Soundsmith Straingauge SG-200 cartridge system

Hi Dan, while the Zu 103 doesn't have some of the transparency/delicacy of the Orpheus, it more than makes up for in dynamics/bass heft/timing.
I've also had a couple of Transfigs from a few years ago with limited life before stylus wear became apparent, whereas the Zu 103 is well over 1000 hrs and sounds pretty fresh. Not sure v. pricey MC is the way fwd for me any more.
The SG 200 is expensive, but with no phono stage to factor in, I can sell mine and part fund the start up cost. Replacement styli v. reasonable.
However the Soundsmith modified Zu 103 looks really interesting.
Will need a new phono allowing MM 100kOhm if I'm going down the NOS route.

Spiritofmusic, since the standard ruby/OCL retip allows superb tracking performance in my Phantom I can't see any reason for the extra compliance mod (for my setup). I track my 103R close to standard, at around 2.3-2.4g, because I think it sounds best there.

The Midas aluminium body makes the 103 fairly heavy (14.5g) and cartridge resonance in already at the low end in my Phantom. In an arm with a lower effective mass the (higher) compliance mod might be of benefit - but I couldn't say.

I don't think the potting of your Zu will effect its ability to be retipped as it has to be well clear of the cantilever assembly.

Value for money the SS retip would be very hard to beat - that is not to say its the best out there (obviously) - but I have zero inclination (for now) to seek out anything else.

Dear Spiritofmusic: You are talking of neutrality as a main target to achieve on your audio system.

IMHO neutrality is an " elusive " factor/characteristic in audio items and neutrality to different persons has different meaning. From one of your thread you posted:

++++ " The amazing thing is that all of this is not in anyway at the expense of the natural warmth and tonal dimensionality that still puts vinyl way ahead of any digital (imho). " ++++++

" Natural warmth ", well I don't know what you are refering in specific way because if you are refering to what is live music normaly there is no " natural warmth " there but more " natural agresiveness ". Seems to me that you like more than something neutral something colored. The 103 is a colored performer against a neutral and accurate Orpheous. IMHO your " dynamics/bass and the like " that you are enjoying over the Orpheus is only colorations/distortions that you likes more than the neutrality/accuracy on the Orpheus.

I don't know if you are using the Hovland tube elctronics on the line stage that I heard several times and that IMHO has colorations as the ones you like it.

You can try the advise that Lewm/Dgarretson and me already give you about something not only neutral but extraordinary performer by any standards. Yes is a vintage cartridge the Astatic one MF-200 that you could find through the link I gave you in my other post or trhough the Dgarretson links.

IMHO you can lose nothing trying that advise because is only an alternative a really unexpesive one, is so " cheap " that at the same time you can go for any other of the more expensive ( LOMC or SS. ) alternatives and let me tell you something : if you don't feel satisfied with that MF-200 you can sale to me, a compromise for my self.

All what is in this thread are alternatives and certainly you don't have to go with only one.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.

Spirit, converting any phono stage to 100K loading for vintage MM/MI cartridges is as simple as replacing the two or four 47K or 23.5K resistors located closest to input. Switching any remaining small-value load resistors in parallel with 100K will continue to load the input to the nominal value of the smaller resistors. While you're at it, you can further improve performance with a top quality resistor like Texas Components TX2575 or Caddock TF020.

Unlike all other MM/MI cartridges, the impedance characteristic of the low-output Stanton 980/981LZS is similar to a MC: it wants from 1K to 47K.

Raul, Sadly, no more MF200s are available from that source, not even styli.