Lewm -- here is a new universe II from a US dealer other than SoraSound.
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/cartridges-save-50-brand-new-2017-09-21-analog
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/cartridges-save-50-brand-new-2017-09-21-analog
I have joined in the ZYX Family
Funny how change comes about. I’ve been intending to get a tube preamp for years 10-12 years. Instead, I got a tube amp which sounds great. . Tube amp with SS preamp sounds GREAT. FWIW, the SS Preamp was a Stereophile Class A Conrad Johnson PFR. So, its not like I was shooting in the dark. The PFR is a really good preamp. And the Bob Latino ST-70 seems to be a great fit along with the Silverline Sonatas. So I set out to get my turntable up to its optimum. I have a Teres 340 which has an Origin Live Illustrious 3 with Benz Ebony L cartridge. I put the OL Illustrious on it as a temporary arm. I figured the Teres deserved much better. But Maybe I am wrong. It sounds great. However, being an audiophile, I can’t leave it alone. So I set out to get a new tonearm worthy of the Teres 340. But then someone reminds me that a cartridge will make more difference than a tonearm upgrade, especially since the tonearm is a pretty good one. . So I consider the idea and come across a ZYX 4D for a good price. Thank you Raulirigueus(sp) for the idea. In the process, I saved some $$$ too. I’ve wanted a ZYX for quite some time. NOW, I see what all the fuss is about. This cartridge is fabulous. Next up is to clean the electric. Oneac seems to be a good way to go. But, who knows. My plans often go sideways. But I’ve really made some big steps forward thanks to some good advice and the good Lord above who over rules my ignorance. FWIW I often pity those who miss the beauty of good music. I love it. Thanks for your help along the way.
- ...
- 73 posts total
It never would've occurred to me to gainsay the Zyx packaging. I think it's cute, well done and very japanese (complete with charmingly mangled English in the manual). And those pretty cloth bags - I fill them with sand and use them for damping. They help to convince my guests that I'm completely nuts, even if they pretend not to notice... |
@jollytinker haha, those bags are the best things in their package design, i miss them. But on the side of the Premium Zyx 4D you will find just a piece of paper with a brand name and model. In fact the quality of prints on that paper is even better on lower model Zyx Airy3. But common, just a digital print on a piece of paper used to add brand name on a pair of cartridges cost nearly $8000 new? The manual made on home laser printer and pages compiled with two clips. My local non profit $2 franzine looks better, but these stuff comes with $8000 cartridges. Can't remember any other cartridges with the brand name added with a piece of paper or sticker, except for Mostrer Cable designed by Nakatsuka-San (ZYX) back in the 80s. Respected manufacturers put their brand name and model number on the carts with mode advanced methods since the early 70s and all manuals printed with offset method. In 21st century someone use a tiny piece of paper and home printer for everything that cost astranomical amount of money. Something wrong with that. At least the sound quality is superb. Ok, maybe it's just me, who cares. |
"I saw Carr’s posts, but it is not what i’m talking about, i have provided the link of very good picture in high resolution https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DMCAEMLWAAA2x8G.jpg:large , on that picture anyone can see the part of the tall nude Micro Ridge diamond on top and on the bottom of the Boron cantilever, which means the diamong go throught the tube. If you know any other manufacturer who use the same construction in modern cartridges plz let me know. My point is that it was patented by ZYX or just an exclussive ZYX design (Nakatsuka-San will not use this method without good reason). As far as i know no one actually use this method or even similar cantilever construction among the modern retippers. Retipper use huge amount of glue arount the tip visible by naked eye, but on ZYX own cantilever i can’t see any glue even on macro lens. Maybe it’s inside the tube, but the effective mass of the tip is very low on ZYX cartridges." Chakster: Both Andy at Phonocartridgeretipping and Soundsmith are currently offering the laser mounted through mounted cantilever construction on sapphire cantilevers. I have an Ortofon cartridge that I had Andy do for me earlier this year with a sapphire cantilever and microridge that is definitely through mounted and, as you say, has extremely low tip mass. I've been very happy with it. I think it is more detailed and either just as smooth/refined, or very close to a traditionally mounted microridge on a boron cantilever that he did for me a few years before on the same model of cartridge (Ortofon MC Super) that I still have in use which is currently strapped for mono. Soundsmith also seems to have added a line contact through mount on a sapphire cantilever as a retip option on their website recently (maybe in the last year) so they are out there. Appears to be much more difficult to find such an option on a boron cantilever through retippers, but boron cantilevers seem to have become more difficult to source in the past few years in general. If I had to guess, I would think that the laser mounts that Andy uses are coming from Namiki Stylus but I am not sure of that. But that type of construction is out there and currently available from at least those two retippers. |
- 73 posts total