Juki sells gray market products with fake serial numbers, i do not trust seller who manipulate with serial numbers. My first ZYX was purchaced from him, second from Mehran.
ZYX refurbished by well known re-tippers are no longer ZYX cartridges! The cartridge body is sealed as far as i know, the cantilever looks way different from any other manufacturers, the way the diamond is mounted also looks quite unique. Someone can glue the new tip, but this method is different from the original method. Nakatsuka San simply exchange the old broken or worn cartridge to completely new cartridge, he does not touch the old broken or worn carts to fix, because it’s too complicated. Nakatsuka-San will never do that with a cartridge with fake serial number from the gray market, carts must be purchaced from the distributor (and can be upgraded to the next model). The owner of ZYX can do nothing better than follow these rules to keep the sound of ZYX if the stylus is worn (every 2000 hrs max). Buyin’ used ZYX with unknown hrs of use is even more risky to end up like that sooner or later. So this truly High-End cartridge is very expensive for everyday use, especially for those who would like to stay with this ZYX sounds forever. It’s a kabbalah, each time the owner of ZYX must pay more to upgrade to the next model, this is how it works. Let’s just face it.
I’m no more user of ZYX premium cartridges, but i do not regret it.
This cartridge is not for everyone, they are good, but practically those premium models are for reach guys and the prices go up every year with the new models, now they call them the ultimate.
ZYX refurbished by well known re-tippers are no longer ZYX cartridges! The cartridge body is sealed as far as i know, the cantilever looks way different from any other manufacturers, the way the diamond is mounted also looks quite unique. Someone can glue the new tip, but this method is different from the original method. Nakatsuka San simply exchange the old broken or worn cartridge to completely new cartridge, he does not touch the old broken or worn carts to fix, because it’s too complicated. Nakatsuka-San will never do that with a cartridge with fake serial number from the gray market, carts must be purchaced from the distributor (and can be upgraded to the next model). The owner of ZYX can do nothing better than follow these rules to keep the sound of ZYX if the stylus is worn (every 2000 hrs max). Buyin’ used ZYX with unknown hrs of use is even more risky to end up like that sooner or later. So this truly High-End cartridge is very expensive for everyday use, especially for those who would like to stay with this ZYX sounds forever. It’s a kabbalah, each time the owner of ZYX must pay more to upgrade to the next model, this is how it works. Let’s just face it.
I’m no more user of ZYX premium cartridges, but i do not regret it.
This cartridge is not for everyone, they are good, but practically those premium models are for reach guys and the prices go up every year with the new models, now they call them the ultimate.