LYRA KLEOS Mono

LYRA KLEOS MONO

LYRA KLEOS MONO monophonic “New Angle”

This is a special, built-to-order, mono version of Kleos for real mono playback of monaural/monophonic (mono) microgroove, vinyl records. It is recommended that the Kleos Mono is used with high-gain, low noise phono stages, or alternatively a step-up transformer designed for phono cartridges of 2 – 3 ohms or less.
On mono records, the vertical axis of the groove contains no musical information, but it will frequently have noise, in the form of groove damage and dirt. The Kleos Mono has therefore been designed to be completely insensitive to the vertical axis, which greatly improves the signal/noise ratio without any downside on monaural records.
The coil former is a square permeable plate oriented parallel to the record surface rather than the 45-degree angle used for most stereo cartridges, while the coils are wound so that they only generate a signal when there is horizontal movement of the stylus and cantilever when tracking a record.
Two totally separate monaural coils are used in the Kleos Mono, since most monaural cartridges are used with stereo amplifiers and stereo speakers. The separate coils also help avoid possible ground loops and hum problems that could otherwise be caused if a single coil is fed into a stereo two-channel amplification system, thereby tying the two channels together electrically.
In addition to parallel mono connection to a stereo system (two amplifiers and two speakers), it is also possible to leave one set of connections unattached for pure mono playback with a single amplifier and a single speaker. However, it is also possible to connect the two mono channels in series for additional output when used in a pure mono system. Use a short cartridge headshell lead wire with female pin-connectors to connect either the Kleos Mono’s upper right pin with the lower left pin, or alternatively the upper left pin with the lower right pin. Then use the two remaining unused pins for connection to your single amp RIAA input (alternatively a transformer input). The two internal channels are now “chained” in serial-connection for additional output and energy when you only use a single amplifier and a single speaker

SPECIFICATIONS FOR KLEOS MONO
Designer: Jonathan Carr
Builder: Yoshinori Mishima (final build, testing), Akiko Ishiyama (preliminary build)
Type: Medium weight, medium compliance, low-impedance, low-output moving coil cartridge
Stylus: Lyra-designed long-footprint variable-radius line-contact nude diamond (3um x 70um profile, block dimensions 0.08 x 0.12 x 0.5mm), slot-mounted
Cantilever system: Solid boron rod with short one-point wire suspension, directly mounted into cartridge body
Coils: Two individually isolated monophonic/monaural 6N high-purity copper coils wound in parallel (on top of each other) on a square-shaped chemically-purified high-purity iron former with 3.0 ohms self-impedance
Output voltage: 0.25mV@5cm/sec., 2.4μH inductance
Frequency range: 10Hz ~ 50kHz
Compliance: Approx. 12×10-6cm/dyne at 100Hz
Vertical tracking angle: 20 degrees
Cartridge body: One-piece machining from solid 7075 alloy billet, with reduced-surface higher-pressure headshell contact area, partially non-parallel shaping, phase-interference resonance-controlling mechanism, and body threaded directly for mounting screws
Cartridge mounting screws: 2.6mm 0.45 pitch JIS standard
Distance from mounting holes to stylus tip: 9.5mm
Cartridge weight (without stylus cover): 8.8g
Recommended tracking force: 1.65 ~ 1.78g (1.72g recommended)
Recommended load directly into MC phono input: Determine by listening,
Recommended load via step-up transformer: Use a step-up transformer designed for 2 – 3 ohms cartridge impedance. The transformer output must be connected to standard 47kohm MM-level RIAA input, preferably via short, low-capacitance cable
Recommended tonearms: High-quality pivoted or linear tangential tonearms with rigid bearing(s), adjustable anti-skating force, preferably VTA

Continuité d’un succès annoncé

Lancée début 2010, la Delos a fixé de nouvelles normes de qualité à un niveau de prix très compétitif. C’est un succès retentissant et nous tenons à remercier tous nos Revendeurs et leurs clients qui sont à l’origine de cette réussite. La nouvelle orientation des bobines mobiles inaugurée par LYRA  sur la Delos, surnommée «les vinyles sous un autre angle», a un impact significatif sur le suivi du sillon par la cellule, produisant un son plein, avec beaucoup de matière, extrêmement naturel. Lyra  a été fier d’introduire cette innovation sur sa cellule d’entrée de gamme mais nous avions aussi hâte d’entendre les effets de cette innovation technologique sur des modèles plus évolués !

Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi

… et la nouvelle Kleos est arrivée. Sa lignée est de bon augure: l’originale Tsurugi (1976), Clavis (1991), Clavis DC (1995), Helikon (1999), et maintenant la Kleos. Comme pour l’Helikon, en production depuis plus de 10 ans, nous sommes convaincus que la Kleos fera partie  des cellules les plus appréciées pendant de très longues années.

La masse de la Kleos a été augmentée par rapport à l’Helikon. En effet, le corps principal de la Kleos est plus massif que ceux de ses prédécesseurs. Il est usiné en duralumin et reçoit un traitement de surface satiné argent  du type utilisé pour certains appareils photo haut de gamme.

Outre la nouvelle disposition des bobines, Jonathan Carr, a doté la Kleos d’un diamant à courbure variable (taille propriétaire LYRA) pour combiner temps de propagation de groupe idéal et facilité d’installation. Comme sur les modèles haut de gamme Lyra, un cantilever Ogura (en bore) est utilisé.

Aucun aspect important (mais souvent « oublié »), pour le son final, n’a été négligé. Ainsi le transfert d’énergie entre la cellule et le porte cellule a fait l’objet d’une étude approfondie et des solutions innovantes ont été retenues.

La surface de contact autour des trous de fixation est profilée pour concentrer la force de contact de la cellule sur la coquille de manière à améliorer le transfert d’énergie. De même les cosses de raccordement sur la cellule sont spécialement étudiées pour supprimer toute résonnance et elles sont introduites en force dans le corps de la cellule pour diminuer l’énergie des ondes stationnaires qui pourraient interférer avec le signal. Ces cosses sont plaquées en PLATINE.

Ecoute

Le son de la Kleos plaira à la fois aux fans qui retrouveront les qualités qu’ils apprécient …  et aux détracteurs de l’Helikon. La rapidité et la dynamique sont naturellement préservées, et la capacité à créer une image précise, large et profonde, qui a fait sa réputation est sensiblement améliorée.

Les améliorations apportées à cette nouvelle cellule sont importantes et elles répondent aux demandes des utilisateurs de l’Helikon : la capacité de suivi (en raison du nouvel alignement des bobines) et l’équilibre spectral sont en grand progrès. Le meilleur suivi procure une présentation plus douce du medium et de l’aigu. La Kleos est extrêmement silencieuse. L’abaissement du bruit de fonds permet d’accéder à un niveau de résolution tout simplement extraordinaire. Le résultat global est un nouvel équilibre spectral, légèrement plus chaud. Pas rond et/ou étouffé, plus chaud. Moins de bruit, plus de vinyle.

Poursuivant notre évaluation de la  Kleos (s/n 001), nous avons recherché la force d’appui optimum. A 1,77 gramme, nous avons trouvé le « sweet spot » d’une manière totalement évidente. Reproduction plus silencieuse et plus dynamique au point de paraître plus forte – instantanément. Étonnamment facile !  A partir de là, le réglage de la VTA est une partie de plaisir.

LYRA KLEOS “New Angle”

The New Angle on LP Reproduction:
The Lyra Kleos MC Phono Cartridge

Although many MC cartridges have good performance, their sound is held back by how they are designed. The problem is, the signal coils should have the same angle as the magnetic circuit during playback, but MC cartridges are typically designed so that the opposite happens – applying normal tracking force pushes the coils out of alignment. This impairs coil sensitivity and linearity, and reduces sound quality.

Lyra’s “New Angle” technology solves this fundamental problem by compensating for how the signal coils are affected by vertical tracking forces, and optimally aligning the coils when it matters most – during playback. Introduced on our entry-level Delos, the New Angle technology enables the Delos to perform well above its price point.

But being audiophiles, we wanted to achieve the next higher level – which is the new Kleos. Building on New Angle technology, the Kleos innovates with a stronger chassis machined from aircraft-grade alloys, narrowed mounting area to improve energy transfer, and pre-stressed construction combining multiple materials with non-parallel surfaces to inhibit internal body resonances. The fully hand-made Kleos also has a Lyra-designed line contact stylus and platinum-plated output pins, achieving an exceptionally quiet noise-floor with superior immediacy, resolution and tracking, wide dynamic range and explosive transients, plus a warmer and natural tonal balance. The Kleos is a high-value cartridge that surpasses the sound quality of substantially more expensive cartridges.

Let the Lyra Kleos show you how good a New Angle on LP reproduction can sound.

A bit more detailed information: KLEOS

The Kleos is the lowest cost Lyra cartridge to feature the full fledged Ogura manufactured boron cantilever and coil system with Lyra original line-contact (3 x 70μm) stylus. This is similar to what is employed on even the most expensive Lyra models.

Nevertheless, the most important element of the new Kleos is it’s sound. We firmly believe that the Kleos is capable of extracting more information from the vinyl grooves than it’s predecessors, and that the reproduction of music is both more dynamic, more detailed, and more natural than the models preceding it. We also are of the opinion that the Kleos will set a new standard for sonic performance at it’s price point.

Today there are only a small handful of master cartridge builders in the world, and Lyra’s Yoshinori Mishima belongs to this elite group of individuals that are capable of crafting the highest level MC transducers on the planet. His assistant Akiko Ishiyama, who has undergone several years of apprenticeship, is also involved in the building process leading to each Kleos. The Kleos is not only hand made, but each cartridge is listened to extensively and “voiced” by the master cartridge builder, like the finest musical instruments.

Lyra offers a unique combination of capable, advanced cartridge design by Jonathan Carr and complete handmade execution by the above mentioned individuals. Investing in a Lyra Kleos through an authorized retailer will offer you an unparalleled analog experience from your stereo microgroove vinyl records.