Lyra Cartridges

[lem321]

Hello, I'm a new member, based in Bangkok, TH. I have/had a Lyra Etna SL, brand new. Had a terrible problem with static pops. My dealer, Woody, owner of Image Audio-Visual here in BKK, plus Gary Koh, of Genesis speakers and audio equipment, were both listening to this problem in my home and trying various fixes. Nothing worked. Couldn't stand listening to the cart due to the static pops. At the Bangkok Audio Show in August, 2019, I met with Matt from VPI, and explained the problem to him. He thought it might be in the turntable itself. Finally, Gary and Matt, from VPI, plus Woody, from Image Audio thought of the Etna's cantilever, which is 'diamond' or carbon coated boron. That may have been the source of the static. SO, tried a new VPI tonearm, 3-D printed, and a Lyra Kleos cart. The cantilever on the Kleos is boron, but no "diamond" coating. Bingo, no static pops. Woody, of Image Audio, called Stig at Lyra and explained the problem. Rare. First time in years and years they've encountered this. So the Etna SL is going back to Lyra for a check-up. Meanwhile, I'm trading it in for a Dynavector XV-1t, also recommended by Gary Koh and Woody at Image. Right now, I'm still listening to the Kleos, which is good, but no match for the magic of the Etna SL. Static pops, however, killed the Etna for me.

ChasFreeland
That's an interesting problem ("static") which I've not heard of before. Did you try the Etna SL on the new VPI 3-D tonearm? I also have a Lyra Etna SL on a VPI 3D arm with no issues. I agree the Etna SL is magic compared to the Kleos which I also have. My guess is that the problem lies with the cartridge. Hopefully, Lyra will help you solve the static noise. Please let us know what you find.

 

[assessor43]

I listen to a Lyra Delos. Once dialed in, its sounds very fine but is very touchy with setup IME.

 

[Tango]

One thing I learned doing more research after this thread...Lyra has the biggest selection of hi end mono carts..Kleos, Etna and Atlas. Maybe I will give the Kleos or Etna mono a whirl sometime...

No whirl needed. I have one that I no longer use. Bought it just to get a feel of Etna tone. It does not do mono any better than my stereo carts to be honest.

 

[Catcher10]

Once you get a Lyra dialed in, which takes a lot of patience, the sound is glorious. I stick with the top of cart level to playing surface as Lyra recommends with their New Angle design.

 

[cyclopse]

I am on my third Lyra;-



Sits under a brass interface.

 

[Tango]

I have tried AtlasSL on all possible combination between KronosPro, Af1P, EMT927, AS2000, 3012R, Black Beauty, SAEC 506, SAT and Axiom. The best sound I got is when it is on SAT/AF1P. I think they compliment their strengths even further. They present an engaging impressive clean sound.

 

[bonzo75]

That's the combo that Fremer and SAT designer himself and I think now J Carr use

 

[XV-1]

hard to believe I have owned Lyra Atlas and now SL for 7 years 8 months. I luv the Lyra sound and anyone that wants to hear what is on their records with purity and devoid of sugar, Lyra is your brand.

 

[howiebrou]

hard to believe I have owned Lyra Atlas and now SL for 7 years 8 months. I luv the Lyra sound and anyone that wants to hear what is on their records with purity and devoid of sugar, Lyra is your brand.

I must have a sweet tooth then Shane.

 

[Sphere1]

Hello, I'm a new member, based in Bangkok, TH. I have/had a Lyra Etna SL, brand new. Had a terrible problem with static pops. My dealer, Woody, owner of Image Audio-Visual here in BKK, plus Gary Koh, of Genesis speakers and audio equipment, were both listening to this problem in my home and trying various fixes. Nothing worked. Couldn't stand listening to the cart due to the static pops. At the Bangkok Audio Show in August, 2019, I met with Matt from VPI, and explained the problem to him. He thought it might be in the turntable itself. Finally, Gary and Matt, from VPI, plus Woody, from Image Audio thought of the Etna's cantilever, which is 'diamond' or carbon coated boron. That may have been the source of the static. SO, tried a new VPI tonearm, 3-D printed, and a Lyra Kleos cart. The cantilever on the Kleos is boron, but no "diamond" coating. Bingo, no static pops. Woody, of Image Audio, called Stig at Lyra and explained the problem. Rare. First time in years and years they've encountered this. So the Etna SL is going back to Lyra for a check-up. Meanwhile, I'm trading it in for a Dynavector XV-1t, also recommended by Gary Koh and Woody at Image. Right now, I'm still listening to the Kleos, which is good, but no match for the magic of the Etna SL. Static pops, however, killed the Etna for me.

Chas, I am having the same problem with static pops with a brand new Lyra Atlas on a VPI turntable and a 3d printed arm. There are other people complaining about it on the VPI forum. Please keep us posted if Lyra finds anything wrong with your cartridge.

 

[ChasFreeland]

Chas, I am having the same problem with static pops with a brand new Lyra Atlas on a VPI turntable and a 3d printed arm. There are other people complaining about it on the VPI forum. Please keep us posted if Lyra finds anything wrong with your cartridge.

Hello again;

My Lyra Etna SL was returned to Lyra USA. Cart was completely checked and re-worked. No faults were found. Meanwhile, I was using a Kleos on my VPI Avenger with the VPI 3D tonearm. No static. A week ago, I received a new Dynavector XV-1t. It plays beautifully, no static pops. It also has a boron arm, but no carbon (diamond) coating for stiffness. Zero static and ultra quiet cart. So, cannot say where the static originates or why it is there, but Lyra Etna SL is now history and I am loving the Dynavector XV-1t, which I hear as a better cartridge than the Etna SL. The soundstage is stunning. Tonal qualities are also excellent. So, after a long and trying journey through carts and tonearms, I have come up a winner. Bye bye Lyra, hello Dynavector.

 

[assessor43]

I am using a Lyra cartridge and never experienced static. I did experience a sagging cantilever and the whole cartridge was replaced.

 

[Tango]

Atlas is cool. Etna is a duck.

 

[Sphere1]

Hello again;

My Lyra Etna SL was returned to Lyra USA. Cart was completely checked and re-worked. No faults were found. Meanwhile, I was using a Kleos on my VPI Avenger with the VPI 3D tonearm. No static. A week ago, I received a new Dynavector XV-1t. It plays beautifully, no static pops. It also has a boron arm, but no carbon (diamond) coating for stiffness. Zero static and ultra quiet cart. So, cannot say where the static originates or why it is there, but Lyra Etna SL is now history and I am loving the Dynavector XV-1t, which I hear as a better cartridge than the Etna SL. The soundstage is stunning. Tonal qualities are also excellent. So, after a long and trying journey through carts and tonearms, I have come up a winner. Bye bye Lyra, hello Dynavector.

Chas,

Could you tell me what phono preamp you are using? It seems there is some correlation between what phono preamp is being used with the diamond coated cantilevers and the static problems.

Thanks for the info on the Dynavector. Maybe a Dynavector is the way I should go instead of spending all my time trying to fight this problem. I spend more time trying to fix the problem than just enjoying the music.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

[gian60]

The last Olympos in the world,
new from Audiograffiti,Italian distributor

 

[gian60]

Audiograffiti Lyra stock,saw today

 

[ChasFreeland]

Chas,

Could you tell me what phono preamp you are using? It seems there is some correlation between what phono preamp is being used with the diamond coated cantilevers and the static problems.

Thanks for the info on the Dynavector. Maybe a Dynavector is the way I should go instead of spending all my time trying to fight this problem. I spend more time trying to fix the problem than just enjoying the music.

Thanks,
Jeff

Hi, Jeff

I am using a Genesis phono preamp, the top model. That isn't the problem because my audio dealer swapped this preamp for another. Still had static issues. Gary Koh was there and heard it. Found it unbearable. Couldn't get through a record without the irrepressible urge to take it off due to static pops. My dealer, a longtime Lyra agent, heard it. Talked to Matt at VPI about it. There had been problems in the past with VIP tables. Seems that the spindle somehow generated static on one of their units. There was no determinable solution in my case until I changed to the Kleos and then to Dynavector. Love the latter. Static is history.

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

ground the bottom of the bearing to the riaa

 

[ChasFreeland]

We did try that. The key to the static problem in my system was the presence or absence of the Lyra Etna cartridge. Taking it out made all the difference.

 

[assessor43]

That is very interesting.