Anyone using a Lyra Delos yet?

Nolitan:

Yes, I've used the Delos with Phantom IIs (on a variety of turntables). No problems, and the sound quality has been good.

Loading is as I have stated previously - it depends on how much capacitance there is between the Delos and your phono stage, and also on how resistant your phono stage is to high-frequency overload (from about 100kHz - 7MHz). But this is nothing unique to the Delos.

One comment based on experience with the Phantom - changing the phono cable to a low-capacitance type (40pF for 1.2 meter length including connectors) improved the sound quality quite noticeably by itself, and this also enabled the loading at the phono stage to be reduced, which further improved sound quality.

hth, jonathan carr

Thanks Jcarr.... I hope to get my cart soon.

I purchased Delos last week from needledoctor. I am using clearaudio Maestro with great satisfactions, but since I just upgrade my phono stage to Aesthetix Rhea, I think I should try MC cartridge as well.
My question is what the input loading that I should set for my Rhea when I use Delos? From Delos's specification the loading range is rather big (from 91 ohms to 47K ohms). I understand Jcarr's explanation of loading with respect to the phono stage and cable, but I have difficult to find out the cable loading and phono stage loading.
My TT is Thorens 124MKii, the headshell I am going to use is Yamamoto HS-1AS on SME3009. The tonearm cable is the original RCA to my phono stage. If anyone has suggestions to derive input loading of my phono stage, I will be appreciated.

Hi Shyander:

My experience is that tonearm cables tend to be around 100pF per meter, while those specified as "low-capacitance" may be around 50pF per meter.

If your phono cable is 1.2 - 1.5m (common lengths) and isn't spelled out as being low-capacitance, I'd suggest that a "safe" value is 360-330 ohms, but you could go up to 390 or 410 if you want more dynamics and sparkle. If your system tends towards brightness, or you desire a sound which is closer to a "Row M" seat at a concert hall rather than "Row A", you could use heavier loading (smaller resistance values).

I believe that the SME3009 has a detachable tonearm cable, and if so you could use a capacitance meter to check the capacitance value (or perhaps ask a TV or electronics repair shop to measure for you).

But don't worry overly much about the numerical value of the load. There is no point is using a loading value that is numerically correct if the resulting sound makes you want to turn off your system.

I'd suggest that you eventually acquire some low-capacitance cable and then revisit your loading values. Chances are that you will be able to use less loading, which should give you more dynamic range, wider timbral range, and better resolution.

hth, jonathan

Hi Jcarr:
I got my Delos last week and quickly put it on my system. The installation was so easy and effortless. The initial sound quality is elegant and detail which is the advantage of MC cartridge. I have two questions that I need from you:
1. I put the tracking force as 1.75grams, but the clearance between the cartridge and vinyl is so small that I feel the Delos white cloth is almost touch the record. Is that normal?
2. My phono stage has de-magnetiser feature, should I use it with Lyra MC cartridge?
Thanks.