Anyone using a Lyra Delos yet?

Hi Shyander:

Apologies for the delay in replying.

1. If your tracking force gauge is showing an accurate 1.75 grams and the white paper at the bottom of the Delos is nearly touching the LP, the suspension probably should be tightened up a bit.

If you think there may be a problem, put the Delos back into its box, put in a label that says "low rider", and give it back to your dealer so that they can return it to us. We will be happy to take a look at the Delos and take care of any problem. Most likely it is only an adjustment issue that won't require much time to correct.

2. As long as the "de-magnetiser" circuit is working properly, feel free to use it with the Delos (or any other Lyra MC cartridge). Since we don't use Alnico magnets (which are much less capable of resisting demagnetization than samarimum-cobalt or neodymium), there should be no problem when using either passive or active "de-magnetising".

Quotes because IMO "de-magnetiser" gives an erroneous impression of what these types of circuits actually do to a cartridge.

BTW, as part of a multi-cartridge review, Wayne Garcia recently reviewed the Delos in the pages of The Abso!ute Sound. IMO he wrote a fair, even-handed review which accurately sums up the Delos' abilities (including his last sentance, which summarizes my goals for designing the Delos). You can read Wayne's review on-line, and the link is as follows (paste entire link into URL window):

http://www.avguide.com/review/benz-micro-slr-gullwing-denon-dl-103-lyra-delos-ortofon-mc-rondo-red-tas-206

best to all, jonathan

I have a Delos in an ET II tonearm on a VPI TNT, installed it last April. Herron VTPH2 phono stage, muse signature 3 preamp, Marantz SMS 11 amp, Audio Artistry Vivaldi speakers. It took some time to get the Delos set up right, but now it sings. Very easy to listen too, no fatiguing at all. Plenty of detail and low level micro dynamics. Most decent LP's just bloom. I can't imagine a "hot stamper" sounding any better. Now that it's settled in, listening to records is more like listening to people play music, rather than just listening to music, a distinction I hope I'm conveying correctly. I've had Van Den Huls, a Helikon and Grados, and this baby is my favorite cartridge so far, by a large margin.

i have a lyra delos installed on a triplanar tonearm with a whest ps.30rdt phono stage. it is a very nice sounding setup. one of the advantages of the 0.6mv output level from the lyra delos is that it allows me to use a gain level of 60dB, which provides more immunity to rfi than would be the case if i used higher gain levels (such as with lower output cartridges). from comments by jcarr, i got the impression that bass response should also be better with the higher output level. i can say that the bass response from my setup is comparable to that of a cd player.

i also like the price point for the lyra delos. cartridges are consummables in that you have to replace them after a few years of use: the more you use them, the sooner they have to be replaced. in my mind, the idea of spending $10,000 for a cartridge that i will likely have to replace in a few years is like lighting cigars with $100 bills. as far as i can observe, the lyra delos is a good sounding, and reasonably priced, cartridge. i would be inclined to replace my current cartridge with another. i have to admit, though, that i am curious about what a single-wound lyra delos cartridge would sound like...

>>11-27-10: Paperw8
i can say that the bass response from my setup is comparable to that of a cd player.<<

Huh?
No cd player can approach the bottom end of a properly set-up vinyl front end.

>>cartridges are consummables in that you have to replace them after a few years of use<<

Not true.
Most stylii should go 4000 hours (or more) if aligned correctly. You will need to listen for 5 1/2 hours every day for 2 years in order to reach 4000 hours. Most people come nowhere near that. In fact, the majority of audiophiles trade up or sell their cartridge before it needs re-tipping.

>>the idea of spending $10,000 for a cartridge that i will likely have to replace in a few years is like lighting cigars with $100 bills<<

And you probably should not unless your system is uber-sophisticated. There is no rhyme or reason to install a $10K cartridge on anything but a reference level table/arm. You wouldn't buy racing tires for a Taurus right?

Paperw8, I'm also starting to use a Delos into the Whest (although not the dual transformer version) on the 55db setting. I sympathise with the value-for-money argument that this design represents.

I must admit that I agonised over the best choice of VTA vs VTF with this cartridge given Jonathan's recommendations. My arm has VTA adjustment capability on-the-fly but, like many others, I'm disinclined to constantly mess around with it. So, I was initially thinking 150g record as a ref with VTF at 1.75g and allowing a slight deviation on 120g/180g. Since most of my records are 120g I finally decided it was better to use 120g as Ref and accept a slightly larger hit on 180g, still within the cartridge's operating range.

Ultimately, if this proves unsatisfactory I could organise the occasional 180g "month/week" :D :D, nesting all the 180's together in one session and adjust the VTA tower on a one-off basis :D

Of course all this is academic if it turns out it sounds better at 1.77g (!! :D)
Cheers....