2. analog
  3. 163552-138655

Experience with Sensitive Sound MC cartridges

Would anyone please share their experience with any of the Sensitive Sound MC cartridges from Russia? It's imported by Solypsa Audio in Seattle. I got curious after reading a review of the ART Majestic. It's a relatively new brand; hoping anyone reading has tried it. Thank you. 
audite84

Showing 10 responses by chakster

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Cartridges are not the same if you know a little bit about cartridge design, some cartridges are unique and i can recall many unique cartridges. Respectful designers do not copy other cartridges, even the way it look. I collect cartridges and have more than 60 different models of very rare high-end cartridges (all types).


Great Russian cartridges, tonearms, turntables .... what are you talking about? Is that a bad dream or what? I live in Russia. This is the last country in the world when it comes to phono cartridges! Who is that guy? 

My advice: do not buy it!

You can find some amazing cartridges made in Japan and you can be sure that if you need service it will be first rate service in Japan via distributor.

In America look for SoundSmith cartridges!

If this thread is not an ad of unknown Russian cartridges I don’t understand your enthusiasm.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
@solypsa

I would have thought, given you are in Russia, that you would pick up the phone and ask Roman ’who he is’ directly. Of course it is easier to just assume and post accordingly.

So it was him on audiogon today with all the strange comments deleted by the moderator in various threads? Too bad if you missed that!


This is exactly what I expected! A person who think he’s a god of cartridge design from Russia, against the whole world (just like  president of Russia) according to his comments about some other designers, and personal attacks. Please, I’m sick of this ...


chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
For decades Soviet Hi-Fi was nothing but a very bad copy of well know Japanese and European Hi-Fi. We had a poorly made Soviet copy of Thorens, a copy of Technics and so on. We had simplified copy of well know speakers, radios, turntables, reel to reel ... everything.

Looking at SensitiveSound cartridges I see a little bit of Benz and Dynavector ... I see Linn in some other cartridges from SensiviteSound. In in terms of design they can't make their own without copying someone else. 

What is the reason to buy unknown Russian SensitiveSound when original Japanese and European cartridges with very strong reputation available from giants of the industry with 100 years of history or from an internationally renowned small manufacturers ?

Reviews? I’d like to ask @audite84 about his system and his cartridges first. Do you have some other cartridges ? Jelco TK-950S is your tonearm ?




chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I think it was you under a different nickname yesterday flooded audiogon with aggressive comments and personal attacks, especially a comment in Russian language addressed to me directly claiming that I hate "Russian product", but the only Russian product here is your cartridge. And personally I don’t care about your cartridge, sorry.

If it wasn’t you then I’m sorry.

But two Russians with almost zero posts on audiogon appeared here in the past 12 hrs (and never posted before in 10 years).

Regarding your company and your cartridges I already posted my opinion based on some facts and I will repeat it again:

Russia is the last country in the world when it comes to phono cartridges! So when users from United States or Europe on audiogon asking for a Russian cartridge it’s so weird (even when your European friend trying to promote them here), because there are amazing cartridges made in USA and Europe since the 70s. BUT most of the greatest cartridges made in JAPAN and you got your parts from JAPAN. Your brand has no history compared to any other cartridge manufacturer from Japan, Europe or USA. So logically when anyone overseas asking for advice the answer will be "No". And it doesn’t mean your cartridge is bad, there is a little chance that it can be good, maybe, but compared to what?

I have no questions for you because I will never buy such cartridge, so if you want to tell people more about your product you can just post here yourself, do not ask for questions, it’s a public forum to share information, not a personal email.


chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
chakster Just to clarify a point from your post: The meteorite material referenced is not stone, it is metal, and used in the generator not the body. Its easy to research these metals. Also basically all high end cartridges are made by an ’enthusiast’ so that is a dubious point of contention. Even the big Japanese names are each built by one, or maybe a few artisans...

@solypsa The difference between Japanese or European cartridge designers and unknown Russian dude is reputation.

“Meteorit” in Russian language is a piece of other planet coming from the space. It’s a stone.

The meaning is the same in Wikipedia:

“A METEORITE is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or moon. When the original object enters the atmosphere, various factors such as friction, pressure, and chemical interactions with the atmospheric gases cause it to heat up and radiate energy. It then becomes a meteor and forms a fireball, also known as a shooting star or falling star; astronomers call the brightest examples "bolides".


chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Roman, you just proved of what I said, nothing to add here. 

And this is just your 2nd post, you're a "perfect contributor" from  totalitarian country act like a typical dictator. Internet is free in the rest of the world if you don't know, everyone can post an opinion. What is false here?  
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
Now when nearly all my comments removed by moderator in this thread (never mind) let’s face some facts:

1) Solypsa is a North American Distributor of Sensitive Sound, besides him and his potential buyer there are no comments about those carts in this thread from someone who tried them. But wise comments from our member @mijostyn is there and I agree 100%, he said what he said in more political correct manner than me.

2) Russian company instagram and site where you can see manufacturer’s system etc. Unfortunately the manufacturer from Yekaterinburg, Russia chimed in with with zero useful information for audiogon members.

3) Price range for those cartridges in USA: $699 - $6446 ... There are only one relatively cheap model, the rest of them cost $1275, $3500, $6446 :)

Needless to say what cartridge anyone can order for the same prices elsewhere, it could be some of the world best cartridges with strong reputation, almost legendary status and very long history. It could be any cartridge designer/brand such as Koetsu, Benz, VdH, Miyajima, Dynavector Shelter, ZYX, Audio-Technica, Grado, SoundSmith ... you name it. They are all have models in this price range.

Just simple facts, ok? Up to the buyers.


P.S. I know who registered for the first time under different name yesterday to make 15 posts quickly, I’m sure some members noticed that and still can remember the content of the posts too. Especially about material used for generator core by other designers, remember than Sensitive Sound uses meteorite in generator (probably tunguska:) and those cantilevers and styli. You can find my reply here here. Very interesting.

I wish you guys a good luck with these cartridges! 










chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
I want to clarify the company Sensitive Sound.
Roman Lebedev is the project manager.
This guy graduated from one of the five branch departments of the Moscow State Technical University. N.E.Bauman, created on the basis of large industrial enterprises.

So Mr. Roman Lebedev is not you, good to know.

I met several manufacturers of hand-assembled MC cartridges in Japan, learned and saw how legendary MC cartridges are created and what philosophy of sound is contained in each product.

Interesting, can you mention some names ? Just curious.


The best MC cartridge repair service in Europe was organized using factory reset!

Do you mean Sensitive Sound retip/repair service in Russia or some other service in Europe?

There are many repair services in Europe such as VdH, Expert Stylus & Co., Northwest Analogue just to name a few quite famous.


Almost every year and at different times, representatives of Japan come to exchange experiences, meet and communicate.

We are all manufacturers of various devices for listening to music and are familiar with each other.

What devices are you talking about if it’s not a top secret ? Any specific brands maybe?

I don’t understand your irony!
Or are you sure that the best pickups are created and made by Gods ?!

I don’t believe in God. I must admit It was a bad start for someone of you who posted here on audiogon yesterday under a different name, trying to demonstrate "deep knowledge" to some of us by making some blank statements about some other cartridge designers. About 4 years ago same Russian person discussed Axel’s refurbished Technics cartridges with me on ebay in the same manner. I remember that quite well.

Today, the company Sensitive Sound, 20 years of experience in research and work in the field of MC cartridges and the most high-tech enterprise for the production of MC cartridges using modern technologies and materials, such as gold-enamel wire, platinum-cobalt magnets.

Many people think that creating a great MC cartridge is easy and simple!

So the most high-tech MC cartridge manufacturer located in Yekaterinburg, Russia? Shocking news for the rest of the world, they may never heard about it :(

I thought it’s Reto Adreoli in Switzerland ? Here is a rare interview with him.

Anyway, I think most of us judging by price vs. performance. Exotic materials and unique patents are not always the key to a perfect sound, unfortunately, but always the reason for higher price.

However, it’s nice when a manufacturer (cartridge designer) can personally explain many technical aspects right on this forum. At the moment there is nothing to read, except for a good press release.

If you personally retipped/refurbished many cartridges in your "best in Europe" repair shop could you please recall some proper cartridges that you like. Something that inspired you to create your own. Would be nice to read some brands/models (or maybe cartridge designers from the past or present).

chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
My impression is that Sensitive Sound is a serious company. If you like, you can explore local Russian makes for us, such as Sensitive Sound and NewArtVinyl mentioned by Elliott.


It’s only your impression. Russia today is not a producer, Russia is a consumer. What they offer is Japanese parts assembled locally by someone you like to call a “company” @audit84
Regarding Elliott’s Russian tonearm it is another story: metal parts, bearings can be made locally, but for me it’s hard to understand why he like it, there are much better classic Japanese tonearms on the market. Regarding arms like Schroeder it is not good to compare high-end German machinery to Russian handmade. 
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 

This is funny:


“Each detail of the generator cut from a single piece of a meteorite. Meteorite is a unique material due to extraterrestrial origin.”


If you want a stone cartridge body coming from space... there you go, nice for marketing :)


Seriously, comany address registered in Ekaterinburg, Russia. Maybe some enthusiast can assemble Japanese parts together pretending for something special, but do not expect some secret Russian military factory when it comes to phono cartridges, diamonds or styli... They prefer to make chemical weapon instead.


Made in Russia is not what I’d like to buy myself. Assembled in Russia is not what I’d like to own.


Made in Japan is something I can trust (always).






More to discover