Allnic Verito Z:Owners and those familiar

I received my replacement "new version" yesterday. I have about 8 sides on it and agree with Cjfrbw - but I'll add "Wow"; my spare previous version is also going back for replacement. No shim and no sibilance and it seems on track to hold to the other features of the previous cartridge. In general, I'd say the main difference is a tonal balance that is tipped somewhat lower, weightier bass, more texture and (maybe as a result) even more definite layering of the images of instruments. Same oustanding dynamics and speed and deeeecaaaaaayyy. An acquaintance who is a professional jazz player was over weekend before last and heard my system for the first time (with the previous version obviously). His comment, "I've never heard such realism! That's what I want - the real sound of instruments and being able to hear what every player is doing." I thought it sounded okay, too... I don't need that sort of validation but it's nice when it happens. Will have him over again at the next chance to see if he hears a change. In the meantime, I'm pretty happy to get an upgrade for the cost of shipping. Who else does that? Please tell me if you know, as it really appeals to the el cheapo in me.

Thanks, Gersimon

I have 15+ hours and I am definitely getting some kickappoo "Wow" factor now. I feel fickle and faithless as I find my affection for my Clearaudio Harmony Mg fading.
I have the benefit of the full Allnic preamplification chain, which may offer particular synergies.
With the Verito, for the first time, I have been able to fully hear through the dense vocal and instrumental intermodulation of Oblivion Express' "Back to the Beginning". Whatever the Allnic products may offer in detail and dynamics, they never sacrifice rich tone, and the Vertio is consistent with that. I will write more as I get more hours on the cartridge.

I have been using the Verito since its release a few years ago. Now I am on the Z and still using it in an ET2, this combination really sings. The ET2 appears to suit the Z down to the ground. I have also tried the Z in pivoted arms, the sound is there but not in the same league. The ET2 combo has a perfect and seamless presentation, my daughter is a Cellist and remarked that the Z was the most natural sounding cartridge that I have used. I have three TT's and seven arms installed, a bit of overkill or obsession I am sure. my main TT has two Moerch DP6 arms and an ET2. Comparisons are easy when there are two identical arms, this setup was used to compare the two Veritos and various carts belonging to my friends. BA's Mantis beat the Allnic in terms of bass depth, Nigels PC1 was on a par as was a Koetsu urushi. However when the Z went back on the ET2 none of the others sounded as integrated from top to bottom. I think the arm is more important than realised when using the Z. For the price I think that the Z represents outstanding value. For what it is worth I run my carts balanced into sowter 8055/4 trafos and then into balanced hybrid phono amps. My system could never be described as high end but it has excellent resolution and an accurate sound, it is more studio than HiFi.

Hi,

I hope to be receiving a ''next generation'' Verito Z very soon...and will be using it on an Origin Live Conqueror Mk.3C

It will be mounted on an aluminium headshell, so I will be in the same situation as you.

I would also like to find out about using a wooden shim...just to see what differences it may make, so I would be grateful if anyone can help on the location / source of such a shim and its price...

Once the cartridge is run in, I would be happy to make more detailed comments as to performance and nature in my own system.

I have owned sevral cartridges, including Linn Arkiv Boron, Koetsu, Red, Onyx, Clearaudio Accurate, Benz Micro Glider 2, etc...and I am currently using a Zyx Airy 3S...

Until then, best wishes and of course luck!

I have rounded the corner at about 100 hours.

Observations: So far the best cartridge I have had in my system, eclipsing the Clearaudio Harmony Mg. The Harmony Mg was Clearaudio's second from top of the line a few years ago, I have listened to the Harmony Mg with both the original boron cantilever and the Soundsmith Ruby retip, which increased detail in the Harmony Mg.

Break In: Requires a lot. The full output does not seem to settle in until after 50 hours or so. I started out with the preamp from 1PM to 2:15PM at first, gradually going down to currently 11AM to 12:15PM. This may indicate a suspension that requires a lot of use before full settling.

Detail: Enormous amount of detail, more than the Harmony Mg. I wondered about the aluminum cantilever, but without just cause, the Verito Z manages to recover more raw detail than either the boron or ruby retip on the Harmony Mg.

Compliance: The Verito Z seems to be an excellent match with my tone arm/ table. I think my Da Vinci 10 inch arm just makes the effective mass cut of about 16g for the low compliance cantilever, but the Verito might do even better with higher effective mass arms.

Dynamics: Opened up a lot from 30 to 60 hours and still seem to be opening up a bit with larger, more relaxed sound scape.

Midrange: This is where the Verito Z builds from and shines, an incredibly dense, layered detailed midrange. The Verito Z locks on to the beating heart of the midrange and doesn't let go. The Harmony Mg was excellent in this regard as well, but not nearly as good as the Verito Z.

Bass: Deep and resolute, excellent texture and solidity

High Frequencies: Very well balanced with the midrange, nice density like the midrange with lovely shimmer and overtones.

Overall, the Verito Z extends the impression I had when reviewing the Allnic head amp H2500 that the Allnic chain makes vinyl sound much more like the high quality reel to reel tapes I have heard in sound image, density, color and power. This seems to be a good direction to go since the analog tradition is based on high quality studio tapes.