My new Soundsmith Straingauge cartridge


Well, after a bit of dillying and dallying, I finally got 'round to trying a home trial of this cart. After a couple of hours dialling in vtf, and esp. azimuth, it basically sold itself, and I bought it an hour later!
It's without doubt the fastest cart I've ever experienced, surpassing the Decca London Reference, but with none of that cart's tipped up 'whiteness'. But this blazing speed is combined with the natural sweetness of the Lyra Parnassus. It has the neutrality of the Transfiguration Orpheus with the dynamics and involvement of the ESCCo-modded Zu Denon 103. So, fast AND sweet, and neutral AND involving, combinations often too challenging for other so-called SOTA carts. All the carts I've mentioned I've had in my system over the years. But I admit, I haven't heard current contenders to the crown (Lyra Titan/Atlas, Ortofon Anna, Clearaudio Goldfinger etc) to make comparisons.
It's tracking really is superlative, 3d soundstaging/dimensionality is beyond the room constraints, and I really believe it has the least artifact-laden sound of any cart I've heard, with NO aural evidence of a diamond carving thru wax. It's really complimenting what's already a neutral, fast and dynamic analog rig in my system (Trans Fi Salvation direct rim drive tt/Trans Fi Terminator air bearing linear tracking arm)
spiritofmusic
Personally, I consciously ignore all posts by Rauliruegas. When his passive aggressive bombast hijacks a thread, I ignore the thread. I'm on the verge of ignoring this one despite its otherwise valuable content.
Dear Wrm57: Glad to know it. As I said: no one is perfect.

Thuchan: I gave up with you. This as any other thread is not a contest for me. Have fun.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
In defense of Rauliruegas (not that he needs MY help)......The s/g cartridge just sounds "different" to me. Yes there are lots of things it does well, but the total sound is not something I personally would want to live with. I thank Raul for bringing the possibility that it somehow changes the RIAA curve. Every component sounds a bit different in the system that it is in.... I would suspect that the s/g sounds quite wonderful in Spirit's system.
Wrm, please don't leave me, or my thread, LOL! It's mine, not Raul's. I'm happy to contribute further info on my experience with it. Stringreen, I agree it sounds a little 'different', but in my book this is a big increase in esp. transparency and tracking. I really feel it has the least 'character' of any top end MC I've had in my system, but is a little frustrating in it's sensitivity to correct setup. At the moment I am slightly having to readjust my sub crossover levels on my spkrs wrt previous carts in my system.
Spirit, the Dagogo review of SG-220 is remarkable. Which version of the SG preamp did you purchase? Have you tried running its fixed outputs through your prior preamp? How does the sound of your digital front end compare through these respective preamps?