Kotetu Mono MC Cartridge

An accessible entry into Miyajima’s dedicated mono cartridge range...
Introducing the Miyajima Kotetu MONO*

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The Kotetu MONO was created as a more affordable way into Miyajima’s vertical axis concentration mono design, but without losing sight of sound quality. Miyajima state that the structure is the same as the Spirit and Premium models, allowing listeners to enjoy genuine mono LP replay with the company’s distinctive approach.

Its bonded elliptical stylus brings a slight improvement in traceability, while the low-output moving coil design preserves the direct, focused and faithful presentation that makes dedicated mono playback so rewarding.

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* Available in Mono LP and 78rpm versions. The cartridges are identical in design, but use different stylus sizes optimised for either microgroove LPs or wider-groove 78rpm records.

Specs

What Makes Miyajima Cartridges Special? 

There is nothing unique about using wood for cartridge bodies, but Miyajima cartridges have a unique, patented design that really is different to any other moving coil cartridge available.  Miyajima understood that traditional moving coil cartridges suffer from resonances and distortion, firstly due to the tie-wire that typically holds the cantilever and coil assembly against the magnet pole piece with a compliant insert between to allow some movement.  The tie wire has to be very precisely tightened so that the coil assembly is correctly aligned, but its disadvantage is that it resonates, introducing distortion.  The second source of distortion is the typical iron coil former of a moving coil cartridge, which actually distorts the lines of magnetic flux between the pole pieces, as it moves through those lines.  Miyajima have a patented cross ring coil structure that has a non-magnetic core, neatly side-stepping this problem.  The next innovation was to eliminate the tie-wire altogether.  Instead, Miyajima use a pointed slide bar that  locates the coil assembly very precisely from behind at its pivot point, which is also the centre point of the magnet, while gently pushing the coil assembly against a compliant insert.  This means that the coil assembly can pivot unimpeded by a tensioning wire.  Here is a helpful animation showing how Miyajima cartridges work:

What's The End Result? 

Miyajima cartridges really do have dramatically lower distortion, compared to other MC cartridges, and these can sound like CD in comparison.  The sound is smooth, but don't think that they are 'rolled off' or lacking in 'bite' - the smoothness is a reflection of the low distortion.  Miyajima cartridges are effortlessly musical too.  Paul Rigby reviewed the original Takumi here, and gave it a 'Groovy' award.