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Goldfinger Statement, Lyra Atlas or Ortofon Anna?

Hello, I'd like to get a new high-resolution MC cartridge for my Versa Dynamics 2.3 turntable.

My favorites in alphabetical order are:

Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement
Lyra Atlas
Ortofon MC Anna

My former cartridges were Clearaudio Insider Reference Wood, Dynavector DRT XV-1s and Ortofon MC A90.

The sound of my system is nearly well balanced, perhaps it is a little bit on the cooler side. Cartridges with too "hot" high frequencies will also not harmonize.

I am looking for: Beautiful Tone colors / timbres, very good sound on strings and nice soundtage with "body" and good depth. Dynamics are not so important to me, my systems sound is already very dynamic.

Perhabs nobody has ever compared all three of the mentioned cartridges, or maybe not even two of the three. But perhaps you have heard one of them or have some impressions and thoughts.

I probably listen to 1/3 jazz, 1/3 classical and 1/3 chorus/vocal.
My phonostage is Audio Research Ref Phono 2, speakers are Genesis II.

What do you thing?
Which not to choose?
Which one to choose?

I look forward to any other suggestions.
Thanks in advance for all of you help and inputs.
Alex
al2
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
I think the matching of the tonearm and cartridge might
perhaps be the critical factor in determining which of these three is best in an
absolute sense

Yes, this can be important when you listen very often and you want to keep your
cartridge alive for a longer time. Anyway, taste is different and like rolling a
dice. From the technical side, go for the one from those 3 which
- is minimum weight overall
- has the strongest cantilever
- has the highest VTF
mikelavigne
2,145 posts
 
i've not heard the Atlas; but i hope to at the Newport Beach show next week.

i have had the Anna since January; and it's the finest cartridge i have heard. simply amazing. i owned 3 A90's and it builds on the strengths of the A90 but has a richer tonal pallette while being more extended, but in particular it is more dynamic and energetic, it has balls!

with all this energy the music happens so easy, it flows and everything is just so natural. it also uncovers more detail than any cartridge i have heard, really master tape like to my ears.

i owned the Olympos SL for 2 years, and it is one of my favorite cartridges. to me the Anna has a touch of the Olympos in terms of tonal sweetness added to the transparency of the A90 plus more energy.

i could not recommend the Anna more highly. if you can listen to an Anna in a familiar system.
sarcher30
596 posts
 
Syntax,

By strong cantilever I'm guessing you mean highest hardness/ lowest mass?

As for overall mass do you mean moving mass? Lower moving mass is generally considered an asset.

Highest VTF. You lost me on that. Care to expand on that opinion?

Regards,

Sean
sarcher30
596 posts
 
Sytnax,

Now that I think about it in the case of the OP's tonearm higher vtf may make sense for a air bearing tonearm. Air bearing tonearms needing lower compliance in the horizontal plane. Is that the reason for the recomendation?

Regards,

Sean
al2 OP
17 posts
 
Hi Dover,

thanks for your advice. I am not shure if can agree.

There is a lot of discussion between better to use short or long interconnect cables.

Never thought that 6-7 Meter interconnect is a problem if output / input impedance between preamp / power amp is considered.

I always prefer to have my analog setup on the long wall and only the mono amps between my speakers. My last system had also a 6 Meter (XLR) MIT Cables with excellent results.

Output-impedance of my ARC Anniv. primp is 600 ohms balanced and input-impedance of my VTL amp is 137k ohms so I do not see a problem.

"As a general rule of thumb, you're safe if the preamp's highest output impedance spec is 1/10 of the amp's input impedance (or the amp's input impedance is 10x the preamp's highest output impedance)"

Valhallas values seems also not critical to me: inductance 508,0 nH/m / resistance 12,8 mOhm / capacity 27 pF/m

What I will do soon is to reterminate my 7 Meter Valhalla to XLR because my ARC preamp seems sounds better on balanced outputs.

But I have to concede that for the last 15 yrs. I did not try short interconnects.

Alex
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