IKEDA 9TS

The Ikeda 9TS represents the entry point into the exclusive world of handcrafted Japanese cartridges created by Isamu Ikeda, an undisputed master of analog and founder of Ikeda Sound Labs. Every component—from the body to the stylus—is meticulously handmade in Japan, following a tradition rooted in over fifty years of expertise in designing tonearms and phono cartridges of the highest caliber. The 9TS is born from this philosophy: it is not merely a cartridge, but the outcome of a vision in which a profound love for analog music guides every technical and design decision.

Although conceived as the entry-level model in the Ikeda lineup, the 9TS inherits both the sonic character and the build quality of the brand’s higher-end cartridges. It is constructed with the same architecture as its upper-tier siblings, including the body and magnetic yoke—critical elements for achieving outstanding sound reproduction. The cantilever is crafted from double-layered duralumin, while the stylus features an oval-shaped solid diamond, a technical choice that ensures highly precise groove tracking and echoes Ikeda’s classic designs.

The crafting of the 9TS demands time and specialized skills: each unit is carefully adjusted to ensure that the sound engraved in the vinyl groove is revealed in its purest form. Despite its high output and ease of use, the cartridge retains the dynamic naturalness and vibrant energy typical of analog, offering a vivid, lifelike performance with a well-balanced soundstage across the entire frequency spectrum.

Technical specifications:

• Type: Moving Coil (MC) cartridge
• Output voltage: 0.35 mVrms (1 kHz, 35.4 mm/sec., 45° peak)
• Coil impedance: 6.0 ohms (1 kHz)
• Recommended tracking force: 2.0 grams ± 0.2 grams
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 45 kHz
• Channel separation: over 27 dB (1 kHz)
• Channel balance: within 1.0 dB (1 kHz)
• Stylus: oval-shaped solid diamond
• Cantilever: double-layered duralumin tube
• Weight: 10 g
• Compliance: 7 x 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne