The only downside to S'gauge ownership is that it is EXTREMELY fussy when it comes to setup, esp. re azimuth. Luckily my air bearing arm uses a 2-point pivoting system, so azim changes were rel. easy to physically manage in my system, but I hear it can be a bitch! My dealer used the Dr. Feickert digital app. With azim not dialled in, the cart can sound thin and lifeless, but when correct, WOW!
Amazing tracking, like a veritable bloodhound, my most bass-laden dance music, and crescendo-filled orchestral doesn't cause it to raise a sweat (my Lyra's always sounded like they might come off the rails). Ignore even the positive reviews that suggest it's potentially terse and overly leading-edge orientated without filling out the tone/decay of each note - nothing could be further from the truth: bass is warm and effusive without falling into the euphonic colouration of so much analogue, full textures and fretwork is on display. Mids are solid and transparent. In my system at least, treble is crystalline and seems to extend upward forever, quite the best I've ever heard. Surface noise really is relegated to a layer well away from the soundfield.
All this without drawing attention to itself, no "listen to me" like some top carts screaming for attention. It's the perfect complement to my direct rim drive tt/air bearing linear tracking arm, I'm just not detecting any artifacts in the sound, amazing in a medium that has so much potential, but with shortcomings that can always prevent this potential being realised.
Finally I can listen to the message, not the medium.