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Please help, I'm worried about my Koetsu Urushi

I recently bought an used Koetsu Urushi cartridge to replace my Ortofon Jubilee. The guy who sold it to me graded it 9/10 and it sounds great. But now I'm starting to suspect that the cartridge isn't as new as I was told. I'm suspecting this because the cantilever seems to be a tad soft which results in that the gap between the record and the cartridge is (too?) narrow.

The thing is, I have nothing to compare with. I don't know how it's supposed to look. Maybe one of you guys can help me out, and explain how it's supposed to be and if a small gap between the record and cartridge is a sign that the cartridge is worn out and something to worry about.

Again, it really sounds great.. But my brain seems unable to relax because of this.

Thanks in advance!
ingemar
7 responses Add your response
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rauliruegas
13,088 posts
 
Dear Ingemar: The Koetsu cartridges normally rides really low/narrow to the record.

The most important subject is that " it really sounds great ". I think that you don't have to worry about.
Btw, do you have any trouble with it, like mistracking?

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
kurt_tank
1,189 posts
 
Raul is right, as usual.

Both of my Koetsu cartridges (Black and Rosewood Signature) were "low riders".
(Not as much as my Shelter though which really rides low.)

Just sit back and enjoy!

My two cents worth.
jafox
1,457 posts
 
Ingemar, I have a Rosewood Signature and it too rides very close to the LP surface. So your experience is not unique here....hope this helps to ease your concern.
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
My Urushi rides low to the record surface too at 2.0 grams. I think that with time the suspension softens and the catridge settles into this configuration. You should be able to tolerate midly warped records without any problem though.

Just curious, at what VTF and VTA (qualitatively) are you running it at? The reason I ask is because as mine has aged I have had to raise the rear of the arm to accommodate the "sag."
piedpiper
753 posts
 
Adjusting VTF and especially VTA as the suspension settles over time is normal and necessary for all cartridges, more or less so with different suspensions. It is always appropriate to ride the upper edge of VTF when breaking in a cartridge, reducing it slowly as it breaks in. It should eventually stabilize though.
ingemar OP
2 posts
 
I am running it at 1,85 grams
ingemar OP
2 posts
 
Thanks a million for all sharing all your knowledge with me. I am pretty confident my Koetsu is just as it should be.
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