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Which would you choose- Lyra, Zyx or Benz for VPI

Hello. I am looking to buy a brand new cartridge in the $2000 range. The contenders are a Zyx Airey 3 with silver bottom and copper wires ($2300), a Lyra Skala ($2200 using my Helikon tradein), or a Benz LP ($2000 using my Ruby trade in). My system is a VPI Aries with JMW 10 arm, BAT P-10 phono, BAT 5SE Pre, BAT VK-60 amp, Quad 988's all tied together with Silver Audio Appasionata's.

I listen to mostly live acoustic performances of small rock bands (think Jay Farrar and Son Volt or Wilco) or jazz groups (most of the Groove Note line). I like to hear the transients of the kick of a drum and the strum of a Martin Guitar.

I was using a Helikon until my housekeeper damaged the stylus. I always thought it was too thin in the mids and bass but it had nice air around it. I then shifted across the board to the Ruby 2H. I've been using it for a year and satified but part of the reason for all the silver cabling is that I missed the detail and air of the Helikon.

I know there are many wisdom and experience beyond me soplease help me out. Which would work best based on your experience.

Thanks, Jeff
jspownell
Ag insider logo xs@2x
rauliruegas
13,050 posts
 
Dear Jeff: Both are very good choice ( hard call ) and due to its inexpensive price, IMHO, I think that the best is buy both and be the judge by your self.

Anyway, here are some opinions about:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?eanlg&1173550723&openflup&69&4#69

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
jspownell OP
4 posts
 
Thanks for everyone's help so far.

Raul, I purchased a EDR9 yesterday form the France seller so I'm willing to try any kind of low cost alternative. If it doesn't work on my VPI, I'll move it to my other table.

It seems that its about 50/50 Zyx Airy 3 vs. Skala. I would still like to hear from more JMW arm users about their specific experience with either or both.

Doug, I've read some of your previous posts on the Zxy and on one you commented that the Airy 3 may be lively on a unipivot arm. Do you have any concern about that.

Curious on people's opinions on this... I have seen comments that the VPI Aries turntable is "dark". Could this be why I'm not satisfied with the Ruby.

Thanks again. Jeff
jdolgin
82 posts
 
Jspownell,
Can you share the reference to the French source of the Empire EDR.9?
Jim
stltrains
845 posts
 
jspownell i am having no problems at all with what you describe a dark with my Aries three, i had a ZYX airy three xsbl and now a universe xsbl and i love it, if anything i am as close to live as i have ever been, my speakers are large and they are invisible, full sound stage nice and ariy with speed and transparency. Yes the airy three is not universe but when it was in my system dark was not a issue.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Doug, I've read some of your previous posts on the Zxy and on one you commented that the Airy 3 may be lively on a unipivot arm. Do you have any concern about that.
That was based on hearing it on Graham 2.2, and we did speculate it might be because of the unipivot design. Since people are reporting good results with their JMW/Airy 3 combos, I'm inclined to think it was some other factor about that Graham/Airy 3 combo that caused the excessive liveliness. That 2.2 just couldn't tame certain upper mid frequency energies. I gather from the posts above that JMW users aren't having that problem.

If in fact your table is inherently "dark", a warmish cartridge like a Benz might reinforce that. A lively, energetic cartridge like a Helikon or Airy 3 might help illuminate things a bit. The ideal solution is perfectly neutral components from top to bottom of course. Easier said than done.
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