The ZYX brand was founded in 1986 by innovative engineer Mr Hisayoshi Nakatsuka.
Mr Nakatsuka of ZYX is the President and chief engineer, or maybe we should say the chief engineer and the President of ZYX. He was born in the Nagano prefecture in Japan. He has a long experience of audio equipment going back to a very early age. After graduating from university, he worked in the development department of ‘Trio’ (Kenwood) and during this time has developed the worlds first ‘optical cartridge’, then he went to Ortofon in Denmark and developed a signature model MC-20. In 1976 he was employed by Namiki Precision Jewel company, where he managed the OEM cartridge business for several manufacturers. Since 1986 he became independent as ZYX under the support of Namiki Precision Jewel Company. With all of the experience gained during his career, Hisayoshi Nakatsuka’s work has led to the approval of 15 design patents. All this knowledge and know-how have been poured into the ZYX product range.
The origin of the name ZYX has been created by using the analogue three-dimensional elements – Time (Z) Amplitude (Y) and frequency (X). Therefore, all ZYX cartridges are equipped with the original real-sound power generation system where time-axis distortion is cancelled by the use of several patented technologies. These are also incorporated with the latest technology such as micro ridge stylus and boron cantilever and besides carbon cantilever.
ZYX cartridges have been in the USA, Japan, Germany and the UK, where analogue is most prominent in audio systems. ZYX has been awarded several times “cartridge of the year” by several hi-fi magazines and is also rated CLASS–A by the prestigious magazine STEREOPHILE USA.