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1 year warranty included.
Kudos, accolades and many "Product of the Year" awards. The pinnacle of High Output designs - from Soundsmith - of course.
Since its introduction in 2009, The Voice has won numerous "product-of-the-year" awards and is - in Peter Ledermann's words -"probably the best High Output cartridge in production today." Soundsmith's design goal was to produce the lowest moving mass high output design possible using novel and advanced technology. Featuring a single crystal Ruby Cantilever and their Optimized Contour Line Contact Stylus, Soundsmith developed a specialized metallurgy for the low mass moving iron system.
A cartridge that disappears. After all, if it sounds like a "record" it's wrong. The cartridge should bring your directly to the performance; not stand between you and the music.
Also available in dual-coil mono.
The Voice will wring every last drop of performance from it at a price that, in a world where most competitors go for two, three and four grand (up to ten large), is extremely reasonable and probably a great bargain. It is easily a reference quality cartridge with the added edge of being supremely musical, which is why Peter is going to have to pry this thing from my cold, bloody hand to get it back!
New ES Series DEMS Design
2018's RMAF show was the official launch of Soundsmith's new ES series of cartridges, where the attendees experienced the latest exploration into overlooked areas of cartridge design and solutions from Soundsmith.
The ES line features not only a dramatic new look, but is a significant evolution of the DEMS system design (Dynamic Energy Management System). The new Soundsmith ES cartridge designs are a significant advancement in cartridge performance due to their ability to direct internal vibrational forces without reflection and disperse them properly to the tone arm. The absence of reflections enables the stylus to stay in far greater statistical contact with the groove walls -- a critically important technical refinement. Increased liquidity and reduced "grain," without loss of detail are some of the immediately discernible advantages of Soundsmith's new ES models.
The new line also features Azimuth adjustment built-in to each cartridge, as well as the option for electrical isolation for hum-prone systems.
Every cartridge in Soundsmith's lineup will now feature their sleek new ES body design. The upgrade is far more than cosmetic; the new shape is a departure from the reflective and "boxy" design of many cartridges whose internal construction contribute to uncontrolled vibrational issues adversely affecting performance. Peter says, "Think of how singing in an open field compares with singing in a shower." Soundsmith has always challenged conventions, looking deeper into nuances of cartridge design that dramatically affect immediate and long term performance. These have included extreme reductions of moving mass and the use of novel materials and designs. The new ES lineup is a continuation of that research and development.
Technical Specifications
Type | Fixed Coil / Moving Iron |
---|---|
Mount | Standard ½" |
Stylus | Contact Line, Nude, 0.10 mm square Selected |
Radius of Curvature | Optimized Contour Contact Line |
Cantilever | Ruby |
Recommended Tracking Force | 1.3 - 1.6 g Standard (Medium Compliance)
1.0 - 1.2 g (Special Order High Compliance) |
Effective Tip Mass | 0.30 mg |
Compliance | 22 µm/mN (Medium Compliance)
28 µm/mN (High Compliance) |
Frequence Response | 20 - 20,000 Hz ± 1.0 dB |
Channel Separation @ 1000 Hz | > 30 dB
N/A (Mono version) |
Channel Separation @ 50 - 15,000 Hz | > 20 dB
N/A (Mono version) |
Channel Difference | < 1.0 dB
< 0.5 dB (Mono version) |
Output Voltage @ 5cm/sec | > 2.12 mV (HIGH) |
DC Resistance (DCR) | 680Ω |
Coil Inductance per channel | 190 mH |
Suggested Preamp Gain | 38 - 44 dB |
Cartridge Weight | 9.20 g (ES series) |
Recommended Load Resistance | ≥ 47kΩ |
Recommended Load Capacitance | n/a |