Calling all ZYX aficionados

Cello,I(with humor,and tongue firmly in cheek)knew I would draw you out of your orange grove,with my little dissertation,though I don't think I'll need my egg sandwitch when all is said and done.

Bwhite-Don't be so sure there are not those "philes who "JUMP" on somethimg in even shorter auditions than a glass of wine and a finger sandwitch.I've known many.

Raul-thanks for not finding any ammunition to "Blast"me with.You are a little too nice to me!!

Thomasheisig-You have touched on a point that ALL analog lovers should know,and some probably are remiss here.As a matter of fact,to take it even further,regarding the ALL IMPORTANT phonostage,the choice of tubes are SUPER CRITICAL(in a tubed stage,and it is here that tubes are most necessary,for tailoring one's sound preferences,even more-so than any other area,IMO).I,and a friend are in the process of doing a "personal" tube rolling survey and each set of tubes (we take 3 in our phonostages)seem to give a DRAMATIC and different presentation to the system.We have tried at least a half dozen sets of the finest NOS types available,and the journey still goes on.So much for the preference of the manufacturers at hand.You simply have to learn to "Think Outside the Box",and be willing to fiddle about!

Sirspeedy: You have to look/find the tubes that have the less noise, less distortion, less colored, more accuracy/linear etc..: not the more " MUSICAL " .

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Thomasheisig - good point but think about it a bit... A quick "set-up during lunch" so to speak, will most likely produce inferior results - obviously. What it does provide is a starting point for the evaluation process and fine tuning to begin. With the fine tuning, everything can only get better (or worse) right?

My initial impressions of the ZYX were very, very positive - but was somewhat different than what's been written online about the ZYX cartridges. Furthermore, if the cartridge wasn't set up to its maximum potential in the brief lunch-hour session, then that to me is truly quite impressive & speaks volumes about the potential for the Universe cartridge when set up correctly. Wouldn't it? The cartridge sounded great and IMHO better than other cartridges which lived there previously & were set up correctly.

I had initially intended to buy an Allaerts MC2 Finish but couldn't stand to wait until August to get it. The Dynavector XV1s was my second choice but had to be special ordered (none in stock). My impatience is really what drove my decision to purchase a ZYX and hence, "test" the reviews regarding the ZYX products. The reviews are so good - I had to find out for myself.

During the first audition of the UNIverse, the system was Avid Acutus w/ SME V, Supratek Syrah, LAMM M1.1 amps, Dynaudio Consequence speakers. When I get the UNIverse home today, I will be using a Manley Steelhead for evaluation.

Raul,once you find the BEST low noise/low distortion tubes,you then HAVE musicality!!

Bwhite,I don't really mean to denigrate you for posting,as you're intentions were all good.You seem to know a thing or two,as well.As for Salvatore having a ZYX,I knew this,so what?I like his general suspicious nature,as you state,as well as his approach to the hobby.As for him recommending the ZYX line,I'm sure the line is really superb,but was just a bit sceptical,as to the ALWAYS over the top raves,over the apparent competition.

Cello-you still haven't mentioned what YOUR price for the cartridge was!!!!!!!!!!

As far as Salvatore (the NEW HP,IMO)goes,he is still not to be taken as the HOLY GRAIL,nobody should.Hobbyists have learned alot over the years,and the gap between the "Thinking and careful listening" hobbyists and the so called experts has really dwindled.

My only gripe with Salvatore,is that he kind of indicates that his set-up is very accurate,and accurate enough to pass judgement on some of the most sought after and highly rated discs out there,which he then rates very poorly.I generally have no problem with this,however,I have both the original and re-issue,or later pressings,of much of what he rates,and he is DEAD WRONG on many titles.EX: I own 2 copies of the Dutch pressing of THE PRINCE OF THE PAGODAS,as well as one copy of the earliest British pressing.Saslvatore claims,wrongly,that the later Dutch pressing is far superior.This is laughably incorrect!Maybe in his set-up,and with the voicing of his system,but in my circle of friends,some of his disc comments are really where his achilles heel is exposed.Believe me,some of the guys I know ARE right in this matter,as it is THEY who literally wrote the original reviews,on these discs,and we have already compared titles.

Basically,all I'm saying is that there is NO one best of anything,except my 2 kids,and a good "Ring Ding Junior"!Especially in the incredibly competitive arena of phono cartridges,where the audio envelope is still being pushed,regularly, even as compared to the best in digital.I do have a nice digital set-up(for new music),but the magic is still in analog,IMO,IMO,IMO!!The next time you hear a supposedly SOTA SACD etc. system with mind blowing equip,and music,as I did at HE 2005,in the ISO-MIKE demo,using TAD-Model 1 speakers EMM/4 channel,just go home and play a good DIRECT DISC(even if the music sucks).That will level the playing field immediately.