Boheme

I have intended for some time to write you about the splendid Boheme that you built me after they were listed on your website as “manufacturer-discontinued”. I had been following that product for several years and saving my pennies to purchase one from you and was ready to make the move. Seeing that announcement on your website really dashed my hopes of purchasing one. I immediately called and you personally answered the phone. After some discussion, you agreed to make one for me. I was really excited as some of my friends had purchased Soundsmith cartridges and now I was going to have mine also.

It is spectacular! I can’t tell you how long, if ever, it has been since I purchased just one item that made such a huge difference in my enjoyment of music. I won’t mention the name of my previous cartridge, but it is a well-regarded medium output moving-coil cartridge in the same price range as the Boheme. That’s where the comparison stops. The Boheme simply does everything better! It appears to be far more truthful to the music without making poor recordings unlistenable. That in itself is a huge benefit. Coupled with the amazing dynamics, accurate instrument timbres, huge sound stage, and wealth of detail, this cartridge does everything I could wish for and does it at a price that I think is amazing.

I really do not understand why this cartridge was not flying off your shelves! The only reason I can think of is that it doesn’t have that “hi-fi” sound that so many people seem to covet. It is boring (and I mean that as a very sincere complement!). It doesn’t add anything to the music that isn’t there to begin with and doesn’t overemphasize any frequency range beyond what is in the recording. It doesn’t overwhelm a listener with that punchy, overwrought sound so many rave about that gives us listener fatigue after short periods. I can even listen to poorly recorded rock-and-roll recordings without the need to jump up and stop the record! I can hear that it is poorly recorded, compressed, and used lousy sounding microphones… but I can still listen to it.

What’s even better though is that with well-recorded music, the experience is enthralling! I can’t stop listening and don’t wish to. I am so thankful that you took pity on me and built me this very special cartridge after you had “officially” stopped producing them! It will be on my turntable for the rest of whatever’s left of my life. I know this because if it ever needs to be re-tipped, I can send it back to you and for a very reasonable price have a “new” Boheme.

Thank you again for this amazing piece of equipment! My friends and I are really enjoying it!

John - Atlanta area Audiophile

They Said What?

I listened to this cartridge for about two months, for full break-in, even though it had about 30 hours on it as stated in a note with the delivery package. Several hundred hours later, I realized I was enjoying it more and more, and only then decided to run it through the test process.