Strain gauge vs Zyx 4D/Atmos

Raul;

You really need to get off that soapbox. You sound like a broken record that doens't conform to anything except your limited, warped opinion. You don't own a strain gauge, and your comments about such have caused you to lose many friends. People have lambasted you repeatedly because your true issue is that you don't have the ability to listen. You are NOT an expert in this subject, you just insist you are. I grow very tired of your attacking my products, and as a manufacturer, YOU SHOULD NOT BE DOING THAT AT ALL.

People on this and other forums have asked you to stop, and you never do. You take over forum discussions, and are obsessed to do so. I, and many other people, would be shocked if you were actually able to not respond to this message, which has been sent to you many times. You do not understand that by not identifying yourself as a manufacturer, you are lying, and many of us are sick of it. Even though many people -including myself - have explained and given technical responses to the relative UNIMPORTANCE of conforming within .1dB, you sidestep these issues and just repeat yourself. I feel certain you will do so again here.

Raul - you have upset me to the point whre i will make a public statement - I will NOT work on any more of your cartridges ever - dont send me any ever again. You are not deserving of my time and skills. You have managed to anger me, nd that takes some doing. STOP, STOP, STOP. Your English is good enough to get that.

If you were a real engineer, you would post a curve of your stereo from your listening position - which by your requirements would have to be flat within .1 dB, and if it is not, then you would have to explain why that is ok, but not ok when any other device is not flat to within that amount. But you can't. So you will take this opportunity to sing your song all over again. How much begging will get you to stop?

For the last time, please post a curve or your stereo system from your listening position, or BE QUIET SO THE REST OF US CAN LISTEN.

Peter Ledermann/President/Soundsmith

Dear Leicachamp;

The below links may be helpful to you.

The Strain Gauge system has changed over the years I have been producing it. We are now in the 4th generation design. I have been working with them for the past 35 years. The below are some review links that might prove helpful in answering your question; one is from the second unit we ever sold; some are from later units.

You will also see some serious attempts to hijack the thread in one of them. But - there is also useful information from many who responded.

The bottom line is what users think - NOT what I think. I can tell you that it is a different animal altogether from magnetic devices, and explain the technical reasons and changes I have made, but since it is so different, the best any consumer can do is to listen to those who own
it, lok for "common" reactions, and assume that those are going to line up with many peoples responses, but not all.

It is an itneresting fact that when played in England for a well known reviewer, he turend to me and said that the SG was "unlistenable". When we got over the uncomfortable moment, he suggested we compare it to a CD of the same performance. When we did, he was shocked, and turned to me and apologized, saying "I never realized how accustomed I had become to magnetic sound". We then listened to his brand new $8000 MC, and .....he was further shocked. He then said the SG was "perfect". Of course, it is not, but it is unique.

We do have a "type" of acountic memory that says - this is is how it's "supposed" to sound - and for about 10-20% of folks who have heard the SG, it sounds so different - it's wrong to them. But many of those who then listen on, change their minds. It is a different animal - that is the bottom line. Nothing is perfect, BUT....the path to go is in choosing what things to try to technically do well, and optimize the rest as best as possible.

Thank you for your post -

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?ranlg&1310845292&&&/Soundsmith-SG-200-Straingauge-Cartridge

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ranlg&1227193071&openusid&zzVac_man&4&5

http://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.pl?forum=general&n=522686&highlight=magneplanar&r=&session=

Peter Ledermann/Chief Cooka nd Bottlewasher/Soundsmith

Dear Leicachamp;

If the Lyra sounded better, that's great. THe whole purpose of this endeavor is to find what works for you.

As to the differences between the Strain Gauge and the Sussurro, I would say that They are day and night. 80 percent of fols who hear the two prefer the SG. About 2 days per month, I prefer the Sussurro. The Sussurro has gotten very high marks, for with we are very glad. We have a new top of the line MI cart being introduced at RMAF called the Hyperion. It is a collaboration with Frank Schroder, and we are excited to play it for folks. It does lots of things the SG does, so.....exciting.

I somewha agree with the statements made above, but, the statement about micro detail I would take some issue with, as if you will read in the owners reviews, that was one of their strong points about the Strain Gauge. I am happy to discuss the responses to magnetics VS. SG carts with you on the phone - I will be in the office tomorrow and part of wednesday, but then leaving for RMAF. Please feel free to call.

Peter Ledermann/Soundsmith

One addition note -I do not deny anyone's tastes -however, I question the statement about lack of upper order harmonics. The SG cart has lower distortion than most magnetic carts, a near perfect square wave, and amazing phase accuracy in terms of grip delay and lack of perturbations in a small region. Tube gear sounds more " musical" to many in part because it generates harmonics. I submit that some MAgnetics sound more welcome not because they are accurate but because they are possibly less so. Have these gentlemen taken spectrum analysis of the two or is this a tech statement based on listening??

Peter/Soundsmith

I am on a boat -typing is HARD HERE! GROUP DELAY was what I was trying to type -Peter

Possibly a better way to think about the SG is this: when RIAA is applied to a magnetic cutterhead, it reduces the low end,and boosts the highs. This is done for various reasons, but the result is basically a contant displacement groove modulation for a flat, swept input from 20 to 20K. Since the SG is sensitive to DISPLACEMENT ONLY, and not velocity, it reproduces a flat signal from a constant displacement groove calling it non-linear is not descriptive enough.

It is somewhat serendipitous that the RIAA curve evolved in such a manner as to cut a nearly flat displacement groove from a flat swept input signal.

As regards EQ; one has to realize that many records are mixed in such a way as to allow the engineer to EQ each instrument, not to mention the coloration for varied mics,not to mention the final EQ that ALWAYS gets done so the the losses incurred from the multi-step process in making records is compensated for, not to mention to two BAD resonant points well in the audio spectrum that cutterheads suffer badly from and are EQ'D out (mostly.....) and the list goes on and on.....So what we finally listen to can often bear little or no resemblance to the orignal EQ of the live instrument or performance.

I am always amazed that it goes so well most of the time.

What I can say is that when I cut a lacquer dub on one of my Neumann lathes, and play it back with MC or my MI carts, it is no contest when compared to the Strain Gauge. I am bringing a lacquer I cut at half speed (22) to be played at 45; those coming to RMAF can ask me to play it to hear the newest generation of Strain Gauge, compared even to the new Hyperion.- VERY revealing - This is a piano/bass duet.

Peter Ledermann/Soundsmith