SKU: 12764559484

Soundsmith Aida MKII Turntable Cartridge

Sale price$1647.00 Regular price$1830.00
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Description

Soundsmith Aida MKII Turntable CartridgeAIDA MKII A triumph of Soundsmith Engineering, Stereophile Class A rated, a rarity at its price point and for good reasons. The Aida MKII employs a laser drilled Sapphire cantilever with ultra low mass Contact Line stylus; we did this to resolve the challenges of playing the inner grooves with the same level of confidence as the outer. How did we do this? The unique stylus shape of our CL stylus has a sharper playing surface on the faceted diamond,

AIDA MKII

A triumph of Soundsmith Engineering, Stereophile Class “A” rated, a rarity at its price point – and for good reasons.

The Aida MKII employs a laser drilled Sapphire cantilever with ultra-low mass Contact Line stylus; we did this to resolve the challenges of playing the inner grooves with the same level of confidence as the outer. How did we do this? The unique stylus shape of our CL stylus has a “sharper” playing surface on the faceted diamond, allowing it to ride easily into the groove modulations of even the most difficult passages and high frequency information that other cartridges simply cannot trace. The result — a truly superb cartridge, surpassing top MC designs with air, focus and sound staging no cartridge at this price should be able to achieve.

The Aida cartridge is a Stereophile A-rated cartridge, meaning it is in the "price is no object" category and was the cheapest cartridge there.

Soundsmith carefully hand-builds every cartridge, tests them, and keeps accurate records by serial number of their performance. Those that meet or exceed specifications are sold, and the ones that don't are broken down and recycled. 

Soundsmith took moving iron technology and perfected it. This design offers lower effective moving mass, causing the stylus to stay in better contact with the groove walls. High-gain moving coil preamps are not required, as the Aida is designed to be used with a moving magnet preamp.

New EM Series DEMS Design

What is DEMS??

“Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover.” – Peter Ledermann.

2018’s RMAF show was the official launch of Soundsmith’s new ES series of cartridges, where the attendees experienced the latest exploration into overlooked areas of cartridge design and solutions from Soundsmith.

The ES line features not only a dramatic new look, but is a significant evolution of the DEMS system design (Dynamic Energy Management System). 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. (see picture below)

Every cartridge in Soundsmith’s lineup will now feature our 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 affecting performance. Peter 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.

ES Series Mounting

The new ES has some special mounting features that you need to be aware of.

Sometimes when mounting on a grounded metal arm, a cartridge will create hum due to a ground loop. If you experience some low level hum due to ground loop, you can now solve this issue by using the two half-round white rods which are to be placed and used in the OUTER slots, seen on the top of the cartridge. Place them flat side UP.

The rods are made of Alumina, and are insulating, thus allowing ground isolation for your cartridge without compromising the crucial mechanical energy transfer into the tone arm. This energy transfer is maintained due to the use of Alumina, which has the same properties as aluminum, but is non-conductive. Due to the novel body design of the ES cartridge, electrical isolation can still be maintained even though you may use metal screws.

On tone arms that do not allow azimuth adjustment, it is now possible to achieve this adjustment by way of the ES series by using the one full round alumina rod in the center slot only, alternately tightening and loosening the mounting screws by small amounts.

Shipping Notes
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Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
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SKU: 12764559484

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M
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M
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
Good for night sessions
Size: Medium, Pattern Name: Pack of 1
Picked this up for evening fetch sessions and it’s been a win. It charges up fast, couple minutes under a lamp or in sunlight and it’s good to go, and the glow is genuinely bright, not the sad dim purple some of these put out. Makes it way easier to find in the yard at dusk, and the dog can actually track it. It’s a little on the softer side compared to a regular tennis ball, but durable enough to hold up to my big dog, who is not gentle with toys. Still kicking after plenty of chomping and slobber. Fits a standard Chuckit! launcher perfectly, which is the whole point. Pros: • Glows brightly and clearly in the dark • Charges fast from any light source • Holds up well even with a big, enthusiastic chewer • Fits standard ball-throwing sticks • Great for evening or early-morning fetch Cons: • A bit softer than a regular tennis ball — a determined power-chewer could probably destroy it eventually • Glow fades after a while, so you’ll need to recharge it during long sessions • Only glows if it’s been charged, which is obvious but easy to forget Tips: • Charge it under a bright light or in the sun for a few minutes before heading out • A flashlight works in a pinch if you forgot to charge it • Keep it out of permanent fetch duty — rotate with a regular ball so it lasts longer • Not a chew toy, even though it’s tempting to leave it with the dog Five stars. If you’ve got a dog and a yard, this makes evening fetch actually doable.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2026
V
Verified Purchase
VOKLST
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Westies Fav
Size: Small, Pattern Name: Pack of 1
Best Westie ball ever, my dog loves this ball. Exactly her size! 3" tennis balls are too big & she rips the fur off. this silicone-ish ball has no fur & is 2&1/2 " We have 2" balls from her electronic ball laucher, but she still loves this glow in the dark best!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2026
B
Verified Purchase
Book Junkie
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Best dog ball in the world!
Size: Large, Pattern Name: Pack of 1, Size: Large, Pattern Name: Pack of 1
My dog is singularly obsessed with playing ball. He would drop a steak to chase a ball. (He'd return to the steak, but not without the retrieved ball. He's not an idiot.) He makes dangerous leaps, crashes into trees, and runs fast enough to catch thrown balls before they even hit the ground. Since he doesn't care about his own wellbeing, it's my job to protect him as much as I can. And a lot of balls are hard enough to cause him pain or dental damage when he mistimes a catch. Enter the ChuckIt Glow Ball! The minute Cowboy got his first Glow Ball, he no longer had any interest in the dozens of tennis balls scattered around the house and yard. If I took the Glow Ball away and instead threw a tennis ball, Cowboy would run to retrieve the ball, then return without it and begin looking all over the house for the Glow Ball. The Glow Ball is tough enough to survive Cowboy's big, sharp chompers, yet it's soft enough to do no harm when it hits him in the face. The glow feature is a huge bonus, too. Cowboy gets distracted by chipmunks and squirrels when we're playing, so he sometimes can't remember where he dropped the ball to pursue the interloper. If the ball was exposed to enough light before it was misplaced, it will be easy to find once the sun goes down. (Otherwise, Cowboy always finds it eventually.) When I'm feeling nocturnal, I'll put the ball under a light for a few minutes to activate the electrons, then treat my boy to a middle-of-the-night game of fetch. I was so happy to see these on sale, I bought a lifetime supply for my pantry. The size guide seems accurate. ChuckIt recommended the large size for a dog of Cowboy's weight and that size is perfect. Highly recommended product.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2024
M
Verified Purchase
Megan
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
Keep your dog active for hours
Color: Classic, Size: M 3.46 in (8.8 cm)
I buy 2 of these balls a month. My Boston Terrier is obsessed and rolls the ball for hours. It is made of a hard plastic so it is best to play with it outside.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026
N
Verified Purchase
2ndchance
Whiting, US
★★★★★ 5
Great for dogs
Color: Classic, Size: XS 2.75 in (7 cm)
Puppies and dogs love this. I have a bigger one as well so I wanted one they could fetch. This works perfectly for fetch.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2026

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