ZYX "House" Sound

I have been regularly impressed by the Sumiko Pearwood used on Origin Live Tonearms.

I was expecting a Rich Tone to be delivered from this Cart', maybe on par with a Miyajima Cart' I also get to have regular demo's of which is mounted on a Glanz 12" Tonearm. The idea of each having a Wood Housing influenced my presumption. I was wrong in this circumstance about the Pearwood. 

The Pearwood has a tone that I am quite attracted to, and very much to my liking. It has lean towards Rich, that is similar to a Ortofon Windfeld PW. Not overly but detectable when compared against a transparent lean Cart'.

The Pearwood is also very engaging, it picks one out and makes demands for  attention.

Dear @kevemaher  : I owned your today cartridges and I know what you are talking about.

ZYX  Exceed it's a way different sound and are excellent quality performers. You can't go wronggggg with ZYX and could be interesting to look the Lyra Etna Lambda . Both could even what you are looking for and are very hard to beat it.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

@kevemaher 

You are looking at upgrading the wrong component.

Your Micro Seiki DD40 is simply not good enough for any of the cartridges you are currently using or proposing to buy.

You would be far better off getting a new turntable which will resolve more and provide a better foundation for any cartridge you purchase.

Start by looking at a Rega P8 or P10 package - it will easily outperform your current set up, even using your existing cartridges.

Please kindly tell me why the DD-40 is not good enough. It sounds wonderful to me with these cartridges.

I've had Rega tables before. I don't think much of them. What makes this Rega tables work for the Koetsu but not the DD-40? What makes a new table better able to resolve more and provide a better foundation?

Perhaps all we're doing is expressing personal preference. I find the DD-40 and MA-505 arm to be very good indeed, maybe not as good as the upper class Micro Seiki tables, but good enough for me.....and my Koetsu and my Shelter.

Primarily better tonearm - new, much higher quality bearings. The better the tonearm the more you get out of your cartridge. I am familiar with the 505 - I was a high end distributor for a few years and personally owned some of the micro TT's and arms including the 505. Very good arm, but everything wears out, particularly bearings.

The early DD micros are quite grainy sounding to my ears. If you prefer DD then get a new one with more advanced speed control systems than what was used on the 70's & 80's.

Basically a $500 cartridge on a top level TT will outperform a top level cartridge on an average TT. doesn't have to be a Rega - I just suggested that as a starting point. There are plenty of others such as SOTA, Feickert, Kuzma at various price points.

From 30 years of distributing high end audio and setting up 100's of high end TT's my advice - start with a better TT. Both of your existing cartridges, unless they are worn out, are capable of much more. I've also owned and or set up both of your existing cartridges.

The ZYX, if it has a family sound tends to neutral and resolving. On of my personal favourites is the Omega, it does sound a little fuller through the midrange compared to models above and below.

Why don't you find a dealer and ask them to demonstrate a very good TT ( $4k up ) with one of your cartridges mounted - the Shelter would be best since the Koetsu is less neutral. Find out for yourself.