Table below shows retail (un-discounted) prices in North America, Japan, and three European Countries as of this posting.

Please note none of the above information is confidential. A simple google search can provide you all this and more, if you have enough time available to waste. Or simply check out SORAsound web pages every now and then, although I am getting a bit too tired of this too.

Few weeks ago I wrote why is it that ZYX Omega costs about $600 more than ZYX 4D in Japan but about $4,450 in North America? now ZYX prices in Japan feels more dear than Kobe beef.

[Feb. 16, 2010 addition. I am told that ZYX Company and Sibatech now give extra discount to their North American distributor to compete with SORAsound. I also am told that ZYX Co. North American dealers get 60% discount (i.e. margin) from their distributor. If this is the case, table below will show North American dealer cost for ZYX Omega

The question marks indicate that I am not sure of the actual dealer price for these cartridges. At 60% off based on their retail prices, ZYX Omega X, S, and G should respectively cost North American dealers $3,000, $3,140, and $3,320. I can not imagine any reasonably smart business person would accept the extra cost for silver and gold coils given the fact that many ZYX distributors have opted to keep their retail prices the same for ZYX cartridges regardless of the coil, and that at least in our experience, ZYX copper sounds better than gold for sure. Then again, I have been wrong before.]

[Addition March 1, 2010. ZYX North America retail prices for ZYX Omega regardless of coil is now $6,500. Please note for confirmation of prices at anytime, contact various dealers and distributors or SORAsound. I prefer to do new posts when time permits rather than "update" each posting. Looks like after all they could not justify the difference between $2,695 and $8,300. Now, how can the difference between $2,695 and $6,500 be justified?]

Please read other postings including yesterday’s amuse bouche where you see another informative chart and a list of pertinent articles.

Tags: ZYX chats, zyx omega, ZYX prices

This is a VERY IMPORTANT post for you to read if want to buy a ZYX Phono cartridge. SORAsound will do its best to beat all valid prices. Please see the questions and some answers / thoughts below:

• ZYX 4D: $2,200? or $1,800?
• ZYX Omega: $3,200? $2,950? $7,500 – $8,300?
• Dealer margin: 60%?
• Distributor margins of up to and over 80 some percent depending on the model?
• Extra discount to the North American distributor by ZYX Company / Sibatech to help the new North American troop compete with SORAsound? How much more?
• Distributors desperate to sell?

[Feb. 13, 2010 addition. Above questions now seem moot. Through simple google searches and a couple of phone calls we have found amazingly significant discrepancies among the RETAIL prices of ZYX cartridges, across the world. As an example, ZYX Omega retailing $2,695 in a European country, $3,040 in another, excluding VAT and bearing in mind the weak dollar.  Check out ZYX Omega G Retail Price Comparison Chart. More to follow].

ZYX Company retail prices are bogus. SORAsound wants you to be happy whether you buy from us or someone else. Based on the information below, you can decide what is a fair price for you and who you want to buy from:

• A customer decided not to purchase a ZYX ATMOS and go for a ZYX 4D for $2,200, an offer he said he received from ZYX North American distributor.
• I have heard of ZYX 4D in HK going for about $1,800. (not verified independently but my source is in the know).
• ZYX 4D retailing in a European country for $1,990 (yes, you read it right – RETAIL = $2568 minus 25% VAT).
• In the same European country , ZYX Omega is $3,800 minus 25% VAT (i.e. $3,040). This distributor had not listed ZYX omega price on his website. He quoted the price verbally but somehow feels funny because his Omega price is about $1,000 over his ZYX 4D.  He said he is under pressure to increase his prices. See ZYX Prices in a European Country (more pricing info, all available via a simple google search).
• Few trusted sources say they have seen ZYX Omega offers for about $3,200 to $3,500 in North America. Based on feedback from audiophiles I highly respect, I think it is still too expensive. Even if you like the sound, why is it that ZYX Omega costs about $600 more than ZYX 4D in Japan but about $4,450 in North America? If you love Omega, you should not pay $600 over above ZYX 4D price.
• People associated with the business tell me ZYX North American dealers now get 60% margin. This also means they can give you more “discounts.”
• I am also told that ZYX North American distributor gets extra discounts over and beyond what is normally given to other ZYX distributors. I guess it is a 30% extra discount based on other information I have. I am not sure.
• I have seen emails from North American dealers trying to sell into other countries at low prices.
• If you want to know ZYX prices in other countries, contact other ZYX distributors.
• Some ZYX distributors appear desperate to sell. More on that later.

Now, what does all this mean to SORAsound? Read more…

Tags: dealers, distributors, sibatech, ZYX 4d, ZYX chats, ZYX Company, zyx omega, ZYX prices

A ZYX Co dealer had complained about one of our Haiti Charity Auctions to one of our manufacturers. In some of his Audiogon ads, he also appears to have referred to us or some of our colleagues as “fluff.” So, today we posted our final charity auction on Audiogon benefiting Haiti Relief Fund. It was a fully fluff free ad, sticking to the facts and numbers.

• Normal distributor cost for ZYX R100H about 1/3 of distributor cost for ZYX Omega G
• My price for R100H: $695
• ZYX Omega G North American retail price is $8,300
• ZYX Omega G retails at about 12 times what SORAsound is selling R100H ($695 * 12 = $8,340)
• ZYX R100H distributor cost is about 1/3 of ZYX Omega G distributor cost but I sell it for about 1/12th of ZYX Omega G North American retail price

Now, the hell with all above and on to more important facts:

• Many people are suffering in Haiti
• Over 110,000 died in the earth quake
• Over 4,000 Americans are missing in Haiti (more than what died on Sept 11)
• Many Haitian kids will remember this tragedy for the rest of their life
• We are the most powerful nation in the world. WE CAN HELP!

We hope you bid on it or Text HAITI to 90999 donate $10.

A customer called me to say “Don’t get in the mud with pigs.”

Tags: R100, ZYX cartridges, ZYX chats, zyx omega

Believe it or not, I try to avoid writing about ZYX Co, Sibatech and other ZYX related matters. It has taken its toll on me. Some postings have therapeutic value like Audiophiles Are Not Idiots. Some drain me and are against my positive nature. I have to think hard to make sure what I say is informative and relevant to the audiophile community. I hope all my postings are like that in some manner as demonstrated in Why ZYX Omega G retails $600 more than ZYX 4D in Japan but up to $4,450 in North America and ZYX Cartridge Retail Prices Are Bogus. I also do my best not to offend anyone (I swear) while staying true to myself, SORAsound, and audiophiles. This all takes too much time and energy.

Look, I have already been screwed big time, stabbed in the back and have wasted too much time and energy on it. I want to stop soon. Please – don’t ruffle my feathers no more!

Some people in the business (including some existing ZYX dealers) may actually prefer this soap opera to continue. After all, in such a situation everyone loses. This is a great opportunity for the so called “bystanders” or vultures, already positioning themselves to grab the line and “save” ZYX Company and the brand! Be my guest if this is such a pot of gold, or better yet – Gold Coils.

Please know I do not want any changes in the current North American ZYX Co dealer network, and business model. What better gift from Sibatech and ZYX Company to their competitors?

Tags: sibatech, ZYX 4d, ZYX cartridges, ZYX chats, ZYX Company, zyx omega

ZYX retail prices are simply bogus. To my knowledge, based on 2009 North American retail pricing and distributor costs, margins for some ZYX cartridges are in excess of 80% per unit (dealer margin 50%). Naturally, as dollar strengthens, the margins will get higher, assuming other factors constant.

[addition on Feb. 7, 2010. I was recently told ZYX dealers in North America now get 60% margin. I have not independently confirmed but my source is in the know. In addition I am told that Sibeatch / ZYX Company give their North American distributor extra discount over and beyond what they normally give their distributors, to compete better with SORAsound. This also makes sense given the discount levels we hear about in the market]

This of course is not pure profit as it excludes costs of doing business at each layer of the supply chain. Everyone like us has costs but our prices for ZYX Company products are much better for you (compare SORAsound prices and see how much lower our ZYX prices are). On top of our great pricing, SORAsound provides you with an unbeatable customer service and beats any valid offer you have.

Obviously, the winning phono cartridge is the one that sounds the best, provides the best manufacturing quality, the best price, and the best support, no matter who the manufacturer is. The sound and matching to your system can only be judged by you and your ears. Company reputation and integrity are key factors in expected support. In the future postings, I will address the aforementioned attributes. For now, please rest assured that at SORAsound, we take care of you well with ZYX cartridges and cartridges from other manufacturers we represent.

Ask yourself a few questions:

• Why does ZYX Omega Gold cost about $4,450 more than ZYX 4D Copper in North America and many other countries but only about $600 more in Japan? [Feb. 13, 2010 addition. SORAsound has now found ZYX Omega G for about $2,695 excluding VAT in a European country, and was quoted verbally a retail price of $3,040 in another; both RETAIL prices, not that I recommend you buy ZYX Omega G. Check out ZYX Omega G Retail Price Comparison Chart].
• Does this represent bigger issues you may want to avoid?
• Do you want to support such practices?
• What other manufacturers and sellers deal with you more fairly, and provide as good or better sound for you?

As many audiophiles are aware, SORAsound always ignored ZYX retail prices because we knew they were bogus. Our day to day pricing posted on our website got some mad of course because they wanted to keep the so called “retail pricing.” I sincerely believe it would do ZYX Company and their distributors a lot of good to lower their prices to real pricing (as SORAsound had suggested). They can all make more money and it will help the ZYX brand. But somehow for them, other factors prevail. For us, we know that Audiophiles Are Not Idiots.

Tags: ZYX, ZYX cartridges, ZYX chats, zyx omega, ZYX prices

In the last few months, based on certain complaints received, Audiogon has asked SORAsound to remove and/or tame some of our ads. I respect Audiogon as a business and understand their decisions. We do our best not to rock any boats. I cordially offer the explanation below to those who complain about our ads.

First, let me be clear and say I still respect Hisayoshi Nakatsuka san as a cartridge maker. I like Nakatsuka san as a person. He was good to SORAsound. Nami and I still consider him a friend. All people make mistakes in their lives. We all learn to forgive and move on. We still extend our most sincere gratitudes and best wishes to Nakatsuka san.

Now, let me get to your complaints. Perhaps you are bothered by the facts and/or opinions we state on SORAsound.com regarding business practices in some countries associated with ZYX Company and its global agent, Sibatech. Perhaps you are bothered when we question why ZYX Omega G retails at $600 more than ZYX 4D in Japan but up to $4,450 in some countries? Is this statement a fact or not (accounting for variations in exchange rate)? Of course I understand there may be other costs involved depending on business practices of a particular company but you need to improve your own business practices and business processes rather than aim at SORAsound and our ads.

[Feb 13, 2010 addition: Since this posting, through a simple google search and a couple of phone calls we have found a variety of prices for ZYX Omega G. In one European country known for its high cost of living, ZYX Omega G is about $3,040 excluding VAT, in another great European country, again expensive place, ZYX Omega G retails for $2,695 excluding VAT. Given the weak dollar, the discrepancies mentioned here are great. How can one justify the difference between $2,695 and $8,300 for ZYX Omega G? Does the same cartridge sound so much better in North America or other parts of the world where they are retailed at such ridiculous prices?]

Audiophiles are not idiots. Just because we have this great addiction of pouring our money and soul into this beautiful hobby of ours, does not make us total idiots. As of this posting, there is a ZYX Omega MC Cartridge on Audiogon for $3,500. I am told the customer has only had the cartridge about two months, purchased directly from ZYX distributor in North America, and is the silver version that retails for $8,000. This ad alone tells me this customer has probably paid around the dealer price for his ZYX Omega cartridge. Of course I may be totally wrong but my thoughts are based on the following assumptions:

• Given ZYX North American dealer margins appears to be at 50%, this cartridge was probably sold to the end consumer at about same price
• Most people do not like or want to lose $500 or more in two months
• Some ZYX cartridges have in excess of 80% per unit margin, based on current North American retail prices
• So, while the dealer has probably about 50% margin to play with, the distributor has more margin to play with and further discounting is possible. (By the way, I am aware of an offer by a ZYX dealer for 50% off. So I assume in certain cases dealers can sell at “their own cost”).

ZYX prices are bogus. Your business practices give ZYX brand a bad name, not SORAsound ads on Audiogon. It is your business and I wish you the best but please don’t blame SORAsound. You need to ask yourself a few basic questions:   Read more…

Tags: ZYX, ZYX cartridges, ZYX chats, zyx omega, ZYX prices

Ever since I heard of ZYX omega, I wondered why a $30 blue ball increases the price of a phono cartridge by $2,900 to $3,700 over ZYX 4D MC cartridge with similar specifications.

• ZYX 4D retails $3,850 in japan regardless of coil
• ZYX Omega (copper, silver, gold) retails 399,000 yen in japan or $4,450 given today’s weak dollar
• As you see, in Japan ZYX Omega MC cartridge is only about $600 more expensive than ZYX 4D (today’s exchange rate, dollar still weak)
• Obviously this $600 differential includes distributor cost differential, distributor margin, and dealer margin.

BUT…..in North America and some other countries:

• ZYX 4D MC cartridge retails from $4,580 to $5,100
• ZYX omega retails from $7,500 to $8,300
• So, in these countries, ZYX Omega MC cartridge is about about $2,900 to $3,700 over ZYX 4D.

In other words ZYX Omega G in America – ZYX 4D G in Japan =  $8,300  - $3,850  = $4,450 (instead of $600 in japan). WHY?

[Feb. 13, 2010 addition. Since this posting, I have found a country in Europe where ZYX 4D X, S, or G cost $2,345 excluding VAT; and ZYX Omega X, S, and G cost $2,695, a difference of $350. How Can One Justify the Price Gap of $2,695 and $8,300?]

Your comments are always welcome and will be published here. I am sure both ZYX Omega and ZYX 4D cartridges sound good as I trust Nakatsuka san (ZYX, Co’s) capability as a phono cartridge manufacturer. I am only posing the question vis-a-vis potential value to audiophiles.

Regardless, please come to SORAsound for best deals on ZYX Co. products, and MC cartridges from other great manufacturers we represent: Lyra, DaVInci Audio, Koetsu, Shelter, Soundsmith, 47 Lab, Miyabi, Miyajima Labs, and others. SORAsound is committed to be your best analog source.

Check out ZYX Co Japan retail prices and see for yourself that SORAsound prices are lower.

For further info on ZYX products, please make sure to read ZYX CHATS.

Tags: ZYX 4d, ZYX atmos, ZYX cartridges, ZYX chats, zyx omega

ZYX omega is the ZYX with one ball. ZYX 4D is the one with no balls. SORAsound does not represent either cartridge. the closest we have is ZYX ATMOS which was once thought to be the same as ZYX 4D (see the never ending saga). for further information on each cartridge, please check out the ZYX products page. in the meantime, please keep abreast of the following facts:

• ZYX omega 2009 retail price in north america is from $7,500 to $8,300 depending on the coil (copper, silver, gold). in japan, ZYX omega retails for about $4,450 given the weak dollar.
• ZYX 4D 2009 retail price in north america is from $4,580 to $5,300 depending on the coil. in japan, the same cartridge retails for about $3,850.
• so in north america, the 2009 retail price differential between ZYX Omega and ZYX 4D is up to $3,700. in japan, these two cartridges are about $650 apart.
• and the retail price difference between ZYX omega gold in north america and ZYX 4D copper in japan is about $8,300 – $3,850 = $4,450. this is all extra margin over the ZYX cartridge margins in japan.

[Feb. 13, 2010 addition. We have now found ZYX Omega G retailing in a European country for $2,695 excluding VAT. See the comparison of ZYX Omega cartridge prices in a few countries.]

now, which cartridge should you go for? as always, your ears should make the judgement and you vote with your wallet. my feeling is that if ZYX 4D copper is similar to ZYX ATMOS, then it is a very good cartridge. my guess would be the sound of 4D gold is mushy.

how about ZYX omega? i think it took guts to put that lapis lazuli ball in front of the cartridge. i congratulate hisayoshi nakatsuka san for his courage, innovativeness and thinking out of the box. it reminds me of a story in one of my favorite movies called “how to get ahead in advertising.” those of you appreciating a dry sense of humor would love this movie staring richard grant.

in summary, if the price differential between ZYX omega and 4D is reasonable (i.e. a few hundred dollars), then if you prefer the sound of ZYX omega and (as denis dimbleby bagley – the character in the movie – would have said), if you can live with the boil, then ZYX omega is the right choice for you. else, stick to ZYX 4D or better yet, ZYX ATMOS.

SORAsound remains your best source for ZYX products and other analog goodies.

Tags: nakatsuka, ZYX, ZYX 4d, ZYX atmos, ZYX cartridges, ZYX chats, zyx omega, ZYX prices

disclaimer: SORAsound does not represent ZYX cartridges and we do not carry ZYX sigma 2 or ZYX diamond.

we have decided to post relevant information on ZYX sigma 2 and ZYX diamond for the sake of comprehensiveness and to help the audiophile community make a more informed decision in their search for the best phono cartridges available, at a reasonable value. please click on each link for further info and as always rely on ZYX CHATS as your best source of information if you are considering a ZYX cartridge or simply look at ZYX products page to review all ZYX products at once.

ZYX diamond 2009 retail prices in north america are about $14,900 to $16,000 depending on the coil. in japan about $8,750 regardless of coil.

ZYX sigma 2 north american retail prices during 2009 are from $14,000 to $14,900 depending on the coil.

i am only familiar with ZYX R1000 sigma which was based on ZYX R1000 airy (not airy 2 or airy 3). nakatsuka san himself had told me that ZYX airy was a better cartridge than zyx sigma. as a result, i did not import the product when i represented the line. i assume ZYX sigma 2 is now based on ZYX airy 3 (not sure) and if so, it is a better cartridge than ZYX R1000 sigma. is it better than ZYX R1000 airy 3? i do not know but if we apply the same comparison as in the case of ZYX airy and ZYX sigma, then that begs the question again.

so are ZYX diamond and ZYX sigma 2 cartridges worth the asking price in north america and a few other countries? well, if you are planning to buy either one of these ZYX phono cartridges, instead of my advice you need an honest session with your shrink. if they can be of no help, then why not take the much needed, long awaited vacation and fly to tokyo? stay in a really nice hotel, have some delicious sushi, and buy either a ZYX diamond or a ZYX sigma 2 cartridge at full retail price (the generous champ you are), and come back home with more cash in your pocket. better yet, buy both ZYX sigma 2 and ZYX diamond, come back to america, and see if you can sell either at some profit.

Tags: ZYX, ZYX chats, zyx diamond, zyx omega, ZYX prices, ZYX R1000 sigma, zyx sigma