Madake

About the Madake

The Miyajima Madake cartridge uses a cantilever made from the strongest type of Japanese bamboo called Madake (Phyllostachys bambusoides), combined with a body crafted from African blackwood. It features a unique cross-ring motor design that centers the fulcrum within the coil former, allowing precise and clear sound reproduction. The cartridge has a Shibata stylus optimized for detailed tracking at a recommended force of 2.5 grams. It offers a frequency response from 20Hz to 32kHz, an output level of 0.23mV, and an impedance of 16 ohms with a recommended load of around 100-160 ohms. Weighing 9.7 grams, the Madake is praised for its rich, coherent, and multidimensional sound with excellent bass definition, treble extension, and a spectacular soundstage. It is considered Miyajima's masterpiece and one of the best cartridges available, combining resolving power with musical warmth and density.