A new cartridge for a 500 series system

I know Lyra Olympos will sound much better than Kandid or Dyna XV1s.

Lyra Olympus. The best I have heard in my system.
Lyra still offer conversion of a Parnassus to Olympus. 

I'm no fan of Shelter so *personally* I won't go there but they have many fans. It all depends on what you want tho as all the cartridges have their own sound. ARO isn't that finicky with a partnering cartridge.

xv1s is utterly superb. love mine in my aro

I would go Keel for Aro, Radikal and probably Urika first - but then try to track down a Lyra Etna 

i wonder how close in SQ terms the Olympos is to the Atlas? I know th Olympos is specially made and needs a Parnasus to start with. Stratospheric prices though - oh my... i doubt i will find that in my xmas stocking :-(

enjoy

ken

You might want to check out Zyx cartridges. Their Omega 4D in particular.

Check out the Transfiguration Proteus. I have the Orpheus L and it is superb. The Proteus is supposed to be even better. 

I would also listen to the Lyra Etna and top Dynavectors. 

I also run an ARO, Armageddon, Superline and Supercap. I don't think any of that will hold you back.

Finally, get a Z plug from AV Options for cartridge loading once you have selected a cartridge. It will help you get the most from your choice. 

I'm using a Lyra Etna in a top end TT The Etna is excellent - if going top end it is well worth the money.

Second vote for Transfiguration.  Best cartridge I have heard to date.  

Never heard the Olympos... I had a Parnassus years ago and sold it (at a good profit). 

Jay,

Did you hear my friend's Lyra Etna?

I see that now they offer a low output version which is perfect for a standard Superline.

ken c posted:

i wonder how close in SQ terms the Olympos is to the Atlas? I know th Olympos is specially made and needs a Parnasus to start with. Stratospheric prices though - oh my... i doubt i will find that in my xmas stocking :-(

 

Ken,

I have not heard Atlas yet but they are said to be very different. I recall reading online the designer claimed that Olympus possess more romantic sound compared to the Atlas. I did not find the sound of Olympus necessarily *romantic* in my system, tho.

I was lucky enough to hear what 10K+ cartridge sounds on my Sondek with 30+ year old passive Briks. 

Not too shabby and I could live happily ever after that. :/

But I hear you. The cost of outstanding cartridges have gone up significantly in a last few years.

kuma posted:

Jay,

Did you hear my friend's Lyra Etna?

I see that now they offer a low output version which is perfect for a standard Superline.

Kuma:

i have not heard the Etna yet. Low output version is likely spectacular. 

Merry Christmas!

Jay

kuma posted:

ken c posted:

i wonder how close in SQ terms the Olympos is to the Atlas? I know th Olympos is specially made and needs a Parnasus to start with. Stratospheric prices though - oh my... i doubt i will find that in my xmas stocking :-(

 

Ken,

I have not heard Atlas yet but they are said to be very different. I recall reading online the designer claimed that Olympus possess more romantic sound compared to the Atlas. I did not find the sound of Olympus necessarily *romantic* in my system, tho.

I was lucky enough to hear what 10K+ cartridge sounds on my Sondek with 30+ year old passive Briks. 

Not too shabby and I could live happily ever after that. :/

But I hear you. The cost of outstanding cartridges have gone up significantly in a last few years.

Kuma,

I was always of the view that its probably not that worthwhile spending a lot of money on a cartridge. i am forced to change this view now after experience with my just beginning to run-in DV TKR! There is definitely extra magic in these top-end needles! such that, IF i had the funds, i would think its a waste of money to but a cart in the region of $10K -- but right now, i dont have that sort of money so i will have to continue slumming it with DV TKR -- and in any case there are other upgrades that are on my radar right now which are equally frightening -- DR upgrade to my 2x500's, etc. etc...

Fortunately(or unfortunately) the Radikal upgrade from Geddon didnt work for me -- so that is out of the picture right now -- i guess this is good as i can focus on other issues instead...

enjoy

ken

The more I listen to my EMT JSD6, the more committed I've become to this brand! My previous carts were DV XX-2 and EMT TSD15, both very good carts for the money, but no where near the JSD6 in terms of sonics.  

I think there is an EMT house sound. I hear a slight emphasis from the mid bass to the lower midrange, giving it a lot of energy - a big and powerful sound. Soundstaging and imaging are first rate, detail resolution is excellent, and groove noise is very low. The JSD6 also tracks exceptionally well.

FYI, the JSD6 has a rated output of 1mV, so I decided to have my Superline converted to an "E" by Chris West of AVOptions.

ATB.

Hook

Still happy with a DVXX2 here in Valhalla.

Jay Coleman posted:

Check out the Transfiguration Proteus. I have the Orpheus L and it is superb. The Proteus is supposed to be even better. 

 

The Transfiguration Proteus is on my list to audition - as I have Phoenix availble for a possible trade in.

I loved the Orpheus L in an Ekos SE - but, although did not listen head to head, I think the Kandid would get my vote, so it would be intriging to hear the Proteus v Kandid in an Aro.

ken c posted:

i wonder how close in SQ terms the Olympos is to the Atlas? I know th Olympos is specially made and needs a Parnasus to start with. Stratospheric prices though - oh my... i doubt i will find that in my xmas stocking :-(

enjoy

ken

Ken,

Top carts make a significant difference on LP12. I recommend stone Koetsu, make sure it's well run in, when you try one. Radikal is a must, latest specs LP12 will help a lot.

Aro is not in position to perform well with Koetsu (or any cart with similar geometry), without a major modification (and one smaller). The best thing in this case is enlarging the left headshell whole, in order to get better tracking alignment.

Before this the result was reduced performance, less body, etc. Superline E is the better match in my system.

Emil

The decision is Krystal clear

Emil F posted:

ken c posted:

i wonder how close in SQ terms the Olympos is to the Atlas? I know th Olympos is specially made and needs a Parnasus to start with. Stratospheric prices though - oh my... i doubt i will find that in my xmas stocking :-(

enjoy

ken

Ken,

Top carts make a significant difference on LP12. I recommend stone Koetsu, make sure it's well run in, when you try one. Radikal is a must, latest specs LP12 will help a lot.

Aro is not in position to perform well with Koetsu (or any cart with similar geometry), without a major modification (and one smaller). The best thing in this case is enlarging the left headshell whole, in order to get better tracking alignment.

Before this the result was reduced performance, less body, etc. Superline E is the better match in my system.

Emil

Wow! never listened to Koetsu before -- but if it required any modification of ARO then its out for me. As i said i did try Radikal sometime ago -- and i am afraid it simply didnt work for me, so i am still slumming it with a 'Geddon.

enjoy

ken

Ken - you are using a keel for aro so your LP12's not too shabby 

Chris Dolan posted:

Ken - you are using a keel for aro so your LP12's not too shabby 

yes, Chris, i am using Aro/Keel, managed to find one from UHES a coupl of years ago-- and this made a very big positive difference to my LP12. however, these cloth ears didnt get on with the Radikal at all...??

enjoy

ken

I think there's a great deal of synergy between  Radikal & Kandid Ken.

ken c posted:

Chris Dolan posted:

Ken - you are using a keel for aro so your LP12's not too shabby 

yes, Chris, i am using Aro/Keel, managed to find one from UHES a coupl of years ago-- and this made a very big positive difference to my LP12. however, these cloth ears didnt get on with the Radikal at all...??

enjoy

ken

Fear not Ken. One of our golden-eared brethren (active hereabouts) thinks that the LP12 related electronics purveyed by The Scottish Company are the work of the devil.

You are not alone!

How goes it with the latest SL cable on your system?

John.

I run aro/keel/lp12 with radikal and urika, with xv1s, and it works fine

tonym posted:

I think there's a great deal of synergy between  Radikal & Kandid Ken.

perhaps Tony -- i was somewhat puzzled at the time but decided to go with what my ears were telling me, i.e. not an obvious 'no brainer' upgrade...

when i demo'd cartridges earlier this year, i was very impressed with the Kandid, but it was just beyound what i wanted to spend at the time and there was 'something' beguling about the TRK that kept drawing me to it...

enjoy your holidays Tony -- i am jealous...!!

ken

J.N. posted:

Fear not Ken. One of our golden-eared brethren (active hereabouts) thinks that the LP12 related electronics purveyed by The Scottish Company are the work of the devil.

You are not alone!

How goes it with the latest SL cable on your system?

John.

 

ahh... thanks John -- as you will recall, i told you about this negative Radika experience at the time after the demo.

i will mail you about the snaxo-SL; there isnt much interest here...

enjoy

ken