Post by shuggie on Mar 14, 2016 12:03:06 GMT
I have bought a Miyajima Takumi, unheard, as an ex-review example from Timestep Distribution.
It's the very one that Paul Rigby reviewed here www.theaudiophileman.com/#!miyajima-takumi/c1xbf , and it is has been playing in the 10" Jelco SA-750E mounted on my Kenwood KD-990.
I was quite excited about this, having heard some other Miyajima cartridges over at a friend's last year. Miyajima's take on MC cartridge design is different and rather intelligent, doing away with the traditional tie-wire; instead they use a fixed point that supports the cross ring coil assembly very precisely, from behind at its pivot point. The compliant suspension element is thus placed in front of the coil assembly rather than behind, as is usually the case. Anyway, IIRC Rega are the only other MC cartridge maker to eliminate the tie-wire and its inherent limitations. The Takumi sits at the bottom of the Miyajima range, having an elliptical stylus - models further up have Shibata stylii.
For those interested in reading more, the authorised UK website is www.miyajima-lab.co.uk .
I set up the Takumi in an Oyaide HS-TF headshell , with tracking at the recommended 2.25g and the armtube initially level. I was greeted with a soft, over-blown sound, but raising the arm pillar soon found the optimum VTA that brought a nice balance to the sound. The most striking aspect of this cartridge's sound is the virtual absence of surface noise, but that aside the Takumi does have a very nicely ordered, smooth and natural sound. It's not rolled-off smooth, but rather there are no hard edges to what it does. It's musically adept, and excels at portraying 'air' and natural resonances of instruments. It's all rather captivating.
The amazing thing here is that the Takumi sits at the bottom of the Miyajima range, and I shudder to think what the Shilabe would do with its Shibata stylus. I can honestly say that I've never heard a cartridge so 'cultured' and musical as this. It's just lovely.
Here's an animation showing how Miyajima cartridges work:
It's the very one that Paul Rigby reviewed here www.theaudiophileman.com/#!miyajima-takumi/c1xbf , and it is has been playing in the 10" Jelco SA-750E mounted on my Kenwood KD-990.
I was quite excited about this, having heard some other Miyajima cartridges over at a friend's last year. Miyajima's take on MC cartridge design is different and rather intelligent, doing away with the traditional tie-wire; instead they use a fixed point that supports the cross ring coil assembly very precisely, from behind at its pivot point. The compliant suspension element is thus placed in front of the coil assembly rather than behind, as is usually the case. Anyway, IIRC Rega are the only other MC cartridge maker to eliminate the tie-wire and its inherent limitations. The Takumi sits at the bottom of the Miyajima range, having an elliptical stylus - models further up have Shibata stylii.
For those interested in reading more, the authorised UK website is www.miyajima-lab.co.uk .
I set up the Takumi in an Oyaide HS-TF headshell , with tracking at the recommended 2.25g and the armtube initially level. I was greeted with a soft, over-blown sound, but raising the arm pillar soon found the optimum VTA that brought a nice balance to the sound. The most striking aspect of this cartridge's sound is the virtual absence of surface noise, but that aside the Takumi does have a very nicely ordered, smooth and natural sound. It's not rolled-off smooth, but rather there are no hard edges to what it does. It's musically adept, and excels at portraying 'air' and natural resonances of instruments. It's all rather captivating.
The amazing thing here is that the Takumi sits at the bottom of the Miyajima range, and I shudder to think what the Shilabe would do with its Shibata stylus. I can honestly say that I've never heard a cartridge so 'cultured' and musical as this. It's just lovely.
Here's an animation showing how Miyajima cartridges work:
