AnalogRelax EX2000 Phono Cartridge
The EX2000 pairs relaxed musical flow with startling transient speed, extracting deep layers, vivid dimensionality and richly convincing tone without turning analytical. Michael Fremer highlights its exceptional tracking and vocal realism, while Anthony Kershaw heard commanding dynamics, separation and analog honesty. This is a rare moving-coil design that makes complex records feel effortlessly alive.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
96/100
Build Quality
90/100
Features Usability
78/100
Value for Money
88/100
Pros
Combines relaxed, richly musical tonality with fast, precise transients, high resolution and revealing detail.
Superb tracking at the recommended 2.1g, with excellent retrieval of fine musical textures and low-level information.
Delivers exemplary imaging, air and layering, with strong separation in dense orchestral passages.
Cons
Its approximately $20,000–$22,000 cost makes it a specialist purchase for no-compromise analog systems.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 96/100
Reviewers portray the EX2000 as an unusually complete high-end performer: relaxed and richly musical, yet exceptionally revealing, quick and dynamically alive. Its presentation combines stable, solid images and deep layering with strong transient precision and low-level insight.
Overall Sound
96/100
Fremer found a relaxed, unforced flow that never became dull, alongside faster transients, cleaner treble and a particularly sensuous but not overly warm midrange. Kershaw called it one of the finest cartridges available, praising its lush detail, accurate timbre, tactile clarity, honesty and “crackerjack” dynamics.
Tracking Retrieval
95/100
On the Ortofon test record, Fremer reports perfect tracking at the 80µm lateral peak and only a barely audible buzz at 90µm at the recommended 2.1g tracking force. Both reviews also describe exceptional recovery of inner musical lines, transient information and fine texture, while the line-contact stylus is said to keep inner distortion and record crackle very low.
Soundstage Imaging
96/100
Fremer describes exemplary staging with full, solid images and an ability to fill the room with recorded ambience. Kershaw heard remarkable layering, improved separation within dense brass passages, and more clearly resolved instrumental and vocal textures than from the already highly regarded EX1000.
FEATURES USABILITY PERFORMANCE 78/100
Tonearm compatibility / system fit.
Tonearm Compatibility
78/100
The 0.65mV moving-coil output is more accommodating than very low-output MC designs, but it still calls for a capable MC phono stage and sensible loading. Its low 6µm/mN compliance and substantial 14g body make careful tonearm matching and setup important; Fremer's excellent tracking result shows that the recommended 2.1g setting can work superbly in an appropriate system.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
90/100
Fremer calls the EX2000 well built, as he would expect at this price. The specification includes a pure-diamond line-contact stylus, diamond cantilever, copper coils and a spruce body, though the reviews offer little detail on long-term durability or fit-and-finish beyond that positive assessment.
Value for Money
88/100
At roughly $20,000–$22,000, this is an unapologetically costly specialist purchase rather than a broadly affordable recommendation. Still, Fremer says buyers able to spend that amount will not regret it, while Kershaw considered the $4,000 step up from the EX1000 plainly worthwhile.
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Specifications
- Product name & number
- Analog Relax EX2000 AR-MCC-EX2000
- Transducer
- MC Stereo Phono Cartridge
- Output voltage
- 0.65mv (1kHz)
- Impedance
- 8.8Ω
- Tracking force
- 2.1g(指略)
- Channel Separation
- 27dB まる(一kHz)
- Channel Balance
- 下く0.5dB(一kHz)
- Compliance
- 6μm/mN(100Hz)
- Stylus
- Super Curve Line Contact Ver. 3(Pure diamond)
- Cantilever
- 特消 nude diamond
- Coil material
- High Purity copper
- Body
- Finest ‘spruce’ from the South Tyrol region of Northern Italy\n Ultra-fine ‘powder coating’
- Weight
- 終二14.0g
Manufacturer's Description — AnalogRelax
The finest spruce harvested from the same forest as "Stradivarius"
We are pleased to announce the release of our flagship model which features a diamond cantilever. The model uses the finest 'spruce' from the South Tyrol region of Northern Italy, where the material for the 'Stradivarius' is said to have been harvested. Its surface is coated with an ultra-fine powder allowing it to reproduce the natural sound.
We use the finest "spruce" for the body shell that is harvested in the northern Italian South Tyrol region and used as the top wood for violins.
The northern Italian South Tyrol region is said to be the forest area where materials for the renowned "Stradivarius" were harvested. We carefully select and cultivate the highest quality spruce from this area, and it undergoes rigorous management during the drying process.
Proprietary developed an ultra-fine 'powder coating' has been applied to the surface of the body to give it a subtle roughness, resulting in a sound that has a more natural quality.
A precision-machined "diamond" cantilever
A precision-machined "diamond" cantilever is used to seamlessly transmit the movement of the record's grooves to the power generator, bringing out high-resolution sound. In addition, compared to diamond cantilever models of other manufacturers, by cutting out the diamond cantilever slightly thicker, we have achieved a more solid sound and improved traceability at a higher level.
Evolved version of custom-developed SC stylus Ver.3
The stylus is the 'Ver. 3' model, which is a further evolution of the well-received 'SC stylus' used for the EX1000. Of course, the stylus is custom-developed by Analog Relax. Although it basically has a line contact shape, a number of multi-faceted cuts are applied vertically, allowing it to reproduce sound with almost no 'inner distortion'. In addition, the front and back of the stylus tip are cut with different curvatures, making it difficult to pick up the "crackling noise" peculiar to original records and old pressed records, enabling playback with a very high signal to noise ratio.
Cartridges with a diamond cantilever typically 'pick up lots of information but with a tense and edgy sound' which prevents the listener to enjoy the record. The model was completed by utilizing advanced assembly techniques to achieve a sound that has depth, range, and substance, while remaining the full amount of the groove information.
- All products are made by artisans within Japan.
- The solid wood body is made with natural materials, there will be differences in color, grain, weight, etc. between products.
- The body color of the grains will change with age.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for AnalogRelax EX2000 Phono Cartridge
- The ASOC Gallery of Fine Audio — in-store — Stratford, Ontario, Canada (website)
- Absolute Hi End — in-store — Ormond, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Absolute Sounds — in-store — London, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Venue — online and in-store — London, England, United Kingdom (website)
- House of Stereo — online and in-store — Jacksonville, Florida, United States (website)
- Imacustica — online and in-store — Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto, Portugal (website)
- Jaguar Audio — online and in-store — Bellevue, Washington, United States (website)
- Loud & Clear — in-store — Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom (website)
- Martins Hi-fi — in-store — Norwich, England, United Kingdom (website)
- The AUDIOBARN — in-store — Harlow, England, United Kingdom (website)
and 1 more verified dealer
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