EXCEL SOUND "ETSURO LACQUER COBALT BLUE" MC CARTRIDGE

Achieves high sound quality at a lower price than the previous work
The Etsuro Urushi COBALT BLUE is the second product in the brand's Etsuro Urushi cartridge released in November 2015, and inherits many of the features of the original model, such as an 80μm stylus tip, a sapphire pipe cantilever, and an ultra-super duralumin (A7075) housing. It is a cobalt blue coloring that was adopted as a result of examination with Sakamoto Otozo Shoten, which performs lacquer processing of traditional Japan crafts for finishing.

Based on ultra-super duralumin (A7075 material)

By changing the cartridge base (the black part in the product image) from sapphire to ultra-super duralumin, we have achieved an affordable price.

The stylus tip uses a "Microline Diamond tip" with a curvature of 80 μ on the contact surface for the sound groove of the record. Achieves high reproduction characteristics in a wide sound band. The cantilever is made of φ0.4mm ultra-precision sapphire pipe material, and sapphire boasts a hardness second only to diamond, and has no distortion, excellent high-speed guidance and transmission, and a clear sound.

The magnetic circuit is based on a combination of electromagnetic soft iron and samarium-cobalt magnets, and achieves magnetic characteristics that are in harmony with coil vibration. The cartridge housing and base are made of ultra-super duralumin (A7075), and the housing is lacquered, a traditional Japan craft, after a special strengthening treatment. When lacquer hardens, a strong coating film that can withstand high heat is formed, and it adheres firmly to the housing, so it can suppress the squeak peculiar to duralumin. The stunning luster and texture of lacquer is truly a small work of art. When the craftsmanship, which has more than half a century of achievements and experience, encounters a project that aims for the supreme, analog records begin to walk in a new era.

impedance	3ohms/1kHz
Proper needle pressure	2.0g
Frequency range	15Hz~50kHz
Separation	30dB/1kHz
Needle	80μMicroline
cantilever	0.4φ Sapphire Pipe
Output voltage	0.25mV/1kHz
Trackability	>70μm/2g
body	Ultra Super Duralumin (A7075)
weight	8.1g

Magazine Evaluation
It seems that the rich amount of information of the direct cutting disc that directly records the master sound source is picked up and accurately converted into a music signal without losing it. The soulful female vocals are reproduced with just the right amount of tension and volume, and the brass session has a radiance and spaciousness. The drum shots also stand up quickly, and the sound and energy are realistically reproduced. The groove of the chorus and bass line is also faithfully drawn, and it seems that the groove of the music improves. The remastered sound source has a larger f range than the original, but Etsuro Urushi COBALT BLUE accurately reproduced the difference, and I was able to hear a fresh sound. The piano has a natural texture without habit, and the powerful attack sound and the scale of the concert add to the realism.