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My new Soundsmith Straingauge cartridge

Well, after a bit of dillying and dallying, I finally got 'round to trying a home trial of this cart. After a couple of hours dialling in vtf, and esp. azimuth, it basically sold itself, and I bought it an hour later!
It's without doubt the fastest cart I've ever experienced, surpassing the Decca London Reference, but with none of that cart's tipped up 'whiteness'. But this blazing speed is combined with the natural sweetness of the Lyra Parnassus. It has the neutrality of the Transfiguration Orpheus with the dynamics and involvement of the ESCCo-modded Zu Denon 103. So, fast AND sweet, and neutral AND involving, combinations often too challenging for other so-called SOTA carts. All the carts I've mentioned I've had in my system over the years. But I admit, I haven't heard current contenders to the crown (Lyra Titan/Atlas, Ortofon Anna, Clearaudio Goldfinger etc) to make comparisons.
It's tracking really is superlative, 3d soundstaging/dimensionality is beyond the room constraints, and I really believe it has the least artifact-laden sound of any cart I've heard, with NO aural evidence of a diamond carving thru wax. It's really complimenting what's already a neutral, fast and dynamic analog rig in my system (Trans Fi Salvation direct rim drive tt/Trans Fi Terminator air bearing linear tracking arm)
spiritofmusic
spiritofmusic OP
828 posts
 
Tanathen, the cart my SG replaced is no slouch and if it wasn't for hearing Peter's baby, I wouldn't have swapped.
This is the Zu Audio Denon 103 ($900), modded by the Expert Stylus And Cartridge Company ESCCo, in England ($500). Total giant killer. See my thread "ESCCo modded Zu 103".
spiritofmusic OP
828 posts
 
Finally had my Mk2 Straingauge dialled in correctly esp re azimuth, vta and vtf, for a while now.
It's really the best performing cart I've ever had in my system (which incl. Transfiguration Temper and Orpheus, Lyra Skala and Parnassus, Roksan Shiraz, and ESCCo modded Zu Denon 103).
Bass is warm and effusive, but totally textural, never one-note. Mids are clear and transparent. Highs are crystalline and almost unlimited in extension. Tone and precision in equal measure.
Tracking is like a bloodhound, and there is a total synergy with my direct rim drive tt/air bearing linear tracking arm. I'm really detecting no artifacts in analogue replay revealing the shortcomings of the lp medium that bugged me playing records in the last few years compared to playing cds on my really neutral Emm Labs CDSA cdp. This is the closest I've ever got to the Holy Grail of 15 ips reel-to-reel sound that I heard a year ago.
For the first time in 5 years, lp replay is streaking ahead of digital that was previously regularly outperforming it in my system.
Other than experimenting with supports/isolation/power, that's it for my upgrade journey to analogue audio nirvana over 17 years.
harold-not-the-barrel
895 posts
 
Hello Spirit, Congrats you are a very happy man now.
What model exactly is this new Straingauge cartridge ?
Is it the top of the line from Soundsmith ? Please tell more !
spiritofmusic OP
828 posts
 
Harold, as far as I can tell ALL the Soundsmith Straingauge models are EXACTLY the same cart, only the electronics are different. Personally I didn't want to get rid of my pre amp, so more complicated electronics were not needed by me. hence the cheapest option with SG200 energiser serve my needs sufficiently.
Make sure you go for the recent Mk2 version. I don't know what the electrical differences are from the Mk1, but it was almost night and day in my system, esp re bass performance.
lharasim
130 posts
 
I would have to agree with Raul on this one...I have heard SS cartridge on several occasions IMO it does sound different! and IMO not a musical correct different..
I am a manufacture but not of cartridges :)

to each his own

Lawrence
Fidelity_Forward
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