ZYX Universe and Lyra Titan

Richardmr,

I won't get into the debate on which is better, because I have not attempted anything close to a controlled comparison -- I can't even offer an opinion based on my own taste, complement of equipment, etc.

I can say that I was a long-time satisfied user of a Helikon. The Helikon is now in a friends system and still going strong after several years of relatively heavy use. By a large margin, the Helikon is the most durable cartridge I have used.

I am currently using a Titan. This is a much better sounding cartridge than the Helikon. It delivers a bit more of everything that is special about the Helikon (terrific rendering of subtle harmonic relationships, lack of murky/muddled sound (not a Grado!), decent dynamics, etc.), and it significantly bettered the Helikon in terms of a seamless quality from the bottom-to-top of its frequency range (the deep bass sounded a touch disembodied from the lower midrange with the Helikon, in my system). I like a cartridge that delivers a lively, vibrant sound, and this is something the Titan provides while not being overbearing and strident.

As a point of reference, I also have heard and liked a Transfiguration Temper V (very smooth and natural), the top-of-the-line-insanely-expensive Allaerte (warm and extremely seductive and musical without being muddled and inarticulate), and the VDH Colibre (I am not sure I could live with the Colibre, but once you have experienced its incredibly dynamic and energetic presentation of music, one is tempted to take a chance).

Gmorris,
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I am sorry that you are non-plussed and that my behavior could be to blame. I do hope you get your plus back.
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In order to remove any confusion, I am not a dealer, just a person who is more than tired of Raul's inane arguments, sanctimonious attitude and mean spirited comments. I do have a UNIverse that I paid for and have strongly recommended the cartridge to others. I felt like I was doing them and ZYX a favor. I have yet to know anyone that has bought a UNIverse that was less than thrilled with the results in their system.
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I had sworn off responding / reacting to Raul about 6 months ago, but I was really got tired of his recent bashing of people & components with which he was not in a position to make those comments or the comments were just plain stupid/ignorant. There are people that can be influenced by those comments and it is not fair to them.
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There are plenty of good/great cartridges available and I have certainly not heard all of them and more importantly not in my system. I do recognize that there are a goodly number of people that are quite happy/delighted with the more recent version of the Titan.
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If you have the time and are inclined, you can go back and read through the threads where Raul has visited and posted and you might come to understand the reactions his comments elicit. Perhaps the individual comments he makes on their own don’t warrant such a strong reaction from us, but when taken in whole from the many postings he has made, people just get sick of his B.S. He is consistently offensive amongst a group of wonderful people that I feel quite fortunate to know and interact with.
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I have not heard the Titan in any system and can not comment with how it sounds as compared to the UNIverse. I have heard the Olympus in my system and felt that it was only slightly better than the Universe (the Olympus was mounted on a Schroder Reference and the Universe was on a Schroder DPS, so it was not a perfectly controlled comparison).
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At some point when I am fortunate enough to hear a Titan in my system, I would be happy to share my experience / opinion of the Titan as compared with the UNIverse.
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You will forgive me if I have seemed a bit zealous or over the top about the ZYX products, it is just me being defensive with regards to Raul’s ridiculous and ignorant postings. I understand his lack of full command of English (he speaks two languages where most here only speak one), but that does not excuse his crassness and willingness to stretch the facts to win an argument (that he started) at all costs. He is just a Royal pain in the ass that seems to be more concerned with his own aggrandizement rather than helping people. I have zero patience with him or his behavior.
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I hope my repsonse clarifies your confusion or bewilderment.
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Rgds,
Larry
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Cello:

It's good to see that you have retained some sense of humor.

I am in the process of considering the auditioning of the Titan and the ZYX Universe. I tend to use these threads not to make final decisions on likely future purchases but as a source of information on possible contenders for consideration. Ultimately, I rely on my own ears whenever possible.

Maybe Raul's style appears confrontational because of his lack of mastery of the nuances of English. To wit: by using the wrong word or using direct prose he may seem to be in an attack mode when it may not be the case. Having said all of that, I must admit that in spite of his perceived tone, Raul has made many legitimate arguments that cannot be dismissed easily by derision. It is apparent that he has exposure to a wide range of arms/cartridges and is quite knowledgeable. This is also true for some of the posters on these threads.

The bottom line: we should all respect each other’s opinions.

Dear larry: +++++ " . I have zero patience with him or his behavior. " +++++

Please don't read and don't refer to any of my post and if you don't want to " hear " on me: change of forum.

You was one of the members of this forum that told us that the " Universe was the best on the world ": this statement is stupid and ignorant, no question about.

+++++ " . There are people that can be influenced by those comments and it is not fair to them. " +++++

So you think that that Universe statement is fair for them?, come on !!!! wake up.

I can remember when I start at this forum: all of you attack me because I don't agree with you and I have differents opinions . No one of you ( others people did ) care about that.
The problem with your club is that any one has to agree with you and when some one like me disagree then you react in a negative way. I'm telling you stupid/ignorant only because you use that words with me but I don't usually insult to any body in this forum like many of you and other peoples do with me.

What is all about: I think that all of you an me have more things in common that differences.

I always try to hrlp and be honest: I always post what I think and what is my experiencies. I know that you don't like it but that is up to you: I can't do nothing about.

My advise is that many of you have to break with those old audio paradigms that are out of today reality. I already do and that's why our differences.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Folks,

Your individual positions seem clear and it doesn't seem like there will be any resolution this way and with the choice of words. Remember, two wrongs don't make a right. Why don't you all call it quits on the rancour and move on to more constructive comments, albeit varying in opionions. As a new reader and contributor to Audiogon, it's sad to see threads turn out this way. I'm seeing it more and more. Let's face it; we are proud of the purchase decisions we make and we try to stand by them. But we also have heard the usual saying "this is the best" before. Please take this with a grain of salt. As we also all know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When we hear "the best", don't always take it in absolute terms. It might so happen to be the best the person has heard in the configurations they've tried.

Come on, let's be resonable.

Andrew