Cutting Edge Analog

[MylesBAstor]

Check out the cool tape vs lp comparisons!

HyperAnalogue Hyper Sonic X4 Moving Coil Cartridge - Positive Feedback

HyperAnalogue Hyper Sonic X4 Moving Coil Cartridge

positive-feedback.com

 

[Young Skywalker]

Check out the cool tape vs lp comparisons!

HyperAnalogue Hyper Sonic X4 Moving Coil Cartridge - Positive Feedback

HyperAnalogue Hyper Sonic X4 Moving Coil Cartridge

positive-feedback.com

Love your work (and passion), Myles.

I just want absolute assurance that any cartridge costing four figures has perfect alignment of stylus with respect to cantilever. It is either fit for purpose (perfect) or it is flawed. Buying an expensive cartridge should not be a lottery.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Love your work (and passion), Myles.

I just want absolute assurance that any cartridge costing four figures has perfect alignment of stylus with respect to cantilever. It is either fit for purpose (perfect) or it is flawed. Buying an expensive cartridge should not be a lottery.

I think at first glance that’s a reasonable expectation but unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world.

This reply by Jonathan Carr (of Lyra) in Michael Fremer's Stereophile Atlas review reveals that things are far more complicated than first let on.

"Also, there are at least three different, commonly used methods for securing a stylus to a cantilever, and each has its positives and negatives. One method has tight SRA and zenith tolerances, at the cost of broader tolerances for azimuth and height; another method is good at SRA, azimuth, and height, but at the cost of zenith; and a third is good at azimuth and zenith, but requires looser tolerances for SRA and height.

The tightest SRA accuracy that we have been able to get our cantilever fabricator (Ogura Jewel Industry) to agree to is ±2°, which, as in the LP industry, is a 4° range."

I respect Jonathan and his cartridges are built to last. I just sent my Atlas back after five years and other than cleaning, they said it was perfect.

 

[mtemur]

Check out the cool tape vs lp comparisons!

HyperAnalogue Hyper Sonic X4 Moving Coil Cartridge - Positive Feedback

HyperAnalogue Hyper Sonic X4 Moving Coil Cartridge

positive-feedback.com

Long story short: it’s a Thales-made Exquisite cartridge. Let’s skip the fuss about the Hyper team “designing it with Micha Huber.”

 

[MylesBAstor]

Long story short: it’s a Thales-made Exquisite cartridge. Let’s skip the fuss about the Hyper team “designing it with Micha Huber.”

Did you read what I wrote?

Note the part about the Goldenberg Maestro. And more.

 

[tony22]

I think at first glance that’s a reasonable expectation but unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world.

I wonder how Audio-Technica seems (at least in my limited experience) to have very good consistency with SRA, azimuth, and zenith? (having not spent much time looking at height) I’ve looked at and carefully measured a lot of different carts over the years with my Dinolite and - while still acknowledging my experience may be much more limited than for others - the A-T’s I’ve examined have been super consistent in what I see regarding stylus and cantilever alignments - almost like it’s done by some laser guided machine.

 

[mtemur]

Did you read what I wrote?

Note the part about the Goldenberg Maestro. And more.

I did, and I think it’s a very good review. That said, it doesn’t change the fact that the Hyper is just a rebranded Exquisite, no matter how you look at it.