ZYX Universe and Lyra Titan

76doublebass,
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A few comments to add to your observations regarding the UNIverse cartridge:
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First off, the Teres Table (including a UNIverse cartridge and Schroder Reference tonearm) was paired with totally inadequate electronics and speakers in a woefully poorly set up room.
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Secondly, I don’t question your ability to hear and analyze what you have heard, but please tell me how you were able to sort out that the UNIverse cartridge was the problem with the sound from that room ?
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I was in the room 3 times and agree totally with you that the sonics were abysmal, but you cannot for one minute accurately compare and draw conclusions of the two cartridges from two different rooms and two different systems.
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One can only relatively accurately compare components when they are placed in the same system, in the same room, while listening to the same music, on the same day with everything but the component you are comparing held constant. Then and only then, can you make reasonable comparisons and draw rational conclusions.
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I am guessing that Chris Brady was far less than happy with having his table sitting in that room. He certainly could hear what we all heard. I would almost bet that you wouldn’t see a Teres table put in an inadequate setting like it was in Denver in the future. I would also assume that the Teres Room next year would have a Schroder Reference and a UNIverse unless something comes along this year that surpasses the UNIverse in what it can deliver throughout the frequency range. Chris could have put any tonearm or cartridge on his table and it would only make sense that he would pick what would sound best and portray his table in its best light.
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I have heard 3 different Teres tables on several occasions accompanied with the UNIverse cartridge and combined with either, a Schroder Reference, Graham 2.2, Triplanar 7, above average to great electronics and excellent speakers. Clearly, there was no part of the frequency spectrum lacking from any of these systems that had a UNIverse cartridge in them. The best combination for me was the Schroder Reference paired with the UNIverse on a Teres 360 table.
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You need to do yourself a favor and find a way to hear the UNIverse (Teres tables and Schroder Reference) in an adequate system. If you are planning to attend the RMAF in Denver again next year, look up the Teres room and report back in again. I think you will come back with a totally different impression. You could also contact Chris Brady and I am sure that he would be happy to have you come by for a demo of his tables (and a UNIverse cartridge) if you can make your way back to the Denver area before the RMAF next year.
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Rgds,
Larry

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Raul,
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You continue to make arguments about things you do not know or have experience with and take shots at undeserving people.
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There is no UNIverse Club as you patronizingly refer to a number of Audiogon members that think highly of the ZYX product line and the UNIverse in particular.
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There has not been a group of "several others" as you say that have heard a UNIverse and found it to be lacking in bass or otherwise. There have been a couple of comments from people like 76doublebass that are illogical or un-supported that you refer to as "several others'.
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76doublebass’ post did not confirm anything for you about the UNIverse and for you to take his post as substantiation of your opinion about the UNIverse cartridge just serves to prove that you are just out to nail ZYX at all cost, do not have a logical thought process, or both.
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I know you won’t respond to this, but please tell us the names of all of the Audiogon members that have posted that the UNIverse is lacking in bass and in which threads. I don’t think you can come up with a list of “several” members that have found the UNIverse lacking that have direct experiences with a UNIverse.
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Have you still not head a UNIverse in your own system ?
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You say that people don't have full range systems that support the UNIverse so they don't know what they are missing in bass ? Who is on your list of UNIverse supporters that have non-full-range systems? Are you saying the I, Frank Schroder, Chris Brady, Vetterone, Stanfi, and Doug Deacon don't have full range systems.
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It is not fair to the manufacturer of the ZYX cartridges to bash a product that you do not have sufficient knowledge about. It is their passion and livelihood that you are tearing at without basis. That is patently unfair and with out class on your part.
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There are newer and less experienced audiophiles that do not realize that you are an articulate (well, not really) incompetent. It would be easy for them to miss that you often speak with matters you don’t understand while acting as if you do and miss out on considering the ZYX products and that would be a shame.
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I really don’t know what got your panties in a twist against ZYX, but it is quite obvious that you go out of your way to trash their group of products.
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Try getting off your pedestal for a moment and listen a bit to some of the other people’s points of view and experiences with out discarding them out of hand and you might actually learn something.
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Those of us who have heard a UNIverse in a full range system know that it is an outstanding cartridge and want for others to be able to enjoy their systems and music a bit more. I know this group of people well and that is where the enthusiasm for their UNIverse emanates from.
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They get a bit of joy from helping others and are a bit excited as a result of finding a special piece of equipment that is quite extraordinary.

Gmorris,
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I am sorry that you are non-plussed and that my behavior could be to blame. I do hope you get your plus back.
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In order to remove any confusion, I am not a dealer, just a person who is more than tired of Raul's inane arguments, sanctimonious attitude and mean spirited comments. I do have a UNIverse that I paid for and have strongly recommended the cartridge to others. I felt like I was doing them and ZYX a favor. I have yet to know anyone that has bought a UNIverse that was less than thrilled with the results in their system.
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I had sworn off responding / reacting to Raul about 6 months ago, but I was really got tired of his recent bashing of people & components with which he was not in a position to make those comments or the comments were just plain stupid/ignorant. There are people that can be influenced by those comments and it is not fair to them.
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There are plenty of good/great cartridges available and I have certainly not heard all of them and more importantly not in my system. I do recognize that there are a goodly number of people that are quite happy/delighted with the more recent version of the Titan.
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If you have the time and are inclined, you can go back and read through the threads where Raul has visited and posted and you might come to understand the reactions his comments elicit. Perhaps the individual comments he makes on their own don’t warrant such a strong reaction from us, but when taken in whole from the many postings he has made, people just get sick of his B.S. He is consistently offensive amongst a group of wonderful people that I feel quite fortunate to know and interact with.
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I have not heard the Titan in any system and can not comment with how it sounds as compared to the UNIverse. I have heard the Olympus in my system and felt that it was only slightly better than the Universe (the Olympus was mounted on a Schroder Reference and the Universe was on a Schroder DPS, so it was not a perfectly controlled comparison).
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At some point when I am fortunate enough to hear a Titan in my system, I would be happy to share my experience / opinion of the Titan as compared with the UNIverse.
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You will forgive me if I have seemed a bit zealous or over the top about the ZYX products, it is just me being defensive with regards to Raul’s ridiculous and ignorant postings. I understand his lack of full command of English (he speaks two languages where most here only speak one), but that does not excuse his crassness and willingness to stretch the facts to win an argument (that he started) at all costs. He is just a Royal pain in the ass that seems to be more concerned with his own aggrandizement rather than helping people. I have zero patience with him or his behavior.
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I hope my repsonse clarifies your confusion or bewilderment.
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Rgds,
Larry
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Gmorris,
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I continue to smile in spite of my reactions to Raul.
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I think that auditioning a cartridge in your own system is absolutely the only way to make a decision on what to buy. Everything is so system dependant down to the tonearm cable, loading and phono stage or step ups. All can make a monumental differences.
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Since I last posted, a friend informed me that I had in fact heard a Titan in another friends system and I have to say that his system sounded glorious. I hope that at some point I am able to get a UNIverse in his system so that I can compare the Titan and the UNIverse.
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I think you are kind to give Raul the benefit of the doubt, but language is not at the root of his problems. He flat out misquotes other people’s postings and or exaggerates to win an argument or prove a point. I just can't stomach that behavior.
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I am not saying that Raul does not have valid points at times, but a good percentage of the time he is way off base and argues as vehemently when he does not know what is talking about as when he does. The newbie read his bravado and think Raul knows what he is talking about in all cases and that is my major problem along with bashing products that do not deserve the bad rap.
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I do respect opinions that are well thought out or from people that have sense of what the frontier of their knowledge is. Raul speaks in absolutes that he can't possibly know and it is wearisome.
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Do spend more quality time with Raul and see if you still feel the urge to rise to his defense.
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Rgds,
Larry
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Nrchy,
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Please do not mix the whites and colors on me again and no starch in the collars this time.
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Rgds,
Larry
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Raul,
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It has been almost year since I swore off responding to you out of frustration. After this post, I am guessing it will be a long, long time before I waste any of my time responding to any more of your ignorant or rude posts.
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I went back over all the threads to check and I never said that the UNIverse was the “best cartridge” as you stated that I said. Here are my two quotes:

On 1-28-05 “It might be the best cartridge out there at any price.....”

On 5-08-05 “The UNIverse is just one of the best cartridges available by a clear margin”.

Those quotes are not me saying that it is the best cartridge as you quoted me. This is a typical example of you twisting or mis-stating the facts. This is why I have no patience or respect for your opinions.
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Telling me to sell my UNIverse when you have never had a UNIverse in your own system: what is wrong with you and where do you get off giving such advice when you have no idea how my system sounds or how the UNIverse sounds in my system or yours (this is rhetorical, please do not respond) ?
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Thomas,
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I have seen you and Frank Schroder bo back and forth a few times over the last year or so.
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It would be nice if you and Frank could meet each other at some point in the future. I think some of your conecptions of him would disappear and you would find a very special human being that you would be happy to know. He is not at all near the defensive/overly sensitive image that you might have come to believe through the Audiogon postings.
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Rgds,
Larry