Anyone have experience with Soundsmith’s strain gauge?


After watching Peter Ledermann’s excellent presentation on phono cartridge design I am now quite interested in his Strain gauge cartridge. Unfortunately reviews for the product seem to be sparse and are from nearly a decade ago. I’m wondering if anyone here is an owner of such a system and if they’d be so kind as to share their experience with it. I currently have the Aida cartridge from their high output MI lineup and I want to know if the sound really is a big step up from what I currently have. 
thermionicvinyl
Ever since hearing the Straingauge years ago, I heard it as one of the "best" ever heard. 
The fact it wasn't on an uber setup(VPI HRX) made it even more attractive.

I heard  it along with  a couple other top SS models demoed by Peter.  The  cactus cantilever Hyperion is also an impressive cart.

Either one would be a last for me.
I recall reading an article some time ago by Fremer stating it tends to produce a polarizing sound that people either gush over or completely dislike. I have not heard it myself but from what I recall reading the clarity and speed of data retrieval produced are almost startling but possibly to the point certain aspects (vocals for instance) didn’t even sound recognizable to Fremer on some albums. I’d be very interested to hear a demo sometime.
I had the pleasure of meeting Peter in NY earlier this year and auditioning both the SG and the Hyperion at his facility.  His setup included top line VPI, two tonearms so I could quickly switch between the two carts, his preamp/amp and his monitors.  (Incidentally, I was absolutely amazed by the sound of his monitors especially the bass response considering that they don't have a large woofer like a floor stranding .) I brought my own vinyl which I have listened to extensively on my system (AMG with turbo arm, Ortofon cadenza black, Rogue Audio ares magnum phono and Rogue Audio  RP7 preamp and Stereo 100 amp, vahallia 2 cabling and Sonus Faber Amati tradition speakers.)
Both carts were excellent, but the SG was truly exceptional in its speed, articulation, tonal accuracy, sound stage, presentation, etc.  I listened to classical and jazz only so I cannot comment on voices, but even difficult to reproduce instruments such as organ were near perfect. I listened for nearly 4 hours and stopped only because I had a 7 hour drive ahead.
I took extensive notes for both carts which I can share if you like. I could not find any faults with the SG (SG-6 stylis).  
Peter is brilliant and so willing to teach and truly friendly.
I am placing my order for the SG in June.  
This "not recognising vocals" criticism...I'm not getting it. Firstly, who knows what Frank Sinatra or Kate Bush or Peter Gabriel etc TRULY sound like? And I don't mean amplified mike on stage. I mean him/her singing for you.
I've run six top carts ahead of the SG, and not once has SG presentation ever appeared skewed tonally or timbrally to me.
It may be stripping some colourations that sugar coat vocals.
Put it this way, imho a fat Koetsu or cheaper sharper Lyra is more likely to alter vocals off neutral than SG.
craig has another of several highly compelling SG impressions, all of them consistently positioning it among the very finest on the market. Truly amazing considering when you get into that range you're talking more for the phono stage alone than the SG, which as a system needs no phono stage. It does however use a power supply. Which when that is improved then you are by all accounts talking a true cost no object reference system- yet still for less than a lot of those same cost no object phono stages alone, to say nothing of the cartridge. A stone bargain. Which is why its at the very top of my list.