Strain gauge vs Zyx 4D/Atmos

Yes, I totally agree with Peter Ledermann.
Raul, please stay quiet, enough is enough.
I am not famiiar with the strain gauge system but heard opinions that it is up there with the very best. It is also a unique design. Not many can try it because of the price but those who can, I think, should.

Dear Leicachamp;

The below links may be helpful to you.

The Strain Gauge system has changed over the years I have been producing it. We are now in the 4th generation design. I have been working with them for the past 35 years. The below are some review links that might prove helpful in answering your question; one is from the second unit we ever sold; some are from later units.

You will also see some serious attempts to hijack the thread in one of them. But - there is also useful information from many who responded.

The bottom line is what users think - NOT what I think. I can tell you that it is a different animal altogether from magnetic devices, and explain the technical reasons and changes I have made, but since it is so different, the best any consumer can do is to listen to those who own
it, lok for "common" reactions, and assume that those are going to line up with many peoples responses, but not all.

It is an itneresting fact that when played in England for a well known reviewer, he turend to me and said that the SG was "unlistenable". When we got over the uncomfortable moment, he suggested we compare it to a CD of the same performance. When we did, he was shocked, and turned to me and apologized, saying "I never realized how accustomed I had become to magnetic sound". We then listened to his brand new $8000 MC, and .....he was further shocked. He then said the SG was "perfect". Of course, it is not, but it is unique.

We do have a "type" of acountic memory that says - this is is how it's "supposed" to sound - and for about 10-20% of folks who have heard the SG, it sounds so different - it's wrong to them. But many of those who then listen on, change their minds. It is a different animal - that is the bottom line. Nothing is perfect, BUT....the path to go is in choosing what things to try to technically do well, and optimize the rest as best as possible.

Thank you for your post -

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?ranlg&1310845292&&&/Soundsmith-SG-200-Straingauge-Cartridge

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ranlg&1227193071&openusid&zzVac_man&4&5

http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.pl?forum=general&n=522686&highlight=magneplanar&r=&session=

Peter Ledermann/Chief Cooka nd Bottlewasher/Soundsmith

Paul and I heard the Strain Gauge in Peter's room at RMAF 2008 (apparently not the current version). We're also intimately familiar with ZYX 4D/Atmos, having penned the first ever review of that cartridge. See my signature.

From this experience I agree with much of what Peter wrote. We would not consider moving from one of these cartridges to the other to be a lateral move. They are very different cartridges with very different strengths and weaknesses. Our own preference for one over the other was quite strong, and for specific reasons having nothing to do with Raul's concerns.

If you like a pure, simple, dynamic sound that's quiet, accurate and makes no errors of commission, the Strain Gauge we heard might work for you. OTOH, if like my partner and me you are very (some would say inordinately) sensitive to the presence (or absence) and accuracy of upper order harmonics, if you enjoy very low level detail, then the ZYX is more likely to satisfy.

If you enjoy the strength of the 4D/Atmos in these areas and simply want more, buy a UNIverse or get your hands on a Lyra Olympos or Ortofon A90. Any of these outperform the Strain Gauge we heard in the reproduction of harmonic subtleties.

Those sonic priorities are ours of course. Only you can decide on yours.

Well, then I would take Strain Gauge any day.

Dear Slowlearner: This is what you posted:

+++++ " I can tell you that it is a different animal altogether from magnetic devices.... " +++++

++++ " It is a different animal - that is the bottom line. Nothing is perfect, " +++++

these are what I posted:

++++ " That you like it more the SS or the Zyx does not means one is better than the other both are different: " ++++ " All depend what you want, "

+++++ " and if you want to listen a different approach then you could hear the SS " +++++

and this what Dougdeacon posted:

+++ " They are very different cartridges with very different strengths and weaknesses. " +++++

You can see that what I'm saying is not different from what you or Dougdeacon stated.

I even not posted any statement regarding " preferences ", I don't posted that I don't like it or said to Leicachap: " don't buy it " or stay away from it ".

Even Dougdeacon posted that prefer the A-90 or Olympos in some audio performance areas over the SS. I did not nothing like this and I never posted anywhere in the forum any cartridge comparison trying to dimish the SS. I think that all I made it was to say is different.
You can read any of my posts elsewhere on the subject, IMHO there is no single attack but a simple explanation on the ss differences against MC/MM/MI cartridges and that's all, you said is different and I agree with you!

As I posted, I'm not against you in anyway: I have no single reason to.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.