Lyra Titan i with a Manley Steelhead....settings??

Jbatlanta,

You are doing the right thing -- experimenting -- as there is no such thing as a "right" setting. You actually should not expect to hear a change in sound by changing the capacitance loading. Capacitance loading affects moving magnet cartridges, but not moving coils.

I have a Titan, coupled to a Viva Fono tube phono stage that utilizes a step up transformer. In both this stage and with a Levinson No. 32 preamp, the Lyra was much LESS sensitive to loading than other cartridges, such as the Transfiguration Orpheus and Temper B. I currently load the Viva at 460 ohms, but in the Levinson, I ran the Titan close to wide open and unloaded (either 47k ohms or 100k ohms).

By the way, I have not heard the Steelhead with the Titan, but I've heard it with Allaerte and Koetsu cartridges and I thought it is a very good phono stage.

I've not heard the Steel Head with the Titan-i,but have heard the CJ phonostage with it ALOT.This replaced the original Titan and then the Helikon,like you had.
The only somewhat meaningful advice I can offer is.....when it sounds so good that you want to open your window,and shout your glee to the world,that is when it is set up "right"!!
The cartridge is absolutely amazing!!!Of that I am quite certain.
Good luck.

Hello John, Well, the boys might be taking a short vacation, but all is not lost, as the boys have left tons of valuable information in thier wake.

Although I don't personally know him, I believe Mr Carr to be a great guy, and willing to share his expertise, to give you some good pointers. I suggest if you can, to email him, with some specific questions, and I know he will help you.

My eternally good buddy, and Optical Designer extrordinare who is now recently deceased at age 50, Thomas M. Back, used the Lyra Titan, and loved it.

Seems all these high end MC's will change, and metamorphize as the hours go by. Some MC's sound horrible when new, some less so, but I believe all will improve, with better Bass authority, and slam, and won't sound recessed, the Mids, and Highs will begin to smooth, the Highs will begin to display better extension, things like Cymbals will begin to shimmer, and come to life. You'll note certain areas of the frequency spectrum begin coming to life, a little at a time, then a little more, and more, and the overall balance will start to even out.

While I have never owned a Lyra Cartridge, I'd think probably 50-80 hours (and perhaps more?) for full break in to fully realize what the potential of this world class Cartridge has to offer. Funny how these MC Cartridges can be sometimes. One day, you'll perhaps put on an LP, and all of a sudden, bang, the sound just magically opens up, with glorious sound, that just draws you in, and places a big smile on your face!

That's what the Lyra Titan-Steelhead will do, I have no doubt, once all comes together.

I would adjust VTA at, or very near the high end of the suggested VTF range for the first 40 hours, and then start making critical checks, and adjustments to both VTF, VTA, Antiskate, and double check every other setting as well.(alignment-Azimuth-etc)

Then, you will better recogize the difference the Loading settings will make, and once this Cartridge really begins to come to force, you can of course again experiment with even different gain settings again if you like?

Don't assume nothing's going to change, and that your initial thought to be optimum settings will be all that is needed. As time is accumilated, do go back, and tweak to achieve the best performance you can each time.

Thank you moderators for letting me help! I'm starting to sort of feel like one of the big league players here! Best of luck John! Mark

Dear Mark,wonderful feedback.Thanks,from someone,like me,who loves new and interesting feedback.Just for the possibility of getting a different view from others...Harmless fun!!
So sorry to hear about your pal!!I truly know "some" of the emotions you must feel,as I have sadly lost four family members,and a dear friend in the last 18 months.
We "do" move on,but I think it all makes us a bit stronger too....Nice to have passionate interests to give us a lift....My dad always knew this!!
Best.

Hey, cjfrbw.....just to confirm, I have been experimenting and am finding I like that 25 ohm Z setting. It just brings the cartridge alive, especially in the bass. Adding more seems to lean it out. (But, I didn't understand how you equated the 5.5ohm internal resistance of the Titan i to that 25ohm Z setting )??

And, interestingly, with my solid state system pre-amp, putting the Manley on gain of 60 (vs 55) and using both halves of the triode tube gives my sound more "roundness and lushness"....maybe more "tube-like"? :) 65 is, however, too much of a good thing.

The turntable is now 'definitely' kicking cd-ass!!! Before all this, it was the other way around.
All it took was replacingthe Helikon with the Titan, adding the Manley with some Harmonic Technology Silver tonearm cable, and then connecting the Manley to the system with Valhalla. (I'm joking about 'all it took'). A lot of money, but in the end worth it.

I especially love the Titan-i cartridge!

Thanks for all the help and opinions.