Soundsmith Strain Gage Cartridge system

I am NOT easily impressed.....but that combo did just THAT !

Hi Steve Johnny and I installed the optimized line contact stylus in my system and it offered the same improvement as we heard in Maryland. We tried 200g to the thinnest vinyl out there. We tried old and new, clean and dirty. The VTA did not have to be readjusted for every thickness. In every case the groove noise was much quieter than the regular line contact stylus.

Overall, the optimized stylys is no more finicky then the standard one.

I posted this on the other strain gauge thread. I had strain gauge cartridges long ago, including the Win and the Panasonic. I saw them as quite good, but not reaching the realism of my Decca Londons. There are many benefits in the various grades of the Soundsmith phono/linestages, but it does take a commitment to this idea that I am not willing to make.

I heard nothing in the SoundSmith room that pushed me further toward a strain gauge. I might be more tempted were I to not have better electronics already.