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Lyra Dorian Set Up Issues

I am looking for help and opinions regarding Lyra Cartridges. My system consists of Music Hall mmf.9.1 turntable, ARC PH8 Phono Pre, Arc LS27 Pre, Musical Fidelity M6prx amp, B&W 803S, more.

I was running a Paradox Pulse (like Zu) modified Denon DL103R that I really like but I wanted to get a little more detail. I am thinking of buying a Lyra Delos but I had a chance to get a nice deal on a Lyra Dorian to keep or use as a stopgap. My DL103r is easy to set up using Mofi Geodisc but the Lyra is tricky. Questions:

Best Tracking force for Dorian?

Anti Skating or not?

Loading ohms?

Other tips?

I have the Dorian mounted and tracking a 1.91 g but is doesn't seem to track well. when I drop into the lead groove it jumps into track 1. VTF has a great deal of effect on sound but I cant seem to get it right where the midrange congestion seems to open up.

My DL103R seems more dynamic and alive with 98% of the detail. The Lyra Dorian just had a new cantilever with micro line stylus (Namiki did the work) installed and has about 10 hours. More Questions:

How long does break in take for a rebuilt cartridge?

Is break in part of my issue?

I need to decide if I should keep the Lyra Dorian and work on set up and break in. Keep the Denon Pulse Paradox DL103r and leave well enough alone or sell both and by a Lyra Delos or something else.

Any help from the community would be greatly appreciated.










pilrem
11 responses Add your response
pilrem OP
40 posts
 
Thanks for great responses! The Lyra Dorian is very sensitive to VTF, VTA and loading. I think that I finally have it set up nicely and now is the time for break in... Probably at 15hr since new cantilever.

At this point the Dorian sounds detailed and refined but it slightly lacks the micro and macro dynamics of the Denon. Dorian stages deeper and images more precisely, but it does not have the dynamic impact of the Denon. My hope is that the gap will close through break in.

When considering my future upgrade to the Lyra Delos, my hope is that the Delos retains the best attributes of the Dorian with just a touch more warmth and dynamics.

BTW, there is a Dynavector Dv 20x2 h for sale on Audiogon, interesting?
bradf's avatar
bradf
329 posts
 
https://www.gcaudio.com/tips-tricks/tonearm-cartridge-compatability/

https://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/ttsetup.html
bradf's avatar
bradf
329 posts
 
Specs for Dorian
http://www.lyraconnoisseur.com/Products/Products_Analog/Dorian/dorian2.html

Specs for Delos
http://www.lyraconnoisseur.com/Products/Products_Analog/Delos/delos3.html
tooblue
1,927 posts
 
Agree with yogiboy , I use a/s with my classic 10 arm and not with my 3D arm.

yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,661 posts
 
stringreen,
a/s works with different arm and cartridge combinations. Why would you make a blanket statement like that? It works fine for me. The OP should give it a try!
http://www.sound-smith.com/faq/how-do-i-adjust-anti-skating-my-cartridge
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
Yogiboy....a/s makes it worse not better.
ninetynine's avatar
ninetynine
135 posts
 
I had Delos and Kleos. Both wasn't good trackers. About 50µm/315Hz they began distorting. For me they adds a type of top end to the music, that sometimes is great, but it can also be to much. After the Kleos i had an EMT JSD6, that has balls in the.....but not the resolution...
I think the DL103 has a complete other tonal focus as the Lyra.
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,661 posts
 
Try using the anti-skating and see if that helps!
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
I don't use antiskate....it makes the sound worse..
sfall
346 posts
 
I forgot to put this in my first post. Your old cart puts out .25mv and the Lyra puts out .6mv. I would lower the gain as well.

Also, I wasn't too familiar with your modified Denon cart, so I went to the manufacturer's web site. It states that they put 100 hours on all carts before they get shipped out to customers. That's a really nice thing for them to do, but if you don't have a lot of experience with phono carts, you won't be aware of how big a factor break in really is. 
sfall
346 posts
 
Some may disagree, but break in can be a huge factor. There were times when I thought a new phono cart was defective it sounded so bad. Put about 25-30 hours on it. It should sound a lot better. If not, you may have a different problem, but you really should rule out break in first.
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