ZYX Fuji vs. Lyra Helicon

Hi Chris,

I am using the ZYZ R100 Fuji Low Output since over 1 year now, and I find it it one of the very best MC's ever. Only the ZYX R-1000 is probably better, and that costs really a fortune. I had the following MC's for comparison: Lyra Parnassus DC, Shelter 901, Koetsu Urushi, Koetsu Onyx, Koetsu Rosewood, v.d.Hul Grasshoppers, Benz Ruby II, and Transfiguration.
I have several input transformers incl. the ZYX 1000, and
with that the Fuji outperformed all of them. Period.
It is the most neutral, most "not-there" cartridge I'ver ever heard. Some find it slightly boring. That is because in my "ears" they are fixed on stunning colorations, which the ZYX does not produce. Spacial information is outstanding: Where there is air filled with something unnatural with most cartridges, with the ZYX there is just air. It feels so real, that you can grasp the instruments.

But... music material is also what matters! If you listen to jazz, classical music, natural recordings, then that is
the right cartridge. If you listen mainly to Rock and electrical music, you might find it boring. As it is neutral, i.e. it shows as well the mistakes on recordings. Most rockmusic is artificial, and you can hear that.

The VPI arm is by no means wrong for the Shelter 901. I would rate the 901 third after the Top Koetsus, which have some kind of magic, that has to be heard in the right system.

Anyway: I cannot say anything about active MC-stages, I do not like those. MC-Transformers are a must (exception is an old French design but that is unavailable). Mc-trannies are very difficult, the Jensen transformers are good, forget any Ortofon, but the ZYX 100 is supposed to be great as well.

If you have decided to buy the Fuji, then mail me, and I can give you some hints.

Greetings

goodmusic

The Shelter 901 and the ZYX R100 Fuji sound very different. About as different as a v.d.Hul compared to a Koetsu! The 901 is much closer to a Top Koetsu (Urushi) in its presentation than the ZYX. The ZYX is so extremly neutral, that it has no competition. It is not there!

But remember: The ZYX has a hallow cantilever! This means, you must use no liquid cartridge cleaners, but the Zero Dust
cleaner!!! Or a 400Hz cleaner like once made by Goldring or AT. These do work fine as well. Also the stylus is very very tiny: picks up dirt very quickly if the records are not clean!

Although the postings are 14 years ago, i was triggered by the last post. I have ZYX Fuji, which is all that is said above, and have used a liquid cleaner without any issue. Why would it not be possible to use a liquid cleaner? I might switch to another cleaner if it is not good for the cart (Although i haven't noticed any issue yet. )

The fear is that a liquid stylus cleaner may contain a solvent which could migrate up the hollow tube and eventually, for example, weaken the bond between the stylus and the cantilever, assuming that bond is achieved by some sort of epoxy, which is often the case.