Soundsmith - Thank you to everyone.

Maybe some people have not looked hard at my last name. Ledermann. My parents were holocaust survivors. My family tree goes back in Germany to the 1500's on both sides. And there were some very fascinating and innovating members; in law, government, science and more. My Grandmother (Lisbeth Ehrlich) was a blood relative of Paul Ehrlich I am told, who cured millions of people with his synthetic antibacterial, long before the discovery of penicillin. He eschewed formal education, preferring to intuit the chemical and microbiological world. I seem to have inherited a drive for preference of intuition over formal education as well, and a deep desire to understand the natural and mechanical world. That drive has aided me in my developments, discoveries and work. The SG DOES have more of its DNA in the camp of scientific instruments than musical instruments like magnetic designs must, due to the design. They are mandated that way due to the moving mass. But by no means think the SG is easy to build due to low mas - it is anything but. It is far, far more difficult to build. It took me years (many)  to make it a repeatable, predictable design specifically because it is far more of a scientific instrument being a displacement measuring device as opposed to a magnetic velocity generator. Is it ALWAYS the best cartridge to play? No - as is being said some pressings are less than perfect and a magnetic design will sound better.  Many systems I have set up for customers have two arms, an SG on one and Hyperion, Sussurro or Paua on the other. For myself,  I play the SG on about 90% or more of my recordings in part because I am addicted to it. But very often, I use the Hyperion for many and especially certain records. The Hyperion is the closest Magnetic design to the SG in the world. That explains some of its popularity I believe. If I had to only live with the Hyperion, .........no tears.     Peter Ledermann

Not so many polymaths, let alone people of culture, left to trod the path. I say goodbye to a Russian engineer and poet tomorrow. A person who had a broad and deep vision. Nice to know Peter is here. 

Thanks Peter,
You and your like are what is needed to drop in to this forum now and then (which it appears you do).
Being so far away, I am not in the US flow
of audio. I have heard of Soundsmith, but not the cartridges you create. Apart from your web site, I have not seen anything reviewing the “strain-gauge” circa 2019/20.
I see the usual parade of cartridges, but will be asking for further information from you once we are clear of this virus and back at work, for those survivors.
Lovely poem, like a delicate watercolour.
Well done and though there are many other creators in the world of audio, we need more like you.

There is a love that is not love

It is not the kind that makes you weak

It makes you rise so far above

It takes your breath, it makes you weep

 

There is a love that runs so deep

Makes all you do seem merciless

It implores your soul rise from its sleep

And all life’s plans superfluous

 

There is a love you cannot touch

It is not a kiss on fevered brow

It gathers all but won’t hold much

And hitherto sworn you’ll disavow

 

But it exists outside of time

Yet there’s nothing that’s not held within

It cannot die, it needs not find

what it gifts it does not rescind

 

One cannot look away or fake

but makes you stop and gather heart

you cannot give, you cannot take

it’s the reason to stop, the reason to start

 

I met a woman who had this love

It was loaned to her and to keep her well

It was not hers, but she stole it not

To guard her soul from living hell

 

Steel shining swords in crosses were

Across her eyes and down her breast

And o’er her head in midday sun

And I that sight forever blessed

 

I know she lives - it matters not

It makes the world make sense of pain

Redeemer of the senseless caught

Makes every struggle not in vain

 

For the sake of others, I could see

For safekeeping’s sake she held it true

It was not for her, it was not for free

It was not for me.

 

It was for you.

.

.

(peter ledermann 4-27-20