Lyra Titan i - in focus?

Thank you, Jfrech and Syntax. I agree with your comments. My arm may not be the best but it should be good enough, the SME V. I fully agree with you Syntax, the Titan i is so good that tweaks continue to amaze. For example, I got considerable improvement, first, modifying my VPI HW-19, including a Bright Star sand box supported by bicycle tires (!), and lately, changing to a Hanss T-30 player with magnetic suspension.

I hope we get some "click-in" enthusiasts into this thread, describing "just the right" VTA-SRA tonearm (or shell) adjustment. If no one shows up, my preliminary verdict is that even if overall setup is very important, the VTA/SRA is not that critical. But this is obviously a topic that needs more illumination.

Thanks Peterayer. Did the Mint protractor measurement make you move the arm forwards or backwards in the base compared to the SME protractor?

Peterayer - this is very interesting. In my case I have always felt that the Titan (and earlier Lyras) had to be shifted slightly to the right, seen from the front of the record player. With the SME V arm, you cannot change much, but I took the freedom to bore the circular screw holes slightly oblong. Thereby I can turn the pickup a slight bit towards the right in the shell (seen from the front), to make it sound its best. Is this in line with your experience?

Thank you for interesting information. I've found that I have to twist the pickup to the right (seen from front) in the SME shell to sound its best, and to appear best judging from optical adjustment with different protractors too. Is this in line with your experience? Regarding antiskate, I generally prefer it a bit more relaxed, a degree or two below the weight measure. This is related to arm damping also, I have tried a bit, but ended up not using it.

I recently did a comparison of the Titan i and the Ortofon Cadenza, in my arm and system. Very illuminating. The Cadenza sounded great, yet it is also understandable that the Titan is more costly. Potentially it offers more information.

Although the Cadenza sailed happily through the grooves, the Titan gave more depth and dimensionality, although this included problems also, like poorly recorded records. The two cartridges sounded surprisingly alike but the Titan was superior in overall musical information value.

I came away from the test feeling that I still have some way to go to get the Titan into focus. Disregard any earlier statements that this perhaps cannot be done.

Based on the advice in this thread, I am now trying out a few things. I ease up a bit on the turning of the cartridge to the right in the shell (I don't "bend" it to the right, but it is gently pushed, before I tighten the screws). Secondly I put the arm a bit forward compared to the SME protractor. Thirdly I improve azimuth by ensuring that the arm foot and base are parallel.

Does this sound better? My first impression is yes. Clearly there is more to be learned about adjustment than I thought.