Hana Umami Red or Lyra Kleos?

Mike. Hope this isn't perceived as sage advice  but maybe you should go with your "gut" feelings. Mount the Kleos to the unipivot and enjoy for now. These "experts" are trying to give you good advice but are only adding anxiety to your learning curve. This is also supposed to be fun, right? Get a new arm, mod, or whatever as you can afford it. I have the same financial limitations you have.

Mr_m, that does sound like sensible and sage advice. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what to do when you get advice from some diametrically opposed to other’s advice. But that’s the internet for you. I do enjoy gathering information, trying to figure things out, and making considered decisions, Especially where there’s some significant cash on the line, So that part of the equation’s not an issue.

I’ll share a little bit of personal background, Before retiring my previous career was in corrections and mental health, When running a correctional unit or institution there are potentially serious consequences for not figuring things out correctly and making sound decisions . Nobody’s going to get hurt if I end up making the wrong choice about some stereo equipment. This is only a fun hobby like you say. So if folk get too adamant, you have to take it with a grain of salt.

My gut tells me now I should get the dual pivot mod, so to not potentially waste the cost of a professional turntable setup, so that’s what I’ll probably do. But If adding a dual pivot mod later only involves readjusting the azimuth you could be right to just go ahead .and consider adding only the mod later. I’ll look into that and consider that option. Could be a money saver.

Thanks for your thoughtful post,

Mike

Pleaase pardon the typos above. Ran out of time to get them edited out. 

Mike

The key, already mentioned, with the Lyra Kleos is to assure a very accurate and exacting set up. IF ( a big IF) this is done correctly, you should be in a good place. Personally, I do not like VPI tables or arms, but this is a personal opinion. I can easily see why folks do like them and I have heard Lyra's sounding quite good on these tables. As mentioned above, there are a number of great tables and arms out there, albeit mostly all far more $$ than the OP's set up. My Lyra dealer happens to also be a VPI dealer, he has set up numerous of these combos and most folk like the results. 

Daveyf, other’s concur with you about the Lyra Kleos needing a precise setup. That’s why I’m going to have a pro doing that job. I really have no way to know if the DIY setup I did wth my current tonearm and cartridge was spot on or miserable. I’ll not take that chance with Kleos.

When it comes time I’ll start as thread on tonearms to see what suggestions you all come up with on gimbal ones. Even the VPI models climb rapidly into the $4000 range. This is an expensive hobby. That’s more than the Classic 2 cost. I doubt I’ll ever upgrade the Classic 2 as I’ve other priorities in life and don’t buy lottery tickets.

And I’m surely hoping a tonearm upgrade won’t be necessary if I do upgrade the current VPI JMW 10.5i unipivot tonearm with the VPI dual pivot mod, Nice to hear your dealer has set up VPI turntables with Lyra cartridges with good results.

Mike

@skyscraper I would recommend getting away from VPI, and I would not invest in their mods (dual pivot).  I have owned three VPI tables over a 12 year period, and my opinion is VPI's engineering is half baked at best.  Their manufacturing and quality assurance is also a far cry from what a high end turntable manufacturer should be offering.  My current table is a Classic Signature with Benz Ruby Z.  When I upgrade (hopefully this year) I will be going with a Kleos as well, but I'll be looking to pair with a German Made table like AMG or Dr Feickert.  I wouldn't waste your money on the dual pivot mod.  It is another half baked mod and more hassle than it's worth.  If I were you, I would enjoy the Kleos on your table as-is, and start planning to get away from VPI.  The fact that your table is on a marble slab is helping to mitigate the uni-pivot shortcomings.  If you want to invest further, get a HRS platform.  You may find the HRS platform helps with draining airborne energy and will help keep energy in your rack from getting up to the turntable.  That should keep your uni-pivot arm more stable.  My 2C's.  Take it or leave it - I'm good either way.

Cbl117, you’re the second person I’ve heard say they thought the dual pivot mod was a hassle. What makes it so in your estimation? I read one person didn’t like that the second pivot point simply drags across the surface it rests on when in use. That person bought a mod to the dual pivot mod that replaced the pivot’s point with a small ruby ball bearing. My dealer said cueing was more difficult .with the mod in use for some reason. I’d appreciate if you could elaborate a little on what you don’t like about it to help me make a better decision on getting it or not. Opinions seem to be mixed. Thanks.

I’d like to upgrade to a table like you describe, But I can’t spend any more on equipment upgrades since my entire system was just replaced at great expense, far as my budget is concerned. So outside of getting the Lyra Kleos, which I really shouldn’t have spent money on, I’ve got to live within my means and enjoy what I have.

Mike

I'm using an Ortofon Winfield cartridge with my VPI .   I installed the 2nd pivot on the 10.5 which was an improvement....not a night and day, but certainly worthwhile.   I heard the bearing VPI which to me was not an improvement, but a lateral move.  They sounded much the same.

Stringreen, in what ways did the dual pivot improve your system? I’ve read a few things about improvements using it and would like to hear yours. Appreciate your impression of the bearing VPI., I assume you’re speaking of one of their FB gimbal models, They do have a couple of relatively inexpensive ones in the $500 range too. Thanks,

Mike

I have both, Hana Umami Red and Lyra Kleos, and both are fantastic! Lyra Kleos a little bit more open in the high frequencies, and Hana Umami Red a little bit more forgiven in not so good recordings

I thought VPI's website offered cartridge recommendations..

I've been on the VPI site numerous times slaw, not in  while though, but never came across that feature. It would be a good thing for them to have compatible cartridge recommendations listed. I did contact VPI just prior to purchasing my Lyra Kleos and they indicated they had used that cart for demo purposes at shows. I'll revisit their site to see if they list cartridge recommendations now. 

Mike