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ZYX "House" Sound

I am searching for a different sound in my system. I'm currently using the Shelter 901 MkIII and the Koetsu Rosewood Signature. I consider both to be on the warm side of neutral. I'd like to find a very good quality cartridge that is a bit more neutral. I don't want "clinical". I cannot cope with cymbals that sound like white noise with emphasis on the upper octaves. System is: MS DD-40 (2 tables), SUT using the Cimemag 1254 Tranny, Paragon Model E tube preamp (used as a phono pre) and Musical Surroundings Nova phono pre, Levinson control amp, Bryston 2.5B cubed power amp, Revel bookshelf speakers and HSU sub.

I've been seriously considering ZYX for my next cartridge. There are reviews of the top and bottom of the line ZYX cartridges, but little in between. I've contacted Mehran at Sorasound. Based on my budget, he suggested the Ultimate (Exceed) 4D or the Ultimate (Exceed) Omega.

Not many reviews for these mid-tier cartridges. Is anyone familiar with the sound of these cartridges? Does ZYX have a "house" sound? I'm not concerned by the naming confusion nor any of the other negative comments I've read. They're not constructive. I really want to understand where the ZYX cartridges fit in the cool to warm spectrum. There may be other brands to look at, and I'm doing that. This post is about the ZYX sound.

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kevemaher's avatar
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kevemaher OP
86 posts
 

@linnlp12 Thanks for the good words about the DD-40!

I measured all the tables I had a few months ago using an app that measures and reports RPM and WOW and Flutter. One can quibble about absolute accuracy, but comparisons among tables does indicate which tables have lower W&F.

The DD-40 came out # 3 of 4. The Technics SL-1200G and Denon DL-57L were the best. By a big margin, the worst table was my Acoustic Signature WOW XXL. Its W&F was about 5x worse than the Denon.and Technics (0.1% vs 0.02%) I've since sold this table.

And I really love the MA-505 arm. I have three and one long verrsion.

007nguyen
6 posts
 

Hello,

I have VPI classic 3 and Technics SL-1000R, both with Audio-technica Art-9.

The sound with Technics and with Art-9 is like a CD.

I prefer ZYX 4D last version with the Technics.

 

Hope this helps.

 

007nguyen
6 posts
 

The sound with the Technics and the ZYX cartridge is warmer and sounding like a vinyl, not a CD.

kennyc
1,468 posts
 

I somewhat agree with @dover - usually these high quality cartridges are used in higher performing turntables - better tonearms and quieter turntables (plinth and platter).  But the OP shouldn’t panic, his current setup will work

slovell's avatar
slovell
55 posts
 

I have a ZYX Bloom 3 that I use on my VPI Scoutmaster in rotation with a couple of other carts. It's a killer cart for the price.

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