ZYX Optimum phono cartridge - a defining statement
ZYX Optimum phono cartridge
Following is a review of the latest ZYX cartridge the Universe Optimum.
Without further ado I would like to thank Mehran of SORAsound who goes so far above and beyond in realizing this audio quest for his ZYX family.
I have owned all the ZYX Universe models since 2006. All have the characteristic ZYX warm, natural and detailed sound. Each was the low output 0.24mV design. The original Universe was solid is resolving difficult passages especially in chamber and jazz music. Moving forward to the Universe II the cartridge took on a lot of low end energy and prat. Rock music was more dynamic, the transients enhanced and it had that extra body in the lower register.
My system started with the Galibier Gavia turntable, triplanar arm and Doshi Aalap full function preamp. During the time I had my Universe II, I upgraded the tonearm to a Durand Talea, Daedalus Ulysses speakers and a KL Audio LP 200 electrostatic cleaner. All significantly enhanced my system.
Fast forward to stepping up to the Universe Premium. This was a very apparent jump in sonic realism. The sound opened up in a tangible and natural way. The instruments just hung there in space. The tonal qualities resolved further and separation was enhanced. Overtones, details, things like really picking out a buried bass drum or percussive elements.
Moving forward to the present - the Universe Optimum is just as much a quantium leap as the Universe II to the Universe Premium was. Everything snapped into place. Micro and macro dynamics fully rendered. Incredible detail and imaging. The presentation just occupies a space completely natural and open.
Instruments are even more defined, the sound converges around the source. The bass is so taunt that even the most subtle bass line is drawn out distinctly but in no way bloated.
Reggie Workman at times plays very subtle and his upright bass is buried in the mix in active portions of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme. Not so with the ZYX Optimum - the bass line is crystal clear and lower in volume. Toms, snare and bass drums were felt in a three dimension sense - the tautness, size and velocity and tone on the heads, particularly the bass drum are very apparent and accurately rendered. Cymbals, brushes or resonating piano keys have a distinct pulse and luscious decay when approprate. Stringed instruments have a warm bodied resonance. You are in the room for Bill Evans, Paul Motian and Scott Lafaro during Sunday at the Village Vanguard.
I was overwhelmed hearing my standard go by - Steely Dan’s Aja side 1. This album and all it’s nuances is in my DNA. Everything was rendered with such realism. This fully suspended the thought that I was listening to an audio system.I was floored with glee.
Vocals have such body and emotion whether it be Ella and Louis, James Taylor, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Rebecca Pigeon, Norah Jones, Sufjan Stevens, Nina Simone, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, etc.. Vocal harmonies from CSN, The Beatles, Yes, Ray Charles, and Gillian Welch/Dave Rawlings are very well defined and engaging.
Acoustic instruments are rendered organically with warm overtones. Electric guitars and synths cut through strongly when intended.
It’s been a true joy replaying familiar records and introducing new ones. It is interesting that lesser songs seem to grab me more and I appreciate what the artist had intended.
Jaqueline Dupre’s Elgar Cello Concerto has the most delicate then dynamic elements. The detail of the ensemble playing in Yes’ Fragile is magical - doubling of parts standing out like never before. Bob Dylan’s More Blood recording is an "in room" experience. The Living Stereo Charles Munch / Boston Symphony recordings - Ravel Daphne and Chloe and Fritz and the Fritz Reiner Chicago Symphony Bartok Symphonie Fantastic are explosive with quick and composed dynamics and subtle in the quieter nuanced sections. The drone of Chris Wood’s saxophone as it builds up in Traffic’s Low Spark of High Heeled Boys gave me goosebumps.
My whole system has been elevated in a major way.
The ZYX Optimum is one of those mind boggling components that dramatically converges on realism. The Optimum brings out the passion in reproduced music in ways I have never fully experienced before. The "you are there" essence is palpatible and so engaging.
Tom
I would take issue with some of nandric’s analyses of my character traits, but I do want to point out that I agree with Chakster’s basic thesis that the recent versions of the universe are overpriced. I’m only pointing out that most of us can’t solve the dilemma of cost effectiveness by finding super rare vintage cartridges in NOS condition, in lieu of a UNIverse, or an Ikeda for that matter, which also isn’t cheap. My first edition uni retailed for $5k from Merhan whom I believe was and is the only source for new Universe cartridges up to the current $17K revision. Anyway, I have learned a lot from Chakster about great vintage cartridges that I can’t have, and no offense was intended. I’d love to audition some of his great collection. So Nandric, forgive me for appearing to have ignored your question about turntables vs cartridges. In fact I own far more cartridges than turntables, probably a 4 or 5 to 1 ratio. But why do I own 5 turntables? There’s no good reason except my innate interest in well realized machinery. (And my decided preference for direct drive.) I own a nice Leica M3 camera that I seldom use, just because it still to this day represents a kind of perfection in camera design. |
Why is the ZYX UNIverse line exclusive to SoraSound? Why are the UNIverse ZYX cartridges never listed on the official ZYX website? The original UNIverse looks exactly like a standard ZYX AIRY. Why no explanation on the "secret" differences in design of the various UNIverse's and their standard ZYX counterparts? Is the perceived improvement in sound quality real, or conformation bias? I like the Airy ZYX line and feel they are very well made, but would not go higher because I believe "PROPER SET UP" trumps super high price (greater than $4K). |
@don_c55 Why is the ZYX UNIverse line exclusive to SoraSound? Because he’s the one and only US distributor of ZYX, the rest of the dealers are official re-sellers. Why are the UNIverse ZYX cartridges never listed on the official ZYX website? Some models made exclussively for US distributor. There was Omega and Atmos before. Can't remember which one was made only for UK market via SoraSound. The original UNIverse looks exactly like a standard ZYX AIRY. Why no explanation on the "secret" differences in design of the various UNIverse’s and their standard ZYX counterparts? Only first version of the UNIverse looks like Airy, but the UNIverse II looks like Zyx Premium 4D or Ultimate 4D P.S. Here is my ex Premium 4D SBII and my Airy III |
