ZYX Cartridges: Anyone Have Experience With These? The Fuji?

I've been reading good things about this line. If you've heard any in their line, please let us in on your opinons.

Thanks in advance,
Dale

Here are links to the line:

http://www.sibatech.co.jp/ZYX/ZYXcatalog.htm

The US distributor for ZYX cartridges is Sorasound in SF:

http://www.sorasound.com/zyx.htm

 

ZYX is well respected. My friend Bob Levi gave them a rave review at the online mag Positive Feedback.

 

Thanks Lee. Did he offer any comparisons with similarly priced carts? A guess with a rave review ZYX would have beat the competition...

Dale

 

Found it! Thanks again Lee. For those interested, here's the review:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue15/zyx.htm

Dale

 

Wow. You were right about the rave. I think others in the market for carts need to read your friend's conclusion about the cart he reviewed (R100H) in particular (italics mine):

(...)

"The ZYX will not mistrack. It clearly out tracks any cartridge I've ever tried, owned, or auditioned. It is at home on difficult vintage Mercuries and on Classic Records' newest LP reissues. Definition and texturing are excellent. The ZYX is 90% as defined and textured as the best there is, at any price. You give up a tiny amount of the inner definition of $4000 cartridges, but get more than my Benz Ruby 2 had at $3000.

Backgrounds are black and quiet. The ZYX appears to reduce surface noise without taking away air or ambience. It has amazing depth perspective and 3D sound. The stage width is staggering, amazing, wonderful. Stage height is top notch. Imaging is precise and excellent—solid and secure, and close to the best to be had at any price."

(...)

"With respect to dynamics, the ZYX is in a league of its own. It is absolutely wonderful. It renders subtlety with great energy, and the big and bold with great authority. Contrasts between soft and loud sounds are dramatic and realistic. The ZYX reminds me of the London Decca of yore in this respect. Couple excellent dynamics with flawless tracking, and you have a wonder! It's hard to believe we are discussing a $995 cartridge, not one that sells for $3000 to $4000. The ZYX eclipses other $1000 cartridges by a gargantuan amount. I can't recommend anything that even remotely imitates it. You'd pay $1000 for a cartridge that tracks perfectly, but was flawed in other ways, wouldn't you? What would you pay for a cartridge that was a perfect tracker, and 90% as good as the best? $995 is looking pretty good!! Toss it in a VPI Scout for $1600, and you've got a fantastic front-end value!

Great things can come in small packages, but never great things in ugly packages. The ZYX R100H is great. It is everyman's phono cartridge. At $995, it is a bargain times four. It is either excellent or state-of-the-art in all performance parameters. It sets the standard in tracking and is almost as neutral as cost-no-object performers. The ZYX R100H is a true reference transducer. Buy it before the price is jacked up by adding a wood or ivory body. Actually, I'm growing quite fond of black plastic.

Robert H. Levi"

I've not read any review of a cartridge in this price range that sounds anything like that. I think I'm going to have to check out ZYX a lot more closely.

Thanks again Lee. I was just about to set out today to spend some money on something else that hasn't been reviewed in anywhere near as glowing terms as this very affordable ZYX...wish my local shop carried these...

Dale

PS: Sorasound currently lists the R100 at $1,100 -- which is about $300 or $400 less than US prices for a Shelter 901 and $650 less than the Dynavector DV-XX-2 I had been using...

 

And only a bit more than the Shelter 501 Mark 2 ($850) which is superb if you want to save some money.

 

Have you heard the 501? I take it you have since you write that it's superb. I can get a new one here for significantly less than $850 AND I can get it today, in about an hour if I'm in a mind to...might be a good bridge till I get something better sorted out...I'm pretty impatient and the Shure I've got plugged in is nice for what it is, but it's really not cutting it after the sweet, detailed mids I had on the Dynavector...

Dale

 

A lot of folks on Audio Asylum seem to prefer the ZYX carts to the Shelters but I've been very, very happy with my Shelter 501 Mk. II. If you can get it that cheaply I'd go for it.

 

Man, this is getting tough.
LeeS says its superb, you've been very, very happy, I can get it today, I'm feeling a push...

Dale

PS: What kind of break-in is there on the 501?

 

Lee has heard my set up a number of times.

The 501 sounded great new but my previous table was a Music Hall MMF 5 so that cartridge comparison isn't exactly fair...I'd say it got better LP by LP for the first 20 hours and by 50 hours it was pure magic.

 

No experience with ZYX, aside from their earlier Monster OEM efforts.

I third the Shelter 501 MkII.

A great cartridge at full price, so even more of a baragin if you can get it for well under list.

 

I can say this: Todd's vinyl rig sounds great and soon it will sound better.

 

Love them...a lot!!

No experience with the Fuji, however. I've used the Airy 2, Airy 3
and UNIverse. As one goes up the ZYX ladder the performance of
each cartridge will totally blow your mind...no joke.

Given the track record of the higher end ZYX, I can only assume that
the entry level has similar sonic traits.

The Shelter 501 MkII in my previous system did not impress me but as
we all know...it's all about synergy.

 

I pulled the trigger on the Shelter 501 based on the 3 votes here...so far I'm pleased with it. Got it for $633 installed. No, it's not in the same league as the Dynavector it is (for the time being) replacing, but is sounds very nice right out of the box. Nicely detailed, nice sound staging. A little clinical sounding on my system, but very nice overall and a world beyond the Shure I had plugged in after I killed my Dynavector.

I imagine the Shelter is going to sound nicer after it gets through its break in period (I've only got about two hours on it so far). It does a very nice job in reducing surface noice without sacrificing the highs. I have the tracking force set at 1.6 gms--any of the 501 users have the tracking force set somewhere different?

Anyway, thanks to those who pointed me in this direction. Definitely a very nice sounding bargain.

Dale

I'm listening to a VG+/EX mono UK Decca copy of the Rolling Stones Aftermath at the moment--the Shelter is doing a fantastic job on this...

 

I wouldn't expect it to be a DV XX2 beater at less than half the DV's price.

Leave that for the 901.



Mine's running at 1.85g on a slightly modded Well Tempered Arm, with just a touch of damping.

 

What's that turntable?

 

I vary my VTF from 1.8-2.1 grams depending on the thickness of the record. 180 & 200g seems to sound best around 1.8g and regular LPs seem to sound best between 2 & 2.1 g. If you want a set it & forget it VTF I'd say 1.85 should be very nice.

 

If you mean mine from the jpgs I posted, it's a MicroSeiki BL-77. Vintage circa 1980 or so, but nice heavy belt drive...also a vintage arm--Saec WE-407/23. Retro, I know, but I think the set up sounds pretty good. I might even bring the tt back with me when I return to the US...

Dale

 

The record thickness/weight should have no bearing on the VTF, only VTA.

 

Neither would I and so far I don't think it is (despite its sounding better with each album played). However, I don't think you can always tell by price alone. If you check out some of these discussions on the 501, you'll find that many people concluded that the Crown Jewel SE cart (a Stereophile Class A product which was sold for $2,600+) and the Shelter 501 are the same cartridge.

Have a look here:

http://www.10audio.com/Shel_501.htm

and here under "Class B Lower":

http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Cartridges.html

I will say this so far: as I noted above, I think the 501 has a more "clinical" sound than the Dynavector, but I'm noticing that some records are sounding much better with the 501 than they did with the Dynavector. I don't really know why yet, but my UK Decca mono copy of the Rolling Stones Aftermath sounds phenomenally better with the 501. The soundstage seems wider with the Shelter, but I'm not sure that's all of it. The Shelter has been reducing surface noise as well, making it a more enjoyable listen. I don't know if that's because it's less sensitive than the Dynavector, of if just by virtue of it being a new stylus it is handling the surface with better dexterity. I do think for the price I got for it, and its US price, it must certainly be a strong contender in its category.

Dale

 

I have read numerous times that if one is interested in a 501, they should save a lot of money and just get the Denon 103 or 103R. Is this bunk?

 

I know those Denons have very good reputations, but I don't have any experience with them...except the inexpensive mono cart--102.

Dale

PS: Discussion of the 501 and Denons here:

http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/shelter_501ii_e.html

 

Thanks for the link. I supposed even a retipped Denon is still cheaper than a new 501. I have the 103R. It doesn't image or do the hifi stuff as well as the more expensive cartridges I have had (Dynavectors). The tonality and full sound are wonderful though. After listening to this Denon, I have become much more interested in the Shelter line given what I have read.

As far as ZYX is concerned, everyone seems to rave about them although there is one user on Audioasylum with a really nice system who thinks they don't have enough energy. He likes Dynavector cartridges. Let me know what you think if you try one! Wish I could help but I have never heard one either.

 

Not completely sure what I'm going to do at the moment. The Shelter is getting better with every listen. It seems to be far more neutral than the Dynavector I had...though the Dynavector was much more detailed. When you write,

"As far as ZYX is concerned, everyone seems to rave about them although there is one user on Audioasylum with a really nice system who thinks they don't have enough energy",

do you think the writer meant "output" energy, or was he talking about tonality or something?

Dale

 

You are welcome to come over anytime and I'll demonstrate it. The VTF will affect the tracking angle to a some degree on the Scout. I was amazed at the difference it made...the ears are the ultimate decider.