My kiseki Blackheart nightmare.


First, I want to disclose I’m not a dealer or in any other way affiliated with any company related to audio. I’m just a life long Audiophile that has traveled many roads good and bad. I highly recommend when buying a delicate component like a phono cartridge buy from a dealer that will standby you so when issues like I had with the Kiseki Blackheart arise, so they will be there for you like mine was.
I purchased my Blackheart after owning the Purpleheart for approximately 6 months without any issues. I liked the performance so much the Audiophile in me decided I needed to see what the new Blackheart was all about. After receiving my first Blackheart about 5 hours into the break-in period I started hearing a tinkling noise in the left channel. I check all my settings and they were fine. Even checked phono stage. Called my dealer and he advised me to bring my table in to see if we could replicate the noise. I did and the issue was the same; thank god they heard it. My dealer called the distributor and they wanted it sent to them so they could test it. It took over 2 weeks after they received it to confirm the cartridge was defective. They immediately sent a replacement (Blackheart) cartridge. I was very positive the issue was with just that cartridge. Unfortunately the same issue again. Dealer notified the distributor again they advised I try one more Blackheart. I unwilling accepted the idea not having any confidence a third one would not have the same issue. After receiving the new cartridge the issue was still present and it also was returned. I’m not sure if it was just a bad batch of Purplehearts that were defective, but at $4200. this type of quality control is un acceptable. Thank god my dealer was there for me it could have been much worse. I’ve since moved on the a Hana UmamI Red; which smokes the Blackheart in every way. And yes, the Hana has no issues.
hiendmmoe
It's sort of ironic to consider that Kiseki was originally set up by the Dutch importer of Koetsu in the late 70's in response to Sugano's erratic product supply and apparent lack of quality control.
This is not the first time I hear about such complaints with their current product, so the resurrected Kiseki brand now seems to suffer from the kind of issues Koetsu has resolved years ago.
Glad you were able to resolve your issues with the Kiseki cartridge. I owned a Purple Heart for a year and while it seemed to have no obvious fault it was painfully bright and steely - not at all aligned with the reviews. No amount of tinkering with VTA/alignment/Antiskate could resolve it. Have just ditched it for a Grado Aeon which works wonderfully on my SME V. Rich tone, with outstanding detail and dynamics. 
My wife wants to know if you tried putting a Penny on top of it? 😀
@curiousjim
That reminded me when my wife tells me to just put a nickel on the cartridge, it worked back in her college days...!

Mijostyn,
I was going to say the same thing. Op, 
I have a freind who had the Hana SL. He said a reviewer at a show told him it was one of the best values for the money at $750. I can only imagine how good the red is. I am happy you ended up with a cart you love.