VPI Classic and ZYX 4D

I've had similar issues with my Zyx UNIverse - in fact two of these cartridges. Long story short - I purchased a used UNIverse which sounded great but had tracking issues. Happened with 3 different arms (2 SME V's and a Graham 2.2). Loved the sound so much (other than the occsional mistracking) and was concerned that perhaps I was sold a defective cartridge so I bit the bullet and traded it in towards a new one (Mehran had a great special going on and gave me a reasonable trade-in). The new one does the same thing - at least I know that I have a new perfectly functional one though! I've logged approx 100 hours or so on the new one and same tracking issues - has been tried with the SME V on both an Avid Volvere and an Oracle Delphi V.

In short, the cartridge tracks the first track on the HiFi News test LP but distorts on the second at 2g tracking force. Increasing VTF doesn't seem to improve it. I basically just use this second track to try to adjust the antiskating and leave it at that. I do occasionally hear mistracking towards the end of challenging LPs. Alignment seems to be perfect (as verified by MintLP protractor). I've come to the conclusion that these high end LOMC just aren't great trackers like some of the MMs (particularly Shures, of course) but due to the absolutely spectacular sound the UNIverse gives me I put up with the occasional mistracking. I have never heard a cartridge with the "you are there" factor that this one has.

@Mark: I can't think of any good reason to use damping fluid with the ZYX. If you do, there's real problems elsewhere in the system. The ZYX Omega S LO works wonderfully in the VPI 10.5i arm.

I also wonder what you mean by lengthy break-in? 50 hrs? 100 hrs? I find that sort of time normal with all MC cartridges that I've had. The ZYX needs time like all cartridges but one really begins to hear what it is capable of, by 50 hrs.

Damping is at best a crutch IMHO--or the cure is worse than the disease.

Myles Astor

well Hfisher...you have the very same problem I have.
I can only track the first one.
It seems very strange to me.
my LOMC Denon was capable on the Rega 300 to track 12dB,14dB, 16dB...BUT.....I had MUCH more mistracking that I do have with this cartridge and sound was miles away from ZYX and VPI.
So all in all...it might be true that there isn't a strict correlation between test records and music, otherwise, since Denon almost tracked the 18dB's the sound should have been galactic and no distortion would have ever been heard.

I would like to investigate this further on though.
I am going to call VPI now and I want to hear their opinion, then I will post the conversation to keep you all up-dated.

Ok I just got off the phone with Mike from VPI.
First of all, all the honors to this company and the guy.
The best courtesy ever experienced very knowlegdable of what he talks about, of course :)

Now, he said that

1) when measuring the weight on the gauge, always make sure that the armtube is parallel to the platter when pick up sits on the gauge. if not, when the pick up will go down to the record will likely track 0.2gr or so lighter.

2) since the ZYXs like universe or atmos or 4d are very light and even with their silver base's option they won't reach let's say 10grm, the problem is on the weight and resonance of the system. So what I should try is, putting 3-4 gr of clay and rebalance the arm and see if I can get to the second and third track...which I should supposedly get right.

Hope this hels me and everybody else with my same problem.

P.S. for VPI's users it might be better using a stainless steel armtube instead of aluminum when mounting a ZYX

Stefano, have you seen this?

It's made by VPI, and sounds like it may help.

Cheers,
John