There are two iterations of the Kiseki carts. The older ones have no additional letters after their model names. The new ones usually have an N.S designation. It means it is “New Stock”. There is enough data out there to be able to give you a definitive answer as to which of the series is better. I am sure both camps have their fans.
As to why I liked it and what I compared it too? That is going to be very tough and way too long a post. If you peek around here, you will find that I have been through and continue to churn through a wide variety of carts. I tend to also experiment and explore, utilizing cart rebuilders to make changes and customize carts. I like a varied set of carts for certain strengths and have yet to find the “one cart to rule them all”.
Of the many carts however that have staying power here, “Jacks of all trades, but masters of none” tend to win out. I find these carts offer me just enough of all the things I like along with things I feel I need to be my go too carts. That is not to say that other carts I have owned are not better. So carts like the Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua, Dynavector Karat, Hana SL/ML, Ortofon Cadenza Bronze, Transfiguration Spirit and Temper, Ortofon MC20 & 30 supreme, Lyra Lydian B, Lyra parnasus ( I need another one of these desperately) Koetsu Rosewood signature, Sumiko Pearwood celebration, and the Kiseki Purple Heart are in this catagory.
This is not an exhaustive list mind you. But just a taste to show you how wide and varied my tastes can run. I am currently running Ikeda 9 carts, which I feel do not fit in this catagory as they are definitely a masterful cart. But for all their strengths, it comes with some serious challenges. Predominately in set up. When you have it wrong, it is really wrong. One of the few carts I own that truly require serious time and tools to properly set up.
Hope that helps?
