Goodbye ZYX Airy 3

Don, the ORIGINAL zyx cartridge is the one with REAL serial number. I know what i'm talking about as i bought Zyx from Juki few years ago and it was fake serial, different manual and box without serial numbers (where should be serial numbers printed). It was OK cartridge (Airy-3), but i remember distortion problems with one channel for a long time on new cartridge. Remember that grey market ZYX can not be serviced by Nakansuka-San (he refuse them if the serial is fake like with all Zyx from Juki). As i said in another thread retipping ZYX with some other vendor is no longer zyx sound. So if the warranty/service is not a problem for you that's ok. But for me support by manufacturer is important. It is not a problem to find USED/DEMO cartridge from original source (disctributors) or sellers you can trust (they do not manipulate with serial numbers). Appart from ZYX i can say the same about Ortofon he's selling (also fake serials). I even remember fake Orsonic headshells from that source. Definitely not everybody happy about it.

I never got anything free from Sora Sound, but everybody knows that Mehran is top seller who taking care of his customers like no one else in this business.

Doug,
The patience you display is one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues for a reason.
Good going! :)

The effect of exchange rate depends on the time frame you consider. From 2000 to 2008, the dollar/yen ratio was between 100 and 120. After 2008, the ratio dropped substantially, bottoming at around 78 in May 2011. Since then it has risen back to 120. The 2008 to 2013 were an anomaly compared to the last 30 years.

Dates of major crossing points.

July 2007 - 120
Oct. 2008 - 100
May 2011 - 90
Oct, 2012 - 78
Jan. 2013 - 90
May 2013 - 100
Nov. 2014 - 110
Current - 120

Data from oanda.com website. You can get historical prices there, graph or table.

Historical Exchange Rates

Here is the ONLY review of a ZYX "Premium" cartridge I could find.

http://hifilivemagazine.com/zyx-premium-omega-gold-2/