ZYX Universe and Lyra Titan

Hello Paul, dear KHA,
KHA, all I try to do is offer advice to (potential)customers on how to get the best out of what I consider a serious investment. If someone doesn't like what he hears even after perfecting his setup, then so be it. Other parents have beautiful children too...
Paul, I didn't setup the table in the room for which Chris Brady had provided his turntable as the analog frontend. Any attempt to improve upon the sound by readjusting the arm would have meant compensating for other flaws. This isn't meant to be an excuse, but as you said, if a hitchhiker gets a free ride, he can hardly complain about the poor suspension on that car(particularly if he's never met the driver). What I'd like to do is bring an entire system to the show, but this is rather impossible(distance, cost...).
Back to the original topic:
I did compare the Universe(copper coils, 2.4mV) with the Titan i for an extended period this summer.
The Universe has a very coherent and more "fleshed out" midrange(very seductive!), the highs appear to be ever so slightly rolled off, the low bass is a smidgeon soft, but extremely natural sounding(yes, this sounds like a contradiction...). It means, that the leading edge is slower than on the Titan, but the harmonic envelope, the "bloom" of, say, a bowed double bass comes a cross as less "hifi", more like the real thing.
The soundstage is vast(very deep too, when called for), imaging very "3D". Mid and high frequency detail rendering is exceptional, but not of the "in your face" type.
The Titan has a more "matter of fact" sound, very revealing, seemingly limitless extension at the frequency extremes. It's perceived speed and punch could be attributed to the "louder" highs and/or the leaner(some will call it more neutral) lower midrange. The soundstage is very wide and images within are "bold", with the images reaching not quite as far back as with the Universe(still very,very good).
My take on this is that the Titan i will appeal more to the engineer and the Universe more to the poet. They both serve the music equally well, only in different ways...
Impressions valid on my system only, ymmv off course.

Cheerio,

Frank Schröder

Hi guys,
I just got back from Colorado, so please excuse the late response to retroinferno's post.
I don't recall ever stating that the ZYX Universe is "one of the two best cartridges in the world". If I ever did, there shurely must have been too much Tequila in that last Margharita. No, seriously - I wouldn't make such a statement, even I did listen to every high quality cartridge that was ever made(not many left though... ;-). Personal preferences are only one of so many variables when it comes to determining which cart is "best" for you. The Universe is a top quality cartridge, but in the room Chris Brady had the misfortune of setting up his Teres 360 NO cartridge would have sounded good. I couldn't stay in that room for more than a few minutes without getting a headache. Chris felt the same way and will return with a vengeance next year.
Comparing the Brinkmann table with the Teres 360 played via two totally different systems in different rooms and then drawing conclusions about the character of the cartridges used, well, those must be truly golden ears....or maybe they are made from Phyrite after all ;-)

Dear Raul, just for your consolation, I do listen to many cartridges mounted in other arms but my own. In fact, I own more arms than you do and have likely owned more carts too.
Neither of us should be bragging about it though and neither of us is any more right recommending a particular cartridge, arm or table than another "less well endowed list member" since it is all about INDIVIDUALS conveying the fun that playing with these grown man's toys and hopefully the enjoyment of the music that goes along with it can provide.
To sum it up, meeting old and new friends at the RMAF was what made the trip worth it, not the listening to systems that, while some might be truly great, can never be transported 1:1 into your own listening environment.

Cheerio,

Frank Schröder

P.S.: Patrick, I just wish Albert had left me a little more time to talk with you....

Hello again,
Just a few last remarks before I jump off this rope(I mean thread).
No apology neccessary(from noone, as even the initial misquote wasn't posted with bad intend, I believe).
I wasn't implying that Raul was bragging, it was merely a verbal boomerang, thrown to say that everyone, INCLUDING myself, can own all the hifi equipment on the planet and still not have the right to tell a fellow enthusiasts what they're supposed to like or dislike.
As it is, I shouldn't spend any more time on the computer than absolutely neccessary, so please don't expect me to give you a run down of the sonic characteristics of every tonearm or cartridge that I ever had or have in my system.
Just a tip for those who (think they) own fullrange systems: buy a quality set of headphones, preferably with a very good headphone amp and you will be able to assess how well one cartridge fares versus another in the low bass department. No room anomalies or feedback related problems to influence the result, and certainly fullrange... but not recommended for long evenings with company or that next air guitar session :-)
Secondly, not only is arm/cartridge matching important, it is just as crucial to partner the (mc)cartridge with the right stepup transformer(or active gain stage). The sonic difference between even well reputed trannies are sometimes staggering, proper loading nonwithstanding.

Cheers to all of you and back to the grind...

Frank

or as Jack Nicholson said in "Mars Attacks": Couldn't we just all get along?....