Lyra - Delos

An analog LP played back with an MC cartridge can sound exceptionally good. Normally, the more cost put into the cartridge, the better the sound. However, sometimes what is required is not more cost but more clever engineering, as with the Lyra Delos.

A major problem with most cartridges is that the signal coils are located so that applying normal tracking force restricts performance. The reason is that the cartridge's signal coils _should_ have the same angle as the magnetic circuit when the tracking force for playback is applied, but are nearly always designed so that applying normal tracking force pushes the signal coils out of alignment with the magnetic circuit. This impairs the sensitivity and linearity of the coils, and reduces the quality of sound.

The Delos solves this problem with a new body structure and pre-angled damping system. The pre-angled dampers work together with the angle of the body structure so that, when tracking force is applied, the signal coils are optimally aligned with the magnet circuit. The Delos also has a microridge stylus for outstanding tracking, a non-parallel solid metal body for low resonances, and nude construction for greater clarity. The result is clearly improved sound quality, particularly resolution, dynamic range, transient impact and immediacy.

Technical Specifications

• Type:     Medium weight, medium compliance, low-impedance moving coil cartridge
• Frequency range:     10Hz ~ 50kHz
• Channel separation:     30dB or better at 1kHz
• Cantilever system:     Solid boron rod with Namiki microridge line-contact stylus (2.5um x 75 um) & one-point suspension, directly mounted to cartridge body
• Coil:     6-N high-purity copper, 8.2 ohms internal impedance, 9.5uH inductance
• Output voltage:     0.6mV@5cm/sec. (CBS test record, other test records may alter results)
• Compliance:     Approx. 12 x 10 cm/dyne at 100 Hz
• Vertical tracking angle:     20 degrees
• Cartridge body:     One-piece machining from solid aluminum billet
• Cartridge weight:     7.3 grams without stylus cover
• Optimal tracking force:     1.75 grams (1.7g ~ 1.8g acceptable)
• Recommended loading:     91ohms ~ 47kohms (w/o transformer), 5ohms ~ 15ohms (w/transformer connected to 47kohm MM-level RIAA input)