ZYX Omega Gold costs $600 higher than ZYX 4D in Japan, but up to $4,450 higher in North America. WHY?

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.