Goodbye ZYX Airy 3

The expensive ($5K up) cartridges are IMO a money grab, and not worth the price. However that is becoming the norm, with all high end audio, since the old died-in-the-wool middle class audiophile, is retired and broke.

I avoid paying list if I can. I bought my grey market Airy 3's from juki for $1600 to $1850, instead of $3000 list. They were well worth that price!

I feel the Universe 1 and 2 is a rip off!

Maybe the Premium line is a breakthrough, and will be available from juki!

Oops, i meant Zyx CPP-1 Pre-pre + WLM Phonata Phono Stage (Minueta is my AMP).

I haven't heard any of the "Premium" ZYX cartridges, so can't offer any useful input on the visible or non-visible changes or their effect on performance.

Chakster is correct that the (original) 4D is physically different from and audibly superior to the (original) Airy 3. My initial reviews of both have been confirmed by other reviewers and by many listeners via public posts and private emails. (Note to Chakster: I also concur with your take on copper vs. silver coils. I've posted many times that with ZYX, copper is the most dynamic and lifelike, silver less so, gold much less so.)

Don_c55, you didn't say whether you've ever owned or heard a UNIverse (any version), so the basis for your feeling that they're a "rip off" is unclear. I've owned and extensively used the original UNIverse (three of them) and UNIverse II and I'd happily buy either of them again. I also know and converse with many UNIverse owners from around the planet, most all of whom would do the same. I don't know even one who felt "ripped off". Most feel quite the opposite, that the cartridge provides extraordinary performance for what they paid.

As to exchange rate effects on ZYX prices, the currencies which matter are those of the country of production/export (Japan) vs. the country of import/consumption (US). The US dollar has been in a steady climb against the yen since 2011 and is currently at an eight-year high. For Japanese-made products sold in the US., the future is anyone's guess but Czarivey's assertion has no basis in reality with regard to present or recent pricing.

Dougdeacon,
Can you relate in details exchange rates to what I
factually observed in simple and obvious terms?
I believe I didn't give even a slight cwap about exchange
rates anywhere.