Is this Delos cart warmer than say a Shelter 501 or the higher shelter carts ? |
Thx for the feedback Syntax. |
Cmalak, I called the Dorian Mono 'amazing' because it does such a good performance for the price. My Mono experience is limited and didn't want to spend a fortune into that. I have most of them in Stereo too and I was interested how good the Monos are. I think it is indeed a good tool to discover Mono records (mine are 1960+). It is VERY silent in the grooves, the output is healthy and the details have "meat on the bones".
The Delos is a impressive cartridge from the price/performance relation. Full, strong stereo sound, excellent detail, right soundstage and I guess, this one will become a classic. It forced me to sell a much more expensive cart.
For most die-hard Audiophiles it is simply "too cheap" (no Hype, no limited Edition...), but when one or the other one will read these lines, give it a try. Can be a quite interesting "Wake-Up-Call". |
Hello all,
I'm considering the Delos for my VPI Classic that is on backorder. My question concerns the loading for the Delos: which setting do those who own the cartridge find works best with it? Mr. Carr doesn't like to specify a loading for Lyra cartridges so I'm curious what the general sense is. Thank you. |
Syntax...thx for the pic. You have an amazing array of tts/tonearms/carts/phono stages. I am curious: on your description of the Lyra Dorian Mono, you say "Amazing." For the Delos, you just say it's an "MC Cartidge." Since most of your other carts are significantly more expensive, i was curious how you compare the Delos to the Dorian cart (i know the comparison is not apples-to-apples because one is a stereo cart and one is mono). I am just curious how you would describe the sonics of the Delos. Thanks very much. |
Some is written about the new Delos, here is one doing its job :-) Lyra Delos . |
I use a Pro-Ject 9cc (9" carbon fiber) on a Pro-Ject RM 9.1 'table. I set it up with the Mint LP Best Tractor. Anti-skate is set in the middle of 3 settings. It wouldn't even track the tracking tests on side 2 without getting distortion in the right channel. However, it performed flawlessly on the Ultimate Analogue Test LP. I also noticed it tracks better on the HFN LP the more it breaks in. Again, no problems with music. Tracking force is set at 1.75 grams on a digital scale; tone arm is level with an 180g LP. |
Regarding tracking I have tried my Delos with both Phantom II ( 10 inch version ) and Audio Origami ( 11 inch version ) tonearms and with both the +16dB track on the HIFI News test record tracks perfect at 1,7g.
If this is important for the sound is another question.......
Anyway it sounds GREAT :) |
Dconsmack...what tonearm/phono stage are you using the Delos with? Thx |
The build quality is beautiful and the sound is rich and full. The other carts I've used were all a bit thin sounding compared to the Delos (Dorian, Sumiko Blackbird, Sumiko Blue Point No. 2, Audio Technica ATOC9ML/II, and Ortofon 2M Black). It's sound is very balanced; it's not bright or dark, but it's rich and detailed without sounding artificial. It's a similar experience to seeing a photograph with high contrast and vivid colors because the optics were superior, not because it was artificially enhanced with software. It doesn't track well on the Hi-Fi News Test LP, but on the other hand, it tracks actual music better than any other cart I've used. I would buy it again. |
Dodgealum...Mik5kirk above has the Delos on his VPI Classic's 10.5SE tonearm. If you plug the Delos' weight and compliance (7.3g and 12) along with the JMW 9's effective mass (7.7g) into a tonearm RF calculator, you get a resonant frequency of 11.85Hz which is at the top end of the desired 8-12 Hz range. On the VPI CLassic's 10.5SE tonearm with 12.3g of effective mass, you get an even more desirable resonant frequency of 10.37 HZ. So the Delos should match up ok with the JMW 9 tonearm but should be an even better match with the 10.5SE tonearm which comes with the VPI Classic. Hope that helps. |
Anyone use the Delos in a JMW-9 mounted to a Scout? I rarely see Lyra's matched up with Harry's tables--mostly Dyna's and the like. |
Great responses so far, and I thank those who have given their feedback. I'm moving in a month, but once I get set up in our new house I'm finally going to take the plunge into the Delos. |
I've been using a Delos since January on my VPI Classic. Phono stage is a Jolida JD-9a I've modded with Mundorf Silver-Oil output caps and Burr Brown OP627a's. Using NOS Tesla E83CC tubes. Mac C220 pre and MC275 amp. Gallo Reference 3.1 speakers.
I pre-ordered the Delos and while I waited I used a loaner Dyna DV20x. Prior to this, I had an old stock Ortofon MC-30 Super. I've also listened extensively to a Helikon on a VPI Classic.
I feel the Delos is a departure from the other Lyra. It is warmer than the other Lyra. Less analytical, more musical.
Make no mistake, it doesn't lack for detail and it can punch very hard. This thing has bass in spades but very detailed. Very natural sounding. You can hear a stick hit a skin on a drum. It is just to the warm side of neutral. Highs are very detailed and not rolled off.
Voices, both female and male, are very natural with little sibilance or chestiness.
Soundstage in width and depth is less than the Helikon but bigger than the Dyna or the Ortofon. In fact, its tonality rests about midway between the Helikon and the Dyna 20. It seems to track like other Lyras.
At the price point, it is very hard to beat. I'm at about 60 hrs on the cart and it seems to be getting better. The soundstage has steadily grown.
Always remember, this is ONLY my opinion. YMMV.
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Kondo M7 phono and KSL-FSz transformer.
Using the 5 ohm tapping for the Delos.
Air Tight ATM-211 amps (special low sensivity version and not original tubes).
Parc Rives for basshorns. |
Thx Torfinn...what phono are you using? Also, what's the rest of the amplification driving the Avantgarde's? Thank you. |
Hello!
I also have been using the Delos on a Graham Phantom II ( 10 inch version ) and TW Acoustic Raven for a coupple of weeks.
My experience are even more positive than 2x4b.
In fact I found the Delos one of the best three cartridges I have ever owned (and I have owned many).
The reasons that the Delos works so great in my system is the balance that are warmer than the other Lyra pickup's that I own ( or has owned ).
My system consists of Avantgarde Trio speakers that are a bit clinical sounding by themself and the little extra warmth that the Delos gives help giving me a sound that makes a lot more beutiful music and not simply beutiful "hifi-sound".
Of'course the Delos does all the important hifi-stuff right and it is also have much of the tradional Lyra-sound ( dynamic, fast and with good PRaT ), but the most important thing for me is that it plays music as few other cartridges I have owned and for the price it seems for me to be a real BARGAIN!
Just for giving some references about what I mean by "warm" here is some other cartridges that I own (or has owned) the few last years and where I place them going from "warm" to "cold".
- Koetsu Rosewood Signature Platinium
- Kondo IO-M
- LYRA DELOS
- Air Tight PC-1
- Lyra Skala
- Lyra Titan-i
- Air Tight PC-1 Supreme
- Lyra Helikon
Soundwise I finds the Delos to be in top three and when we look at the prices for the others the Delos is a real BARGAIN.
Highly recommended! |
By the way, according to the Analog Corner in the current issue of Stereophile, Michael Fremer got a Lyra Delos from the US importer at CES for review, so hopefully in the next couple of months we should see a review from MF on the Delos. |
I just looked up the compliance on the Lyra website: 12x10cm/dyne. Mniven...I just put the Classic's 10.5SE tonearm effective mass of 12.3g and the Delos's weight of 7.3g and compliance of 12 in the Resonant Frequency formula yields a Resonant Frequency of 10.38Hz right smack in the middle of the recommended range of 8-12 Hz. This suggests that the Delos ought to be a good match for the JMW 10.5SE tonearm that comes with the Classic. |
2x4b...thx for the response. I am sure it falls short of the Titan on most every category (as it should like you said). It sounds like it does soundstaging, PRaT, and dynamics well. Also sounds like it is tonally neutral across the frequency spectrum. All of which are great attributes. For me though one of the biggest hooks into the music is how well timbres and musical textures are translated, i.e., how true to the real sound of instruments and voices the playback comes or I guess how natural? How would you rate the Delos on that front? Also, do you know what the compliance of the cartridge is? Thx |
Hello,
I'm currently using a Delos on my Graham Phantom arm on the TW-Acustic Raven AC. I also have the Titan i on a Breuer-Dynamic 8C arm.
The Delos is a very good cartridge, it can't compete with the Titan, but that seems fair at about 25% of the price.
I'm no reviewer, but in my opinion its best points are the soundstaging (with very accurate placement and size), speed, good timing and (macro)dynamics. Mine has about 30 hours on it, so it probably isn't fully burnt-in.
I mainly bought it to play 'bad' recordings which the Titan sometimes rips apart; the Delos does a lot better at those and performs admirably on the good recordings too, but on those the Titan is still a lot better.
All in all a very good cartridge, very enjoyable and fun! Overall I would chose it over the Helikon (less lean, better tonal colours)or the other sub $2000 cartridges I've listened to in the past.
I'm waiting for the Kleos, which should be released this month, just above the Delos in the line-up.
Would be happy to answer any questions you might have.
B. |
The Delos weighs 7.3 grams, so it is within the right range.
Specs:
http://www.lyraconnoisseur.com/Products/Products_Analog/Delos/Delos4.html
That compares to 6.4 grams for both the Dorian and the Argo. The Dyna 20x, which seems to be recommended quite a bit for VPIs, is 9.1 grams. |
The usual suspects recommended for the JMW 10.5SE arm by VPI are Dynas (20X, 17D3), Benz (Ace, Glider S and Wood), and Lyra (Dorian and Argo) in that $700-$1500 range. Presumably if the Delos weighs between 6-13 grams it should work ok with the 10.5SE arm according to Harry Weisfeld. I would be very interested in any feedback you get to this post as I am interested in the Delos as well. Thx |
