Ikeda 966 MC Cartridge by Ikeda

This cartridge has it all with a incredible balance of neutrality and musicality. Remarkable transparency without a fatiguing clinical presentation.

IKEDA Sound Labs is pleased to introduce our new flagship MC cartridge model 9Gss.

Our team has spent a couple of years developing the 9Gss which stands as our new flagship model on top of the Ikeda KAI. This newly developed cartridge will offer unbeatably superb sound reproduction ability of high and low frequencies with a precise and excellent balance.

The internal frame construction is made of the upper base (A) and the center pillar base (B) that are independently constructed and precisely assembled, instead of the usual construction of a single integrated design. As for the center pillar base, a special anti-vibration alloy which has the highest ability and the most superior to the absorbability for vibration and noise is adopted, so that the outline and imaging of sound will become much clearer.

As for the upper base, the most strong and solid Titanium is precisely CNC machined from the block, then buffed and polished manually one by one. Finally, the special process and final finish, 24K Gold plating of 5 microns thickness on top of Rhodium plating is applied. In addition, the outer body covering the internal mechanism and components is cut out from solid aluminum, and then processed by a hard buffing manually one by one.  Then as a final process, the special surface treatment of the body 24K Gold plating of 5 microns on top of silver plating of 5 microns on the surface is applied. This kind of surface treatment is mainly applied for brass instruments in order to secure the best sound reverberation. Thanks to this treatment, the sound will become brilliant, elegant and distinctive.

As for the stylus chip, it is made of a square diamond. As for the magnet, the most up-to-date Neodymium is used. As for the cantilever, a Boron which is superior to the transmission of oscillation is used.

We are proud that the Ikeda 9Gss attained all kinds of requirements and conditions for a phono cartridge as a sound reproduction tool, so that more elements not appeared on the specifications, for instance such as finer sounds hidden on vinyl disks, will be retrieved.

We will spend as much time as possible to fabricate and to make a delicate alignment in order to draw the best performance and attractive sound. Finally, we are wishing all of you to enjoy an excellent performance and ability of our new flagship 9Gss.

* This model is limited production of 200 units worldwide

Priced at $10,500.00

SPECS

Moving Coil (MC)

Output Voltage:
0.3 mVrms (1kHz 35.4mm/sec. at 45°peak)

Coil Impedance:
3.0 Ohms (1kHz)

Appropriate Stylus Force:
2.0 Grams ±0.1 Gram

Frequency Response:
10Hz - 45kHz

Channel Separation:
Over 30dB (1kHz)

Channel Balance:
Within 1.0dB (1kHz)

Stylus Chip:
Solid pure square diamond

Cantilever:
Made of pure Boron

Top Panel:
Made of the strongest Titanium

Weight:
14.0 Grams

Compliance:
10 x 10 -6cm/dyne

Connecting Terminals:
Left Channel, White (hot), Blue (ground)
Right Channel, Red (hot), Green (ground