My Sonic Lab
The Lowest Loss With The Highest Output.
Founded by master cartridge maker Mr. Yoshio Matsudaira in 2004, the goal of My Sonic Lab was to pursue and develop the ultimate cartridges. Mr. Matsudaira has been a highly sought after designer of high performance cartridges, with a client list that has included respected brands such as Koetsu, Air Tight, Miyabi, Luxman, Supex and Audio Craft. His unique SH-μX high flux / high permeability core material is one of the few genuine breakthroughs in cartridge design in the last fifty years. Only with the development of SH-μX was it possible to achieve an unseen level of performance with the lowest internal impedance and the highest output.
The sound of My Sonic Lab cartridges are the result of master cartridge designer Yoshio Matsudaira seeking natural reproduction by minimizing signal loss, internal distortion, and phase distortion. All My Sonic cartridges utilize Matsudaira-san’s unique SH-μX magnetic core. This special core material has higher permeability and flux density than the typical iron core material used in MC cartridges. It allows My Sonic Lab to use fewer coil windings than other moving coil cartridges, minimizing music robbing distortions and maximizing signal output. This high efficiency approach equals wide dynamic range, fast transient response, low distortion and high signal-to-noise ratio. In other words, expect tremendous natural detail and clarity and to hear new layers of information in your favorite records.
Signature Platinum
The Signature Platinum is the ultimate expression of designer Yoshio Matsudaira’s goals. Pure transparency without distortion or coloration. Building upon the design of Signature Gold, the Platinum eliminates the final percentages of cartridge coloration by utilizing a Black Ion Hardened Titanium body that is completely free of any audible resonance. The Signature Platinum is only the 2nd model in the My Sonic Lab line to use a Boron pipe, which is lighter, more rigid and faster than the aluminum cantilevers. The result is pure transparency. After you hear this model, you’ll realize every other cartridge you’ve ever heard adds something that isn’t supposed to be there. Signature Platinum is Matsudaira’s masterpiece.
Signature Gold
The Signature Gold was released for My Sonic Lab’s 10th anniversary. Matsudaira-san evaluated every aspect of his previous Eminent designs for areas to be improved. A stronger two-component chassis, higher grade internal wiring and improvements in the suspension led to a more refined sound. However, it is the 10% larger SH-μX core that makes the Signature Gold excel at energetic expression and power. Compared to the Eminent designs, Signature Gold has more extension, slam, power, and dynamic range.
Ultra Eminent EX
The Hyper Eminent EX cartridge is made from super hard A7075 aluminum with strengthening measures achieved with an ion surface hardening treatment. 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.
Hyper Eminent EX
The Hyper Eminent EX cartridge is made from super hard A7075 aluminum with strengthening measures achieved with an ion surface hardening treatment. 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.
Eminent Ex
The sound of the Eminent Ex is the result of master cartridge designer Yoshio Matsudaira seeking natural reproduction by minimizing signal loss, internal distortion, and phase distortion. Eminent EX utilizes Matsudaira-san’s unique SH-μX magnetic core. This special core material has 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, minimizing music robbing distortions, while not making the sacrifice of signal output. This high efficiency approach equals wide dynamic range, fast transient response, low distortion and high signal-to-noise ratio. In other words, expect tremendous natural detail and clarity and to hear new layers of information in your favorite records.
“My Sonic Lab’s Eminent EX is among the finest, most skillfully balanced cartridges I’ve heard.”
—Michael Fremer,
Stereophile“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.”
—Harry Pearson,
The Absolute Sound
My Sonic Labs SH 1Rh Headshell
The My Sonic Lab SH-1RH headshell was developed with an emphasis on sound quality. This high-grade design is made using hard anodized aluminum alloy (A6063S) with excellent strength to support any cartridge you choose and keep unwanted resonances at bay. Moreover, the mounting holes are fixed positions with 3-points placed at +/- 3 mm intervals from the center. This design pattern completely holds the cartridge in place and makes cartridge mounting and overhang alignment extremely simple. The headshell connector is a highly reliable design that introduces a twin key lock system that completely locks the headshell into your tonearm. In addition, expensive bright rhodium plating treatment containing trace amounts of platium ore and gold ore is used for its excellent sound quality and reliability for each part of the terminal pin and terminal connector.