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Benz Ebony TR or Lyra Kleos SL?

...or a custom 0.18mV Colibri XCW?
Some background, I have the old ARC Ref Phono that I've been running a custom H.O. Colibri XCP (1.0mV) into the MM input on. This because I found the previous = or less than 0.32mV cartrides I had to sound better into MM bypassing the Jensen SUTs in the MC input. From research I believe the reason to be that the SUT config might prefer carts of less than 5ohms or loading of ~100ohms. There might be other reasons, but I'm itching to revisit a LOMC and the 3 above are on my shortlist. The 3rd option (XCW) would have more than 15ohms resistance though, but VdH say they recommend ~100ohms thus its inclusion. Your thoughts?
vusi_khumalo
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,503 posts
 
I understand Cvarivey's point very well. The TR is extremely low output and is an extraordinary cartridge, but all the benefits may very well be lost unless you have a superlative phono preamp. If you are willing to get a great pre, you will love the Benz.
jeffkleinberg
23 posts
 
I have been using the Kleos SL for a couple months now and i love it. My chinook is all I need for amplification at 58db. Highly recommended
rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear Vusi_kumalo: Stringreen posted:

++++ " If you are willing to get a great pre... " +++++

IMHO means no sense to buy a top LOMC cartridge if your phonolinepreamp can't honor it or preclude that that top quality perfromance cartridge can shows you at its best.

The very low output VdH is a great cartridge ( I own and owned several Vdh Colibri. ) but you need an active high gain phonolinepreamp, same with the TR.

IMHO your AR item could be a limitations for those great performers.

Regards and enjoy the music,
R.
actusreus
733 posts
 
What I want to know is how do you run a cartridge with an output of 0.32 mV or less into the MM input? How could it possibly provide enough gain?
pani
1,219 posts
 
Recently heard a Lyra Delos and a Skala into two different phonostages, one was a 47 Labs phonocube and the other was a Shindo Masseto in-built phonostage. The Shindo uses a custom Lundahl SUT inside while the 47 Labs is a clean active phono. I cannot say one had an advantage over the other, though the Shindo clearly had the edge when it came cartridge matching, especially low output impedance cartridges. The TR "desperately" needs a SUT though. Dont try to use the TR direct into the active phono, it is a very very tough route to go that way. Rather a nice Lundahl SUT into your ARC MM phonostage will be a simple and direct way to get very high performance out of the TR.

Anyway I prefer the Lyra to the TR :-).
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