Lyra Delos vs. Kleos?


I picked up a Delos to use as backup for a few months and I'm very impressed so far. Was wondering if any one has heard it and the Kleos and can tell what might be gained in the upgrade? Thanks.
tom_hankins

Showing 1 response by jcarr

Dear Tom:

Both the Delos and Kleos are "New Angle" cartridges, in which the signal coils are accurately aligned to the magnetic system when vertical tracking force is applied, and this technology is the basis for why they sound and perform better than competing cartridges at similar price points.

Compared to the Kleos, the Delos has a somewhat higher output signal which may help some phono stages, but that is the extent of its advantages over the Kleos.

The Kleos has less wire in the coils (and therefore lighter and more responsive coils), more intimate bonding of the stylus to the cantilever (which conveys the vibrations of the LP groove more faithfully to the signal coils), a stiffer body which is also less resonant, and tighter bonding between the cartridge and tonearm headshell.

Both are good-sounding cartridges, but IME (and according to most users, dealers and reviewers that I have heard from), the Kleos sounds considerably better. In some areas, in fact, I prefer the sound of the Kleos over the Titan i (a more natural top end, and less background noise).

OTOH, every listener is free to choose the sound that he likes best - when it comes to subjective tastes, there is no right or wrong.

kind regards, jonathan