Mark does everything handmade, using pretty basic tools, and absolutely with no compromise. Mark does not try to save money or cut the corners. If the end product will have his name on it, it better be darn good. My kind of guy who also happens to be an audiophile, a lover of analog naturally. To my estimate, Mark can make about 24 bikes a year if he is lucky. In fact, if we are lucky. I am number 2 on his current list. Man, I hate being anything but number one. Grateful being on the list though.

Pictures below are courtesy of urbanvelo.org.

SORAsound always endeavors to support you. It has been about a year that SORAsound does not distribute ZYX cartridges. I still have a lot of ZYX cartridges in stock. Bearing that in mind and a few other things I am aware of, as of this posting, it would not surprise me if ZYX Co. prices go lower and lower, similar to Filene’s basement. At least in the short term. I hate to see your “investment” de-value.

If you have purchased your ZYX products from SORAsound before April 2009, and wish to trade it towards another product SORAsound represents, please contact me for details. I will give you a credit of up to 80% of what you paid towards the purchase of other products SORAsound carries during 2010. This is a limited (time, etc.) offer, naturally done on a case by case basis, and subject to change without notice.

The Purchase Credit Program may also apply to you. I just had a customer buying a great tonearm, taking advantage of the extra credit he received.

Keith Monk record cleaners are the best, quietest, and most effective record cleaners I know of. They are fully handmade. Pictured to the left is the limited edition Ruby 40th Anniversary version of this world famous record cleaner. This is 40 years after Keith Monks defined modern record care with the launch of  the world’s first Record Cleaning Machine. Of course SORAsound ordered this one for our showroom.

To ZYX distributors and dealers, or anyone else. If any data seems to be out of date at anytime, please feel welcome to use the LEAVE A Comment button on the appropriate posting to provide relevant comment. The statements are naturally not forward looking and to the best of my knowledge accurate at the time of the posting.

• All ZYX cartridges are priced same as their copper version. So there is no longer an extra premium for silver and gold.
• ZYX Omega copper is now $6,500 instead of $7,500. Silver and Gold versions are now priced same as the copper version.

It seems like the tactic of charging significant premiums for silver and gold coils of ZYX Co. phono cartridges in North America did not work. Also it appears that the significantly lower retail prices for in other countries simply pushed North American retail prices lower. For example, ZYX Omega in one European country is retailed at $2,695 (excluding VAT), still significantly less than half the retail price of ZYX Omega in North America.

It would be great to learn about the genius of deciding to charge an absurd premium of up to $1,100 for Gold coils instead of copper (in case of ZYX diamond). It would also be good to know now that different coils are priced the same, if some dealers still think that Gold coil ZYX is better than silver and copper versions. Anyways, I just noticed the price changes and in fairness, felt obliged to write this posting immediately.

To ZYX distributors and dealers worldwide: Please note that SORAsound postings are always valid and accurate to the best of my knowledge at the time of the posting and do not reflect the changes made after the posting, naturally. This is partly because in my old age, I have lost my great capability as a clairvoyant. While I put some additional notes for certain postings, after the initial write-up, I don’t have the time to keep track of all changes after each posting. I prefer to spend my time on other important matters than monitoring all ZYX related events. When I can, I write new posts based on data available to me at the time and in fairness. Out of respect for a recent request from ZYX Co. and its global agent, Sibatech, I am trying to avoid writing further ZYX Co. related posts (or reduce) to the extent possible. You are always more than welcome to post comments or make corrections on my website. As long as you are professional, your writing will be posted with pleasure.

To audiophiles/customers: for any questions, clarifications or discussions on any ZYX matter, please feel welcome to call SORAsound or any of your dealers, or friends. (Disclaimer: SORAsound is not a ZYX distributor.) I do not necessarily keep track of changes after the posting.

So in fairness to current North American distributor and dealers, I feel compelled to post the new prices here immediately, as soon as I found out about them. Based on prices posted on the website of a couple of ZYX dealers, there appears to be new ZYX North American retail prices.  ZYX Omega retail prices have been reduced to $6,500 regardless of coil (they used to be $7,500, $7,850, and $8,100 for ZYX Omega X, S, and G respectively from April 2009 until recently)

• ZYX 4D North American retail prices now appear to be (are based on a couple of websites I have seen) at $4,580 regardless of coil. These prices used to be $4,580, $4,850 and $5,100 for ZYX 4D X, S, and G respectively).
• ZYX Airy 3 North American retail prices are now $3,450 versus $3,450, $3,650, and $3,950 for AIry 3 X, S, and G.
• ZYX Sigma II appears to be either $11,950 or $12,500. Different prices on two different websites at the time of this posting. I do not know.
• ZYX Diamond retails for $14,900 in North America from the websites I have looked at and noted the changes.Same as before. Only silver and gold coils are priced same as the copper.

Also other ZYX Co. distributors may change their prices (lower or higher). I have no idea and have no plan of keeping track of them. This is the job of a good global agent and I have no intention of doing someone else’s job. I emphasize that all postings on this website are accurate at the time of posting and by nature are not forward looking (Making it clear that I have no idea what happens in the future).

Again, for confirmation of new ZYX North American retail prices, or prices in any country, please contact your preferred dealer to confirm the prices. Regardless, in my humble opinion, even now ZYX Retail Prices Are Bogus. It would be good to hear why there was such a high premium on gold and silver coils for ZYX from April 2009 until recently.

Why are the prices suddenly changed? I prefer not to guess any reasons but I am hoping underneath lies the realization that Audiophiles Are Not Idiots. I sincerely wish ZYX Co. distributors well.

I broke down a few times and sold them upon request from new customers but I sincerely prefer to avoid that. If I am not sold out in a few months, I will offer ZYX R100H to everyone. For our new customers, I prefer to offer you Lyra Delos, 47 Lab McBee or any of Soundsmith entry level cartridges. You will be delighted. I promise.

To customers from outside North America: SORAsound only sells ZYX UNIverse globally. For other ZYX Co. products, please contact your local ZYX distributors.

I have not been traveling much lately. Kinda unusual for me as for most my career I have been traveling way too much. I do not know my way around the city well yet but good to be home. A few weeks ago took Nami to dinner at Alinea for our tenth year anniversary. Alinea is an amazing restaurant. Probably the best I have ever been to. First time I payed about $880 for a dinner for two (few sips of alcohol for me, plenty for Nami) and I thought the meal was actually under-priced (good definition of value).

It has been getting cold here but not living up to the reputation of Chicago as a cold windy city. For all I know, this could be my San Francisco neighborhood weather at nights.

It is really a shame we lost the bid to host the Olympics. Still Chicago has given some good gifts to the world: our president and SORAsound. I know some smart aleck may remind me of some of our past governors among a list of other politicians we have had. But let us please not get there as each state has had its own gift in those regards.

Back to Alinea, you are served a 29 course meal which a hungry person like me from a deprived background would thoroughly enjoy. Each serving is small, beautifully presented, tasting just great. Last desert course used our whole table as the dish! A different beauty from the Japanese Kaiseki but this would be where I will happily take my special Japanese guests to impress them with how well we do in America.

Chicago also offers some great dives – from BBQ to Hot Dogs at Hot Doug where you have to wait in line for almost an hour to get to the counter and order your hot dogs. Chicago arguably has the best restaurants in America, although San Francisco and New York are better known for their restaurants.

A great contributor to the Chicago restaurant scene is Chef Paul Kahan, a great chef, audiophile, analog man, and partner in a few hip and good food places of Chicago including Black Bird, Avec, The Publican, Big Star Taqueria, and The Violet Hour. The Publican makes the best pork belly sandwiches I have ever had. The Violet hour is a beautiful bar, Speak Easy on the outside, nice London or Tokyo bar interior inside.

The cultural scene in Chicago is rather impressive. In the great midwest tradition, it is downplayed, but it is visibly there. We have great museums, good music halls, an aquarium with funky frogs and turtles, and lots of ethnic food. At times I go to a dumpy place to have Bulgarian breakfast. Nice. Delicious home cooked kinda food but they seem to forget smoking cigarettes is band inside restaurants. Same with one of my favorite Bosnian restaurants in Chicago.

Our beaches are beautiful. Given the city boy I am, I enjoy going to the beaches by the high rises. The best of both worlds. More on that, in the summer.

For a comparison of SORAsound ZYX prices with a few other countries, and further detail please take a look at ZYX Airy 3 in the products pages. I am told that ZYX Company and its global agent, Sibatech have extended extra discounts to their North American distributor to better compete with SORAsound. I am also told that as such ZYX North American dealers now get 60% margin. If correct, then ZYX dealer costs are outlined in the table below:

Given above and given that I hear about cases where SORAsound prices have been matched and/or beaten, it would not surprise me if you find better offers elsewhere. I sincerely hope this posting helps ZYX dealers sell more ZYX Airy 3 phono cartridges and in turn help ZYX Company build more cartridges, and gain more revenue.

For customers who still want to purchase from SORAsound, it will be my pleasure to take care of you. Our price is $1,895. To customers who purchased their ZYX products from SORAsound during 2008 and 2009 and paid more, please know that I take care of you well though more ways than our recently established Purchase Credit Programs.

For postings of all ZYX related price comparisons, please either take a look at ZYX CHATS or ZYX Products where I have similar details regarding ZYX Omega and ZYX 4D cartridges.

Around two weeks ago SORAsound established a Purchase Credit Program for SORAsound ZYX Customers. If anyone bought a ZYX product from us anytime during 2009 at a higher price than our advertised prices today, we give them a limited offer of 150% purchase credit towards what they purchase from SORAsound in 2010. Please refer to the aforementioned posting for terms and conditions.

SORAsound now extends the program to those who purchased a ZYX product from us in 2008. In such a case, we give you credit of 100% of the cost differential towards other (non-ZYX) products you buy from us in 2010. For terms and conditions, which are limited, modifiable and revokable at will, please click here. Offer valid based on advertised prices as of this posting. Please note some manufacturers do not allow discounting in any form.

Also, SORAsound is establishing a generous program for you to trade your ZYX products towards any of the other products we represent. For any questions, please call.