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Benz Ebony LP or Lyra Delos ?

For about the same money I am getting to buy a Lyra Delos and Benz Ebony LP (not LP-S) cartridge. I listen mostly to classic rock and Blues, so, tone, PRAT and dynamics are most important while soundstage accuracy and transparency can be compromised a little. Tonearm is a Basis Vector 4.

Lyra Delos is highly regarded in general while Benz LP was their top model before the LPS. Which of these would you suggest ?

BTW, I also have an offer on an Ortofon Cadenza Black for about the same money but not sure if it is suited for Rock and Blues.
pani

Showing 2 responses by david12

david12
1,454 posts
 
I have used the LP for 2 years. I would say the best cartridge I have had in my system, or at least equal to the Koetsu Rosewood Signature. I have never heard the Lyra.

A zyx Airy 3 preceeded it, a higly regarded cartridge. Like the LP it is detailed and uncoloured, but lacks the pace and snap of the LP. Just the PRAT you are looking for and the LP has it, to my ears. I would highly recommend it, with one caveat. If you are in the US, they were, I am not sure about now, very overpriced. My LP cost £1500, or about $1950. I think they were over $3000, in the US.
david12
1,454 posts
 
Pani I used both cartridges with an Ortofon 309D arm on an TW acoustic Raven One. Both cartridges are quite detailed, perhaps I should have highlighted rythm, rather than speed.

The last and first LP I played on the cartridges was a favourite, Moanin by Art Blakey. Even allowing for the hour to carefully set it up, the contrast was dramatic, it really swung along with the Benz, it plodeded with the Zyx. That's what I found anyway.
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