*****SOLD*****
I purchased this ZYX Artisan Phono Stage (MM and MC) new from SORAsound and it is in excellent condition and sounds very good.
It comes with all original materials; manual, AC battery charging adapter, well constructed aluminum flight case and original ZYX outer box.
I would think it would be very hard to do better at my asking price.
It’s very easy to use with the flip of one or two toggle switches with no other adjustments necessary.
The unit itself weighs 1.75 lb. and is L-7.5” x W-6” x H-3.75” the phono stages case is made from Japanese cypress, but the use of wood is not a fashion statement.
As Mr. Nakatsuka stated: eddy currents occurring on the surface of metal containers can "disturb the sound signal.”
The wood is layered with five coats of semi-matt Japanese urushi -- a natural lacquer made from the hand-harvested sap of the urushi tree.
The actual shipping box weighs 8 lb., and is 13” x 16” x 6”. This could be boxed once again at additional cost.
There are many very good reviews available on Audiogon and/or professional reviews, just Google "ZYX Artisan Phone Stage”.
Retail: $4950
Asking $2200 (or best reasonable/realistic offer) Email me directly at: Lak9@bex.net otherwise I probably won't receive your message.
Buyer pays PayPal fee (unless funds are sent as “friends and Family"), UPS shipping and insurance fees.
I will consider selling worldwide but I will only ship with USPS.
Check out my feedback on Audiogon, user name: Lak
Segments of Review Summary from Sound Stage
Sound "I took to this phono stage from the start." "There it was -- that rich rounded tonality, that vibrating column of air that came only from a wood-bodied clarinet." The Artisan "[leaned] toward tonal richness and weight, but it was neither lush nor overly warm," and it "openly conveyed venue reflections and fingers sliding on cello strings." "Its combination of tonal rightness and high resolution made for lots of late-night record-playing enjoyment." "A component highly dexterous at unraveling musical complexity."
Features "Published specs say the Artisan delivers 35dB of gain for moving magnet cartridges and 55dB from its moving-coil outputs; however, for the latest revision of the Artisan, Mr. Nakatsuka confirmed that moving-coil gain is 60dB. Amplification occurs through four gain stages, whose even number assures that the unit is in phase between input and output. Here, field effect transistors (FETs) do the job -- the Artisan uses no step-up transformers." " DC power "charges nine 1.2-volt nickel-cadmium batteries that serve as capacitors for the Artisan’s low-impedance power supply."
Use "The Artisan is technically battery powered -- you can unplug it and expect it to pass the musical signal for an hour or two -- but it was designed to be plugged in at all times, and doing so does not change its sound for better or worse."
Value "At its list price, the Artisan offers good value, and it often sells for less. Props to Nakatsuka-san for this delightfully listenable phono stage."
