SoundSmith cartridges how good?

In the future it would be great if we could keep the negative comments to ourselves until we know for sure it is a pattern.

That's a lovely sentiment, but it makes no sense (if no one posts until there's a "pattern", how could a pattern develop?) and as demonstrated by the numerous posts in this thread, happy customers will come to the defense of a company they've had a good experience(s) with.

I bought my Aida II used and it did not come with a stylus guard. I wrote to ask if I could purchase one and they sent me one for free. 

I had a cartridge retipped by them and it was also a positive experience. 

Greg double blind testing will reveal the unposted pattern..

seriously, Peter is a fellow poet, dog lover and all around good dude. I have had business dealings with him and his team including touchy rebuild of a rare Benz, nothing but happiness.

Some months ago, there was a thread about hard times Soundsmith has been through because of the Coronavirus epidemics (most likely). Mr. Lederman chimed in himself, or maybe he even started a thread but I am not certain now.

Seeing so many positive responses here, it seems that Soundsmith is, in fact, very respected player with enthusiastic and, probably just relatively, large following. Admirable for a small company heavily leaning on one person’s skills, ideas, and personality.

Would one play a moving iron cartridge through the MM or MC setting on a phono preamp? 

A few years ago, VPI was really touting the Soundsmith as a good match for their tables, with I believe, the JMW 10 tonearm. 

Not to make anyone salivate any more, but, here is Some more information about the Hyperion. These are my notes from December, 2020. This report is when the Hyperion was somewhat breaking in. Not to dwell on that point, right out of the box and mounted and then playing, it was exceptional. Some other brand cartridges I setup, played, and I rejected immediately. So, if it’s going to sound good, it better right off the bat, or at least portray sonic traits that it will sound good. Enough about that.

“Just installed my Hyperion MKII ES. Right out of the gate this is an awesome cartridge. It’s sound is not like any other Soundsmith MI cartridge at all. It seems to me that it has somewhat of the mid attributes of a Koetsu Onyx based on my recollection. The Koetsu Onyx is a cartridge that I lusted after for years. It would be interesting to test these against each other at some point In the future.

I have an Air Tight Opus 1 coming sometime in the next few months. Will definitely do a shoot out between the Hyperion and Opus.

The Hyperion is an even handed cartridge with just the right amount of bloom, depth, and noticeable decay in any of the music I play.

Bass is so deep and the soundstage is also unbelievably wide. Voices are so palpable and realistic when called for. On the subject of voices, the reverberant background is nicely brought into focus, and backup singers are easily located in the soundstage.

This Hyperion seems to dig deeper in the grooves. Some of the records I played, some 1 euro or 1 dollar flea market finds, some the audiophile price class, and cleaned on the Clearaudio Matrix, sound nearly pristine and quiet. The flea market records sound fantastic.

I do have an upgraded Aesthetix Io phono stage in partial Eclipse form and two power supplies that’s part of the mix.

Lots to enjoy with this cartridge for sure. If anyone ever considered this cartridge and did not because of angst about a particular type of sound, I can attest that the Hyperion does not sound like a Soundsmith, but more so like an organic and well balanced and exceptionally high performing cartridge that competes way above its class.

I whole heartedly endorse this cartridge. It’s fun, it’s toe tapping, and it’s got an emotional attraction with music...you all know what I speak of who have had such connections. This cartridge performs that feat effortlessly.”