Signature SG Systems Preamplifier
Above: Our Flagship Strain Gauge Preamp - the SG-810
CLICK THIS TO READ THREAD by Strain Gauge Owners
Entry Level SG systems: click this
By the way....All Soundsmith SG systems have user replaceable styli - CLICK THIS TO SEE VIDEO !
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The Strain Gauge cartridge is not at all like any other cartridge....
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All other cartridges, whether moving magnet, moving coil, or moving iron, are "generators" - that is, you put motion in, and you get energy out... they generate a tiny voltage that you amplify and send to your speakers.
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The key here in describing all other cartridges is in the word moving......because all other cartridges MUST move a mass around - a magnet, and iron core with wires (moving "coil") or iron.
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All other cartridges are all magnetic generating systems, which require a mass to be constantly moved to generate a voltage. The Strain Gauge does not; the effective moving mass has been reduced by over 80%....allowing the stylus to stay in intimate contact with the groove walls.....and allowing the stylus to stop jittering - or "bouncing" in the groove as it now is not trying to move a "large" mass back and forth....
Features:
- Frequency response, DC to 70 kHz
- No "RIAA" filter circuitry is required or used in our preamp - just one ULTRA clean gain stage (this is because the Strain Gauge is a "displacement" device, not a "velocity" sensitive device like magnetic cartridges - see below).
- Compatible with standard "4 wire" tone arm wiring
- User Replaceable Nude "Contact-Line" stylus w/Ruby Cantilever (varied stylus types available)
- System Price includes Strain Gauge Cartridge and Soundsmith SG Preamp of your choice
- "Fixed" Line level & +10 dB variable outputs, both Balanced and Unbalanced (via RCA jacks)
- High Compliance design and freedom from low frequency saturation assures excellent tracking ability and performance with any tone arm
- All preamp models now feature toggling between the Strain Gauge function and single or (multiple) line inputs for maximum hookup flexibility to your equipment
- Low tracking forces with extreme precision
- Compatible with any ½" mount headshell - uses STANDARD 4 wire tone arm wiring
- Frequency response DC - 70 kHz with only 10° of phase shift in the audio band (rumble filter built in @ 12 Hz - passive type before single flat gain stage
- Front panel displays for tracking force (digital readout), AC component of the vertical tracking force, force balance per groove wall, and record eccentricity! (on models 810, 610,and 600 only)
- Fixed and variable, balanced and unbalanced outputs via RCA jacks. Our variable output will provide up to +10dB level, and may be used DIRECTLY into any amplifier with balanced or unbalanced inputs.
- Advanced muting features: Automatic Cue-Up muting (works with any turntable, and is user defeatable), manual muting control, and fault-sensing auto-mute to allow "hot plugging" of the tone arm or cartridge with the volume up, thus eliminating buzz or transients (allows stylus cleaning, adjustments, etc....)
- User replaceable styli available in varied compliance and configurations (Ruby & Aluminum cantilever, Nude Contact Line &, Elliptical Styli,78 Styli) Styli replacement costs from $350 - $950
- IR Hand Held Remote for remote controlled models controls volume, mute, power (and input switching on the SG-510 and SG-810)
- All models feature front panel finger "light-touch" control switches for power, manual muting and front panel lighting control (on models 810,610 & 600) allowing adjustable front panel lights from "automatic room lighting level" to variable intensity - full bright to off. (All other models have rear manual control for lighting intensity) Our lucite volume knob changes color to indicate the state of operation: RED (standby); Yellow (auto-mute); flashing yellow (manual mute); Blue (unmuted - playing)
- Our Strain Gauge cartridge requires specialized preamp circuitry, and is sold with any of seven models of Soundsmith's preamplifiers - All models have both fixed and +10 dB variable outputs - and can be used directly into an "aux" input on your preamp, or used DIRECTLY into any power amplifier.
- All models have identical sonic characteristics and vary only in features:
- SG-810 - Our top model is a multi-function preamp and full function Strain Gauge Preamp; It features the SG function plus 4 line inputs & tape monitor, Front panel "touch" & Remote control input switching, volume, mute and power with full Strain Gauge performance displays and lighting intensity control (auto room adjust or manual "linear control" from lights off to full bright)
- SG-610 - Dedicated Preamp for Strain gauge Plus ONE Line input- Front panel "touch" & Remote control for volume, mute and power; full Strain Gauge performance displays; lighting intensity control (auto room adjust or manual "linear control" from lights off to full bright)
- SG-600 - Dedicated Preamp for Strain Gauge - Same as 610, no remote control
- SG-510 - Dedicated Preamp for Strain Gauge and full function preamp - SG input plus 4 line inputs & tape monitor; Front panel "touch" & Remote control for input switching, volume, mute and power -NO DISPLAYS
- SG-500 - Dedicated Preamp for Strain Gauge and full function preamp - same as SG-510, but no remote control
- SG-410 - Dedicated SG Preamp Plus ONE Line Input- Remote & Manual control for Volume, mute & power
- SG-400 - Dedicated SG Preamp Plus ONE line input - Manual Volume, mute & power
Below are excerpts and reviews from customers on their Strain Gauge systems......
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Dear Peter |
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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. Stay well. Best regards, Jeffrey Bernhard |
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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 |
| 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...) |
Specifications
| width | height | depth | weight | |||||||
| Product Name | inches | cm. | inches | cm. | inches | cm. | lbs. | kg. | ||
| SG-410 | 15.750 | 40.005 | 4.125 | 10.478 | 15.500 | 39.370 | 18.50 | 8.39 | ||
| IN SHIPPING BOX | 33.500 | 85.090 | 9.500 | 24.130 | 20.250 | 51.435 | 28.50 | 12.93 | ||
| SG-610 | 15.750 | 40.005 | 4.125 | 10.478 | 15.500 | 39.370 | 20.50 | 9.30 | ||
| IN SHIPPING BOX | 33.500 | 85.090 | 9.500 | 24.130 | 20.250 | 51.435 | 30.50 | 13.83 | ||
| SG-810 | 15.750 | 40.005 | 4.125 | 10.478 | 15.500 | 39.370 | 20.50 | 9.30 | ||
| IN SHIPPING BOX | 33.500 | 85.090 | 9.500 | 24.130 | 20.250 | 51.435 | 30.50 | 13.83 | ||
| SG-410/610/810 P.S. | 6.250 | 15.875 | 3.250 | 8.255 | 9.000 | 22.860 | 4.00 | 1.81 | ||
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What They Said...
Is the industry half-asleep? Or are there other powers at work preventing Peter Ledermann's Strain Gauge pickup from being the most hotly discussed cartridge on the market? Either way, it's a scandal.
"The Soundsmith Carmen's ultra-low-mass MI assembly plays with more agility, is more naturally detailed, and sounds less stressed than any MC I'm aware of. Its treble is not dull or rolled off—it's just the most authentic treble I've experienced from a phonographic transducer." 
