Question on Soundsmith carts


I have been looking at some sound smith carts, and was wondering if the mkii vs original are that different.

I am seeing I can get the zephyr non mkii for about 1k versus the mkii for 2k or an older voice for like 1600.

is it better to go with a higher cart and older generation or newer generation and lower cart.

I see a new zephyr or older voice or older zephyr star mimic.

thanks for the input,  k
kro77

Showing 1 response by audioquest4life

I found this post in another forum, but it describes the new ES generation some. I did not write this, but, believe that the newer ES generation may have some lower noise due to the design factors. I have a Sussaro MKII and a Hyperion MKII ES. I know this is not quite a good comparison but from what I read about each of these in previous forms, they were very good years ago. So, if your looking at an opportunity to get a used higher end model, just make sure that it is serviceable and plays. I don’t think you could go wrong. The flip side is if the new variant is an blatantly cartridge, then, I would get the latest and greatest. It may be hard to get precise feedback from people who have owned both types because they may not hang around here on this forum. 

“I like the designs of the previous generation of Soundsmith cartridges, but the new ES generation is said to have a design that lowers resonances more than the older design. So the new generation may be ugly, but may also sound better. As for compliance, what Soundsmith calls "medium compliance" is "high compliance" to other makers. :) So Soundsmith cartridges likes low to low-medium mass tonearms. It’s a fixed coil design, a "moving micro cross" which is a variant of moving iron. Nagaoka MP-cartridges (Moving Permalloy) could be an alternative, or Goldring 2x00-serie (Moving Iron) or Grado (Moving Iron) if one has a tonearm that is not really working with Soundsmith.”