Strain Gauge Cartridge Systems

Soundsmith Strain Gauges are sold as systems ~ Cartridge and choice of preamp

CLICK THIS TO READ THREAD by Strain Gauge Owners

All Soundsmith SG systems have user replaceable styli -

CLICK THIS TO SEE VIDEO !!

( Looking for our top drawer "Signature Strain Gauge" systems? Click this )

To purchase Soundsmith products PLEASE contact your nearest dealer or Importer to your Country ( Worldwide US dealer/Importer list: Click Here ) If you cannot buy from one of our US dealers please use the below FORM to order. You may also us it to order from Canada, Middle east, Africa, South America, Mexico. Are you in Europe or Asia? You may buy directly from us ONLY If we do NOT IMPORT into your country. Please check our IMPORTER LIST above and contact us by phone or Email. Orders@sound-smith.com or (914) 739-2885

SG-200

Our basic Strain Gauge system features fixed level line outputs suited for line level inputs on your system preamplifier. The supplied SG cartridge comes with the SG-5 stylus assembly as standard, however, you may purchase the system with the SG-6 stylus for a surcharge of $100 at the time of ordering. Like all SG preamps, the SG-200 features an auto-mute circuit that protects your system and speakers from transients due to an accidentally dropped styli. The front panel defeatable auto-mute also allows quiet introductions to playing or recording your vinyl.

All SG systems feature user replaceable styli, however, due to the nature of the cartridge design, styli are individually matched to each cartridge. If additional styli are desired, it is highly advisable to order them with your system order. The SG-200 is supplied in a black anodized case, however, custom wooden cases in black or mahogany are also available as accessory items.

IN STOCK!!

Are you in Europe or Asia? You may buy directly from us ONLY If we do NOT IMPORT into your country. Please check our IMPORTER LIST above and contact us by phone or Email.

Orders@sound-smith.com or 914 739 2885

for Credit/Debit card, or PayPal purchase, use Add To Cart Button

11,999.95

Select location for shipping fee amount, we can ship up to three items under the shipping fee, use the Additional Item option for 2nd or 3rd item, if you have already the shipping fee in your basket.

Below are excerpts and reviews from customers on their Strain Gauge systems......

Dear Peter

I have owned your Soundsmith Strain Gauge cartridge system for about 10 years mainly using it to transfer 78 r.p.m. discs. It is a constant delight to hear these classic recordings sound such as they have never been heard before, full of vitality with instruments sounding real.

There is no other cartridge of such high quality capable of accepting complete stylus assemblies. In fact I would say there is simply no other cartridge of such high quality but to put it to work on 78s is an absolute revelation.

Many old LPs, where master tapes no longer exist, can be brought back to life using this marvel: the results you can expect will far exceed those from other sources.

I write this now because you Peter have recently upgraded my Strain Gauge & built additional stylus assemblies: You seem to have improved upon perfection. Having never used other Soundsmith cartridges or re-builds I can only guess what they must be like, but with your astonishing expertise I would fully expect them all worth considering within various budgets as the finest you could wish for. Knowing now what I do, one of them would be my first upgrade if I were just starting out!

David Bennett, Remastering Engineer

[More Testimonials]

Hello Peter,

First I hope you, your family and staff are all well. I so want everyone to get through this, for people to stay well and for businesses to weather the difficulties they are faced, for the toll not to be too great or dear. Perhaps my little status note is misplaced at this time, and if so, I apologize.

Recently, listening room challenges have been better addressed, and this has allowed me to dial-in the SG-210 system with much more precision by ear, not having room effects masking small but significant changes of setup. As HTA/Zenith and Azimuth were carefully adjusted on the Air Tangent air bearing arm, the smallest details in the mix to the largest dynamics were further liberated in an utterly coherent fashion. Subtle details of timbre and texture were even more beautiful, and the soundstage of recordings is simply 'there'. The overall effect is, simply, music unencumbered, just flowing. From LPs.

I thought I was probably pretty close before, but all the fabric of a performance just 'pops' in a most musically natural, coherent (and gratifying) way. Words will never by able to convey what the ears hear.
So, didn't want to wax on too long, but wanted to offer a pat on the back for allowing me the pleasure. I can't wait to listen some more.

Stay well.

Best regards, Jeffrey Bernhard

[More Testimonials]

To Peter Ledermann, President of Soundsmith

After a lifetime of collecting vinyl and cartridges to play them, I have settled happily on the Soundsmith strain-gauge system. It speaks the truth, and it has singular virtues. It is for all practical purposes noise-free, its resolution is the highest I know, and its wear on groove walls the lowest. As a record producer, I audition test cuts on lacquers which are famously fragile. The strain-gauge cartridge can play them repeatedly with no sign of damage. I find it a joy to listen to for pleasure, and as a professional, I consider it a valuable tool.

Tam Henderson, Founder Reference Recordings

Meanwhile the speed and slam of the Strain Gauge, as well as its phenomenal clarity, were continuing to startle me – I simply could not believe my ears. I asked Peter if indeed the sound was coming from the monitors and he confirmed that very surprising fact. (more...)

I was very fortunate to meet Peter during a visit to his workshop in 2008, and was lucky enough to purchase the Soundsmith SG-200 Strain Gauge. (more...)

“…The ability to extract low level information at low modulation levels, or to be unflappable at high modulation levels and not fall into chaotic behavior -- to sound strained and lose that tape-like quality -- is in part due to very low moving mass. Regardless of the reasons why the SG has these exemplary qualities, it has them. …

… So, check it out yourself. This is the way to listen to your LPs, and hear them as you never have before. …” (read more…)

SG-210

Our SG-210 features both +15dB single ended variable outputs and fixed outputs. The +15 dB variable outputs allow using the SG-210 directly with your power amplifier, eliminating the requirement for a line amplifier in a vinyl playback system. They may also be used to match levels with other line sources in a multi-source system. The fixed level outputs may be used for recording or sourcing into a second system, and are not affected by the volume control.

The supplied SG cartridge comes with the SG-5 stylus assembly as standard, however, you may purchase the system with the SG-6 stylus for a surcharge of $100 at the time of ordering. Like all SG preamps, the SG-210 features an auto-mute circuit that protects your system and speakers from transients due to an accidentally dropped styli. The front panel defeatable auto-mute also allows quiet introductions to playing or recording your vinyl.

All SG systems feature user replaceable styli, however, due to the nature of the cartridge design, styli are individually matched to each cartridge. If additional styli are desired, it is highly advisable to order them with your system order. The SG-210 is supplied in a black anodized case, however, custom wooden cases in black or mahogany are also available as accessory items.

IN STOCK!!

Are you in Europe or Asia? You may buy directly from us ONLY If we do NOT IMPORT into your country. Please check our IMPORTER LIST above and contact us by phone or Email.

Orders@sound-smith.com or 914 739 2885

for Credit/Debit card, or PayPal purchase, use Add To Cart Button

13,499.95

Select location for shipping fee amount, we can ship up to three items under the shipping fee, use the Additional Item option for 2nd or 3rd item, if you have already the shipping fee in your basket

SG-230 (New!)

Our new SG-230 is a full-function system preamp with Strain Gauge circuitry as well as 4 line inputs and remote control over input selection, volume and muting. It features balanced +15dB variable outputs and single ended fixed outputs. The balanced outputs are available via split phase RCA jacks, convertible to XLR with our supplied RCA to XLR adapters. The +15dB balanced variable output is made available via RCA jacks which configures the output of the SG-230 into a highly adaptable unit, allowing easy bridging of two stereo amplifiers into double power mono blocks, subwoofer driving, biamping or sourcing into a secondary system. The fixed level outputs may be used for recording or sourcing into a second system, and are not affected by the volume control.

The supplied SG cartridge comes with the SG-5 stylus assembly as standard, however, you may purchase the system with the SG-6 stylus for a surcharge of $100 at the time of ordering. Like all SG preamps, the SG-230 features an auto-mute circuit that protects your system and speakers from transients due to an accidentally dropped styli. The front panel defeatable auto-mute also allows quiet introductions to playing or recording your vinyl.

The SG-230 is supplied in mahogany wood case as standard, black wood is also available on special order.

IN STOCK!!

Are you in Europe or Asia? You may buy directly from us ONLY If we do NOT IMPORT into your country. Please check our IMPORTER LIST above and contact us by phone or Email.

Orders@sound-smith.com or 914 739 2885

for Credit/Debit card, or PayPal purchase, use Add To Cart Button

19,999.95

Select location for shipping fee amount, we can ship up to three items under the shipping fee, use the Additional Item option for 2nd or 3rd item, if you have already the shipping fee in your basket

[for our Signature Strain Gauge Systems SG-400 through SG-810 click this link]

Soundsmith’s SG cartridges are not magnetic cartridges, and do not require RIAA equalization - flat response is automatically produced by virtue of their being "displacement" measuring devices, as opposed to magnetic "voltage generating velocity dependent" devices. The cartridge works extremely well in all medium to high mass arms with standard 4 wire tone arm wiring. Due to the cartridge being non-inductive, it is far less sensitive to cabling in the tone arm and from the arm to the preamp when compared to any other cartridge design. For detailed technical information on how the Strain Gauge works, please click this.

Soundsmith SG preamp review briefs.....

In his review for Image HiFi, Uwe Kirbach applauds the "incredibly fast attack" as well as the "complete absence of noise and hum." On good records, Kirbach writes, the SG literally "creeps into the recordings, opens rooms like no other and always makes the interplay and communication between musicians marvelously clear." According to Kirbach, the SG "possesses a level of detail resolution that even the best cartridges on the whole can’t quite reach."

Michael Fremer of Stereophile fame describes the SG’s "incredibly clean and fast top-to-bottom transient attack, its spectacular transparency, its taut, deep bottom end and its airy top."

And last, but not least, Anthony Cordesman. In his review for The Absolute Sound, Cordesman found "that a properly set-up [SG system] offered the cleanest and smoothest upper octaves, the lowest noise, and the best-defined soundstage I have yet heard from any system designed to reproduce records."

Replacement Styli
SG-1	Bonded Shibata/Aluminum Cantilever ~ US MSRP ~ NO LONGER AVAILABLE
SG-2	Nude Elliptical, Aluminum cantilever ~ US MSRP ~ $499.95
SG-3	Special 1 mil radius conical (for vintage 48-49 records) ~ SPECIAL ORDER
SG-4	78 RPM stylus – special Soundsmith EQ in line circuit must be used ~ US MSRP ~ $749.95
SG-5	Nude Contact Line/Ruby Cantilever (standard design supplied with SG cartridge) ~ If Purchased separately ~ Stylus holder is black - US MSRP ~ $749.95
SG-6	Nude “Optimized Contour” Contact Line/Ruby Cantilever- Stylus holder is red ~ US MSRP ~ $949.95

Warranty

5 Years Parts and Labor

Specifications

Output

Specialty

Available As Dual Coil Mono

Additional Specifications

Power Supply Information:

All three models are powered by two identical external analog DC wall type power supplies - 24 VDC @ 500 Milliamps. Two are supplied and are required for each SG preamp system. The use of external power supplies helps keep the noise floor extremely low, and allows compliance with power regulations for varied countries.

The SG-230 comes with two supplies and our WWE filter device, which connects in-line with the cables from the two wall supplies. The WWE ensures that the DC power being supplied to the SG-230 is extremely clean and noise free in terms of ripple current and RF noise coming from the AC wall supply in any environment.

Power supplies are available in 120 VAC or 210-230 VAC as required for use outside of the US in some countries.

Replacement Styli: These are tuned for each cartridge and system. If you have one good stylus, we can build others to match by having the stylus and cartridge only. If you do not have one good stylus, we will need both the cartridge and electronics to build new styli for you. Styli can be easily moved in and out of the cartridge body by the owner.

	width		height		depth		weight
Product Name	inches	cm.	inches	cm.	inches	cm.	lbs.	kg.
SG-200	6.250	15.875	3.500	8.890	9.750	24.765	3.00	1.36
IN SHIPPING BOX	10.000	25.400	6.000	15.240	16.250	41.275	6.92	3.14
SG- 200 (wood case)	7.625	19.368	5.000	12.700	10.625	26.988	7.00	3.18
IN SHIPPING BOX	16.000	40.640	16.000	40.640	16.000	40.640	15.00	6.80
SG-210	6.250	15.875	3.500	8.890	10.000	25.400	3.00	1.36
IN SHIPPING BOX	10.000	25.400	6.000	15.240	16.250	41.275	6.92	3.14
SG-210 (wood case)	7.625	19.368	5.000	12.700	10.875	27.623	7.50	3.40
IN SHIPPING BOX	16.000	40.640	16.000	40.640	16.000	40.640	15.50	7.03
SG-230	12.750	32.385	3.625	9.208	10.000	25.400	7.00	3.18
SG-230 (wood case)	14.250	36.195	5.500	13.970	10.750	27.305	14.00	6.35
IN SHIPPING BOX	24.000	60.960	12.000	30.480	20.000	50.800	24.00	10.89