What cartridge on your VPI prime?

First install? What protractor are you using? Feickert? MintLP?

I'm running mine at 2.4g VTF and a effective input impedance of 118 ohms into a Bob's Devices Cinemag 1131 SUT. I used a Feickert protractor and set it up using the Baerwald curve. It sounds pretty damn good to me.

Did you check your azimuth? Did you buy it new or used?

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/setting-up-a-phono-cartridge/

I used the VPI jig. I have a Mint ordered. Still sounding "fuzzy" so will continue to tweak today. I have it set at 100 ohms into a Manley Chinook and adjusted the azimuth various times?  Are you using anti-skate. I tend not to but I hooked that up and seemed to help but not alleviate the issue. Yea this is my first attempt so I have a lot to learn. Bought it here on Audiogon...used. Reported to have only about 10 hours use so could it be because it still needs break in?  Everything looked fine. 

Since my last visit here I have upgraded my system, the Vincent POH-8 has been sold and  went to a McIntosh c50 preamp that has built in MC and MM phono preamp sections that are adjustable. Then I purchased a 2nd 10" 3D arm for my VPI Prime and started comparing cartridges that I own. 1st I compared an Ortofon 2M Bronze to my Denon 103R. Both sounded great but I liked the sound of the 2M better. The 103R had good detail and nice sound stage, but everything was a little repressed, hidden I would say. The 2M is a more in your face type of sound. The sound stage is more open and higher Hz notes just seam to jump out at you more.  One clear difference is the bass. The bass on the 2M is clear and tight, and you can pick out the sound of the drum skin vibrating at the end of a strike. The 2M has great detail when it comes to bass drums.  

I have 4 cartridges that I play on my prime, Ortofon ( Super OM40,& 2M Bronze) Denon 103R, Audio Technica 33EV. They all sound great on my VPI Prime and the 3D arm. The problem is it takes an hour to swap out a cartridge on the prime. And after an hour most people have forgotten a lot of details, unless you are one of these super human reviews that can hear the difference in music from years ago.   So I purchased a 2nd 3D arm. Now it takes a minute to compare two different cartridges. What I have learned so far is I like the 2M bronze over the 103r because of better detail in bass notes, the 2M has sharp bass notes, 103r kinds of duller sound. The 2M is more dynamic in the higher HZ area snare drums, symbols, ect more pronounced, sound vibrates longer with the 2M. I guess punchier would describe the 2M to the 103r over all. I am listening with a McIntosh C-50 preamp and Prima Luna tube amps running into horn loaded Klipsch LaScalla type speakers.  The 2M also has a deeper and wider sound stage, but both are good, I give a nod to the 2M. The OM40 is great for the money but again and 2M outdoes it in the tighter base and punchier highs. The sound stage again wider and more dynamic. But on a lesser table, like the MMF 7.1 I had before the prime, all 3 of these cartridges were a toss up. 

Regarding the Charisma MC2 and the Lyra Delos:  I have owned both.  To me, the Delos is more extended and transparent from mid-range up, albeit it is occasionally a bit rough (perhaps revealing of the lp's characteric). The Charisma, while clear up top, is comparatively stronger from mid-range on down with a fuller and more accurate bass and a bit more dynamic grunt. It probably depends on your preferences and existing tendencies of your system.  I'm using a primarily VPI/Audio Research based system.