ZYX Ultimate Dynamic

[SMKL]

Ron, I am with you on this “To me, new is not necessarily an improvement. To me, different is not necessarily better. ” +1

 

[DaveyF]

Ron, I am with you on this “To me, new is not necessarily an improvement. To me, different is not necessarily better. ” +1

Except perhaps when it is ...no??

 

[DaveyF]

I spoke today with Mehran of Sora Sound.



3) The UNIverse Premium is the last boron cantilever cartridge ZYX will make.

I wonder why that is??

 

[iaxel]

I wonder why that is??

IIRC, I've read a review that mentioned it may be due to lack of boron.

 

[DaveyF]

IIRC, I've read a review that mentioned it may be due to lack of boron.

?? Cannot imagine that a cantilever requires that much in the way of material.

 

[byrdparis]

?? Cannot imagine that a cantilever requires that much in the way of material.

It is when everybody (in the industry) want to use it
(of course its a tiny mass all combine, but when the demand is growing also the prices does - so those small cartridge company got a different "costs" to use boron and may be searching for another materials to use - also under a cloak of an Upgrade or not.. )

 

[SMKL]

?? Cannot imagine that a cantilever requires that much in the way of material.

I suspect that they are following the herd as everyone including Koetsu are using diamond cantilevers hence having a pure carbon cantilever is something unique and chemically similar to diamond but has a higher compliance. Market driven approach to make what the market perceives to be “better”?

Off topic, I am quite intrigiued by Miyajima using bamboo for their Madake. Listened to it once (Snakewood) and I must admit that it was superb.

 

[TUBEY]

Because the UNIverse Premium model is the one I know I like. How can I assume that I like a cartridge I have never heard more than one which I have heard several times and I know I like?

To me, new is not necessarily an improvement. To me, different is not necessarily better.

A carbon fibre or diamond cantilever probably means “more resolution” and “more neutral” and “greater extension at the frequency extremes.” Those differences, to me, are not necessarily consonant with naturalness and easier suspension of disbelief.

The fact is that I have consistently preferred components which do not go too far in those sonic directions. (Although the system I am planning to hatch goes a lot further in those directions than my prior system which I had for 18 years.)

IMO,it is not the cantilever material per se that improves things, but the adjustments/tuning that the material allows you to make to the overall cartridge design in order to have real improvements,including improvements in resolution,smoothness,speed etc..... The CF cantilever sounds very interesting indeed as it helps a cartridge designer to have extremely low mass and very high rigidity that are very important points allowing experimentation for improving the cartridge's overall design and performance.Not just detail/clarity etc...