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8 John Walsh Boulevard, Suite 417
Telephone (914) 739-2885
Peekskill, New York 10566
Fax (914) 739-5204
ZEPHYR MIMC STAR MOVING IRON PHONO CARTRIDGE
rev1
Owner's Manual and Technical Description
Mounting Instructions
The Zephyr MIMC Star has the ability to accept long mounting screws into its body due to
the unique design. You do not need to use screws of an exact required length. You must,
however, make sure that since the screws first enter the relatively soft threaded composite
material before they enter the brass, that they are threaded correctly. They should not bind,
or cross thread. If you encounter difficulty inserting the screws while turning, stop
immediately and make sure the screws are the proper 2.5mm metric thread, and that you
have not started them in at an improper angle.
Electrical Loading
The Zephyr MIMC Star is designed to be used with a Moving Coil Preamp at about 63dB
of gain. Some have successfully used the Zephyr MIMC Star with a Moving Magnet
preamp, assuming that there is sufficient gain in both the MM preamp stage and following
it.
The new Zephyr MIMC Star requires a MINIMUM RESISTIVE LOAD of 470 Ohms, with
best loading determined by your system and your listening preferences. Usually, this is
between 470 and 1000 Ohms. There is no harm in using a 47K typical MM load, but you
may experience a peaked high end. Capacitive loading may reduce that effect somewhat to
a satisfactory degree. Again, loading requirements will be determined by your system, and
your personal listening preferences. PLEASE NOTE that loading well below 470 Ohms
will result in loss of high frequencies.
Please also note that some designs of "current amplifier" preamp circuits will not allow
loading in the range required, causing the Zephyr MIMC Star to sound very dull – caused
by improper loading, resulting in loss of high frequencies.
Unlike other low output cartridges, the Zephyr MIMC Star is a six sided fully shielded
cartridge, and being such, is one of the world most hum-free and RF free cartridges. When
properly used with shielded cable from your tone-arm, there should be no hum whatsoever.
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Table of Contents
Summary of Contents for Soundsmith ZEPHYR MIMC
- Page 1 Owner’s Manual and Technical Description Mounting Instructions The Zephyr MIMC Star has the ability to accept long mounting screws into its body due to the unique design. You do not need to use screws of an exact required length. You must, however, make sure that since the screws first enter the relatively soft threaded composite material before they enter the brass, that they are threaded correctly.
- Page 2 Tracking Force The Zephyr MIMC Star is designed to operate between 1.6 grams and 2.2 grams. Optimal force is usually 1.9 – 2.0 grams, but may be marked on each cartridge box. Higher VTF may be used, but will result in the cartridge eventually “bottoming” on the record. The cartridge is designed such that no damage will occur to the record or cartridge when that happens.
- Page 3 All diamond styli last approximately 1000 hours when aligned and used correctly. Soundsmith can re-tip your Zephyr MIMC Star in or out of warranty. The Zephyr MIMC Star is fully warranteed against manufacturing defect for a period of TWO YEARS to the original owner.
- Page 4 All diamond styli last approximately 1000 hours when aligned and used correctly. Soundsmith can re-tip your Zephyr MIMC Star for a fee of $350 at this time, restoring the diamond to new condition. If the Ruby cantilever is snapped, we can still rebuild the cartridge.
- Page 5 Another advantage of this design is the inherent high level of channel separation. Unlike MC cartridges, a rotation of the generating element in The Zephyr MIMC Star (moving iron) due to manufacturing tolerances or aging does not affect the separation at all.
- Page 6 It is our hope that your carefully crafted, hand-made Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC Star cartridge will bring you many years of listening pleasure. The simple fact is, when we sit at a microscope for hours making each one, that is primary in our thoughts……we hope that each one will bring some joy to the listener.
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