Giant-Killing Performance from a Phono Cartridge That Can Last for Ages: Soundsmith Carmen mk II ES Moving-Iron Design Plays with Remarkable Warmth, Smoothness, Bloom, and Purity

One look at Carmen mk II ES' function-first angular body – which resembles that of an imposing battleship out of a "Star Wars" film – and you'll realize this is no ordinary phono cartridge. Indeed, Soundsmith's giant-killing moving-iron design sparks with levels of warmth, dimensionality, tonality, and musicality uncommon to nearly all other high-end models in its price class. That it comes with a two-year manufacturer's warranty to the original owner as well as the ability to get rebuilt at one-fifth of its original cost only add to the allure.

Fueled by an ultra-low mass occlusion-free nude diamond stylus – cut and polished into a true hyper-elliptical shape – Carmen mk II ES plays with an incredible purity, silky smoothness, and full-bloom midrange. The combination of its low tip mass and fixed-coil engineering gives Carmen mk II ES a tremendous resolution advantage over MC designs. Housed in a handmade solid Ebony case, this high-output go-getter will seduce you via its performance and tracking abilities.

As for that sleek body? It serves multiple purposes, chiefly of which is resisting the uncontrolled vibrations of traditional "boxy" cartridges. Each entry in Soundsmith's ES line features a significant evolution of its DEMS (Dynamic Energy Management System) design. ES cartridges direct internal vibrational forces without reflection and disperse them properly to the tonearm. Such absence of reflections enables the stylus to stay in far greater statistical contact with the groove walls, leading to increased liquidity, reduced "grain," and preservation of valuable detail. Azimuth adjustment is also built into each model, along with the option for electrical isolation for hum-prone systems.

Advantages of Moving-Iron Designs

A moving-iron cartridge has both the magnets and the coils fixed in place. A very low-mass and extremely precisely wound iron cross is affixed to the cantilever/stylus assembly and placed between the magnets and coils. As the iron cross moves in the magnetic field, it generates signal voltage. Since only the iron cross moves, more coil windings (higher output) and heavier magnets (more powerful) may be used without penalty. Other advantages to MI designs are very low moving mass (greater resolution) and superior channel separation (better imaging).

Use With Confidence: Carmen mk II ES Can Be Rebuilt at Fraction of Original Cost

Carmen mk II ES benefits from infallible customer support and a wonderful safety net. Soundsmith is the only high-end cartridge company that rebuilds its own products at a fraction of the original price – no matter what the issue. Equally important, moving-iron cartridges can always be rebuilt, unlike MC designs sometimes damaged beyond possible repair.

Best of Both Worlds: Soundsmith Moving-Iron Cartridges

Enjoy the best of both worlds: Soundsmith's moving-iron cartridges encompass the advantages of moving-coil and moving-magnet designs while simultaneously lessening or eliminating the respective approaches' deficiencies. Boasting extraordinary tracking abilities that let them effortlessly sail through complex musical passages, a warm and detailed character, exceptional transient response, and a full sound that completes entire notes and finishes instrumental structures, U.S.A.-made Soundsmith models exude natural musicality and high-end design. You'll love your new Soundsmith the moment it hits your favorite records' grooves.