Cartridges by Koetsu
Sugano-san’s tradition lives on through his son. These cartridges speak for themselves.
Lean and mean is the antithesis of the Koetsu philosophy, and they direct your focus to the midrange – where the music lives.
If you have a particularly “hot” system that you want to tame, then Koetsu and Ikeda cartridges are both excellent choices.
If you want a cartridge that will play your entire record collection and not merely your "good" ones, then you should give serious consideration to Koetsu.
The Models
Loosely speaking, you can break the lineup down into 4 categories. Click the links or scroll down for details:
- The Black Goldline, with its aluminum body
- The rosewood bodies
- The urushi lacquered rosewood bodies
- The stone bodies
In the details below, pay particular attention to the cartridge mass. We can advise you on compatibility with your tonearm.
Rebuilds and Trade-ins (effective March, 2022)
Rebuilds vary by model:
- $1,700 for the Black Goldline
- $1,700 to $4,200 for the Rosewood series
- $3,000 to $3,800 for the Urushi series
- $5,000 for the stone body series.
Inquire for details on both rebuilds and trade-ins. Rebuilds are stripped down to their body and magnet and the cartridge is remanufactured as new.
The Black Goldline - $2,995
The entry point into the Koetsu line, the Black Goldline uses many parts employed in Koetsu's more ambitious efforts, and of course, carries with it the house sound which made Koetsu famous. For more details on the Black Goldline, click here.

Black Goldline
Rosewood - from $3,995

Rosewood Signature Platinum
The Rosewood model has been a long-time favorite, and was the basis for development of the Rosewood Signature and Signature Platinum, along with the Urushi and stone bodied models which followed.
The key differences between the three rosewood models are the coils, magnets and cartridge mass.
Additionally, the Rosewood Signature Platinum features rare platinum magnets and silver plated 6N copper coils usually reserved for Koetsu's stone body cartridges.
It's the perfect choice for those lusting after the sonics of a stone model but who prefer the look of rosewood.
To reduce clutter in the summary table below (especially for viewing on small screens), know that all 3 Rosewood cartridges have boron cantilevers and a recommended tracking force of 1.8 to 2.2 grams.
Click the "Model" links in the table below for more details.
Model | Body | Coils | Magnet | Output | Mass | Load | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rosewood | Copper | Samarium Cobalt | 0.4mV | 8.25g | 75-500Ω | $3,995 | |
Rosewood | Copper | Permendur | 0.4mV | 9.18 g | 75-500Ω | $5,495 | |
Lacquered, Aged Rosewood | Silver Plated 6N Copper | Platinum | 0. 3mV | 12.4g | 75-500Ω | $8,495 |
Urushi Lacquered Rosewood - from $6,495

Urushi Tsugaru
The Japanese art of Urushi is a tradition dating back 10,000 years. Urushi natural lacquer, sourced from the caustic sap of the indigenous Urushi trees. The Urushi is applied by the hands of select Japanese artisans.
Apart from conveying the craftsmanship that lies "under the hood", the curing process of the lacquer shifts the body's resonant frequency in a musically consonant manner.
All Koetsu Urushi models use silver clad ultra-high purity copper coils. This process involves a silver sheath being slowly drawn over the copper.
As with all Koetsus, the Urushi cartridges have boron cantilevers and a recommended tracking force of 1.8 to 2.2 grams.
Click the "Model" links in the table below for more details.
Model | Body | Coils | Magnet | Output | Mass | Load | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Urushi Lacquered Rosewood | Silver Plated Copper | Permendur | 0.4 mV | 9.37g | 75-500 Ω | $6,495 | |
Urushi Lacquered Rosewood | Silver Plated Copper | Permendur | 0.4 mV | 9.37g | 75-500 Ω | $6,495 | |
Urushi Lacquered Rosewood | Silver Plated Copper | Permendur | 0.4 mV | 9.37g | 75-500 Ω | $6,495 | |
Urushi Lacquered Rosewood | Double Coil (Silver / Copper) | Permendur | 0.2 mV | 9g | 50-500 Ω | $6,495 | |
Urushi Lacquered Rosewood | Silver Plated Copper | Permendur | 0.4 mV | 9.37g | 75-500 Ω | $6,995 |
Stone Bodies - from $10,995

Azule
Koetsu's statement cartridges are distinguished by their stone bodies, which are machined from a block of high quality stone. Each block is carefully selected for natural grain and polished to a very fine finish.
Internally, only the most tightly matched silver sheathed copper coils and cores are specified.
Topping off this exotic recipe, rare platinum magnets complete the story, taking the ethereal Koetsu sound to its most exalted state.
As with all Koetsus, the stone body cartridges have boron cantilevers and a recommended tracking force of 1.8 to 2.2 grams.
Please note: Azule, Bloodstone, Rhodonite, & Tiger-Eye are special order.
Click the "Model" links in the table below for more details.
Model | Body | Coils | Magnet | Output | Mass | Load | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Onyx | 6N Silver Plated Copper | Platinum | 0.3mV | 12.5g | 75-500 Ω | $10,995 | |
Jade | 6N Silver Plated Copper | Platinum | 0.3mV | 13g | 75-500 Ω | $10,995 | |
Dumortierite | 6N Silver Plated Copper | Platinum | 0.3mV | 13g | 75-500 Ω | $11,995 | |
Bloodstone | 6N Silver Plated Copper | Platinum | 0.3mV | 12.5g | 75-500 Ω | $11,995 | |
Rhodonite | 6N Silver Plated Copper | Platinum | 0.3mV | 13.5g | 75-500 Ω | $13,995 | |
Coral | 6N Silver Plated Copper | Platinum | 0.3mV | 12g | 75-500 Ω | $14,995 | |
Tigereye | 6N Silver Plated Copper | Platinum | 0.3mV | 12.5g | 75-500 Ω | $13,495 | |
Blue Onyx | Silver Plated Copper | Platinum | 0.3mV | 12.5g | 75-500 Ω | $15,595 |