Reference Ruby: Avid's First Cartridge

by Roy Gregory | June 21, 2019

est known as a turntable manufacturer, Avid HiFi has been making serious strides toward a complete system solution, the last few years seeing the launch of electronics and speakers along with the announcement of no fewer than three tonearms.

This year’s High End show saw a complete range of more affordable Avid speakers but also, with considerably less fanfare, the arrival of the company’s first phono cartridge. The Avid Reference Ruby (£6000 including 20% sales tax) is a low-output moving-coil cartridge that employs a ruby cantilever and microridge-profile stylus. The cartridge employs single-layer coil windings in order to keep the moving mass low, but still generates a healthy 0.32mV output through the use of a powerful, oversized magnet assembly. As with most such products, the generator and cantilever assembly are externally sourced, but Avid designed and produced the cartridge chassis. At first glance, the body appears similar to that of other open, skeletal designs, but actually the fragile generator and suspension are fully enclosed, a feature that Avid claims leads to reduced internal resonance and improved energy transfer.