My Sonic Lab Hyper Eminent EX Stereo MC Phono Cartridge

The sound of My Sonic Lab cartridges is the result of master cartridge designer Yoshio Matsudaira seeking natural reproduction by minimizing signal loss, internal distortion, and phase distortion. The Eminent EX utilises Matsudaira-san’s unique SH-μX magnetic core. This special core material has a higher permeability and flux density than the core material typically used in MC cartridges.

It allows My Sonic Lab to use fewer coil windings than other moving coil cartridges, minimising distortions that degrade the signal while at the same time not sacrificing signal output. This high efficiency approach results in a wide dynamic range, fast transient response, low distortion and high signal-to-noise ratio. Users around the world have commented on the ability of My Sonic Lab cartridges to communicate tremendous natural detail, clarity and revealing new layers of information from their favourite records.

A key reason for the exalted sound of My Sonic Lab cartridges is the heritage or provenance of the creator. This can often help to explain why something sounds the way it does. Creating cartridges that produce this level of performance is only possible with immense experience and talent. Previous to founding My Sonic Lab, Mr. Matsudaira worked with Yoshiaki Sugano and played a major role in developing the original Koetsu Onyx cartridge. The two had met previously at Supex. Early in his career while Matsudaira-san worked with Sugano, he also designed a cartridge for Luxman, which is how he met Miura-san. They developed a close relationship which many years later led to Matsudaira designing and manufacturing cartridges for Air Tight while he was with Audio Craft. In 2004, after three decades of designing and building MCs for nearly every top Japanese cartridge manufacturer, Matsudaira started My Sonic Lab. He still does OEM/ODM for many of Japan’s top brands.

The Hyper Eminent EX cartridge sits between the Eminent EX and the Ultra Eminent models and is designed to further reduce cartridge resonance at the base of the head and the transfer of vibration to the suspension system. To achieve this, it is constructed from super hard A7075 aluminium with further strengthening achieved with an ion-surface hardening treatment, commonly used in high strength aeronautical applications. This treatment creates a sandwiching effect and eliminates the inherent resonances of a single material. The result is a 10x harder surface than the body of Eminent EX. This extra hard body, combined with the warm and natural sound of the Super Duralumin cantilever, makes the Hyper Eminent detailed but never lean sounding and is considered a true reference cartridge by many experts.

Quotes

The Absolute Sound, Harry Pearson, 2000 – Golden Ear Awards

This can truly be the best and finest moving coil cartridge on the market today. It’s almost ideal in all important parameters…

The Absolute Sound, Harry Pearson, 2010

If Mercury Records had designed a cartridge that captured the Living Presence sound, it would have been the My Sonic Labs. From the moment the needle hits the groove, things sound “alive!” Not only does this playback device have more zap and dynamics, it also has a more liquid sound, and is so genuinely seductive you might well buy it on first listen.

Product Specification

Body

• Super Duralumin A7075 alloy body

Type

• Moving Coil

Magnet

• SH-μX core, Neodymium #50

Cantilever

• Ultra Duralumin (A7075)

Stylus

• Semi-Line contact stylus (3µm x 30µm)

Terminal Pins

• Polished Rhodium-plated

Output Voltage

• 0.5mV at 1kHz

Internal Impedance

• 1.8Ω (DCR)

Weight

• 9.5g

Recommended Tracking Force

• 1.9 – 2.2g

Compliance

• 10×10-6cm/dyen

Recommended Loading

• 100-800Ω (ideal is around 400Ω)

Frequency Response

• 10Hz – 50kHz

Channel Balance

• < 0.5dB (1kHz)

Channel Separation

• > 30dB (1kHz)

Tracking ability

• @315Hz at 2g tracking force

Body

• Super Duralumin A7075 alloy body

Type

• Moving Coil

Magnet

• SH-μX core, Neodymium #50

Cantilever

• Ultra Duralumin (A7075)

Stylus

• Semi-Line contact stylus (3µm x 30µm)

Terminal Pins

• Polished Rhodium-plated

Output Voltage

• 0.5mV at 1kHz

Internal Impedance

• 1.8Ω (DCR)

Weight

• 9.5g

Recommended Tracking Force

• 1.9 – 2.2g

Compliance

• 10×10-6cm/dyen

Recommended Loading

• 100-800Ω (ideal is around 400Ω)

Frequency Response

• 10Hz – 50kHz

Channel Balance

• < 0.5dB (1kHz)

Channel Separation

• > 30dB (1kHz)

Tracking ability

• @315Hz at 2g tracking force

User Reviews