Typically, the more money invested in manufacturing, the better a pickup sounds. But sometimes, as with the Lyra Delos , it's the designer's ingenuity that leads to exceptional results.

A major problem with many cartridge systems is that even normal tracking force causes a change in the position and thus angle of the signal coils in the magnetic field. This has a negative impact on the coils' sensitivity and linearity. The Delos solves this problem with a new design featuring a pre-angled damping system. When the tracking force is applied, the signal coils are optimally aligned in the magnetic field. This, together with the low-resonance metal body, results in superior sound quality.

The strong musical expression and, above all, the richness of timbres that the Delos is able to reproduce seemingly effortlessly, inspire even experienced Lyra listeners.

TECHNICAL DATA:

System:
MC (moving coil) cartridge with low output voltage

Diamond cut:
Lyra's own special cut (Namiki Micro Ridge, naked, line-contact, 2.5 x 75 µm)

Original needle:
Yes

Output voltage:
0.6 mV at 5 cm/s (45°, CBS test plate)

Recommended tracking force:
1.75 g (equivalent to 17.5 mN)

Weight:
7.3 g (without needle guard)

Compliance (needle compliance):
approx. 12 µm/mN (measured at 100 Hz)

Assembly:
Half-inch mounting with integrated threaded holes (screw mounting from above)

Special features & recommendations

The Lyra Delos's clean cabinet edges make it particularly easy to install and precisely align. The sound reacts sensitively to the height of the tonearm—a height-adjustable tonearm is therefore recommended.

For maintenance, we recommend using the original Lyra needle cleaner. Although it's expensive, it has proven to provide sonic benefits—a worthwhile investment.

Thanks to its moderate output voltage and internal resistance, the Delos does not place any exceptional demands on the phono preamplifier – nevertheless, a high-quality MC input with a suitable impedance should be selected.

Construction & Structure

• Developer: Jonathan Carr

• Production:

  • Main montage: Akiko Ishiyama

  • Final adjustment and testing: Yoshinori Mishima

• Pickup housing:

  • Milled from a block of 6063 aluminum

  • Partially non-parallel geometry to minimize resonance

  • Direct threaded holes for 2.6 mm screws (JIS 0.45 pitch)

• Scanning system:

  • Solid boron needle carrier with direct single-point suspension

  • Stylus mounted directly on the support structure

• Wash:

  • 3-layer wound

  • 6N copper (high purity)

  • Iron former, square

  • Self-impedance: 6.3 ohms

  • Inductance: 9.5 µH

Recommendations for adaptation

• Recommended input impedance at the MC phono input:
  100 – 800 ohms (depending on the preamplifier; see manual for exact recommendation or determine by listening test)

• Recommended impedance when using a transformer:
  5 – 15 ohms (transformer output should be connected to an MM phono input with 10 kOhm – 47 kOhm, ideally with short, low-capacitance cables)

• Recommended tonearms:
  High-quality tonearms (pivoting or tangential) with precise bearings, adjustable anti-skating force and ideally adjustable vertical tracking angle (VTA)

• Vertical scanning angle (VTA):
  20°

• Distance from mounting thread to needle tip:
  9.5 mm

DOWNLOADS:

• Delos User Manual
• Lyra Delos and Cleos
• Pickups in comparison – Stereoplay