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From my Japanese friend who is a retired Koetsu engineer and cartridge collector.Koetsu Rosewood Signature MC Moving Coil Stereo Phono Cartridge.This is a treasured piece, in pristine condition, with superb sound quality, exquisite craftsmanship, rich detail, excellent speed, tight and powerful mid-bass, wide dynamic range, sweet and pleasing sound, a still-sharp stylus, and the cantilever and suspension system are also in excellent condition. It has been used for less than 250 hours.Hand-Carved Body, Closely Matched Core and Coil Set Distinguish Koetsu Rosewood Signature Cartridge: Handcrafted Analog Instrument Is the Definition of "Refined"The Koetsu Rosewood Signature cartridge epitomizes the very definitions of the term "refined." As in "impurities or unwanted elements having been removed by processing." Or, "elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, or taste." And "developed and improved so as to be precise and subtle." The Absolute Sound Product of the Year Award-winning Rosewood Signature is all of these and more, a hand-crafted instrument that remains on the most intimate terms with the microdetails and soulfulness in every one of your vinyl LPs. Similar in construction to its sister cartridge, Rosewood Standard (RED), Rosewood Signature features a more closely matched core and coil set that account for its more discriminating, fastidious performance. Boasting six-nines copper (99.9999% pure), special magnetic materials, and a hand-carved rosewood body that provide both a discerning physical makeup and selective sonic qualities claimed by no other manufacturer's cartridges, Rosewood Signature also offers Koetsu's signature (no pun intended) tonalities, delicious smoothness, and involving midrange. And don't worry – we won't judge you if you swoon every time Rosewood Signature's precision-ground stylus hits a record's groove. Welcome to analog paradise.“This is one of the easiest recommendations I’ve ever made, in essence a gift for the music lover who would like to kick back at the end of a long day and just enjoy the music.”—Dick Olsher, The Absolute Sound, Product of the Year AwardSpecifications:Power generation method: MCOutput voltage: 0.4mVAppropriate stylus pressure: 1.8-2.0g (standard)Internal impedance: 5.5ΩNeedle tip shape: Line contact diamondCantilever: BoronCoil wire: 6N high-purity copperMagnet: Samarium CobaltBody: rosewoodSelf weight: 10gOriginal price: $7995This cartridge comes with Original box, Specifications paper, stylus guard and screwsI have sold a lot of cartridges and got a lot of good feedback, please check them out.And please take a look my other items.Thanks,WayneWayne's Audio
What should you compare it with: the going used market, or the sound per dollar? At US$3,980, this sits a bit above the median used asking price of US$2,880 but still well below the 75th percentile at US$4,180, so it reads as a fair-to-slightly-strong ask rather than a bargain.
That makes sense for a Koetsu: the Rosewood Signature is prized for rich tonal color, density, and that effortless, saturated midrange that keeps people chasing old Koetsus. If the stylus, suspension, and channel balance are genuinely healthy, this is the kind of cartridge that can justify paying near the upper half of the used spread; just confirm actual hours, cantilever alignment, and whether any retip or service history is documented before buying.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Koetsu traces its origins to Japan in the late 1960s, founded by Yoshiaki Sugano, a remarkable polymath whose background as a boxer, artist, sword maker, and automotive executive fueled his passion for analog audio. Named after the 17th-century artist Honami Koetsu—a distant relative or inspiration—Sugano dissected existing phono cartridges to pioneer high-purity materials like 6N copper coils and rare platinum-iron magnets, driven by his love of Western classical music. He hand-built the first models, such as the Onyx, Rosewood, and Black, retiring from his Toyota/Ford career to perfect their musicality. Sugano passed away in 2002 at age 94, passing the craft to his son Fumihiko, who continued the tradition until his own recent passing, after which the family ceased production.
The brand focuses exclusively on handcrafted moving-coil phono cartridges, blending technical excellence with natural beauty through exotic bodies of stone, rare woods, and Urushi-lacquered finishes. Each cartridge features advanced components like boron cantilevers, line-contact diamond styli, samarium-cobalt magnets, and silver-clad copper windings, all voiced to Sugano's exacting standards on vintage turntables like the Garrard 401. Limited in quantity and available only through select retailers, these sonic masterpieces prioritize vinyl playback refinement over broader categories like amplifiers or speakers.
Koetsu commands reverence in the ultra-high-end market as the pinnacle of cartridge artistry, cult-favored for their poetic tonal delicacy, harmonic resolution, ethereal treble, and authoritative bass—qualities that redefined luxury analog in the 1970s at prices like $800 per unit. Though production has ended, originals remain legendary collector icons, blending generational Japanese craftsmanship with emotional fidelity that divides yet captivates discerning audiophiles.
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