Lyra Atlas experiences

@o_holter Several months ago, I took the plunge and acquired a lightly used Atlas. I noticed that the cantilever was off center when playing and at rest. Sounded fine but I sent it to Lyra for cleaning and adjustment.

Back from Lyra it looked to be in perfect straight alignment.  I use a MintLP or an Accutrak arc protractor as well as a USB microscope and a Foz for setting up cartridges. 

Compared to to my previous Delos, the Atlas is more dynamic, more information gathering and has much deeper and better defined bass.  This is especially apparent in my stereo when mounted on a Mørch DP-8.  This cartridges sounds great on simple acoustic and jazz as well as more complicated rock and electronic.  I tend to use my Koetsu when I feel that rhythmic information is more important but I really love how music explodes off the recording with the Atlas.  I learn a lot about the intrinsic nature of a cartridge when I can compare it to others in my system.

I find that my Pass XP-15 is not that sensitive to loading but I settled on 500 ohms. I hope to listen to it through an Atma-sphere MP-1 in the future.

-Karl

I have owned a lot of cartridges. Goldfinger, Anna, dynavector XV-1s, ikeda Kai, earlier atlas among others. At present I am spinning Lyra atlas sl. All I need to say, after decades, I am done! If I had to pick my second option. If I could not have the atlas sl. It would be the Kai. I love the low out put cartridges. Much more enjoyable to my older ears. Just my view.
✌️🖖

Dear @o_holter  @whatthe  @karl_desch : Masybe this is the best time to  buy a totally new LOMC cartridge ( o_holter, your Atlas has 1.k hours. ) that I have no doubt can set as a new reference or at least the more serious challenges to all other top today cartridges:

https://www.ortofon.com/mc-century-p-863?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HiFi%20NL%20May%202018&am...


Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.

Thanks!
Karl - happy you enjoy the Atlas, I do too, it is in a very high league. My cantilever is maybe not quite optimal but I have never sent it in for a check.
Whatthe - I would probably think so too, with the Atlas SL. But my phono stage needs a stronger output from the cart, to do its magic.
Raul - yes the Atlas has run maybe 1500 hours, but according to the reputation of Lyra carts, it should be good for more, maybe 2500. Wear of the cart suspension is a possible cause of pumping - not sure. I think it has behaved this way more or less since I got it.

@rauliruegas gave bad advice at beginning of thread. I have an Atlas with an all tube system on an VPI Extended Aries I, with the 3D tonearm and it is freaking terrific! It is by far the best MC that I’ve ever owned. Just absolutely rotten advice. If you never owned a cartridge then how can you comment on the sound???