Lyra Titan i with a Manley Steelhead....settings??

Jbatlanta,

You are doing the right thing -- experimenting -- as there is no such thing as a "right" setting. You actually should not expect to hear a change in sound by changing the capacitance loading. Capacitance loading affects moving magnet cartridges, but not moving coils.

I have a Titan, coupled to a Viva Fono tube phono stage that utilizes a step up transformer. In both this stage and with a Levinson No. 32 preamp, the Lyra was much LESS sensitive to loading than other cartridges, such as the Transfiguration Orpheus and Temper B. I currently load the Viva at 460 ohms, but in the Levinson, I ran the Titan close to wide open and unloaded (either 47k ohms or 100k ohms).

By the way, I have not heard the Steelhead with the Titan, but I've heard it with Allaerte and Koetsu cartridges and I thought it is a very good phono stage.

I agree with Whart about the extreme VTA sensitivity of the Titan. A change of as little as .3mm of height at the armpost (Vector arm, which is 9" in length), makes a substantial change in the sound.

JBatlanta, as you have noted, going to a higher numerical value of resistance in the loading (which actually DECREASES loading because it is in parallel), causes the bass to thin out. You would get a similar result by increasing VTA (raising the armpost of the tonearm). Thus, the two adjustments have a similar, but not identical impact on sound. This means that if your VTA is too high, you could sort of compensate by choosing a lower value loading; this would sound okay, but not ideal. I think it might be worthwhile to change VTA and then reset your loading by ear to determine whether you can get even better results.

The 25 ohm value you settled on seems to be low (a lot of loading), based on my experience and that of another Titan owner. Our phono stages are different, though we both use tube stages with a step up transformer at the front end. It could be the right setting in your setup, but it could also be compensating for too high VTA. That is why I suggest experimenting with lowering your arm just a bit, and then seeing if a different loading would get you to an even better result.

Have fun.

Rmaurin,

I don't have the VTA adjustment mechanism. I have made a set of spacers out of 1/2" PVC pipe that have been filed down to different heights. The spacers differ in height by .3 mm (measured on a set of calipers). This difference is easy to hear. Perhaps one could discern an even smaller increment, but, I would have to make a ridiculous number of spacers.

You obviously have a much easier time making changes with the VTA guage. This is a big plus with the Titan. I don't know if the Titan is particularly sensitive or whether one easily hears the change because the top end of that cartridge is so clear, detailed and extended.