Goodbye ZYX Airy 3

I haven't heard any of the "Premium" ZYX cartridges, so can't offer any useful input on the visible or non-visible changes or their effect on performance.

Chakster is correct that the (original) 4D is physically different from and audibly superior to the (original) Airy 3. My initial reviews of both have been confirmed by other reviewers and by many listeners via public posts and private emails. (Note to Chakster: I also concur with your take on copper vs. silver coils. I've posted many times that with ZYX, copper is the most dynamic and lifelike, silver less so, gold much less so.)

Don_c55, you didn't say whether you've ever owned or heard a UNIverse (any version), so the basis for your feeling that they're a "rip off" is unclear. I've owned and extensively used the original UNIverse (three of them) and UNIverse II and I'd happily buy either of them again. I also know and converse with many UNIverse owners from around the planet, most all of whom would do the same. I don't know even one who felt "ripped off". Most feel quite the opposite, that the cartridge provides extraordinary performance for what they paid.

As to exchange rate effects on ZYX prices, the currencies which matter are those of the country of production/export (Japan) vs. the country of import/consumption (US). The US dollar has been in a steady climb against the yen since 2011 and is currently at an eight-year high. For Japanese-made products sold in the US., the future is anyone's guess but Czarivey's assertion has no basis in reality with regard to present or recent pricing.

Czarivey,

You posted, "you will have to pay more day by day bcoz dollar is only paper now". You followed with a second assertion that the dollar is weak.

Whether you give a "cwap" or not, those were statements about exchange rates. The dollar, like any currency, is a medium of exhange.

ZYX prices for US customers are effected by only one exchange rate, the dollar/yen one. Your statements that a weak dollar is causing an increase in ZYX pricing were inaccurate. The dollar is not weak against the yen. It has not been weak against the yen at any time in the last 4 years.

If you decide to give a "cwap" before your next post, try checking facts. Currency exchange rates and their history are not secret information.

USD/JPY

2011-05-16: 081.32
2012-05-12: 079.72 (-02% y/y, essentially flat)
2013-05-13: 102.21 (+28% y/y, very strong gain)
2014-05-19: 101.55 (-01% y/y, flat)
2015-05-14: 119.49 (+18% y/y, strong gain)

During this entire period, the three largest drops were minor corrections of 7% (once) and 6% (twice). None of those corrections led to a new low. In fact, after each low the USD rebounded to new highs in less than a year.

As of today, the rate is a mere 1.5% below its recent peak achieved on 9th March. That's not even a correction, it's just noise.

Analyze the numbers however you like, the trend has been up. In the last 4 years the USD has exhibited systemic strength agains the JPY, climbing 47% with no periods of systemic weakness.

* Source: Bloomberg Financial News, readily verified by a hundred other sources

Czarivey,

Please review the following:
1. ZYX pays its production costs in yen.
2. ZYX sells to one US distributor, who pays in yen or dollars depending on their agreement.
3. The distributor's US customers pay in dollars.
4. As only one currency exchange occurs (dollars-to-yen), this is the only currency exchange rate that affects the final price to a US customer.

In your view, which of the above is incorrect and why?

Regards,
Doug

If a seller is falsifying serial numbers then he's dishonest. That's reason enough for me to avoid him, regardless of price savings or other temptations. Call it naive, but that's how I was raised.