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Lyra Delos Settings

the Linn Uphorik has the following possible settings for a MC cartridge:

MC Gain => +54 dB / +64 dB @ 1 kHz (measured using 20 Ω source into 1 k Ω)

MC Resistance (low) => 31 Ω, 37 Ω, 42 Ω, 53 Ω, 70 Ω, 100 Ω, 170 Ω

MC Resistance (high) => 580 Ω, 670 Ω, 810 Ω, 1 kΩ

MC Capacitance => 470 pF, 1 nF, 1.5 nF, 2 nF

What settings would you recommend for the Lyra Delos MC cart?
agiaccio
jcarr
382 posts
 
Hi Agiaccio: How much capacitance does your tonearm cable have? Also, how much capacitance does the internal wiring inside your tonearm have?

It would be nice if you could disable the capacitance at the phono stage completely, is this possible?

I suspect that you will have better dynamics with the MC gain set to 64dB, but if you have very efficient loudspeakers, you may try 54dB.

kind regards, jonathan
agiaccio OP
147 posts
 
Hi Jonathan,

My tonearm is a VPI JMW-9 Signature tonearm with Valhalla internal cabling and I have no idea what the capacitance is for this cable.

However, the phono cable (1 meter) that runs from the VPI Junction Box (RCA) to the Linn Uphorik phono pre-amp (XLR) will be upgraded to a Nordost Heimdall 2 with a capacitance of 25pF/ft.
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
In a way that is the analog dilemma, that there is no real technical Standard. For example, Phonostage A with 100 Ω does not deliver identical sonic results (or even close) compared with Phonostage B with also 100 Ω.
Also huge differences are in the Design of Phonostages, price is no guarantee for real sonic improvements. Indeed, most are more or less same, a bit more that here and less of that there and so on.
Then you have additional different influences (technical & sonic) in Tonearm Leads (silver, copper, different qualities), cabling inside your Arm, Phonocable , the connectors and so on and on. Also the Preamplifier (Phono comes next) has influence to sound...
So, even when you ask precisely and owners from same cartridge will give you advice, finally you can narrow it but you have to find out what matches best in your System.
dover
2,291 posts
 
Agiacco - you would be best running through all the settings yourself. Although this is tedious you will learn a lot and it is really the only way to find the optimum set up in your system. Even if you found someone with an identical system, if their cartridge allignment or VTA is different then again you may end up with different results.
You may need to adjust VTA or revisit the settings if you alter the VTA to fine tune and double check your conclusions.
jcarr
382 posts
 
Hi Agiaccio: The loading resistance for a low-impedance MC cartridge is related to the values of the capacitances between cartridge and phono stage (plus whatever amount is present at the phono stage input). The general rule of thumb is that, the lower the capacitance value, the higher the resistive loading value can be (which is beneficial for dynamics and resolution).

If you are willing to give me a few days, I could run a set of loading simulations for you. Please be aware that without knowing some of the key capacitance values, a certain amount of guesswork will be involved.

These days you can buy a digital multimeter (DMM) which can easily measure capacitance for not a lot of money, and this would eliminate the guesswork (hint, hint).

The Nordost Heimdall 2 will likewise be one meter long (3.28 feet)? FWIW, 1.2m is more common for bespoke tonearm cable.

How long would you estimate the signal wiring inside the JMW-9 tonearm to be (including the leads to the junction box)?

kind regards, jonathan carr
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