Lyra Etna, Miyajima Labs Madake or....?

Sunnyboy1956

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Feb 22, 2014
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The qualities you describe in the Etna are more important to me than slam. Thanks for your reply, very helpful.
Excellent choice. Many would argue, including me, that the Etna SL smokes the competition.
 

Cascais

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Nov 5, 2012
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My dealer installed my new Lyra Etna a couple of days ago to replace the Skala. For the first day I missed the Skala as the tonal balance of the Etna seemed on the bright side. Next day it was much better, very positive and am eager to hear it when it is broken in. How long is the process of break in for this cartridge?
 

XV-1

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May 24, 2010
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My dealer installed my new Lyra Etna a couple of days ago to replace the Skala. For the first day I missed the Skala as the tonal balance of the Etna seemed on the bright side. Next day it was much better, very positive and am eager to hear it when it is broken in. How long is the process of break in for this cartridge?

20 hours I would guess. The Etna is anything but bright after it has settled.
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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I think the sound will continue to change for at least 100 hours. It takes a long time for the cantilever to loosen up.
 

infinitely baffled

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Can i ask the Madake users, is it just a bit out of it's lane with percussion and large scale complex, bass driven music?

I ask because a Madake is on my shopping list for different genres, mainly acoustic, ethereal stuff like Alt-J, but i wonder if it could also be pressed into frontline duty with the larger scale bass driven dance music, just in the short term while i save money for what i have in mind for that
(Miyabi)

Any thoughts on which Schroeder tonearm would be a better match for a Snakewood Madake, An LT or a CB?
 

bonzo75

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Feb 26, 2014
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Can i ask the Madake users, is it just a bit out of it's lane with percussion and large scale complex, bass driven music?

Yes. Though not a madake user and will never be.

Miya zero, will probably get it some day
 
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bonzo75

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For Schroeder query ask Francois at Anamighty sound or Schroeder himself if you go to Munich
 
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infinitely baffled

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I thought it worth asking since my other choice for Alt-J and acoustic, a Van den Hul Colibri, turns out to cope quite well with dance music and lacks nothing in the lower frequencies
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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Yes. Though not a madake user and will never be.

Miya zero, will probably get it some day

Then how do you know it can’t handle complex music or did I misunderstand your answer?
 

bonzo75

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Then how do you know it can’t handle complex music or did I misunderstand your answer?

The madake I have heard many times and compared to other carts. Never liked it. The Miya monos I always liked
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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The madake I have heard many times and compared to other carts. Never liked it. The Miya monos I always liked

My opinion is that until you live with a cartridge in your own system for 3-4 months, playing a wide variety of music, it is really hard to assess it.

I have had a Madake for about that period of time and although it isn't my end-game cartridge, there is no music that I found it be unable to handle. There are definitely better cartridges out there, including the Clearaudio GFS that I am now using, but I preferred the Madake to the Etna SL, for starters.

YMMV.
 

bonzo75

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And my opinion is except in rare cases of expertise, people who live with their own gear just get used to it and don't know any better. Best way to evaluate stuff is to listen to it in different systems set up by people who have expertise with that particular component. If it sounds good, great, you have found a combination it works with, like I have found in the case of red sparrow. Sometimes you find consistency either good or bad. For me madake has always disappointed especially on complex music, like IB mentioned. If you like it you probably do not have enough exposure to alternatives like Stradivarius, red sparrow, Decca London reference, etc with the right recordings. No offence. GFS is better and the Etna isn't good anyway, like you said.


My opinion is that until you live with a cartridge in your own system for 3-4 months, playing a wide variety of music, it is really hard to assess it.

I have had a Madake for about that period of time and although it isn't my end-game cartridge, there is no music that I found it be unable to handle. There are definitely better cartridges out there, including the Clearaudio GFS that I am now using, but I preferred the Madake to the Etna SL, for starters.
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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And my opinion is except in rare cases of expertise, people who live with their own gear just get used to it and don't know any better. Best way to evaluate stuff is to listen to it in different systems set up by people who have expertise with that particular component. If it sounds good, great, you have found a combination it works with, like I have found in the case of red sparrow. Sometimes you find consistency either good or bad. For me madake has always disappointed especially on complex music, like IB mentioned. If you like it you probably do not have enough exposure to alternatives like Stradivarius, red sparrow, Decca London reference, etc with the right recordings. No offence

I respectfully disagree. When you listen to something in a unfamiliar system how do you know what is driving the sound you either like or don't like?

If I can change one item in my system I can assess what the change is, ie. a controlled experiment.
 

bonzo75

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I respectfully disagree. When you listen to something in a unfamiliar system how do you know what is driving the sound you either like or don't like?

If I can change one item in my system I can assess what the change is, ie. a controlled experiment.

To start with, if it takes you 3- 4 months of getting a cart in your system to evaluate it, then you are confusing between set up and listening. 3 - 4 months in that case can often not be sufficient. To understand a cart, you have to take it through different phonos and different arms and different system, i.e. follow a cart around, set up in those systems, which in one person's system will be much longer

The fact that you agree with me that GFS is better and Etna is not, and you have no/less exposure to my favorite carts mentioned, proves a point. In fact you had defended Etna a few months ago when I had not

As to your controlled experiment query, your system, like any one owner's system, is limited by his own budget, expertise, and experience. You need to do controlled experiments in many systems to go beyond what you know.

You had previously asked me what I thought of the Doshi phono in Myles' system. I told you I didn't know as the system was unfamiliar and I did not do a compare. I did not follow that phono around in other systems either. With Madake it is the opposite
 

Solypsa

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Jun 7, 2017
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I thought it worth asking since my other choice for Alt-J and acoustic, a Van den Hul Colibri, turns out to cope quite well with dance music and lacks nothing in the lower frequencies
If you're up for trying out something new, and if you have a higher mass *arm still (like the Ikeda in your system list, 3012, FR64S, correctly optioned Schroeder CB etc):

Happy to send you a Sensitive Sound Y12S or T8 to try. The bass presention is quite special imho. No obligation. Just fun :)

*these carts are 22-23g and low compliance.
 

infinitely baffled

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Jul 2, 2015
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Thank you for your kind offer.
I would suggest we speak again once i have my intended macro dynamic solution in place, namely a Miyabi Fuuga.
Then it will be a useful comparison ?
Thank you again
 

infinitely baffled

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Bonzo did the Madake have no redeeming qualities, in your experience?

May i ask, have you come across the Snakewood variant?
 

Solypsa

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Jun 7, 2017
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Thank you for your kind offer.
I would suggest we speak again once i have my intended macro dynamic solution in place, namely a Miyabi Fuuga.
Then it will be a useful comparison ?
Thank you again
Anytime you are in the mood! Comparison with a *Fuuga should be fun.


* caveat is that the arm choice may be different between the two.The Fuuga is a pretty heavy cart but just light enough to use with certain medium mass arms...
 

Adagio

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Jun 8, 2019
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Very nice! How do the Etna SL and Anna compare?

I ended up buying the Etna SL. It is still running in and it is not yet dialled in. It sounds good, but has not yet knocked my socks off. At this point I still prefer my Kuzma CAR 40.

View attachment 36494
Hi! I’m using a CAR-30 for a couple of years now. I got it back from refurbish service, new coils, damper, cantaliver (boron) and MR diamond by a 3part.
It sounds extremely correct, not really as I remembered it.
While it was gone I moved up to a R from a S, same 4-point (9”) so it is maybe not due to the cart.
Well I also have a excellent refurbished Glider (with costume Ebony body) that I bought while my CAR-30 was away.
Now to my question, you seem to really like the -40? I’m planning to expand my collection of carts, but I’m not sure in what direction.
30 and 40? Are they to similar or is it worth buying a 40? Or should I save up even more and get a 50? At the same time the Benz I heave is also nice sounding so there is the option of SLR or LPS.....
I’ve never heard Lyra but I don’t want it leaner than the CAR-30 I already have.
 

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