Who it comes up against
20 lost · Anchored, Artisan, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Twin Arms
Against the Anchored brief, the van den Hul The Frog keeps the slot decisively.
With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on bass control.
On its own merits the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl gives up quietness at rest under the Anchored weighting.
tight bassPositive Feedback — Azule Platinum
15 lost · Anchored, BBC Sound, Cavity-Native, Characterful, Intimate, PRaT, Reference, Romantic, Twin Arms
Against the Characterful brief, the van den Hul The Crimson keeps the slot decisively.
With the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl, the pairing gives up most on low-level clarity.
With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on bass control.
On its own merits the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Musical Fidelity M8x Vinyl gives up low-level clarity under the Characterful weighting.
tight bassPositive Feedback — Azule Platinum
4 lost · Silent Path
Against the Silent Path brief, the Goldring Eroica HX MC keeps the slot decisively.
With the Whest Audio 60Se Pro, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
On its own merits the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Whest Audio 60Se Pro gives up quietness at rest under the Silent Path weighting.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.
3 lost · Artisan, Reference
Against the Artisan brief, the van den Hul The Colibri keeps the slot by a whisker.
With the Vertere Groove Runner X, the pairing gives up most on bass control.
On its own merits the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Vertere Groove Runner X gives up bass control under the Artisan weighting.
tight bassPositive Feedback — Azule Platinum
2 lost · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Linn Kendo MC keeps the slot clearly.
On its own merits the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the way it sits with the rest of this system under the Twin Arms weighting.
2 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Gold MC keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
2 lost · Vocals-First
Against the Vocals-First brief, the Etsuro Urushi Cobalt Blue MC keeps the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC is the weaker cartridge for that brief.
It sits well above the share of the budget this brief aims at the cartridge position.
2 lost · Romantic, Twin Arms
Against the Romantic brief, the van den Hul MC One Special keeps the slot decisively.
With the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC, the pairing gives up most on quietness at rest.
With the Technics S-shape magnesium tonearm (SL-1200G), the pairing gains most on bass control.
On its own merits the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC is the stronger cartridge — but it loses here on fit: the pairing with the Rega Aria Mk3 MM/MC gives up quietness at rest under the Romantic weighting.
tight bassPositive Feedback — Azule Platinum
almost total lack of groove noise and distortionSoundStage! (Lyle) 2001
0 lost· 1 won · Twin Arms
Against the Twin Arms brief, the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC takes the slot by a whisker.
On its own merits the Koetsu Azule Platinum MC is the stronger cartridge for that brief.