In the 2010 August issue of the German audio magazine "Stereoplay", the Delos was subjectively and objectively reviewed against other cartridges (at roughly comparable price-points). In addition to listening impressions, the article is complete with charts and numbers that show how the Delos measured in comparison to other cartridges like the Benz-Micro Wood SL, Kuzma KC2 (a ZYX OEM), Ortofon Cadenza Blue, and Ortofon Cadenza Red. This review can be downloaded from the website of our German distributor, Fast Audio. FWIW, the Delos came out on top (smile).
But when you see frequency measurements of a phono cartridge, there are a couple of questions that you should ask immediately, which are "at what temperature" and "at what groove diameter" (and with MM, MI or other high-impedance, high-inductace cartridges, "at what load").
This is because although the frequency response of a cartridge is commonly spoken of a single curve, in reality it is a number of different curves, affected strongly by various parameters such as the operating temperature (lower temperature causes the upper frequencies to be attenuated), and groove diameter (the upper frequencies are increasingly attenuated the closer the stylus gets to the LP label). A cartridge that measures as having a rising treble at 27 degrees centigrade and at the beginning of the LP will measure differently at 20 degree centigrade and the finale.
The frequency response likewise changes with with the choice of test record, and can also change with cartridge age (due to damper wear and stylus wear).
What makes matters even more interesting is that some of the tonal changes that we hear from a cartridge in a given setup may not necessarily appear in the frequency measurements. For example, if the tonearm is changed from, say, a Rega RB300 to a Triplanar, the high frequencies will sound noticeably different. But those same high frequencies will not measure differently (unless one of the setups is wrong).
Ditto for electrical loading (of MC cartridges). Change the loading of an MC from 1kohm to 100 ohms and how the high frequencies sound in comparison to the lower frequencies will be audibly different. But actual measurements will show no (or very little) change.
Same applies for VTA.
Same also applies for body construction. Put the same generator, cantilever and stylus in different body structures, and you can get a very different sound (while seeing little to no effect on the measured frequency response).
kind regards, jonathan carr
