Anyone have experience with Soundsmith’s strain gauge?


After watching Peter Ledermann’s excellent presentation on phono cartridge design I am now quite interested in his Strain gauge cartridge. Unfortunately reviews for the product seem to be sparse and are from nearly a decade ago. I’m wondering if anyone here is an owner of such a system and if they’d be so kind as to share their experience with it. I currently have the Aida cartridge from their high output MI lineup and I want to know if the sound really is a big step up from what I currently have. 
thermionicvinyl
Hi, I'm a long term user since 2014, in that time going from SDS-5 stylus to the -6, and two upgrades to PSU to energiser (first, Red Wine Audio Black Lightning battery pack, and now bespoke LPS).
I've previously run Roksan Shiraz, Lyra Skala and Parnassus, Transfiguration Temper Supreme and Orpheus, and ESCO-modded  Zu Denon 103, carts.
My LPS'd Straingauge combines many of these carts' best traits, none of their weaknesses, for a transducer performance I believe is up w the very best.
A member on my main forum, What's Best, has compared it to pricier carts going thru a top Boulder phono, and at a fraction of the cost, the Straingauge wins.
Happy to help further, just can't offer a comparison to the Aida.
Ever since hearing the Straingauge years ago, I heard it as one of the "best" ever heard. 
The fact it wasn't on an uber setup(VPI HRX) made it even more attractive.

I heard  it along with  a couple other top SS models demoed by Peter.  The  cactus cantilever Hyperion is also an impressive cart.

Either one would be a last for me.
I recall reading an article some time ago by Fremer stating it tends to produce a polarizing sound that people either gush over or completely dislike. I have not heard it myself but from what I recall reading the clarity and speed of data retrieval produced are almost startling but possibly to the point certain aspects (vocals for instance) didn’t even sound recognizable to Fremer on some albums. I’d be very interested to hear a demo sometime.
I had the pleasure of meeting Peter in NY earlier this year and auditioning both the SG and the Hyperion at his facility.  His setup included top line VPI, two tonearms so I could quickly switch between the two carts, his preamp/amp and his monitors.  (Incidentally, I was absolutely amazed by the sound of his monitors especially the bass response considering that they don't have a large woofer like a floor stranding .) I brought my own vinyl which I have listened to extensively on my system (AMG with turbo arm, Ortofon cadenza black, Rogue Audio ares magnum phono and Rogue Audio  RP7 preamp and Stereo 100 amp, vahallia 2 cabling and Sonus Faber Amati tradition speakers.)
Both carts were excellent, but the SG was truly exceptional in its speed, articulation, tonal accuracy, sound stage, presentation, etc.  I listened to classical and jazz only so I cannot comment on voices, but even difficult to reproduce instruments such as organ were near perfect. I listened for nearly 4 hours and stopped only because I had a 7 hour drive ahead.
I took extensive notes for both carts which I can share if you like. I could not find any faults with the SG (SG-6 stylis).  
Peter is brilliant and so willing to teach and truly friendly.
I am placing my order for the SG in June.  
This "not recognising vocals" criticism...I'm not getting it. Firstly, who knows what Frank Sinatra or Kate Bush or Peter Gabriel etc TRULY sound like? And I don't mean amplified mike on stage. I mean him/her singing for you.
I've run six top carts ahead of the SG, and not once has SG presentation ever appeared skewed tonally or timbrally to me.
It may be stripping some colourations that sugar coat vocals.
Put it this way, imho a fat Koetsu or cheaper sharper Lyra is more likely to alter vocals off neutral than SG.