Rats!! Had I the resources of the ZYX people my SSS (Sweet Spot Shifter) would have been perfected by the Dungeon Labs many years ago!
Last night I read about the $16,000 ZYX Diamond !!!!! which had a weird-looking knob in front of the cartridge. It is described as a device to optimize the location of the cartridge's centroid (sweet spot). Well, I'll be darned!!
I had been working along that track for many years now, starting in 2004 when I first demo'ed an early Kamagong tonearm at VD's house http://www.wiredstate.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=2088&start40, page 3. It was first described in response to JR's question "What is that thing dangling on the headshell for?".
I gave it a "tease" preview at the 2006 HiFi Show http://www.wiredstate.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=11825&start=140 page8. It was wholeheartedly ignored. I suppose it was imagined to be too novel or too radical to be given much thought .
It saw light again at Jack's Lair http://www.wiredstate.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=998&t=18097start=40 page3. Unfortunately it is best remembered when Arnold asked if it was tilted and I kidded him that it might be his camera that's tilted
I can't say which SSS "sounds" better. What I can say is that the Pinoy version having been born in poverty is easily adjustable to accommodate various cartridges and tonearms. The Japanese version is not. The SSS has to be adjusted for different cartridge and tonearm weights for optimal performance! The Japanese version cannot do this!
I have been continually using the SSS in various configuration with a high degree of satisfaction. The only other person who is being pleasured by the devise is Pigdog who has it mounted on the Kamagong tonearm I made for him http://www.wiredstate.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=99&t=21048, page1.
There Chester, the cat is out of the bag, the info has been declassified. I free you from your vow of secrecy.
I think in this case, lowly Pinoy DIY edges out a Japanese high end manufacturer. Seriously!