ZYX Universe and Lyra Titan

Raul,

Back at you. You seem to totally ignore the fact that I've never said the ZYX UNIverse, or for that matter, the ZYX line is the best. Never. Hell, I would be foolish to post such a remark because I simply haven't heard all of the offerings. I've said repeatedly that tonearms and cartridges need to be evaluated together. I have explained to the best of my ability the strengths of the ZYX cartridges I am familiar with. I voted with my pocketbook what cartridge I felt was the best for me and my system.

Again, the poster asked for anyone that had experience with a UNIverse and a Titan to share which they thought was better. Unlike most people I have heard a comparison of something close to what he was asking; a comparison of a UNIverse and a Olympos. I gave my impressions. What the Hell is wrong with answering the man's question? I even said I would place heavy emphasis on the ultimate difference in cost because he had a Helicon to trade in.

You've made personal and ugly attacks on several of us for how we conducted our evaluations. Recently, I grew tired enough with your abrasive style to turn the questions around and ask them of you. You didn't respond. It's obvious this boils down to you wanting your opinion to be the only one considered. Sorry but that's not going to fly.

Further, I was more irritated with what I viewed as an unwarranted attack on Frank Schroder. That is what my criticism of Gmorris was about. I stated my objection, apologized for getting angry and he even offered up that his wife thinks he's kind of over the top in getting irritated by folks using the word best too loosely. I agree with him 100%. You have assigned guilt to me where it is undeserved. I await an apology for your remarks on this thread and some answers to questions asked of you on the other thread.

Perhaps you would be better served by having a little fun with audio as you accused us of doing. You sure suck all the fun out of trying to help a guy here with some insight that was very close to the question asked.

76doublebass, I agree with what you heard 100%. I also heard my identical Airy 3 in another room and it too sounded really, really bad. So bad, that I told the exhibitor that they would be better served by not playing analog at all.

76doublebass, don't be too quick to write off the Zyx based on what you heard in Denver. That room was underwhelming. The turntable alone cost more nearly three times what the Parasound amps cost. Inspite of what some reviewers have said, the Parasounds are not even close to the best gear available. The speakers too were definately not up to the task. I felt sorry for Chris Brady when I saw the room in which he was showing his products.

I was disappointed by the sound in that room, but I am still extremely interested in the Teres table, Shroeder arm, and Zyx Universe. They were by far the only good products in the room.

Cello's question was valid when he asked how you were able to assign responsibility for the poor sound to the cartridge. With all those products in the sound chain it seems disingeuous to blame the UNIverse.

I heard the Airy 3 in another room and was very pleased with the sound. I don't know when that took place in relation to Lugnut's session, but we weren't there at the same time.

>>The ZYX Universe had no deep low bass information at all.
The cartridge is very colored sonically.The midband was quick,But tonally thin.The cartridge exhibited no layered depth of field,highs sounded closed in,dirty,no ambience retrevial around instruments pickup patterns.The top end also sounded closed in and bright.<<

Time to make an appointment with your local audiologist.

Lugnut:

You stated in your response above that: “… I was more irritated with what I viewed as an unwarranted attack on Frank Schroeder. That is what my criticism of Gmorris was about.”

I simply wrote that: “ Presumably, from your account Frank Schroeder has auditioned every available cartridge arm/table combination in the world.

Maybe they are the best that he has tried in his arms in his system “.

This does not constitute an attack on Mr. Schroeder, who is in your estimation a very nice man. However, he is not an “Audio God”. He is not infallible, his opinions are just that: MERE OPINIONS, albeit probably more informed than the typical poster on these threads..
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Doublebass, I am glad you are happy with your Grado, but I can't understand how anyone could hang the blame for the poor sound in the Teres/Parasound/Forgettable Speaker room on the cartridge. (I think the speakers should been taken out and kneecapped, they were that bad IMHO.) I doubt even your (insert favorite cart here______) would have saved that room. I do own a ZYX and it exhibits none of the poor traits you judge it to have, but I also own a Dynavector XV-1s (currently in use) and am searching for an early Lyra Parnassus to have converted into an Olympos. I also have a Colibri coming for a trial run. My point is that I will own whatever has merit in my system and feel no need to defend any of my equipment. I am responding because you might be cheating yourself or someone reading this thread of a great cartridge choice for yours or their system. It truly IS one great cartridges of today.

The Brinkmann Balance/Marten Coltrane/Lamm room was one of the best sounds there for me. I would love to try a Brinkmann Balance in my system along with serveral top carts. Maybe someday soon...