Soundsmith Cartridge - Paua MkII ES

The Paua; adorned with seashell to remind us of the beauty of the sounds of the world all around us. Nature healing nature.
The ES Series version of The Absolute Sounds' Editors' Choice Award Winner!

Unparalleled 2 Year Warranty! Retip is less than 14% of MSRP at $800!

The Soundsmith ES Series Featuring Upgraded Performance, Design and the Dynamic Energy Management System (DEMS)!

What is the Dynamic Energy Management System (DEMS)?
The ES line features not only a dramatic new look, but is a significant evolution of the Dynamic Energy Management System (DEMS) design. The new Soundsmith ES cartridge designs are a significant advancement in cartridge performance due to their ability to direct internal vibrational forces without reflection and disperse them properly to the tone arm. The absence of reflections enables the stylus to stay in far greater statistical contact with the groove walls — a critically important technical refinement. Increased liquidity and reduced "grain," without loss of detail are some of the immediately discernible advantages of Soundsmith's new ES models. The new line also features Azimuth adjustment built-in to each cartridge, as well as the option for electrical isolation for hum-prone systems.

Every cartridge in Soundsmith's lineup will now feature their sleek new ES body design. The upgrade is far more than cosmetic; the new shape is a departure from the reflective and "boxy" design of many cartridges whose internal construction contribute to uncontrolled vibrational issues adversely effecting performance. Peter Ledermann, president of Soundsmith, says, "Think of how singing in an open field compares with singing in a shower." Soundsmith has always challenged conventions, looking deeper into nuances of cartridge design that dramatically affect immediate and long term performance. These have included extreme reductions of moving mass and the use of novel materials and designs. The new ES lineup is a continuation of that research and development.

The Paua is one of Soundsmith‘s most highly regarded top of the line low output cartridges. Winner of numerous accolades and praise from users and reviewers around the world, including an “Editor’s Choice Award” in 2015 from TAS. Featuring ultralow internal moving mass, a specialized telescoping alloy cantilever and highly polished low mass nude Contact Line stylus, the Paua will add a unique quality of warmth and smoothness to any analog system without leaving behind all the critical details you want and need to hear. The Paua reaches new heights of stylus control and performance, as is confirmed by its incredibly high channel separation figures. We have accomplished a work of art with the Paua design, resulting in an unparalleled and sublime performance.

An Unparalleled Warranty:
The Paua Cartridge is covered for a full two years. Retip is less than 14% of the retail ($550). An absolutely unheard of warranty for cartridges. Made in the USA, the Soundsmith cartridges are the best long term values around!

In reviewing the original Paua cartridge:
"If I had to live with just one cartridge, I would choose the Paua, because it offers more with a wider range of the recordings in my collection. As it stands, the cartridge will be happily employed spinning records in the future, as we have added it to our reference fleet." - Jeff Dorgay, TONEaudio No. 36, April 2011

"When the needle dropped on the lead groove, it started showing off immediately. The Paua II was giving me more image solidity than I’d heard before. Images were more three dimensional and alive, more palpable." - Martin Appel, Audiophilia

Specifications:
Stylus: Contact Line Nude, 0.100mm SQ
Radius of curvature: Nude Contact Line SELECTED
Cantilever: Telescoping Aluminum Alloy
Recommended Tracking force: 1.7 to 1.9 Grams
Effective tip mass: 0.30 mg
Compliance: 10µm/mN (low compliance)
Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz ± 1.0 dB
Channel Separation (stereo only): 1000 Hz >34 dB, 50Hz - 15kHz >25 dB
Channel difference: <0.5 dB (Stereo), <1.0 dB (Mono)
Output voltage: 0.4 mV
Cartridge weight: 12.2 Grams
Loading: >= 470 O

2 Year Warranty
Retip: $800