The Karat series has been on the market for over 30 years and is still considered as a benchmark by many music lovers around the world. It is the first cartridge to use the 'Dispersion' principle. The extra short 1.7 mm diamond cantilever allows for a fabulous frequency response (20-100 000 Hz). The improvement in the build of pole pieces and coil windings has increased the overall efficiency compared with the previous model. This cartridge is still revolutionary in terms of design and build quality to date. We were only to expect its performance to match its technology. And one thing is for sure, it truly lived up to our expectations! Playback is well balanced with a treble that reaches very high frequencies, giving the music a lot of precision. As evidenced by the readings, the frequency response is very neutral, with every register where it should be. The sound stage is not quite as wide as that of the XX-2, but it is authentic and precise nonetheless. The tempo is amazing and the transients are extremely short. The bass is tight and expressive, the timbre of the instruments is more subtle and more full-bodied than the 20X2. During a random test, we thought that we were listening to a cartridge worth twice the price… A multipurpose cartridge in terms of musical styles and tonearm and vinyl turntables compatibility. Some music lovers have been swearing by it for decades, and we fully understand them. A benchmark!
AWARDS:
Haute-Fidélité - Meilleur Achat - 2017
FranckMoving coil: low output
Flux damper & Softened Magnets
Output: 0.3 mV
Channel separation: 25 dB
Channel balance: 1 dB
Frequency response: 20 Hz-100 kHz (+/- 1dB)
Compliance: 15 x 10 -6 cm/dyn
Tracking force: 1.8/2.2 g
Resistance: 32 ohms
Load: >100 ohms
Cantilever: 1.7 mm diamond, 0.25 mm in diameter
Stylus: Micro Ridge Nude
Weight: 5.8 g
Customer reviews
Enfin libre !
Tout d'abord félicitations à maplatine.com pour le professionnalisme. Avec cette cellule, montée sur une Micro Seiki avec MA 505, je me suis libéré des Denon DL110 - 160 et surtout 103 avec lesquelles j'ai vécu de nombreuses années. Cette cellule est très nettement au dessus. Le drame avec une DL103 c'est de trouver mieux quelque soit le prix. Maintenant c'est fait. La 17D est mieux dans tous les domaines, particulièrement dans les hautes fréquences qui sont d'une précision et d'une finesse exceptionnelles. J'ai redécouvert mes vinyles. Je ne croyais pas cela possible et pourtant j'ai vécu cette expérience. Le prix peut sembler élevé, mais c'est celui qu'il faut payer pour entrer dans la cour des grands. Le gap est très important, et l'expression "en avoir pour son argent" prend tout son sens. Je conseille vivement.