ZYX Optimum phono cartridge - a defining statement


ZYX Optimum phono cartridge


Following is a review of the latest ZYX cartridge the Universe Optimum.

Without further ado I would like to thank Mehran of SORAsound who goes so far above and beyond in realizing this audio quest for his ZYX family.

I have owned all the ZYX Universe models since 2006. All have the characteristic ZYX warm, natural and detailed sound. Each was the low output 0.24mV design. The original Universe was solid is resolving difficult passages especially in chamber and jazz music. Moving forward to the Universe II the cartridge took on a lot of low end energy and prat. Rock music was more dynamic, the transients enhanced and it had that extra body in the lower register.

My system started with the Galibier Gavia turntable, triplanar arm and Doshi Aalap full function preamp. During the time I had my Universe II, I upgraded the tonearm to a Durand Talea, Daedalus Ulysses speakers and a KL Audio LP 200 electrostatic cleaner. All significantly enhanced my system.

Fast forward to stepping up to the Universe Premium. This was a very apparent jump in sonic realism. The sound opened up in a tangible and natural way. The instruments just hung there in space. The tonal qualities resolved further and separation was enhanced. Overtones, details, things like really picking out a buried bass drum or percussive elements.

Moving forward to the present - the Universe Optimum is just as much a quantium leap as the Universe II to the Universe Premium was. Everything snapped into place. Micro and macro dynamics fully rendered. Incredible detail and imaging. The presentation just occupies a space completely natural and open.

Instruments are even more defined, the sound converges around the source. The bass is so taunt that even the most subtle bass line is drawn out distinctly but in no way bloated.

Reggie Workman at times plays very subtle and his upright bass is buried in the mix in active portions of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme. Not so with the ZYX Optimum - the bass line is crystal clear and lower in volume. Toms, snare and bass drums were felt in a three dimension sense - the tautness, size and velocity and tone on the heads, particularly the bass drum are very apparent and accurately rendered. Cymbals, brushes or resonating piano keys have a distinct pulse and luscious decay when approprate. Stringed instruments have a warm bodied resonance. You are in the room for Bill Evans, Paul Motian and Scott Lafaro during Sunday at the Village Vanguard.

I was overwhelmed hearing my standard go by - Steely Dan’s Aja side 1. This album and all it’s nuances is in my DNA. Everything was rendered with such realism. This fully suspended the thought that I was listening to an audio system.I was floored with glee.

Vocals have such body and emotion whether it be Ella and Louis, James Taylor, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell, Rebecca Pigeon, Norah Jones, Sufjan Stevens, Nina Simone, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, etc.. Vocal harmonies from CSN, The Beatles, Yes, Ray Charles, and Gillian Welch/Dave Rawlings are very well defined and engaging.

Acoustic instruments are rendered organically with warm overtones. Electric guitars and synths cut through strongly when intended.

It’s been a true joy replaying familiar records and introducing new ones. It is interesting that lesser songs seem to grab me more and I appreciate what the artist had intended.

Jaqueline Dupre’s Elgar Cello Concerto has the most delicate then dynamic elements. The detail of the ensemble playing in Yes’ Fragile is magical - doubling of parts standing out like never before. Bob Dylan’s More Blood recording is an "in room" experience. The Living Stereo Charles Munch / Boston Symphony recordings - Ravel Daphne and Chloe and Fritz and the Fritz Reiner Chicago Symphony Bartok Symphonie Fantastic are explosive with quick and composed dynamics and subtle in the quieter nuanced sections. The drone of Chris Wood’s saxophone as it builds up in Traffic’s Low Spark of High Heeled Boys gave me goosebumps.

My whole system has been elevated in a major way.

The ZYX Optimum is one of those mind boggling components that dramatically converges on realism. The Optimum brings out the passion in reproduced music in ways I have never fully experienced before. The "you are there" essence is palpatible and so engaging.



Tom

128x128audiotomb

Showing 5 responses by audiotomb

Lewm

thank you for your insightful response

I wouldn't have written an indepth review if I wasn't hearing very tangible differences that I wanted to share.  I used the same descriptive elements from one model to the next because each showed an audible refinement and convergence in that very critical area.  Replicating music.

i lived with each previous cartridge over a long time and experienced many albums become  further resolved.

this isn't a small improvement - my experience with the Optimum  was jaw dropping.

there has been a strong if disturbing trend in high end cartridges where the price has skyrocketed.  For something prone to breakage this is more critical. Speakers and amplifiers started this trend a long time ago. ZYX was a follower in the mega priced cartridge trend. Can this be justified in every case?

I just know how much impact the ZYX Optimum has on my system and I would be hard pressed spending that money elsewhere.

Remove the Optimum and I would be seriously longing for that magic.

the person is trying to sell me something
  • I am in no way that persuasive
or the reviewer is trying to get his own equipment cheap or even free
  • wrong
  • I do not work for an audio magazine or have a high profile website

finally that the person is a head case
  • Not with regard to audio

more measured in your comments
  • I was being objective using common descriptive terms
  • I use live acoustic music as the standard to aspire to
  • perhaps if you read the professional review posts I provided in the "members reviews" duplicate thread you would see I am not alone.
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/zyx-optimum-photo-cartridge-a-defining-statement#1758127

  • several of my audiophile friends had the same experience
  • there was no "A is better than B" other than in a specific line of cartridge upgrades with detailed tangible benefits
  • I am a scientist and my son is a classical musician

especially when describing stuff that very few of us can afford.
  • you are more than welcome to write comments on your expensive trip to visit the Taj Mahal. Many potential travelers would encourage you and get insight from this, even if they never go.
  • wouldn’t it be more important when a larger outlay is involved?
  • One might focus on which rooms to visit at a major audio show
  • The benefits of trickle down design



Whoever said "the Universe is best"?


I’ve listened to plenty top flight cartridges that have impressed me.

This is my first step into the upper echelon. Like many, I was reluctant to dip my toe in the water. I have friends who have acquired very musically engaging (and as usual expensive) cartridges, Members of the local audiophile club have aspired in that direction as well.


Best? Of course not. What I can comment on is a progression within a single reputable cartridge line where their known strengths have become more refined. I sincerely apologize for my exuberance and lack of time to formulate a more formal review. I didn’t choose to come up with more elaborate words when describing improvement in the same area, hence the same general observations. I gave plenty of specific examples of artists / recordings that I found more impactful. It may be difficult to say one is exaggerating when one hasn’t had personal first hand experience. For some strange reason I didn’t have to utilize Latin to do so.


Thank you Jollytinker for your enthusiastic comments on your Optimum experiences and keen insights.

Enjoy

the cartridge tracked very well.

flying colors on the shure test record

our local turntable expert had it up on the scope and channel separation was superb.


He was very pleased at how quickly he was able to dial everything in.

A Durand tone arm is part of that set up equation