My Sonic Lab Hyper Eminent EX Moving Coil Cartridge

In creating the Eminent series, master cartridge designer Yoshio Matsudaira focused on natural reproduction by minimizing signal loss, internal distortion, and phase distortion. This cartridge features Matsudaira-san’s unique SH-μX magnetic core that has higher permeability and flux density than the core material typically used in MC cartridges. This allows for fewer coil windings than other moving coil cartridges, which minimizes distortion without lowering signal output levels. It is a high-efficiency approach that offers wide dynamic range, fast transient response, low distortion, and high signal-to-noise ratio.

The Hyper Eminent EX cartridge is made from A7075 aluminum that has an ion surface hardening treatment. This effectively creates a sandwich material, which eliminates the inherent resonances of a single material. This surface is ten times harder than that of the 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.

Features

• SH-μX core
• Extra Super Duralumin A7075 alloy body with ion treatment
• Super Duralumin cantilever

Specifications

Type: Semi line contact moving coil

Internal Impedance: 1.8 Ω

Output Voltage: 0.5 mV

Compliance: 10×10-6 cm/dyne

Recommended Tracking Force: 1.9-2.2 g

Recommended Loading: 100-800 Ω (ideal is around 400 Ω)

Weight: 9.5 g