My new Soundsmith Straingauge cartridge


Well, after a bit of dillying and dallying, I finally got 'round to trying a home trial of this cart. After a couple of hours dialling in vtf, and esp. azimuth, it basically sold itself, and I bought it an hour later!
It's without doubt the fastest cart I've ever experienced, surpassing the Decca London Reference, but with none of that cart's tipped up 'whiteness'. But this blazing speed is combined with the natural sweetness of the Lyra Parnassus. It has the neutrality of the Transfiguration Orpheus with the dynamics and involvement of the ESCCo-modded Zu Denon 103. So, fast AND sweet, and neutral AND involving, combinations often too challenging for other so-called SOTA carts. All the carts I've mentioned I've had in my system over the years. But I admit, I haven't heard current contenders to the crown (Lyra Titan/Atlas, Ortofon Anna, Clearaudio Goldfinger etc) to make comparisons.
It's tracking really is superlative, 3d soundstaging/dimensionality is beyond the room constraints, and I really believe it has the least artifact-laden sound of any cart I've heard, with NO aural evidence of a diamond carving thru wax. It's really complimenting what's already a neutral, fast and dynamic analog rig in my system (Trans Fi Salvation direct rim drive tt/Trans Fi Terminator air bearing linear tracking arm)
spiritofmusic

Showing 2 responses by thuchan

Dear Raul,
now you are faced with something you are doing all the time when you are labelling other Agon membes as manufacturers, marketing or photography guys when it is not true. How does i feel if it happens to you? You see that this is not a fair approach.
you should stop this kind of unfair labellings and don't put people into a corner you don't like to be in, too.

Just keep on being a tolerant audiophile rather than going on crusades or virtual fights against Dertonearm, Slowlearner and others.

Hope you are learning!
Dear Raul,
you tell the world that you are learning but in fact you don't learn anything. You want to demonstrate the world that you are an expert. in the end you are demonstrating in so many threads that you are not, also here. I wouldn't mind if it is only about facts and exchange of opinions about our hobby.
I told you so many times that what you are writing and blaming about Dertonearm and others is not good for you. It shows that you are not able to exchange arguments but you take it personally.
I just read in another thread that you are happy having defeated Dertonearm (which is in fact a misjudgement). What does this show to us? Is it about victory you are looking for? Do you need personal satisfaction? Is this the motivation of your ongoing accusations? You are demanding receiving all information from Slowlearner on behalf of the audio community. Which audio community do you believe you are representing? It looks to me you have some kind of misconception.
May I ask you to return to the Raul of earlier times when you did not have that kind of megalomania.