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Miyajima MADAKE experience

I've noticed that many (if not all) Kansui users tryin' to sell their Miyajima Kansui to upgrade to new released Madake of the higher price. I have zero experience with Kansui or Madake, but i have checked all the rave reviews (there are not so many btw) and spoken to several distributors in Eupore and USA. Seems like Kansui is great even with aluminum cantilever and shibata stylus. Everybody talking about organic sound and musicality of Miyajima top of the line cartridges.

BAMBOO CANTILEVER of the MADAKE is def. exotic solution along with Miyajima-san's CROSS COIL / CROSS RING method.

Appart from the distributors and reviewers it's always important to ask real users (who paid full price) about their Madake experience.

I wonder how this cartridge perform against top of the line modern hi-end cartridges such as ZYX, Benz, Dynavector ... you name it.

Anyone who didn't like it and why ?

128x128chakster

Showing 7 responses by lewm

lewm
12,560 posts
 

The RS-A1 is a bit crazy in some design aspects, but I believe the basic notion of an underhung tonearm with zero headshell offset angle has merit, and that’s why it sounds good. See debates on this subject elsewhere with respect to the Viv Float tonearm.

lewm
12,560 posts
 

Chakster hasn’t chimed in well over a year. We hope he’s ok. Why do you ask whether using the RS-A1 might be insane? Yes, it’s finicky, and one fears accidents that might damage the cartridge, but the RS-A1 in service usually brings out good qualities in a cartridge. (I own one.)

lewm
12,560 posts
 
Thanks to labpro's post, this thread was brought to the fore once again. Vortrex, you don't say which of the woods you chose for your 3P.  It would be worthwhile to know that since your experience was apparently contrary to that of some others who ran the Kansui with a 3P and were/are happy.  (We'd need to know which wood was chosen for those other users, as well, of course.)  There can be quite a difference in effective mass for any given model of Reed tonearm, depending upon the wood choice.
lewm
12,560 posts
 
Vinyl savor, Is your D3A phono stage a current-driven type? Thx.
lewm
12,560 posts
 
Montesquieu,  First impressions are not always lasting ones. Especially with a phono cartridge that is itself changing character as it breaks in from new.  I would be interested to know whether your opinion of the Madake vs the Kansui persists over time.  Thanks.
lewm
12,560 posts
 
I think I've been on that "mountain" in Kyoto, which is actually a hill, the climbing of which is very strenuous exercise, even though there are steps all the way to the top. On the top, there is a shrine and monks doing their thing. It was more a mystical experience than a musical one. I share the doubts that bamboo on that hill would be any different from bamboo on some other nearby hill that is subjected to the same weather. But then, I'm an agnostic in all things. If folks are selling their Kansui's in order to obtain the new model, I may be a buyer of a Kansui.
lewm
12,560 posts
 
Doesn't SoundSmith make a cartridge with a cactus needle (serving as both cantilever and stylus?)? That interests me, too. But there has not been much word on the street about it, even though it's been in production for a while.
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