Soundsmith Strain Gauge - Thank You!

Congratulations and I look forward to your comments about its performance on the Sovereign.  I have considered this as a possible next step (or is it another slip further down the rabbit hole) for my OL table.  

Thanks guys. When people reading my posts get triggered, I sometimes wonder if it would make any difference if they knew the research that goes into one of these decisions. Probably not, but I’m gonna tell you anyway.

I only really started looking into Soundsmith and reading about the Strain Gauge after upgrading my Benz Ruby H to Koetsu Black Goldline. I always wanted a Koetsu and so honestly confined my search to which Koetsu.

Experience has taught me to pay scant attention to specs and focus almost entirely on user listening evaluations. When I see a good one it registers, regardless of how often or popular, because so often many of the very best components are small and virtually unknown to the vast majority. But while I don’t put tremendous stock in specs and design I do have a very keen in depth understanding of how all this stuff works. So when I read about something like Strain Gauge it is easy enough for me to understand how the listening impressions bolster and corroborate the technology.

What listening impressions? Over the course of the last couple years I read countless reviews, many of them from Europe, including some really detailed ones comparing some very expensive cartridges and phono stages. The results pretty much always being the SG is right up there with carts in the $10k and up range- which also means up there with phono stages in the $10k and up range. Sometimes two and three times $10k. There are some crazy expensive carts out there, and guys with the jack to have two arms to play them side by side say they are close enough its a judgment call. Butter brickle, or chocolate fudge? Who cares it’s ice cream just give me two scoops!

Oh and yes, I did search and read pretty much every single post with the words strain gauge in it. This is why I don't come around asking people what should I get. They've already answered. I go look for the answers. Much more efficient.

As much as I’m looking forward to this, almost as eager to have a look inside. I’ve been tweaking and modding enough now to have a whole list of things I know will get me even more performance. Then there’s the power supply. Multiple reliable sources saying as good as it is stock there are big gains to be had. Music to my ears.

@millercarbon
Well done! Can't wait to hear about it. I'm currently on an upgrade freeze for 2021. I will live vicariously through you and others.
If you decide to sell the Herron, please add me to the list, as I'm sure there are others.
Have fun!
Eddie

Other SG benefits are the really low rates of wear. I had used my sg6 stylus for years, probably close to 3,000 hours and thought surely it was time for a replacement. When I sent to Soundsmith I was told it wasn’t even close to being worn out, and continued to use it for many years. The interchangeable styli are also really helpful, as some (especially used) vinyl can be too noisey with a hyper elliptical, and so it’s nice to be able to lift up the arm and pop in the SG5 which doesn’t extend as far into the groove. Also lower LP wear as well, as proven by ability to play laquers without degradation, and low cost stylus replacement.

While some people use it as a full function preamp, it couldn’t take the place of my tube line stage. My SG is a very early unit and will soon be brought up to the latest revision, so perhaps it’s even better than what I’m hearing.

I haven’t tried a different power supply, but I’m wondering if the external power supply in my SG400 is any different from the ones from the SG200? I would be interested at some point in upgrading to a reasonably priced new one, based on the great things I’ve read.

But I really shouldn’t post about the even further unique benefits of the SG (of which there are several), at least until I get mine to Soundsmith and back from upgrades and new styli built, so please don’t buy one.

Congratulations! Hopefully it will be as expected. If not, when it goes up for sale, I’ll give it a shot.