Vertical tracking force for Lyra etna lambda sl catridge

VTF is widely misunderstood. Its not about stylus wear. Its about positioning the coils within the magnetic field. That is why its a range. The correct procedure is to set vtf somewhere within the range and listen. Then adjust one way or the other and listen again. In other words the correct procedure is to adjust by ear. Just like everything else with a turntable, by the way. 

So you did everything right, and wound up a bit above spec. Big whoop. The question is, does it sound better? You say it does. 

Therefore what you're really asking is should I suffer worse sound to be within spec and maybe have longer stylus life- which won't happen anyway because it has as much to do with tracking as force. Put this way its a no-brainer. Go with what you hear. Every. Single. Time.

The Lyra and especially the Lamda have in essence preload applied with zero tracking force to help w coil alignment, my Delos sounds best at the top of the range and still does after breakin. Revisit scale accuracy and break it in within spec and revisit.

Jcarr on this site might respond to questions and if you are in USA Audioquest certainly will.

congrats on a fine cartridge, enjoy the music

My Atlas, after a rebuild, sounds best at about 1.8. It’s still “breaking in” so this may change. But it mistracks (distortion) at the “recommended” 1.72 pretty badly. I’m playing with VTA a bit as well and currently have it set just a little below level, I’m thinking it’s a little “dead” there. So I may put it back to level. This is on an SME V tone arm.