The Lyra Delos sounds above every cartridge I have owned. It is clearer, cleaner, more detailed yet smooth, has dynamics and energy as good as my digital sources. Bass is punchy and detailed, midrange is clear and life like, treble is sweet and never bright or harsh.
My last cartridge before the Delos was the Ortofon Cadenza Blue, which was very good but not as good as the Lyra.
Before that I had a Soundsmith Zephyr MIMC star ES which I did not care for.
Audio Technica ART9 and ART9 XA, better than the Soundsmith but not as good as the Ortofon.
Dynavector DV20X2L, good but not as good as the ART9s.
Ortofon 2M Black. Great midrange but overall not very refined compared to the MC cartridges.
Lyra Delos is a great value at its price and my winner.