I sold my Atlas a while back. I was needing some $$'s for a new amp and the Atlas has some time on it...but plenty of life left.
I've been using my Allaerts MC2 Finish, which is a VERY nice cartridge ...compared to the Atlas, more beauty in the mids, more of a flow to the imaging...wider and deeper stage and just unravels things in a very appealing way. It doesn't not have the drive, image density, dynamics, and power of the Atlas. The Allaerts does have speed with bass depth and texture. Also with it's .2mv output a challenge for my phono stage. Net net, I miss the Lyra Atlas even with all the good things about the Allaerts (I suspect part of the is the Lyra output better synching up with my phono stage)
I did hear a Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement v2 in my system for ~ 2weeeks. It's another GREAT cartridge. Has the beauty, unraveling ability, of the Allaerts. Beats the Atlas on resolution, really great wide and deep stage but with a focus of the instruments in it. Really interesting to listen to. But I still miss that power, foundation and majesty of the Lyra.
Part of this I suspect is I've owned Lyra's for about 15 years (lydian beta, helicon, Skala, Altas)...once your stuck on something it's harder to move.
If I had 2 arms, I'd keep the Allaerts. But moving back to a Lyra soon...
I have not heard a Air Tight in my system...one I've always been fond of in Peter and Alberts system...
I've been using my Allaerts MC2 Finish, which is a VERY nice cartridge ...compared to the Atlas, more beauty in the mids, more of a flow to the imaging...wider and deeper stage and just unravels things in a very appealing way. It doesn't not have the drive, image density, dynamics, and power of the Atlas. The Allaerts does have speed with bass depth and texture. Also with it's .2mv output a challenge for my phono stage. Net net, I miss the Lyra Atlas even with all the good things about the Allaerts (I suspect part of the is the Lyra output better synching up with my phono stage)
I did hear a Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement v2 in my system for ~ 2weeeks. It's another GREAT cartridge. Has the beauty, unraveling ability, of the Allaerts. Beats the Atlas on resolution, really great wide and deep stage but with a focus of the instruments in it. Really interesting to listen to. But I still miss that power, foundation and majesty of the Lyra.
Part of this I suspect is I've owned Lyra's for about 15 years (lydian beta, helicon, Skala, Altas)...once your stuck on something it's harder to move.
If I had 2 arms, I'd keep the Allaerts. But moving back to a Lyra soon...
I have not heard a Air Tight in my system...one I've always been fond of in Peter and Alberts system...
