Strain gauge vs Zyx 4D/Atmos


Hello

Has anybody gone from a Zyx 4D/Atmos or Universe to the Strain gauge? I have a 4d/Atmos running into a Whest Ref V phono and the combo sounds fantastic. Do you think it would a sideways step going to the Soundsmith?

I have read a few people say the Straingauge beat their previous cartridges, but I don't think they had a phono stage as good as the Whest.

Has anyone gone back to another cartridge after using the Strain Gauge?

Unfortunately I cannot demo the soundsmith in my system.
leicachamp
Dear Royj: I always am prepare to learn, learn to me is a main target in audio for different reasons.

Nothing you posted I'm not aware of it. In the 1812 recording only two of the shots can really say " are macro " but the whole point it is not this one and maybe you can't understand it because you have no deep experience about, let me explain it a little and with this I would like to end this discussion that till today has no additional " light " on the ss main subject:

years ago I decided to understand in a better way different kind of distortions generated in an audio system and especially those one by the cartridge playback so I begin to investigate what is what the cartridge makes when in the groove and what makes during cartridge playback that distortions generated go higher or lower and how I perceived to know that was a tracking distortion type or an overhang wrong set-up or a SRS subject.
To make all these very difficult work I started with the normal LP dedicated test recordings ( Shure, CBS, Denon, Ortofon and the like. ), these ones help to understand part of the subject but really can't give and telling me the whole " history ".
So, I change to five-six LP recordings with real music that I knew and know so well that I can tell you in the tracks I use any single tick/pop on the recording and not only that because the tone on that click/pop I can tell you part of the cartridge performance. I use several months listening and learning about to be sure that what I heard and what I think on any cartridge performance level be repetitive and not only because in that cartridge " I have luck to predict " about.

Today with any unknow cartridge to me and from the very first five minutes on playback through one of my listening tracks I can tell you a nice cartridge " history " that you can't believe could be true till you listening and confirm it. I have this kind of hard training and that Telarc recording is only one of my music test recordings along my music tracks recordings to set up. All these has nothing to see ( directly ) with mathemathics or the like but with a deep training and that's all. You could do it as any one else with a training about. I have my own proccess but any one can works in his own: no big deal and not only a learning " job " but very revealing.

And yes: cartridge traking habilities is one of the main targets/characteristics that separe a good performer from the excelent one.

Do you know why Dougdeacon preference was for the A-90/Olympos over the ss in some performance areas?, I know why but this is another topic.

I'm done for now in the whole subject, thank you for your time and learning posts.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
Knowing the sounds of several LPs is a very useful tool, and we all believe what you hear is what we would also hear in your home. We know you are a good listener and very careful in your setup and testing methodologies. This takes a lot of work and dedication.

However, when you do not consider facts, you will never understand WHY you are hearing what you do.

Again, best of luck.
Roy
Leicachamp,

If you are close enough to take a trip to NYC, you can hear the Strain Gauge on our Phantom II arm on a TTWeights Momentus Duo Drive table.

The speakers are TAD CR1's which as a point source are phase and time accurate enough to hear the Strain Gauge's qualities in just those 2 areas. And of course the ability to quickly change styli is just fantastic, and using different profiles lets you tailor how much information you get from various LP's.

www.triodepicturesound.com
Leicachamp.
I have had my SG playing for just a few days now but it has already blown me away. (and it's gonna get better!!)
Is it for you and your system...who can tell.
But with my set up and room it is a thing of wonder.

Listen not to the negative poster and all his "science". Rather take Emailists' advise and go listen.
It really is worth the effort.