Next steps with Soundsmith Fixed Coil cartridges

[spiritofmusic]

Thanks Hogen. I'm good friends w Lagonda here. He tells me Denmark opens the same time.

Ironically, I don't really have the cash priority for any audio purchases at all, but Straingauge stylii are an obligatory final ongoing expense in this hobby even if indeed my fortunes don't turn around...aka Covid-19 spikes, Covid-21, -22 ad infinitum. At just £7-10/wk saved budget for a stylus change every 2-3 yrs, hugely affordable.

Indeed, all other alternatives cost me WAY more (ie new cart and phono).
And the way I see it is, I would be spending this money w Peter later in the year. Spend it now w him, and he gets cashflow when he REALLY needs it.

This hobby will be only weakened and damaged if legends like Peter Lederman fold. In addition to his invaluable knowledge and experience, it's now the exception rather than the rule to have prices at uber vfm Soundsmith levels. Otoh, top carts are easily reaching $15k+.

With Soundsmith models Hyperion and Straingauge well below $10k, and the Straingauge obviating the expense of a phono, we're still talking prices that the middle class can afford, and get a taste of the upper class.

 

[fbhifi]

I’ve been exclusively playing a Hyperion OCL Signature, AKA- Pick of the Litter (Peter is a gifted dog whisperer) since late 2018. It easily bested any other cartridge I’ve tried in my system, including Ortofon Anna and Lyra Etna SL. It has a certain musical rightness bottom to top balance and neutrality with no elevated or over prominent frequencies present. It is beautifully transparent, as well.This combination of qualities can be hard to find in so many current MC designs, at any price. The Anna is neutral if not somewhat boring compared to the Hyperion. I killed myself trying to tame the Etna SL high frequency issues and wisely gave up before I re-tuned my entire system for this anomaly. Get the Hyperion dialed in and you will focus on the music and forget about the system.

Regarding the long term cost of ownership no other manufacturer, to my knowledge, offers a FREE 10 Year re-tip. Additionally a full rebuild is $850. In a world of $7500+ re-builds this is simply remarkable and speaks volumes about Peter’s most generous, more than reasonable approach to serving his customers.

Overlook the Hyperion at your peril and don’t be fooled by it’s relatively low price (in the an audiophool cartridge world gone utterly mad) this cartridge is the real deal an end game performer.

 

[hogen]

I’ve been exclusively playing a Hyperion OCL Signature, AKA- Pick of the Litter (Peter is a gifted dog whisperer) since late 2018. It easily bested any other cartridge I’ve tried in my system, including Ortofon Anna and Lyra Etna SL. It has a certain musical rightness bottom to top balance and neutrality with no elevated or over prominent frequencies present. It is beautifully transparent, as well.This combination of qualities can be hard to find in so many current MC designs, at any price. The Anna is neutral if not somewhat boring compared to the Hyperion. I killed myself trying to tame the Etna SL high frequency issues and wisely gave up before I re-tuned my entire system for this anomaly. Get the Hyperion dialed in and you will focus on the music and forget about the system.

Regarding the long term cost of ownership no other manufacturer, to my knowledge, offers a FREE 10 Year re-tip. Additionally a full rebuild is $850. In a world of $7500+ re-builds this is simply remarkable and speaks volumes about Peter’s most generous, more than reasonable approach to serving his customers.

Overlook the Hyperion at your peril and don’t be fooled by it’s relatively low price (in the an audiophool cartridge world gone utterly mad) this cartridge is the real deal an end game performer.

I would really like to try the Hyperion myself, hope Soundsmith makes it through the lockdowns.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Haha, it takes a Covid crisis, and cautionary words from Peter, for the love to be broadcast.

FB, Peter's carts REALLY are special. And the vfm factor is off the scale...
just how much does it cost to retip the new breed of $15k+ carts out there?

FB, I would love to consider the Hyperion. If the Straingauge has any shortcoming, it's a tendency to trade absolute bloom for lightning speed. A nice tubed pre w the Hyperion could be v tasty indeed.

 

[fbhifi]

Spirit- DarTZeel 18ns MK.2 pre works very nicely with the Hyperion.

 

[shakti]

Since a couple of month I am playing around with the actual generation of Soundsmith cartridges.

The new body Design looks much more modern, but as my personal point of view,
I still like the old fashion style of the former generations.

But with a modern deck, the futuresque body form might fit better.

Fortunately the new body seems to get a little more precision and attack out of the carts.

Still I am more a friend of the High Output versions. You can save a step up and just buy a better cartridge.

For me, this makes the out of the Soundsmith range.

Currently I like THE VOICE as my personal High Output sweet spot,
followed by the Sussurro, if it goes to Low Output.

Over all is still the Hyperion, which is one the best carts for the price I know, specially if you listen many hours to music and you have to consider $/hour playing time.

The rebuilt costs @Soundsmith are still fair.

I never tried it, but I heard, that a High Output Hyperion is possible!

This might become my next Soundsmith cart, directly connected to my Air Tight ATE 3011 MM Phonostage,
bypassing the current step up structure.

If Peter Ledermann is again in Munich, I will talk to him, if such a High Output Hyperion can become true

 

[Dogberry]

I've not owned an SS high-output cartridge, but I do have a Sussurro MkII ES. I'm intrigued by your conclusions, shakti, but also a bit confused. Are you saying The Voice is better than the Sussurro, and that the Hyperion is better than either? Or just the The Voice is the best high output SS cartridge, the Sussurro the best low-output cartridge, and the Hyperion the best of all regardless of output?
As you may have read in another thread, I was disappointed by the Sussurro until I re-mounted it and discovered that it was exquisitely sensitive to VTA, at which point it became entrancing. Now it will be good for at least a couple of years (especially as it is on one of six tonearms in play) but if I am still around in at that stage, I wonder whether I should go in one of two opposite, and contradictory, directions: down to The Voice or up to the Hyperion.

 

[tony22]

Me butting in. I have and love the Sussurro MkII (not ES) but decided to grab one of the Sussurro Golds before they vanish. Hyperion MkII suspension, boron cantilever, built by Peter himself. What's not to want?

 

[MRubey]

There is an interview with Peter where he says he builds his best carts as low output because we spend lots of money on our phonostages that’s what the market demands. Then he stated the high output carts do not suffer inferior SQ.
I have a Paua (LO) and love it.

 

[tony22]

I’ve spoken with Peter a number of times on the phone and at shows. He’s said the same thing to me.

 

[Lsipes1965]

I’m shocked. Until now every review I’ve read about the SG I took away it sounded bright. So, the idiots didn’t have it aligned properly??

 

[shakti]

I’m shocked. Until now every review I’ve read about the SG I took away it sounded bright. So, the idiots didn’t have it aligned properly??

I only can speak for some of the German reviews. Reading the review and realizing which Phonostage was used for the review, some are a clear mismatch. From there I was wondering, what the reviewer has heard and reviewed.

 

[Dogberry]

shakti, did you manage to speak to Peter Ledermann about a high output Hyperion?

 

[Dogberry]

shakti, did you manage to speak to Peter Ledermann about a high output Hyperion?

I discovered yesterday that there is already a medium output (1.1mV) version of the Hyperion, but you have to look on Soundsmith's special order page to find it - the Helios. It is shown in the old-style body, but I don't think the website gets updated much.
Mind you, 1.1mV might still sound better through an MC input or an SUT. My 1mV Statement3 is certainly better that way.