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AnalogRelax EX500 Phono Cartridge
The body is made with hand-selected tone wood maple, a wood used specifically for violins
Analogrelax insists on using only all natural wood for the bodies of our cartridges. Why?
Making cartridge bodies with resin or metal produces much greater yield, and is more efficient at manufacture.
Why would we go out of our way to use wood?
It is because we believe that cartridges are instruments to play records in their own right.
What are most famous musical instruments made with? Yes: they are made with wood.
And this is nearly inevitable.
This is because, as you know, each and every cell within wood is surrounded by a cellular wall made with cellulose. The cells lose their water when the wood is dried, but the cellular walls allow them to maintain their form, leaving uneven spaces (holes) throughout. Air vibrating within these holes creates an organic sound.
This is why wood always was, and remains the main material used in musical instruments to this very day.
Resins and metals result in an even material, but do not produce the same sound as wood.
It is for this reason that we insist on using wood for our bodies.
The body of the EX500 uses the finest hard maple, which is used in the necks backboards of violins.
It is made with the finest hand-selected maple wood for instrument manufacture, found primarily in Romania.
Enjoy a tone only possible with tone wood selected specifically for instruments.
The EX500 cartridge nourishes the heart
It uses custom hyper elliptic stylus, which are polished more precisely than standard products, with coils carefully wound with pure silver wire.
The sound obtained from the unique resonance of the body's hard maple tone wood will fill resonate throughout any room and bring it a refreshing atmosphere.
Experience the sounds of raw instruments and vocals.
You will hardly be able to suppress a smile at the unexpected appearance of the real stage spreading out before you.
It produces sound that will nourish your soul.
Take the opportunity to experience it for yourself.
Dealers selling AnalogRelax near you
Authorized dealers for AnalogRelax EX500 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 — 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)
The EX500 leans into a creamy midrange and even tonal balance, giving vocals and acoustic instruments an inviting, slightly relaxed glow. hi-fi+ finds it a fine all-rounder with first-rate soundstage depth and strong stereo separation, while still resolving energy and bass with poise. It’s a beautifully musical MC for listeners who prize flow and spatial realism.
Pros
- Creamy, powerful midrange that brings vocals and acoustic instruments to life.
- First-rate stereo separation and excellent stage depth for spacious, layered playback.
- Well-balanced, musical all-rounder that handles energetic music with ease.
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Cons
- More focused on tonality and easy dynamics than on edgy detail or attack.
- Its relaxed character may suit jazz and acoustic music better than hard-driving rock.
Sound Quality
87/100
Weighted average of sub-criteria below.
Overall Sound
88/100
Reviewers describe the EX500 as having a creamy, enticing presentation with an even tonal balance and a powerful midrange. hi-fi+ calls it a 'fine all-rounder' and highlights that it is 'just the right side of soft and relaxed,' which suggests a musically pleasing, slightly lush character rather than a hyper-analytical one.
Tracking Retrieval
84/100
The review emphasizes musical flow and easy dynamics more than edgy detail, but it still says the cartridge 'resolves it well' when music gets energetic. There is no explicit praise for top-tier groove tracing or inner-groove heroics, so this lands as solidly good rather than exceptional.
Soundstage Imaging
90/100
Spatial performance is a clear strength: the cartridge is said to have 'first-rate' stereo separation and spatial properties, with a good soundstage on most recordings. The 'stage depth' is described as excellent, indicating notably strong imaging and layering.
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Build Quality
82/100
The review language suggests a well-executed cartridge with a poised, balanced presentation, but it does not provide detailed construction praise beyond the sonic performance. The specification set does include an aluminum cantilever and advanced stylus profile, which supports a respectable build impression without overstating craftsmanship.
Features Usability
77/100
Tonearm compatibility is decent but not universal: this is a low-output MC at 0.55 mV with 6 µm/mN compliance, so it will tend to favor arms and phono stages that are properly matched. That makes it a somewhat specialized setup compared with more plug-and-play MM designs, though still workable in a well-optimized system.
The EX500’s low output and very low compliance mean setup and matching matter, especially with arm mass and phono gain/loading. It should perform best in more carefully chosen MC-compatible systems rather than as a carefree universal fit.
Value for Money
81/100
Value commentary is limited, but the review does acknowledge the price context with the remark that there are 'two types of good cartridges at this price,' which implies a meaningful premium-category comparison rather than an obvious bargain. With no strong praise or criticism on price-versus-peers, this stays near the neutral upper baseline.
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