Recent content by GT

Specs for the Exceed Dynamic are as follows Mike. Nice low output (0.15mV). Note the coils are wound very differently to the other ZYX models which I think is the main reason it sounds very much like the Proteus:

Is your Exceed 4D cartridge fitted with a TB or SB headshell?

Indeed Peter. ZYX cartridges are very underrated. I used a 4D for about 6 years as my reference cartridge (2008 - 2014), but if you ever get the chance try the Exceed Dynamic. This is a staggeringly good cartridge. Its sonic performance is almost indistinguishable from the Transfiguration...

The sweet spot depends on your tonearm, set up, especially VTA and anti-skate and of course your tracking force gauge (BTW it needs to be a good digital one), but I would start at around 1.95 grams and start going down until performance starts dropping off. Then you can come back to a setting...

Definitely try a lower tracking force than 1.9 grams to get the optimum performance. You may find 1.9 is enough, but I would try going lower...

It will be an Ultimate 4D with a different name. Most likely made for Warwick by ZYX for the Antipodean market. Its output will be 0.24mV at 3.5mv/cm, so I estimate the 1:30 will be the best transformer ratio to use.

Do you mean the Ultimate 4D as I don't recall ZYX ever making a Premium 4D? The most important thing here is the gain, nothing else. I would recommend the 1:30 as you might find the 1:40 provides too much gain.

I have heard the Bayz speakers three times and nothing has changed my mind about them being dreadful. One of the most overrated speakers ever. The bass was so poor, what there was of it, and the integration and coherence of sound was dreadful. They produce a sound which is nothing like real...

Absolutely Jim. That is just one of the reasons why I don't recommend doing it. Second point: Not without a lot of digging...

You still need a mains fuse in each piece of HiFi equipment, fused appropriately to protect in case of equipment failure.

or spending money for retail therapy....

Because Jim, that is what people do to get exactly the "correct" load impedance to the cartridge. They solder a resistor of the desired load impedance to the SUT input transformer primary windings. Changing the 47K RIAA input resister which is connected to the secondary of the SUT, especially...

That is correct Jim. I am not disputing the math. However, in practice with a valve/tube phono stage, when you transformer couple an MC cartridge via step-up transformer the AC load presented to the cartridge makes no difference to the sound whether it is 470ohm (1:10 ratio) or 117ohm (1:20...

Loading is only relevant when using a solid state phono stage. With valve/tube phono stages it is all about getting the correct amount of gain for low noise. I assume you mean if you use a 1:10 step up transformer the 40 ohms impedance from the cartridge will see about 470 ohms from the phono...

There are 4 versions of the 3012 tonearm. The original 3012 from the 1950s, the 3012 mark II low mass version, the 3012-R designed to work with low compliance MC cartridges and the 3012-GTA which was a very low volume version made for me to use with the higher spec SPUs (SPU Gold Reference...