Zephyr MIMC was our entry-level to the high-performance world of Soundsmith’s MC-pre-compatible, low-output cartridges. It brought a very nice portion of the performance available in our higher-end MC-compatible cartridges (Paua, Sussurro, Hyperion). Recently, Peter Ledermann decided to see if he could stretch the limits of the MIMC’s performance even higher without stretching past the $2k price point … little did any of us know how far he would be able to take it! The updated Zephyr MIMC ☆ smashes through sonic barriers with its new laser-drilled Sapphire cantilever and select nude Contact-Line diamond stylus! This is probably the most important Soundsmith model to have in your arsenal. It brings an astounding portion of the performance available only in our top-level low output cartridges. The name is an acronym for “Moving Iron for Moving Coil preamps). In other words, with its .4mV output, the MIMC should be used with a moving coil phono preamp capable of producing between 58-64dBs of gain.
Type: | • Fixed Coil / Moving Iron |
Mount: | • Standard ½” |
Stylus: | • Selected Contact Line low mass Nude Stylus |
Radius of Curvature: | • 6 x 17 µm |
Cantilever: | • Laser Drilled Sapphire |
Recommended Tracking Force: | • 1.8 – 2.2 g |
Effective Tip Mass: | • 0.32 mg |
Compliance: | • 10 µm/mN |
Frequence Response: | • 15 – 45,000 Hz ± 2.0 dB |
Channel Separation @ 1000 Hz: | • > 28 dB • N/A (Mono version) |
Channel Separation @ 50 – 15,000 Hz: | • > 25 dB • N/A (Mono version) |
Channel Difference: | • < 1.0 dB • < 0.5 dB (Dual Mono w/optimal VTF setting) |
Output Voltage @ 5cm/sec: | • > 0.40 mV (LOW) |
DC Resistance (DCR): | • 10Ω |
Coil Inductance per channel: | • 2.75 mH |
Suggested Preamp Gain: | • 58 – 64 dB |
Cartridge Weight: | • 12.2 g (ES series) |
Recommended Load Resistance: | • ≥ 470Ω |
Recommended Load Capacitance: | • n/a |