Airy 3S

About the Airy 3S

The ZYX Airy 3s is a premium moving coil (dynamic) phono cartridge from ZYX, known for its "REAL STEREO" generator system and cryogenic treatment at -196 ℃ (-320°F) to enhance performance. It features coils wound with silver wire, which provides a warmer sound signature compared to copper coils. The cantilever is made of boron solid with a diameter of 0.30mm, offering low mass, high rigidity, and fast response. The stylus is a Micro-Ridge solid diamond with a 0.07mm contact radius, designed for long life and precise groove tracing. The cartridge has an output voltage of approximately 0.34mV (5cm/sec), recommended tracking force of 2.0gm, and a tracking force range of 1.7gm to 2.5gm. It has excellent channel separation (>30dB at 1kHz) and channel balance (<0.5dB at 1kHz). The internal impedance is 4.0 Ω with a recommended load impedance over 100 Ω. The cartridge weighs about 5 grams (without silver base), with the silver base adding weight to improve dynamics and ease of installation. Dimensions are approximately 16.3mm width, 19.6mm length (body), and 15.5mm height. The Airy 3s is praised for its natural detail, life-like resolution, and absence of harshness, making it suitable for jazz, rock, and other music genres where warmth and openness are valued. It requires a quiet, high-gain front end and careful setup for optimal performance.