I have a Denon 103R with a Midas head shell and Soundsmith Sapphire cantilever. The Mammoth Gold I have on demo is head and shoulder above the Denon. No comparison. Much more clean, smooth, accurate, balanced and full. Its much better all around. It also puts my Hana ML to shame. This is a much more expensive cartridge than either of the others I have. I am seriously thinking of keeping it. It has transformed my phono setup. |
I need your help regarding a problem with Victor Simakov from AIDAS Audio.
I sent him more than 6 months my Mammoth gold II for repair.(a broken cantilever)
I tried to call him many times and sent to him a dozens of emails, SMS but no response. Maybe you know anything about him and his company?
MY CARTRIDGE NUMBER 18-186.
Best Doron
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This is, I am told, in response to reports of cartridge owners having trouble when using prior distribution network agents to properly facilitate repair services.
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Responding to duffster03 abt Victor service . Just bought a used Victor MC-L1000 MC from him . Over charged shipping cost . Suppose to refund once he got the actual shipping cost . Never responded to me subsequently . |
Thanks @gakerty I put on some Erik Satie, and while his music should not be listened to critically… it was very grating on the loud piano passages. Not sure about distortion, but the sibilance was dire. (May be it is distortion through?) However my MM cart does very well on more quiet music. Just struggles on the loudest parts. Actually, some pressings are loud and fine… it is the higher frequency piano note that usually present the issue. Good to hear that the Aidas sails through it. |
Based on the Hifi News test record, the first tracking test is the "Tracking Ability 1 (300Hz L+R At +15dB)". Seems on my system a typical LOMC present SLIGHT distortion or a warbling tone on this. Previously a Lyra Delos sailed through it, and of course vintage MMs have no problem. On real music, I test with high peak piano, in which there’s a combo of sibilance and distortion on those quick note peaks. Yuseef Lateefs Eastern Sounds first track has a few of those quick high level piano peaks, and that’s a good test for tracking IMO. My current Aidas has no problem in this regard. |
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On the subject of Aidas-- I recently switched from Benz LPS to an Aidas Gala Gold. The Aidas is lovely. It is NOT starkly different than the LPS, but the Aidas has more treble extension and mid range detail. Instrument timbre is rich, perhaps with a TOUCH of pleasant bloom. The overused term "musical" applies here to the Aidas, and there's plenty of detail to go around.It sure is one pretty cartridge too! I have it loaded at 300 ohms, which seems to me the loading sweet spot, but changing loading on my Zestos Deluxe 2 doesn't make a huge difference. Tracking on the Aidas is on par for a LOMC, perhaps a bit better than the Benz. Overall, the Aidas Gala Gold is my favorite cartridge I've owned. I would not hesitate to continue with Aidas when this Gold wears down. I'll probably get it retipped when the time comes. |
Aidas cartridges Website : link North America distributor Website : link Germany distributor Website : link They just showed at Munich with Len Hifi!
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@duffster03 Hi, email me about this. Contacts on my site
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Hello, I'm producer and distributor of Aidas phono cartridges. Please check Aidasaudio.com All needed information and reviews links there. Also you can check USA distribution site at: virausa.com You can contact me if need any additional information about cartridge specs or purchase directory. Thank you, Victor Simakov Vira USA LLC 1-310-806-2854 email: aidasaudio@yahoo.com |
I’ve had the pleasure to listen to the Aidas Black Sound - Red Heart. This was sent to me by Victor Simakov of Virahighend along with a Krell KC-200 I purchased from him. This came as a complete surprise and it offered me a chance to try it in my own system, without any obligations. An unprecedented token of good faith and customer service in my experience. I gave it a good listen (about 25 hours) and after some settling time I was easily convinced that this cartridge can compete with the very best. The noise floor is vanishingly low, suggesting excellent built quality and very good resonance control. It’s an amazing tracker as well. Sonically it is in vdHul Colibri and Ortofon MC A95 territory, two other high resolution 'open' systems I compared it with. The Aidas has a slightly warmer and more relaxed presentation, but without sacrificing transparency. I wouldn’t exactly call it a bargain, $3000 MSRP is still alot of money. But in the current marketplace with its absurd pricing tactics it’s a VERY good deal. Its closest competitors are on the wrong side of $5k. If you’re in the market for an MC cartridge in this price range, make sure to put it on your ’must hear’ list. |
Robert Levi reviewed the top of the Aidas line (Mammoth Gold) just before Xmas, link below.. We have one on order! https://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/aidas-mammoth-gold-phono-cartridge/ |
To add, Christian Punter @ Hifi Advice reviewed both the PanzerHolz and the Rainbow https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/analog-reviews/analog-source-reviews/vira-aidas-rainbow-mc-c... This is our PanzerHolz Diamond:https://zaxisaudio.com/portfolio/bespoke-projects/ |
I use the Aidas PanzerHolz, and have several other carts but the Aidas is simply fantastic, so much so that I just never even think about carts any longer. It beats ART9 by huge margin, also MY Sonic Eminent BE considerably, being far more open, detailed but still thoroughly musical and controlled. One of audio's true (and rare) REAL bargains.. |
The direct web site : aidasaudio.com Another site info: virausa.com Many reviews: https://aidasaudio.com/reviews-and-awards Dealers: https://aidasaudio.com/dealer-s-network |
The direct web site : aidasaudio.com Another site info: virausa.com Many reviews: https://aidasaudio.com/reviews-and-awards Dealers: https://aidasaudio.com/dealer-s-network The cartridges are better than 95% of everything on the market. |
"23,000 year old Siberian Wooly Mammoth tusk" https://virahighend.com/aidas-phono-cartridges Fancy BS shells for their carts and not surprising "amazing" reviews. They look nice. |
