Ortofon Anna or Transfuration Proteus?

I have heard both the Ortofon Anna and Transfiguration Proteus. Both are excellent cartridges. Here is my take on them and the Lyra Atlas (which I have also heard extensively - my friend owns the cart):

Ortofon Anna - very smooth cartridge - solid bass, very detailed yet smooth highs, and by my ear, somewhat sterile midrange. Dynamics also lacking a bit for carts in this price range.

Transfiguration Proteus - different than the old transfigs which were on the 'romantic' side of voicing, this new transfig is super fast, great PRAT, solid bass, and very good highs although not quite as good as the Anna. Midrange can also be a bit thin.

Lyra Atlas - great detail, great bass, dynamic as a cart can be, but also more sterile sounding than the other two above by my ears. transparency great, speakers disappear, but not a very 'musical' cart, but very accurate. Somewhat unforgiving.

If I had to pick between the Anna and the Proteus, I would probably pick the Anna, but remember the Anna is $1,000 less expensive than the Atlas, but $2,000 more expensive than the Proteus.

A cart you haven't mentioned in this price range is a Dynavector XV-1s. It retails for less than the Proteus, yet by my listening tastes and ears, outperforms both the Anna, Proteus and in several ways, the Atlas too.

The XV-1s is very musical and is 'solid' in all areas - imaging, detail, bass, smooth highs and a liquid midrange. If the above carts have some categories where they rate 10/10 in some and 5-6/10 in others, the XV-1s rates 9/10 in just about everything. It is definitely a cart you should consider in your cartridge quest.

Pradeep - point well taken and absolutely accurate. Much is system dependent, but with analog not only that, but set up dependent too. I have heard the Atlas three times - twice it sounded a little lean and sterile to me. That was on an SME table in an all tube system and another with a Feikert Blackbird table and solid state. I also heard the Atlas on an all ARC system with a Brinkmann table and it sounded very different and more liquid. Overall, I felt it might lean toward the 'more detail - less liquidity' side of the fence in most, but not all systems. I'm confident it was set up properly on the SME table (I set it up!) but who knows on the other two tables.

But again, that was in three different rooms, in three different systems at three different times. The best thing people can obviously do is go out there and make time to listen when contemplating a big purchase. We all hear a bit different and lots a variables are involved.

Understood Pradeep. I think that was what I was wanting to clarify. Although my impression was that in most systems the Lyra may sound more analytical and detailed than musical, the caveat was that I only heard it in three different systems and there are way too many variables not accounted for. So I agree, it is probably premature of me to make any blanket statement. And you are correct too - I am definitely in the minority camp that thinks the Lyra 'house sound' is a little on the dry side.

By the way, not to hijack the thread but I auditioned the Rockport Avior last month and going for a second audition the end of Dec!

I took us off topic with the Aviors. Pradeep knows I've been contemplating auditioning some Rockports for some time now. His reference was 'tongue in cheek' for the Atlas since my own experience has been luke warm towards the Atlas so far with limited listening exposure.