amrutmhatre90
Well-Known Member
I’ve been using cartridges from EBI Audio for a few years now, specifically the EBI-01. Recently, Tariq was kind enough to send me the Khumar to try out.
I thought it would be useful to share my experiences with both the EBI-01 and the EBI Khumar. These impressions come from different stages of my system over time.
The EBI Audio EB-01 arrived very well packed and included a headshell. The build quality and aesthetics immediately stood out it definitely looks and feels like a premium product.
Mounting the cartridge was a bit tricky in my case. The combined weight of the cartridge and headshell exceeded the counterweight capacity of my tonearm, so I had to add auxiliary weights to balance it. This might be an issue for lighter tonearms.
Once installed, I started playing some of my reference LPs and had a jaw-dropping moment. The sound was incredibly dynamic, detailed, and crystal clear. Instrument separation and depth were exceptional, even when paired with a fairly basic phono stage like the iFi Zen Phono. It genuinely felt like an “OMG” moment. No other piece of gear in my system had delivered such a big return on investment.
My LP collection suddenly felt rejuvenated. At this point I had only just started listening, so burn-in was still pending (expected around 20 hours).
I also had a Denon 103, and planned to compare the two later since they fall into a similar price bracket.
The EBI-01 had a small mishap while cleaning, and it came back after being retipped by Tariq. This time he made it even better. The original stylus was a bonded diamond, and it was retipped with a nude stylus.
For the test, I used the same LP that I had played when I first got the EB-01 exactly a year ago. Back then the cartridge had given me an “OMG” moment. After the retip though… this time it was a “Holy Sh*t” moment.
The improvements were immediately obvious:
Tracking ability is also outstanding. I noticed almost no clicks or pops, which was very impressive. As Tariq had said when I sent it to him: “Phir amar ho jayegi.”
And he was right. Tariq really is a magician with cartridges.
I was very happy with the modded EBI-01 and occasionally popped the Denon 103 on EPs and worn-out LPs.
Around the same time, I upgraded my turntable to the Denon DP-3000NE, and Tariq was kind enough to send me the EBI Khumar for trial before I buy it.
I’ve been listening to the EBI Khumar for the last 2 weeks. The cartridge itself already had around 50 hours of break-in, so these are not straight-out-of-the-box impressions.
First off, the packaging deserves a mention. EBI already ships their cartridges in a nice wooden box, but the Khumar arrives in an even more premium wooden case with velvet lining, along with some thoughtful notes. A very nice touch.
My immediate impressions were:
This cartridge definitely has a romantic character
.
And honestly, it makes me proud that something this good is coming from India. Superb job.
Compared to my retipped EB-01, the Khumar elevates everything that cartridge already did well. The first thing that grabs your attention is the punchy bass.
On top of that:
A lot of people naturally ask how the EBI-01 compares with the Denon 103, since both fall in a similar price bracket. I have used the Denon 103 on multiple turntables, and it sounded the best on the Denon DP-3000NE (obviously).
The 103 has a very musical and smooth character. It presents music in a cohesive and natural way, with a slightly warm tonal balance that makes long listening sessions very enjoyable. Vocals especially sound rich and full-bodied.
However, when switching between the EBI cartridges and the 103, the differences become quite apparent.
The EBI-01 sounds cleaner and more open, with better instrument separation and a wider soundstage. There is also more clarity in the upper frequencies without becoming harsh.
I probably shouldn’t include the Khumar in a direct comparison with the 103, but the Khumar takes things even further than what I noticed with the EB-01. Compared to the Denon 103, it feels like lifting a slight veil from the music. The soundstage becomes bigger, instruments have more air around them, and the bass has noticeably more authority and punch. Vocals also feel more authoritative and real. Amitabh’s voice never felt so real the weight and texture of his voice were beautifully presented with the Khumar.
But again, this is not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison.
The best way I can describe it is that the Denon 103 sounds a bit softer and slightly hazy in comparison after listening to the EBI cartridges back-to-back.
Both EBI cartridges sound more resolved, dynamic, and alive, while still maintaining that analog character, velvety richness and sound lush.
That said, the Denon 103 still has its charm. It remains a very enjoyable cartridge and works beautifully with the right tonearm and setup.
If anyone here is using or considering EBI cartridges, I’d love to hear your experiences as well.
I thought it would be useful to share my experiences with both the EBI-01 and the EBI Khumar. These impressions come from different stages of my system over time.
EBI-01 (Stock)
Setup
- Technics SL-1200MK3DS
- iFi Zen Phono with LPS
- Cartridge supplied with headshell
The EBI Audio EB-01 arrived very well packed and included a headshell. The build quality and aesthetics immediately stood out it definitely looks and feels like a premium product.
Mounting the cartridge was a bit tricky in my case. The combined weight of the cartridge and headshell exceeded the counterweight capacity of my tonearm, so I had to add auxiliary weights to balance it. This might be an issue for lighter tonearms.
Once installed, I started playing some of my reference LPs and had a jaw-dropping moment. The sound was incredibly dynamic, detailed, and crystal clear. Instrument separation and depth were exceptional, even when paired with a fairly basic phono stage like the iFi Zen Phono. It genuinely felt like an “OMG” moment. No other piece of gear in my system had delivered such a big return on investment.
My LP collection suddenly felt rejuvenated. At this point I had only just started listening, so burn-in was still pending (expected around 20 hours).
I also had a Denon 103, and planned to compare the two later since they fall into a similar price bracket.
EBI-01 (Retipped )
The EBI-01 had a small mishap while cleaning, and it came back after being retipped by Tariq. This time he made it even better. The original stylus was a bonded diamond, and it was retipped with a nude stylus.
Setup
- Technics SL-1200MK3DS
- Vertere Phono Stage
For the test, I used the same LP that I had played when I first got the EB-01 exactly a year ago. Back then the cartridge had given me an “OMG” moment. After the retip though… this time it was a “Holy Sh*t” moment.
The improvements were immediately obvious:
- Massive soundstage
- Ability to hear more information from the LP
- Better bass
- Detailed presentation without sounding bright
- Slightly warmer tonal balance
Tracking ability is also outstanding. I noticed almost no clicks or pops, which was very impressive. As Tariq had said when I sent it to him: “Phir amar ho jayegi.”
And he was right. Tariq really is a magician with cartridges.
EBI Khumar
I was very happy with the modded EBI-01 and occasionally popped the Denon 103 on EPs and worn-out LPs.
Around the same time, I upgraded my turntable to the Denon DP-3000NE, and Tariq was kind enough to send me the EBI Khumar for trial before I buy it.
Setup
- Denon DP-3000NE Turntable
- Vertere Phono Stage
I’ve been listening to the EBI Khumar for the last 2 weeks. The cartridge itself already had around 50 hours of break-in, so these are not straight-out-of-the-box impressions.
First off, the packaging deserves a mention. EBI already ships their cartridges in a nice wooden box, but the Khumar arrives in an even more premium wooden case with velvet lining, along with some thoughtful notes. A very nice touch.
Sound Impressions
The tone of this cartridge is excellent, and I now completely understand why so many listeners and reviewers have been going gaga over it.My immediate impressions were:
- Lush, smooth presentation
- Punchy bass
- Excellent detail and resolution
- Tall and wide soundstage
- Instruments flowing effortlessly
This cartridge definitely has a romantic character
.And honestly, it makes me proud that something this good is coming from India. Superb job.
Comparisons
Khumar vs Modded EBI-01
Compared to my retipped EB-01, the Khumar elevates everything that cartridge already did well. The first thing that grabs your attention is the punchy bass.
On top of that:
- Instrument separation improves further
- There is more air around instruments
- The overall presentation feels bigger and more effortless
- There is more bass weight and punch without sounding loose
- Khumar sounds Lush and smoother
Comparison with Denon 103
A lot of people naturally ask how the EBI-01 compares with the Denon 103, since both fall in a similar price bracket. I have used the Denon 103 on multiple turntables, and it sounded the best on the Denon DP-3000NE (obviously).
The 103 has a very musical and smooth character. It presents music in a cohesive and natural way, with a slightly warm tonal balance that makes long listening sessions very enjoyable. Vocals especially sound rich and full-bodied.
However, when switching between the EBI cartridges and the 103, the differences become quite apparent.
The EBI-01 sounds cleaner and more open, with better instrument separation and a wider soundstage. There is also more clarity in the upper frequencies without becoming harsh.
I probably shouldn’t include the Khumar in a direct comparison with the 103, but the Khumar takes things even further than what I noticed with the EB-01. Compared to the Denon 103, it feels like lifting a slight veil from the music. The soundstage becomes bigger, instruments have more air around them, and the bass has noticeably more authority and punch. Vocals also feel more authoritative and real. Amitabh’s voice never felt so real the weight and texture of his voice were beautifully presented with the Khumar.
But again, this is not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison.
The best way I can describe it is that the Denon 103 sounds a bit softer and slightly hazy in comparison after listening to the EBI cartridges back-to-back.
Both EBI cartridges sound more resolved, dynamic, and alive, while still maintaining that analog character, velvety richness and sound lush.
That said, the Denon 103 still has its charm. It remains a very enjoyable cartridge and works beautifully with the right tonearm and setup.
If anyone here is using or considering EBI cartridges, I’d love to hear your experiences as well.
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