Calling all ZYX aficionados

Dear Bryan: I think that you can do better with a Dynavector XV-1 than with the ZYX cartridges.
There will be no problem for your MP-3 to handle the XV-1. I think that this Dynavector design it is at the top 3-4 best cartidges ever made, the ZYX do not belongs to that small cartridges top world ( at least, not yet. ).

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Dgad: +++++ " Raul dislikes the ZYX cartridges by quite some margin.. " +++++

I dislike not only for " I dislike ". Till to now the ZYX are faulty at the low bass spectrum of the music/sound reproduction, these cartridges are not up to compete with other top cartridges like: Dynavector XV-1, Allaerts MC2 Finish, Van denHul Colibri, etc.

I agree with you: MY PERSONAL OPINION.

Regards and enjoy the music.

Raul.

Dear Sirspeedy: +++++ " .Especially in something like a cartridge,where so many factors,some taking MULTIPLE listening sessions to become obvious,are at play!! " +++++

I always agree with this statement.

+++++ " ,it simply MUST be compared to ALL of the top performers(and there are,now,MANY)to become as HOLY in perception as some of the AUDIOGONERS have allowed this design to appear to be. " +++++

This is exactness what I already post in some threads about.

+++++ " .Let's see what happens when the ultimate test of time allows comparison to many of the BIG HITTERS,in the cartridge domain. " +++++

I agree, too: the time always put all things in place.

+++++ " by the few 'Goners that can't wait for the subject of this design to come up in a thread . " +++++

What's going on with you: experience 'Goners ?

Sirspeedy: good post.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Dear Thomas: +++++ " , is only possible with a first rate phono stage. It may sound a bit cruel, sorry for that, but without that any discussion about top performers is wasted time. " +++++

This statement is something that I support for many years, I agree with you. This is my last reference about that I post on " my system ":

+++++ " Btw, in my opinion this analog audio stage is the must extremly critical for the quality/accuracy of the music/sound reproduction in any audio system. " +++++

You really can't do a serious/liable tests/reviews of cartridges with out a top performance phono stage, that has to be: low noise, low distortion, impedance versatile, extreme accurate, etc...

We have to remember that in this single stage we have to reproduce ( mimic ) exactly ( inverted RIAA equalization ) the signal that comes from the cartridge ( that in theory is what was record in the recording process and that comes with the RIAA equalization standards. ) and any deviation from this RIAA equalization do big changes to everything about.

I know that any single deviation on any link of the audio chain, do severe changes on the quality music/sound reproduction, but in my opinion and when we are talking about analog reproduction: nothing is more important that our PHONO STAGE.

If any one want to build anything, at a high quality level, ( from a cycle to an airplane ), it is not enough the know-how and the skill to do it, we have to have: the right tools to do it.

Regards and enjoy the music.

Raul.

Sirspeedy: You have to look/find the tubes that have the less noise, less distortion, less colored, more accuracy/linear etc..: not the more " MUSICAL " .

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

Sirspeedy: I think I don't explain me well.

For " musical " I want to say: colored. The " musical " term has lost it's original value and today evryone speaks about " musical " with out to know which that really means.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.