Miyajima MADAKE experience

$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.  

There is a Kansui on here now and a Madake on eBay.

Both are 500 to 600 hours though so well used.

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.  

@lewm : No, they have built in MC step up transformers

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. 

I tried two different Kansui on my 3P and had sibilance I could not get rid of. I later saw another person on audiogon with the same issue. 

@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.   

Yes I agree, the math says it should have been a great fit. 

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 ?  

I only used the KSW SUT.

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. 

 

Those of you who have Miyajima cartridges, can you explain what the round metal tube (that comes with the cartridge) is used for.

I assume it must have something to do with installing the screws and bolt?
Also, if I install the screws with the bolts being "on top" of the head shell, do I need to worry about using a metal screwdriver because of the magnets?

Thanks.

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.

@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. 

Thank you for the feedback chakster.

Do you have a recommendation for a non-magnetic screwdriver? Seems like Miyajima uses phillips head screws.

I see "ceramic" tools (non sparking, non magnetic) on Amazon, but quite expensive.

Thank you.

@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 :)) 

Yup.....unfortunately I received no tools with my EMT cartridges.

I agree with chaster on the metal tube since it is no longer included in the more recent packaging box.  I have just received a new Origin Live Enterprise Mk4 tonearm and mounted my Madake.  I use the screws included with the cartridge and place the screw slots on top.  I have no issues with this positioning and the cartridge magnets affecting the screwdriver but a non magnetic one would be safest.  The Madake’s performance has taken a significant step up with the new tonearm.  

Very late to this thread but, I own a Miyajima Kansui, a Madake, and a Koetsu Rosewood Signature. I liked the Kansui well enough but, after I had it retipped the first time, it seemed like a different and better cartridge. I've retipped it twice both times at Miyajima and find the service and price great. This last time, they offered me an upgrade to the Madake for an extra 550. I took the deal. Meanwhile, I'm running the Koetsu which is newly retipped from Koetsu. I can't say it's any better than the Kansui but, it has a slightly more musical and vivacious presentation. I still think the Miyajimas with their service offer the better value. The factory is quick - probably 3 months to Koetsu's year.

Hi: I’m late to the party too but I don’t want to start a redundant thread. I found a Japan-only Miyajima called the Mature Studio BE. A retipper examined the stylus and said it was a Shibata in very good condition. I wrote to Miyajima and they indicated that it was similar to the Shilabe but an early model and no parts were available if I was looking for a rebuild. I mounted it on a 47 Labs RS-A1 and it sounds smooth and rather beguiling. So much so that I’m now considering a Kansui or even higher in the range. Am I mad to be using the RS-A1? I also have an Ikeda 345 and a 12 inch Groovemaster lll. I’ve been through the stone Koetsu and Urushi thing as well as the SPU Synergy and Spirit as well as the Ikeda 9TT. I’m considering a Schröder Model 2. Maybe Chakster will chime in.

Thanks and I hope this post finds you all well.

 

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.)

Hi lewm: didn’t know about Chakster’s absence. He was a generous contributor and I hope that may continue.

I’ve been heavily invested in the high mass approach but over the last couple of years I seem to have lost that lovin’ feeling. This Miyajima Mature is a true departure for me. It came mounted in an alloy headshell with a 1mm brass spacer and my first take was ‘it’s a dud’. The RS-A1 had been on the shelf for over 10 years because it’s scary to use with shaky hands! This cartridge and tonearm combination has been revelatory but it’s such a break with my history I’m wondering if I’ve been delusional. If the luck continues it could mean selling off a number of cherished pieces. And then perhaps, regret. Seems like a little crisis of faith. Anyone else had this happen?

 

 

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.

Both the RS and Viv arms are pretty agnostic about cartridge compliance, working well with low and high. Not sure why that would be.