Lyra Atlas experiences

Listening tests make me think, better go back to the SME tuning, or a bit below .

Testing, first, Lotta Lenya sings Kurt Weill (mono 1960ies heavy vinyl version), and next, Tangerine Dream: Alpha Centauri (1971). It has been argued that quadrophonic recordings are best, to set the anti-skating. I don’t have the quad version ot Alpha Centauri (twin virgin label), only a stereo version, but this works well also.

In both cases, turning off the light and just listening, I tended to go down on the antiskating scale - it can be adjusted while playing, on the SME V - and towards a setting more like the factory default (calibrated scale), to get the best sound. Listening for the holographics especially (Tangerine Dream very good at that point), I went towards a weight equivalent 1.7 (corresponding to the 1.72 g Atlas weight) or even a bit down, to 1.5 or 1.4 on the scale. Much lower than the HFN test record results (2.7 - 3). I have to recheck - this is my impression so far.

Happy listening!

Here some info from Christian Rintelen:

7. Adjust the skating force to zero and prepare yourself for
a mean experience. The right channel will not show dynamics
at all; it will sit in the corner totally bored and ignoring
you. The left channel will sit in its corner like an evil
ghost, considering to attack you in the next moment. It will
sound very dynamic in a way that numbs the left half of your
body. However, the dynamics will be nightmare-like
artificial.

Now you increase the skating force to a quarter and then to
a half of the expected value. You will sense that the right
channel comes more-and-more alive and the left channel
sounds less dynamic, intimidating and artificial. This
reduction is less than the increase of dynamics in the right
channel; the while system becomes more dynamic.

You increase now the skating compensation by *very* small
steps until you reach a point where left and right channel
sound equally dynamic. Then you increase further very small
steps; both channels will grow more dynamic. One step too
far and both channels loose their dynamics completely and
sound dead. So you go back to the position where dymics and
microdynamics were maximum.

I mailed SME, and got a clear answer: do not use the HFN test record with the SME V arm. Instead, start from the equivalent of the weight, and fine tune by ear, from there. OK! I am glad that my listening tests the last evenings led to the same conclusion.

Ninetynine - thank you, I will try this some more, may make more sense now.

I notice, last evening, I ended up at 1.3

I don't dispute what anyone on these posts says...everyone hears differently and everyone has different components.  I can only tell you what I hear.  To these ears, there is no better cartridge that I have experience with, than the Atlas.  I have had the SME V in my system, but although built like a tank, didn't have the alacrity I was looking for and replaced it with a VPI 3D.  Perhaps (I don't know for sure), the difference was in the ability for the VPI to very accurately provide for correct azimuth.  The difference in the presentation/performance of the cartridge having proper azimuth and being even a "smidge" off is enormous.. not just audible, but enormous... maybe the most important adjustment (for me).  Another point is the (seemingly) never ending dispute regarding the use (or not) of antiskate.  For these ears on My system, I hear an improvement with no antiskate...no matter which arm that I adjust.  I am at present trying to evaluate the sound with/without a/s for a dispute on another site....but for the here and now, its no a/s for me.  There is a very definite difference...its not in the increase of distortion on one side or another....my arm/cartridge tracks flawlessly with both methods....but its in presentation.....(still evaluating).