So this week the Analog Relax EX-500 MC phono cartridge showed up like a fresh spring breeze on my doorstep. After having the Phasemation PP-2000 MC cartridge here a few weeks ago, which I was very happy with, I was very excited for what this new jewel could do to my system. Both these cartridges are coming from same dealer which by the way is totally awesome, and the kindest person ever, so thank you @Hyperion for letting me try these jewels on my holy ground 
.
Having already three top cartridges on my Acoustic Signature Ascona Neo turntable, I am in the search of a matching cartridge to go with my Technics SL-1200G. Many cartridges has been on my SL-1200G throughout the years, and most of them have been working fine, but to find something that is matching the other three carts (which btw is the AirTight Opus-1, the Ortofon MC Diamond and the Koetsu Blue Lace), and still is sticking out in a positive way is no easy task.
The best match so far has been the 0,2mV Koetsu Vermillion, which I deeply regret I didn’t buy. However.. as the Koetsu company ceased operations in 2023 due to Mr. Fumihiko Sugano’s passing I am in bitter sweet feeling glad that I did not get another Koetsu. The Blue Lace has been the working horse in my phono setup almost from the beginning and I just love the sound and power from the Blue Stone.
Now… The Opus-1 and the MC Diamond is a perfect match to the Blue Lace, and they share the same character in many ways, but differ ofcourse when it comes to the analytical aspects. They all play the records very well but one is doing something better than the other, and so I can optimize my record collection by choosing the best arm and cartridge for a particular record.
So now putting an equally good cartridge on the SL-1200G is a matter of trial and error, testing and testing again. As I wrote in my Phasemation PP-2000 thread, the PP-2000 was really really good and had the most amazing midrange, and I liked it very much, but was there magic?
Magic - a term I guess many audiophiles is searching for. So magic for me is when tears comes in my eyes due to a certain sound quality. Magic makes my heartbeat go up, magic makes my knees go jelly due to the power inpact of the music when the sound sings for my soul and touches the core. Well kind of deep words, but when you got the right match in the system and you get a smile for no reasons, you know you’re pretty close to magic.
The Analog Relax EX-500 did all of that to me yesterday and I couldn’t stop playing vinyl. The setup was pretty straight forward and quite easy to align due to the visibility of the cantilever and stylus. The headshell / cartridge combo weight is just over 29,02 grams and to my experience just perfect to get everything balanced. Tracking force is set to 2,0 grams due to the manufacturer’s recommendation. It seems very right to me aswell, so no change there. The tonearm is 100% perpendicular to the vinyl surface, and sonically no change is necessary there aswell.
The EX-500 MC cartridge is going into the AirTight ATH-2 Reference SUT and in to the MM input on the D’Agostino Momentum phonostage with a total gain of 67dB. Load is set to 31K Ohm, as 47K was sounding just a bit too bright for my own taste. 31K just calms everything down to deliver a perfect experience. At more than 0,5mV, the EX-500 delivers a mighty powerful punch in it’s presence, with a very natural ”Relaxed” quiet background when the stylus hits the grooves but still no music.
When the music hits the sound immediately puts a spell in the room and you get struck by the sheer power, airyness, big sound stage, the fast dynamic transients and the warm relaxed sound. All at the same time, like ”this is not possible” kind of a thing! The PP-2000 was really really good but this Analog Relax EX-500 cartridge is MAGIC..!!!
In my opinion and in my system it has exactly what I am looking for. Fast, tight, powerful, big, airy, warm, punchy and goes deep like an abyss when the recordings calls for it. Plus it is a perfect match to the rest of my carts, but even so, it DO sticks out and shows it truly is a magical phono cartridge.
As for now I will continue listen to different genres, different styles of music on the SL-1200G and if everything goes well I will try the EX-500 on to the Ascona Neo turntable in the very near future. As for the sound right now I think my search might be over, as this cartridge has totally knocked me to the floor in a Mike Tyson kind of way - it’s that good.
Here is a few pictures - Enjoy !
/ Jk
.Having already three top cartridges on my Acoustic Signature Ascona Neo turntable, I am in the search of a matching cartridge to go with my Technics SL-1200G. Many cartridges has been on my SL-1200G throughout the years, and most of them have been working fine, but to find something that is matching the other three carts (which btw is the AirTight Opus-1, the Ortofon MC Diamond and the Koetsu Blue Lace), and still is sticking out in a positive way is no easy task.
The best match so far has been the 0,2mV Koetsu Vermillion, which I deeply regret I didn’t buy. However.. as the Koetsu company ceased operations in 2023 due to Mr. Fumihiko Sugano’s passing I am in bitter sweet feeling glad that I did not get another Koetsu. The Blue Lace has been the working horse in my phono setup almost from the beginning and I just love the sound and power from the Blue Stone.
Now… The Opus-1 and the MC Diamond is a perfect match to the Blue Lace, and they share the same character in many ways, but differ ofcourse when it comes to the analytical aspects. They all play the records very well but one is doing something better than the other, and so I can optimize my record collection by choosing the best arm and cartridge for a particular record.
So now putting an equally good cartridge on the SL-1200G is a matter of trial and error, testing and testing again. As I wrote in my Phasemation PP-2000 thread, the PP-2000 was really really good and had the most amazing midrange, and I liked it very much, but was there magic?
Magic - a term I guess many audiophiles is searching for. So magic for me is when tears comes in my eyes due to a certain sound quality. Magic makes my heartbeat go up, magic makes my knees go jelly due to the power inpact of the music when the sound sings for my soul and touches the core. Well kind of deep words, but when you got the right match in the system and you get a smile for no reasons, you know you’re pretty close to magic.
The Analog Relax EX-500 did all of that to me yesterday and I couldn’t stop playing vinyl. The setup was pretty straight forward and quite easy to align due to the visibility of the cantilever and stylus. The headshell / cartridge combo weight is just over 29,02 grams and to my experience just perfect to get everything balanced. Tracking force is set to 2,0 grams due to the manufacturer’s recommendation. It seems very right to me aswell, so no change there. The tonearm is 100% perpendicular to the vinyl surface, and sonically no change is necessary there aswell.
The EX-500 MC cartridge is going into the AirTight ATH-2 Reference SUT and in to the MM input on the D’Agostino Momentum phonostage with a total gain of 67dB. Load is set to 31K Ohm, as 47K was sounding just a bit too bright for my own taste. 31K just calms everything down to deliver a perfect experience. At more than 0,5mV, the EX-500 delivers a mighty powerful punch in it’s presence, with a very natural ”Relaxed” quiet background when the stylus hits the grooves but still no music.
When the music hits the sound immediately puts a spell in the room and you get struck by the sheer power, airyness, big sound stage, the fast dynamic transients and the warm relaxed sound. All at the same time, like ”this is not possible” kind of a thing! The PP-2000 was really really good but this Analog Relax EX-500 cartridge is MAGIC..!!!
In my opinion and in my system it has exactly what I am looking for. Fast, tight, powerful, big, airy, warm, punchy and goes deep like an abyss when the recordings calls for it. Plus it is a perfect match to the rest of my carts, but even so, it DO sticks out and shows it truly is a magical phono cartridge.
As for now I will continue listen to different genres, different styles of music on the SL-1200G and if everything goes well I will try the EX-500 on to the Ascona Neo turntable in the very near future. As for the sound right now I think my search might be over, as this cartridge has totally knocked me to the floor in a Mike Tyson kind of way - it’s that good.
Here is a few pictures - Enjoy
!/ Jk
