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Goodbye ZYX Airy 3

A recent ad on the Audio Asylum from SoraSound, tells of selling off the last of the ZYX R1000Airy3 SB cartridges for $1875 (was $3000).

This was about the same price that 2Juki sold them for, for years (also now gone).

Sad to see this expensive (but not absurd) gem go!

The Airy 3 had many fans and good reviews.

The Airy 3 has been replaced by the Airy 3 Premium line, introduced over a year ago. The Premium is about $1000 more.

Oddly there have been no reviews, and very little user info on the premium line that I can find. Are these "new" premium models actually better??? What is up?

SoraSound seems to "push" their own, "Universe" versions instead.
don_c55
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
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.
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
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.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Czarivey,

You posted, "you will have to pay more day by day bcoz dollar is only paper now". You followed with a second assertion that the dollar is weak.

Whether you give a "cwap" or not, those were statements about exchange rates. The dollar, like any currency, is a medium of exhange.

ZYX prices for US customers are effected by only one exchange rate, the dollar/yen one. Your statements that a weak dollar is causing an increase in ZYX pricing were inaccurate. The dollar is not weak against the yen. It has not been weak against the yen at any time in the last 4 years.

If you decide to give a "cwap" before your next post, try checking facts. Currency exchange rates and their history are not secret information.
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
ZYX prices for US customers are effected by only one exchange rate, the dollar/yen one. Your statements that a weak dollar is causing an increase in ZYX pricing were inaccurate. The dollar is not weak against the yen. It has not been weak against the yen at any time in the last 4 years.

Really? Are you sure? Did YOU check facts?
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
USD/JPY

2011-05-16: 081.32
2012-05-12: 079.72 (-02% y/y, essentially flat)
2013-05-13: 102.21 (+28% y/y, very strong gain)
2014-05-19: 101.55 (-01% y/y, flat)
2015-05-14: 119.49 (+18% y/y, strong gain)

During this entire period, the three largest drops were minor corrections of 7% (once) and 6% (twice). None of those corrections led to a new low. In fact, after each low the USD rebounded to new highs in less than a year.

As of today, the rate is a mere 1.5% below its recent peak achieved on 9th March. That's not even a correction, it's just noise.

Analyze the numbers however you like, the trend has been up. In the last 4 years the USD has exhibited systemic strength agains the JPY, climbing 47% with no periods of systemic weakness.

* Source: Bloomberg Financial News, readily verified by a hundred other sources
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