicant 100 stylus, how do you like this cartridge compared to Madake? Ikeda 9c is in my wantlist too. |
After the accident (with rare Technics cartridges) described by one of our member few years ago, i would never deal with Needle Clinic and wouldn't advice it to anybody else.
There are many retippers with good reputation such as Expert Stylus and NorthWest Analogue is UK, SoundSmith in USA ... etc
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@wynpalmer4 I know, but that case was more about Andy's personality, so for me he's no longer in the list of retippers.
Anyway, i think it's not a good idea to service Madake at anyone else, but the Miyajima Lab. And it's sad that Miyajima's service is less affordable now.
As for the lower model i'm sure that changing one aluminum cantilever to another is not exactly the same. Alumimum cantilevers are different too. The best about Miyajima was the cheap factory retipping/refurbishing service, it was possible only several years go, but not today. |
@nicknick look for Miyabi (any model) |
Lyra cartridges with its fully open cantilever is so easy to bent/damage. One of the most dangerous cartridge to own, really. Definitely not for everyone. One of the very special and very best cartridges out of Japan is MIYABI by Takeda-San, here is the review. The latest incarnation was made for 47 Labs, another review here. Another interesting one recommended by no other than J.Carr (Lyra owner) is brand new Top Wing coreless-flux, there are two models available. |
$12500 for the Blue Wing cart @chakster .
That is some serious dough!
Just go for the Red Sparrow which is only $16900! yep, some people like it like that, lol since it was developed by ex Grace (Shinagawa Musen) engineer i will stick to the vintage Grace top models instead. But anyway, Madake and Snakewood Miyajima are also very expensive cartridges if they are new. This month very low hrs Kansui has been sold for $1500 and it's a steal! Sadly i was late. |
It's too much for shibata tip, i would never buy a used miyajima with 600 hrs on it. Their factory re-tipping policy changed to exchange policy only.
The one i'm talking about had only 80 hrs on it and the price was $1500, sold quickly in the end of august. |
My thread was created about 4 years ago and since that day i was thinking about Miyajima cartridge for my collection. I have missed many great offers from the official distributors of Miyajima in several countries from USA to New Zealand, also asked European Distributors for demo units to save on cost, i have seen a used Miyajima cartridges online etc ... for 4 years! But still it was too much money for me and still i’ve seen so many other cartridges for lower cost to try. I can’t wait no more ... Finally joined the Miyajima fan club with my (NEW) Miyajima Kansui. WOW, can’t believe it . And you know i did’t even crossed my red line in price, so i’m happy :)) Everyone knows that i hate re-tippied or refurbished carts, so i bought NEW (unused) original cartridge to make sure i will have enough time with the original sound. I want to thank all the contributors in this thread, sometimes it’s hard to find information about wonderful Japanese cartridges, even about new cartridges (except for reviews). I will add the links to reviews here again: -Miyajima Kansui in High Fidelity-Miyajima Kansui in 10 Audio -Miyajima Kansui in Hi-Fi + more links on manufacturer website. I remember rave reviews about Shilabe cartridge, then they made even better Kansui, and then the Madake (which is over my red line in price). P.S. I have some nice tonearms waiting for this cartridge: FR-64s & FR-64fx, Lustre GST-801, Victor UA-7082 and modern reference class Reed 3p "12 Cocobolo. BTW: HERE is Stefano Bertoncello's pictures directly from Miyajima Lab in Japan. |
@vortrex Strange, the reviewer's choice for Madake (for example) was Reed 3p and there is no difference in mass and compliance between Kansui and Madake. |
Miyajima Kansui has arrived today from Denmark, i am excited about it.
Beautiful African Blackwood body, the velvet box is so cute and small.
Tips from the manufacturer:
250 Ohm loading with MC phono preamp is recommended
or SUT with 16 Ohm and higher
How do you guys load your Kansui ? |
Never seen KSW SUT in real life, but it’s 28.5dB / 16 Ohm, type ETR-KSW according to specs. |
What a nice packaging, look at this little cutie close up Well done by Noriyuki Miyajima's daughter, who assembled all his cartridges, must be well trained fingers, very nice. Some images of this process. I think i'm gonna try it on my IKEDA IT-345 instead of Reed 3p. Has anyone tried it on Ikeda tonearms ? P.S. Noriyuki's company Otono Edison Lab has been in business since the 80's, i'm curious what they have been doing before Miyajima cartridges ? Patent for Cross Ring has been registered only in 2005. |
@labpro I got my tools with cartridges, most of the time I use small one I received with my first ZYX cartridge many years ago, then I bought many vintage cartridges and got many more tools with them :)) |
