Cartridges: Kuzma CAR or Lyra on a 4-Point (11") arm


Hi there,
I have a Kuzma Stabi-M and 4-Point (11") first generation arm, and a CAR-40.
Used to own a Lyra Delos before upgrading to the CAR, and found that the CAR-40 has a more "grounded sound" while Lyra has a more "nimble & lithe" sound.  The CAR is a sturdier cartridge, as the Delos suspension did not last as long.  The Delos is still sitting in a drawer.

Looking to upgrade my 7 year old CAR-40 now.  New cartridge will be fitted on the said arm and turntable.
Considering CAR-50 and Lyra Etna Lambda.

What are your views and comments?  Thank you for your advice.

hamburger

Showing 3 responses by vortrex

I had a CAR50 on a 4P Ref2 and it didn’t do anything for me. Extremely well built cartridge with the utmost in clarity, quiet in the groove, but I felt it was boring. 
Or the PC7 didn’t match the $60k system? Sounds like that’s the case since the PC7 was muddled sounding. I don’t think the CAR50 sounded bad, it actually sounded great, just boring and not engaging for me. There’s nothing that was “wrong”. 

“I suspect if anyone found the CAR50 "boring" it either doesn’t match their system or they prefer more emphasis on hifi type presentation of music.“

I’m a fan of Kuzma but it was boring to me. I thought the Air Tight PC7 at less than 50% the cost was better. I assume since my analog rig was all Kuzma and my phono pre had many loading options this was not a matching issue. Definitely consider my preference to be strongly anti HiFi.