Hi André, Raul ...
Firstly to André - I'm trying to put myself in your place - a difficult one to say the least.
You have likely not heard a ZYX in a familiar system and have been reading all of the gushing commentary about the ZYX lineup.
If one were to look at all of the ZYX threads from the outside, one could easily conclude that ZYX owners have collectively drank the Kool-Aid and departed for the Mother Ship.
I read posts on this and other forums about various pieces of gear and wonder the same thing about the posters, and therefore how their opinions apply to me - a guy who doesn't like the taste of Kool-Aid.
To Raul -
I'd like to issue a friendly challenge to you, because your experiences with the ZYX line puzzles me and is inconsistent with other areas where we agree.
In general I find my observations to be in agreement with you. For example, I share your love of the Dynavector XV-1s. My experience of its counterpart - the ZYX Universe - is that they are far more alike than they are different. Both cartridges are world class performers.
The Audiogon thread research doesn't take me to all of your posts. I could only find one of your previous posts relating to this topic. It's a thread on the Universe, Collibri, XV-1s where you quote a response from Masaaki Sasa of Dynavector. So, let's start with that thread, which addesses the topic of ...
Tracking Force:
In that thread, Masaaki Sasa advised you that tracking an XV-1s at too high a force may improve trackability but will kill top end response.
The ZYX cartridges are similar in this respect. I've found that tracking from 1.90 to 1.95 grams is the range you need to use - this is in fairly cool rooms (69-70 degrees F). If your room is hotter, my guess would be that you need to be in the 1.85 to 1.90 range.
Phono Stages:
I know you have a custom phono stage which you think very highly of - comparing it favorably to the Vendetta Research, for example. Unfortunately, I have no way of hearing your phono stage and how it loads a moving coil cartridge.
MC Gain:
Interestingly, my evaluations (and I think most on this forum) have come using step-up transformers. In my case, I've used S&B, Lundahl, Audio-Note Trans 476 (silver winding), Sowter, and a few lesser known brands, including an impossible to find trannie from Frank Schröder's personal stash.
I know that you don't favor the use of trannies.
Perhaps the ZYX line this is one case where your dislike for step-ups is misplaced - especially in the context of your phono stage? Maybe trannies work well with ZYX's and you've never heard these cartridges strut their stuff because of this?
I have currently cleaned house on my transformers (getting ready for some new iron from Dave Slagle at Intact Audio - disclaimer: no commercial interest - just mentioning him for others' benefit), so I don't have any transformers to loan you at present.
Perhaps another member has some good iron sitting around that you can try with a ZYX. I'd be interested in your comments.
Turntables:
Your turntables (Micro Seiki Rx-5000, Acoustic Signature) are of a very high standard. I see no problem here.
Tonearm Matching:
The ZYX's will work (with silver base) with as light an arm as the Triplanar (haven't tried Graham, Lynn, SME ... likely o.k. too).
The upper limit seems to be 22-24 gram effective mass. That's NOT a misprint. My Universe (silver base) doesn't even blink at the thought of my 18 gram Schröder (ebon wand) tonearm. I've actually tried adding 5 grams by swapping in a brass cartridge carrier to get to 23 grams.
I've listened to both the Airy-3 (both silver/copper coils - each with silver base) and the Universe (copper coil/silver base) in Schröder, Triplanar, and Micro MX-282 tonearms, on my turntables.
Did you use your Ikeda 407 on the ZYX? This would be my choice for your rig. In spite of the compliance numbers, the ZYX line enjoys high mass, as I mentioned above.
Summary:
I've used the Dynavector XV-1s in the above comparisons because it's a cartridge that we both agree on, and it's also the Dynavector which I have most experience of. I also consider both ZYX and Dynavector cartridges to have a consistent family sound throughout their line, so that one can easily extrapolate what XV-1s' and Universe's baby brothers sound like.
I find the XV-1s and the Universe to be very much alike when set up in appropriate systems. Both the XV-1s and the Universe come very close to the musical bulls-eye. Are either of them perfect? Not on your life - I haven't found the perfect cartridge yet.
Do both cartridges bring a wide smile to your face? U-Betcha-By-Golly.
Do they both cartridges make you want to play every record in your collection? Again ... a big YES!
The Dynavectors tend to ever so slightly over-emphasize the leading edge transients, and their sound is a bit exaggerated. I use the term "Technicolor" to describe them - you know, like th early color movies where the flesh tones were a bit on the pink side, and the blues were a bit too vivid. These movies were still fun to look at, and in a similar way, the Dyna is fun - having that Alnico magic.
The Universe has a more accurate tone color. In comparison with the XV-1s, the Universe is just a bit soft up top - only slightly. It is absolutely magical with massed strings. There is absolutely NO STRESS or edginess with this cartridge, and dynamics while very fast, are just a bit short of the mark (about as far short as the Dynavector is overblown in this respect).
These are very subtle differences between two world-class cartridges in an imperfect world.
As I write this, realize that I have ZERO tolerance for bandwidth limited cartridges. I'm in complete agreement with you. I cannot for example tolerate a conical stylus Ortofon SPU's riding on an SME 3012R. Yes, their midrange is glorious, but the top end is non-existent and this to me is a fatal flaw.
Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier
