Zyx Universe Break In

What is your tone arm? I had sibilance issues a bit with my JMW9 that were resolved with the upgrade to JMW9 Sig. I'm using the Zyx Airy 3.

There's mucho written here on the UNIverse, and some of Doug Deacon's reviews you'll find as well, read them, I highly recommend it, as Doug is the UNI Guru, and the strongest of all ZYX proponents.

I own the Uni's little sister, the Airy 3X SB. yes, the first thing I noticed was uncanny silence in the groove, and a good sound right out of the box new, but there was something I just couldn't put my finger on?

Yes, that was one thing I noticed was sibilance at first. Tony Bennet's voice on "San Fransico", was horrid, the SSss's were way way over-exagerated. And the ZYX "sound" after some readings, and evaluations by others, I put a finger on this malady, and the characteristic was a very good description by others.... the sound was "mechanical".

I started thinking about my alignment, damping fluids, but thought some more, and one error I concluded I made, was, I was following what others liked as far as optimum VTF settings, (relatively low, like 1.83g) sat and thought, and then surmised that I might be tracking this Cartridge a bit too light, upped the VTF to an even 2.00g, and things did get better.

I remembered Doug's, and other's advice, that break in times, would be lenghty with this Cartridge, in the vicinity of 100-150 hours total.

The Airy 3X didn't seem so sensitive to VTA, but seem sensitive to VTF. The UNIverse on the other hand, I understand is very sensitive to both VTA, and VTF.

These two Cartridges, while they may not share the same innards, share as I understand the same Cantilever, and Stylus, and probably the very same Cantilever Suspension.

Doug has noted even changes in weather have dictated minor adjustments in VTF to his the UNI's sweet spot.

I would probably lean towards the heavier suggested VTF during the initial hours of play, so better solidity is heard. and then, perhaps after a number of logged in hours, can you then begin to fine tune VTA, VTF, and then even try different loading settings.

Dependent upon Phono Stage, you will then find, after the 100, or so hours of play, a setting which suits your system, and your ears. PS: Again, chat with Doug, he'll help you squeeze the best from this killer Cartridge! Mark

My Universe was damn startling just 4 hours after playing.
It won't hurt to raise VTF above 2 gms for a few months.......after a year you may find that 1.7 gms is better.
Raising VTA slightly also seems to suit the Universe. It will certainly help to now check very carefully the arm/cartridge geometry preferably with a protractor like the Wally or Mint. Care taken with correct Baerwald geometry will often be more important than other parameters such as VTA and VTF.
Good luck.....it's a superb cartridge.

VTA and VTF adjustment is critical for the universe cartridge. I agree with MarkD51 that the airy is not as sensitive but imo, the sweet spot on the universe for vta is smaller and the performance of the cartridge improves with lower vtf. The other note about picking up grundge from the grooves is true and due to the stylus type. As far as break in time, i brought my uni used, so I can not comment, but the airy took at least 100 hours to reach its full potential. However, once optimized, the universe is in a plateau above any cartridge i have ever used

To reiterate what has been said, I think important things to check, will be of course, as others have mentioned, highly critical attention to proper Cartridge alignment. This pretty much is a given with such world class Cartridges, and you'll note virtually all the boys here, with wheter it was a Lyra Titan, a ZYX Universe, a Dynavector DRT XV-1, a Koetsu, A Benz LP, the boys all love the MintLP Protractor!

And the boys here have taught me, that while one should use the ear as the final criterion, the lack of good tools is I feel a shortcoming, and you'll note most of the fellas usually have darn good Digital Scales, capable of .01g resolution accuracy in thier arsenals.

The don't have to cost an arm, and a leg, like the Winds Scale, and many can be found cheap at places like Old Will Knott Scales. While many like the old venerable Shure SFG-2, this is a scale that falls short when setting up Cartridges like the ZYX.

The Airy 3, and UNiverse's sound will noticably change with very minor changes in VTF as little as .1g.

Doug, and others will tell you, repeatability, is just as important as accuracy with a good scale. I found a cheapie at the pre-mentioned site for $32 shipped which is dead accurate, the Proscale LC-50, a Clearaudio Weight Watcher clone.

I'm sort of doubting loading plays much importance at first as far as VTF, and VTA, but loading will as well be all over the place, and I suggest just sticking to what others suggest with the UNIverse. Then maybe after a good number of hours, try something different for kicks, it cannot hurt anything. Mark