Dear Leicachamp;
The below links may be helpful to you.
The Strain Gauge system has changed over the years I have been producing it. We are now in the 4th generation design. I have been working with them for the past 35 years. The below are some review links that might prove helpful in answering your question; one is from the second unit we ever sold; some are from later units.
You will also see some serious attempts to hijack the thread in one of them. But - there is also useful information from many who responded.
The bottom line is what users think - NOT what I think. I can tell you that it is a different animal altogether from magnetic devices, and explain the technical reasons and changes I have made, but since it is so different, the best any consumer can do is to listen to those who own
it, lok for "common" reactions, and assume that those are going to line up with many peoples responses, but not all.
It is an itneresting fact that when played in England for a well known reviewer, he turend to me and said that the SG was "unlistenable". When we got over the uncomfortable moment, he suggested we compare it to a CD of the same performance. When we did, he was shocked, and turned to me and apologized, saying "I never realized how accustomed I had become to magnetic sound". We then listened to his brand new $8000 MC, and .....he was further shocked. He then said the SG was "perfect". Of course, it is not, but it is unique.
We do have a "type" of acountic memory that says - this is is how it's "supposed" to sound - and for about 10-20% of folks who have heard the SG, it sounds so different - it's wrong to them. But many of those who then listen on, change their minds. It is a different animal - that is the bottom line. Nothing is perfect, BUT....the path to go is in choosing what things to try to technically do well, and optimize the rest as best as possible.
Thank you for your post -
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?ranlg&1310845292&&&/Soundsmith-SG-200-Straingauge-Cartridge
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ranlg&1227193071&openusid&zzVac_man&4&5
http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.pl?forum=general&n=522686&highlight=magneplanar&r=&session=
Peter Ledermann/Chief Cooka nd Bottlewasher/Soundsmith