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Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Zyx R100 Yatra H Phono Cartridge by SirAnthony

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REVIEW: Zyx R100 Yatra H Phono Cartridge

98.238.136.201


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Model: R100 Yatra H
Category: Phono Cartridge
Suggested Retail Price: $2000
Description: LO MC
Manufacturer URL: Zyx

Review by SirAnthony on October 26, 2009 at 14:00:47
IP Address: 98.238.136.201
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for the R100 Yatra H


I was looking to move up (we all know the feeling). I had a 17d3 and liked it but there were a couple of problems with it. One was not enough bass. the other was I just wasn't listening to it as much as I would like. Really for overall ballance I enjoyed the 10X5 more. But the 10x5 uses an elipticle stylus and going back to that wasn't an option for me. I was seriosly considering a 20xl or even XX2. The Yatra was at a good price point. Less than the XX2 and more than the 20xl. Still it was a lot of money. The most I have ever spent on a cart. I decided to order the Yatra from Mehran for $1000. He only had the HO .48 MV version in stock.

About two weeks later Mehran had his downfall with ZYX and the price went down another $100 or so. There are even better deals to get this cart on ebay at this time 10/26/09. I think it is a good idea to buy them while you can. The new MSRP is $2000. Whether it is worth that much is up to you. I can now say I like this cart so read on.

I'll start this review by saying this cart was difficult to get dialed in. When I first got it it sounded pretty good. After 20 hours it sounded like it was run in quite a bit. It has good bass and clean overall sound. But found it was hit and miss. Some records sounded very good and some didn't. The funny thing was it sounded gradually worse as it ran in. There was something in the midrange that was getting on my nerves. I was really becomming unhappy with this cart and all the money i spent on it. Not to mention all the drama with ZYX distributors and the rediculous inflation in high end audio right now.

Last night I made a last ditch effort to get this cart to sound good. I was about ready to order something new. I started out swapping out alot of tubes in my preamp which really didn't help. Well except to solidify that the JJ 6922 is the best sounding tube for my line stage. So I started adjusting the VTA. I thought I had it dialed in. But i found I had to go further than with any other cart I have had before. I noticed that the annoying sound in the midrange was getting less as I moved the VTA tail up. I use playing cards as a measurement. I usually set VTA from a gap of 7 to 10 playing cards at the bottom of the tone arm (OL Encounter). I had to go up to 12 to get the annoying sound out of the midrange. I tried going up to 15 but the cart started to misstrack. It was having trouble just staying in the groove. so I went back down and 12 seems to be the sweet spot. So it is a bit tricky to find just the right spot. There wasn't a spot where the vocals bloom like I usually look for. It tracks best at just under 1.9 grams. Between 1.85 to 1.9 or so.

The sound has really come into focus now. What this cart does best is 3D image, weight and transperancy. It's unlike any other cart I have heard so far. The center image is well defined and sounds whole. There is a lot of depth and the surrounding instruments and vocals are clear. Bass is the best I have ever heard and treble has some very nice 3D effects. This cart is almost like getting an amplifier upgrade. The weight and clarity feel like more power. Alot of records I didn't like on the Yatra sound really good now. The better the pressing the better the sound. Holly Cole's Temptation sounds spectacular as does Jack Johnson's In Between Dreams. This cart is also very good at classical music. Anything that has complexity that needs to be fleshed out, this cart will do it.

On the downside this cart will show any problems with a record. If it there are scratches pops or tics you will really know. If it is a bad pressing or not made of good quality vinyl you will know. This isn't a cart that will gloss things over and make anything sound good. but when things sound spectacilar you will know that too.

Is this cart worth $2000? That is up to you to decide. I probably never would have spent that much. But I am very happy with it now. It is the best cart I have owned to this point.

Happy listening!
SirAnthony


Product Weakness: See review
Product Strengths: See review


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: ARC D76a Modified
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): AI Modulus 2D Modified
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Origin Live Aurora with Encounter arm
Speakers: Vandersteen 2CE
Cables/Interconnects: Int DIY silver, Speak AQ Indigo, Power VH flav 3 and 4
Music Used (Genre/Selections): All kinds
Room Size (LxWxH): NT x NY x NT
Room Comments/Treatments: NT
Time Period/Length of Audition: NT
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): NT
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): NT




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Topic - REVIEW: Zyx R100 Yatra H Phono Cartridge - SirAnthony 14:00:47 10/26/09 ( 7)