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Which would you choose- Lyra, Zyx or Benz for VPI

Hello. I am looking to buy a brand new cartridge in the $2000 range. The contenders are a Zyx Airey 3 with silver bottom and copper wires ($2300), a Lyra Skala ($2200 using my Helikon tradein), or a Benz LP ($2000 using my Ruby trade in). My system is a VPI Aries with JMW 10 arm, BAT P-10 phono, BAT 5SE Pre, BAT VK-60 amp, Quad 988's all tied together with Silver Audio Appasionata's.

I listen to mostly live acoustic performances of small rock bands (think Jay Farrar and Son Volt or Wilco) or jazz groups (most of the Groove Note line). I like to hear the transients of the kick of a drum and the strum of a Martin Guitar.

I was using a Helikon until my housekeeper damaged the stylus. I always thought it was too thin in the mids and bass but it had nice air around it. I then shifted across the board to the Ruby 2H. I've been using it for a year and satified but part of the reason for all the silver cabling is that I missed the detail and air of the Helikon.

I know there are many wisdom and experience beyond me soplease help me out. Which would work best based on your experience.

Thanks, Jeff
jspownell
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rauliruegas
13,003 posts
 
Dear Jeff: The ones that you named are very good cartridges and different each to other. For what are your music kind priorities and your analog rig my vote is for the Skala, no doubt about.

Now, IMHO, before you go for either you can invert $95.00 for a Empire 750 LTD or $165.00 for a Empire EDR.9 ( both MM cartridges ) and you will be surprised about its quality performance that in many ways you don't have it today.

Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Re: your foray into silver cables, no cable can recover information the cartridge failed to pick up in the first place. Benz styli have larger contact radii than Lyra or ZYX styli. This is especially true of the basic Ruby. It will literally slide right past small, HF modulations that smaller styli can trace.

No disrespect intended, just a point of info. It's easy to spend time and money on attempted fixes which don't address the root cause of a problem. We've all done it.
jspownell OP
4 posts
 
Thanks guys for the responses so far.

Doug, do you have any thoughts or experience on the Airy with the JMW arm. Also, your comments lead me to believe that the Airy, although in between the Helikon and Ruby, is actually more similar to the Helikon.

Raul, can you provide me some more information on your Skala recommendation. One concern that I have about another Lyra is tracking, my Helikon was not a good tracker and I don't know if the Skala is similar to the Helikon in that regard.

Thanks.
dgad
782 posts
 
The Skala should be a great match for your arm from what I have been told by friends as well. Great for the money. You can spend more but the improvement will be very small.
dougdeacon
3,338 posts
 
Jspownell,

I have not heard a JMW arm (with any cartridge). I'm sure somebody has used this combo. Maybe they'll chime in, or you could search for JMW +ZYX here or on VA.

I suppose a ZYX might be a *little* closer to Helikon than Ruby. But be aware that I don't favor warm-ish cartridges (or tubes, or wire, or speakers, or anything). Anything on that side of neutral gets a bum rap when I attempt to discuss it, since that type of coloration really annoys me. You should see my descriptions of Koetsu or Grado, but I can't publish them in polite company. ;-)

Doug

P.S. Lyra's are generally good trackers. Better than average among MC's certainly. What makes you say your Helikon wasn't?
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