To put it simply, an MC cartridge is a type of transducer in which a coil placed perpendicular to the lines of magnetic force rotates and vibrates due to the mechanical sound signal transmitted from the record, and a current proportional to the vibration speed is induced in the coil. You can say it's a converter. Therefore, it is essential for the magnetic flux density to always be uniform within the magnetic field where the coil is placed in order to reproduce faithfully to the original sound.

In the case of the currently popular MC type, the bobbin uses a magnetic material with high magnetic permeability and good high frequency characteristics. As a result, the output is 6 times higher than that of a non-magnetic bobbin, so the number of turns in the coil is reduced and the mass of the vibration system is lowered, making wide-band reproduction possible. However, it must be noted that by using a magnetic material bobbin, the magnetic field, which should be uniform, may be disturbed by the vibration of the bobbin, and the magnetic flux density may become uneven. This is because the two coils for stereo reproduction will result in left and right audio signals being generated within the disturbed magnetic field. The coils of the L-ch coil and the R-ch coil are arranged with the winding direction changed by 45 degrees to the left and right from the vertical axis, so the actual ground terminal positions of the two coils are at different positions separated by the length of the coil. It will happen. Due to this state, the left and right audio outputs are thought to be output as audio signals generated in two different disturbed magnetic fields. In order to completely eliminate this phenomenon, the ground terminal positions of the left and right outputs must be set within the same magnetic field. As a result, even within a disturbed magnetic field, the left and right coils will generate electricity within the same magnetic field conditions.

ZYX has developed the world's first and only one-point ground dual output terminal system, completely solving this problem.

This new system is adopted in all models of the Ultimate Exceed series at once.

The same quality left and right audio that is reproduced in the same magnetic field is a natural and clear sound that can be understood at first listen, and is exactly the true analog audio that we were looking for. For example, the intense and transient hitting sound that even feels like the tension of the drum's skin and the sense of localization are overwhelming. Everything sounds real.

■New Gold-Silver alloy coil wire (G-S)

In the conventional Ultimate series, there were two types of extra versions that used gold and silver wire in addition to the standard coil wire made of crystal copper wire. The Ultimate Exceed series uses a newly developed gold and silver alloy wire as an extra version. Alloy processing increases the resistance of the wire itself, but you can enjoy a unique delicate, rich, and broadband sound that combines the unique qualities of gold and silver.

■Weight balance using lapis/lazuli balls

The cartridge operates by applying a suitable amount of stylus pressure in the vertical direction along with the arm. Therefore, it is preferable for the fulcrum of the cartridge's vibration system to be directly below the center of gravity of the cartridge. If the fulcrum of the cantilever (vibration system) is misaligned with the vertical plane passing through the cartridge's center of gravity, the oscillating motion of the cantilever will force the cantilever's fulcrum to oscillate unstablely around the cartridge's center of gravity. The noise of the cartridge is one symptom of this, and the vibration of the cantilever is being lost as another form of energy. Also, if the cantilever's fulcrum position moves, the reproduced signal will be inaccurate.

The lapis lazuli ball placed on the front of the cartridge is a ballant weight that aligns the center of gravity of the cartridge body with the fulcrum of the vibration system.

This stabilizes the fulcrum of the cantilever and enables accurate record playback.

■Terminal plate made of composite carbon

Along with the development of the Ultimate series, we developed the world's first terminal plate made of carbon plate. Tens of thousands of carbon fibers, an ideal material that is not only hard but also unbreakable, are layered on a plain weave to form a rigid board.

Furthermore, with this terminal plate, for the first time in a cartridge, it is possible to ground the terminal plate itself through RG. Conventionally, between the generator coil and the arm, the cartridge output line is unprotected from external noise, and by grounding the terminal board, the line capacitance between the four terminals is drastically reduced, making it less susceptible to external noise. This makes it possible to transmit the pure playback sound of Ultimate to the subsequent stage as it is.

■MC cartridge world's first C-1000 carbon cantilever

The Utimate series is the first ZYX flagship model to use carbon rods for cantilevers. This carbon rod is made up of a strong composite of 1000 carbon fibers with a diameter of 5μm. The name C-1000 Carbon was uniquely named to represent the number of internal carbon fibers.

C-1000 carbon rod is an extremely light and hard material that is harder than aluminum, iron, or titanium, and has a specific gravity that is half that of boron, which is traditionally the lightest cantilever material. It is an ideal material because of its reduced equivalent mass of the cantilever, broadband reproduction, and transient response capabilities.

Another noteworthy feature is that the cantilever is not just a single rod, but is made up of 1000 carbon wires. In the case of a single material, when a vibration wave with an audio signal entering from the tip of the needle propagates through one individual, the vibration wave is reflected and repeated internally, and when it reaches the power generation system, the vibration wave is in a disordered state. It is thought that it has become . The C-1000 carbon cantilever has 1000 fibers arranged in parallel, so the vibration path is transmitted along 1000 lines, and the vibration is transmitted straight to the power generation system without disturbance.

Lightweight, hard, and with straight vibration propagation, when you listen to the Ultimate series, you will experience the ultimate clear and dynamic original sound for the first time.

■Double structure body

The non-metallic body is an important element for the power generation effect of the cartridge, and the side structure of the body is made of hard polycarbonate, which is further double-layered to prevent unnecessary resonance and further increase strength.

■High-speed response magnetic circuit

The main components of the magnetic circuit are a strong magnet and a pair of pure iron yokes, so eddy currents are generated in the magnetic circuit in response to the power generation signal. Eddy currents degrade the response of the reproduced signal, so the circuit must be configured to be unaffected by them. Ultimate is made up of a special magnetic circuit that enables simultaneous high-speed response of power generation signals.

■Microridge stylus

Sound entrance: The reproduction needle uses a thin line contact needle that can reproduce 100kHz. The microridge stylus, which was developed at the same time as the development of the stylus for playing video discs, uses natural diamond, and along the hardest surface of its crystal axis, the surface in contact with the record is shaped like a plate (ridge) with a width of 6 microns. The radius of curvature, which affects processing and high frequency reproduction ability, is always set to 3 microns. The feature of this ridge shape is that the radius of curvature is always maintained at 3 microns even if the needle tip wears out. Even with such a sharp needle tip, the large radius is as large as 60 microns, ensuring a sufficient contact area and appropriate contact load.

Since the Ultimate series uses a hard and lightweight C-1000 carbon cantilever, there is no warping or twisting of the cantilever, which reduces the stress on the needle tip. Therefore, as proven by needle tip life tests, the Ultimate series microridge needles have a fully guaranteed lifespan of 2,000 hours.

■6N oxygen-free copper wire power generation coil

The power generation coil uses 6N oxygen-free copper wire made by a certain company in Japan, a rare copper wire that has received high praise among critics. It has smooth, natural sound quality with no coloration, and has an excellent copper wire that has a wide band feel and has an almighty playback ability regardless of the genre of music.

specification

Power generation method: Moving coil type

Output voltage: 0.24mV

Frequency characteristics: 10Hz-100kHz

Channel separation: >30dB/1kHz

Channel balance: ＜0.5dB1kHz

Used stylus pressure range: 1.7-2.5g

Proper stylus pressure: 2.0g

Internal impedance: 4Ω

Body weight: 7.9g (TB2 pre-mounted), 9.1g (SB2)

Power generation system: ZYX real stereo power generation system

Stylus: Microridge

Cantilever: convergent carbon fiber

Damper: Pure rubber

Generator coil: X type 6N crystal copper φ 0.035mm, GS type Gold - Silver φ 0.035mm

Magnet: Samarium Cobalt

Housing: Polycarbonate