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EMT and SoundSmith

Hi Goners
I'm looking for a medium output cartridge and have come down to either EMT or SoundSmith. Has anyone tested both of these brands and can compare and opine? More than any specific cart comparison, I'm really more curious to hear about general build quality and overall characteristics of these two brands. I have read plenty on SS but do not see much on EMT carts particularly since they restarted production. 
The phono stage has 56db of gain so the 1.05 output of EMT carts or 1.1 of SS should both work great. The carts of most interest are the JSD 5 or 6 and the Nautilus. 

Thanks in advance for the insight. 
gmercer

Showing 3 responses by pops

pops
2,273 posts
 
Hi Dodgealum - what cartridge have you moved to - I was thinking of buying the Zephyr MIMC Star.  I spent a lot of time with his Hyperion at the Cap Audio Fest in addition to the Strain Gauge and both were outstanding on his system.

Those cartridges are out of my price range right now so thinking about the Zephyr since I am getting low on cartridges - down to one and it is getting long in the tooth.  Hope I did not hijack the thread gmercer.

Jerry 
pops
2,273 posts
 
Good luck with your choice. 
pops
2,273 posts
 
@gmercer I am interested in SS for two reasons. One, as you mention retipping service for as long as you want.  This has become more interesting to me since my Transfiguration Proteus crapped out after 450 hours.   That was an expensive 450 hours.

And second, his system at CAF this year was as good as any room I heard.  He was using two front ends, his strain guage system and a Hyperion and both sounded as pure and engaging as analog can be.
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