Anyone using a Lyra Delos yet?

Paperw8, I'm also starting to use a Delos into the Whest (although not the dual transformer version) on the 55db setting. I sympathise with the value-for-money argument that this design represents.

I must admit that I agonised over the best choice of VTA vs VTF with this cartridge given Jonathan's recommendations. My arm has VTA adjustment capability on-the-fly but, like many others, I'm disinclined to constantly mess around with it. So, I was initially thinking 150g record as a ref with VTF at 1.75g and allowing a slight deviation on 120g/180g. Since most of my records are 120g I finally decided it was better to use 120g as Ref and accept a slightly larger hit on 180g, still within the cartridge's operating range.

Ultimately, if this proves unsatisfactory I could organise the occasional 180g "month/week" :D :D, nesting all the 180's together in one session and adjust the VTA tower on a one-off basis :D

Of course all this is academic if it turns out it sounds better at 1.77g (!! :D)
Cheers....

Paperw8 :
"55dB will send a signal of about 1/3 volt to the preamplifier where 60dB sends a signal of about 0.6 volts to the preamplifier."

Hi Paperw8...the Whest manual merely says "0.6mV-0.35mV = 55db setting", "0.4mV-0.25mV = 60db"(personally I would have written these numbers in reverse but never mind :o) Given that Lyra requests a "0.6mV or less" input, 55 chose itself. I hear what you're saying about low throughput. My concern was driving the phono stage into saturation. (Although designs like this tend to have plenty of headroom)
What is the Lyra anyway? About 450uV? Probably close enough to 60db to be inconsequential :o)

100pf seems extraordinarily low for the RDT? My ps0.3r has a 220pF input C, while the 0.5m cable is assumed to be around 50pF Giving me a total of 270pF. By way of contrast a Trichord Diablo is way up there at 1.1nF(?) but as Audiofeil says it doesn't matter to MCs anyway.

11-29-10: Paperw8
"from where you are getting your data on input capacitance? my whest manual provides no information on input capacitance. an input capacitance of 220pf sounds a bit high even for a moving magnet section."
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James Henriot.
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"Speaking of the whest manual, i will point out that there is an error in the chart that shows the latest (post 1 jan 09) load settings. the figure in the manual indicates that DIP switch position 4 selects a 1k ohm resistor, when in reality it is a 1.6k ohm resistor. if you look at the values indicated on the actual circuit board, it too indicates that this switch position is 1.6k ohm - the circuit board is correct and the manual is incorrect."
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Useful info....
Cheers..................M.

Thanks for that Paperw8.....I'm currently using a load of 220 with the PS0.3r and it sounds pretty good even though I'm still running in the cart, but you've intrigued me so I will try something approaching the 470 setting.
Best................M.

Paperw8 : "You'll get better dynamics but i think that 470 ohms is a bit bright. i had previously been using an effective load impedance of about 363 ohms. i am currently using an effective load impedance of 455 about ohms but may go back to 363 ohms after a while."

Indeed...my findings also Pw8. 220 initially seemed a little too bright but I had a feeling VTA needed further dialling in and it's pretty much there now. Azimuth and bias have taken some time because it's such a tolerant cartridge. Now that it's nearly there it's starting to sound like a very smooth tracker....Even though my MMIII has a similar stylus profile it's much more critical before it snaps into focus. It's a pleasure to "rediscover" MC with the Delos. It's my first Lyra but may not be the last...
I agree with the guys who say take the HFN/RR test disc tracking tests with a pinch of salt. The Lyra appears unexceptional when tracing test tracks (at the average VTF) but on music sounds unshakeable without necessarily having everything dialled in yet.
Best.....................M.

..Having said that, tracking seems to be improving as the cartridge runs in. I revisited the HFN/RR test disc without changing anything (minimal adjust on the bias) and it seemed to have almost cleared the 2nd band this time, only an hour or so after the previous check. (I've reached a staggering 5 hrs on the clock now).
The Delos does naturally sit low, but my last cart had about the same ground clearance at this stage. Provided the suspension doesn't settle any further or start colliding with warps it should be tolerable.
I've been playing my worst albums - albums which normally don't excite the listener too much for whatever rationalisations e.g. suspected "poor pressing", and the Delos is turning each into "a performance". There have been more than a few spellbinding moments.
Cheers..............M.

Actus. The manual states that when in use the cantilever should appear to be at 90 degrees to the front face. This seems to be the case when the cart is "low riding" (by this I mean the sort of "ground" clearances you describe).
Mine is the same but I've yet to hear it collide with any severe warps. My previousa cart didn't offer any more clearance than this either.
With warped discs it can be a little bit unnerving at times though...
Hope this helps..................M.

Actus, no problem buddy.:)
I could imagine a few users returning their carts for remedial action but you wonder if that's the right thing to do in all(?) cases. Does this mean the manufacturer would crank up the suspension to compensate - giving the impression of a cart with too little VTF but excellent ground clearance. If so, ostensibly, that would defeat Lyra's original design intent while gratifying the customer.
At least the washi paper doesn't pick up many passengers i.e. fluff, when it happens, tends to stick mostly to the cantilever?
I have to admit that despite the restrictive nature of Lyra's setup recommendations for their new generation of carts, the results have been "textbook accurate". Horizontal VTA seems to give perfect results with a downforce of 1.75-1.76g (for me anyway).