AXPONA 2025

Back in the Groove: Koetsu Returns to Vinyl’s Front Lines

Jason Victor Serinus  |  Apr 15, 2025

Arturo Manzano, a longtime admirer of Koetsu phono cartridges, has reassembled Koetsu’s original team of artisans to bring the acclaimed brand back to the international market.

“Koetsu was one of the first brands I distributed after I founded AXISS Audio distribution over 30 years ago,” Manzano explained outside one of AXISS’s many rooms at AXPONA. “I was despondent that since the death of the son of the company’s founder and designer, Yoshiaki Sugano, in 2023, this touchstone brand was no longer available. So, with my new company, Analog2Fidelity, I’ve brought together the original team that built Koetsu cartridges for over 40 years.”

Some of Koetsu’s artisans have come out of retirement to help bring the original designs back to market. Once an international team of distributors is ready to go, the company’s Urushi Vermillion, Urushi Wajima, and Rosewood Standard cartridges will again be available worldwide.

COMMENTS
deckeda's picture
Submitted by deckeda on April 15, 2025 - 4:29pm

I wish them well, despite never once being in a position to afford what they made or will make.

staticdynamo's picture
Submitted by staticdynamo on April 15, 2025 - 8:59pm

I visited Mr.Sugano' home about 35 years ago. And I knew his sense, his ear, his hands made Koetsu cartridges. Not team, but he himself made them.
Resurrection... I hope it will be successful. But...

KatDander64's picture
Submitted by KatDander64 on April 16, 2025 - 6:21pm

Besides this marketing spin, Axiss is also very good at plastering their signs on every hotel elevator lobby and hallway they didn't have a room on, at this Axpona 25. Very cheesy.

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