Lyra Helikon SL MC PHONO CARTRIDGE

Rather than simplty eliminate the second layer of windings, we had to develop a particular cantilever/coil assembly designed particularily for this model. Damper settings, adjustments, and “voicing” also had to be determined especially for this model so it would work at its best under the particular conditions it was developed for.

As a speciality model of the Helikon requiring special parts and dedicated assembly and voicing work in small quantities, it carries a 10% premium in price over the normal Helikon. If you are ever in doubt over which Helikon version to choose, the answer is always the normal Helikon. However, the expert user who requires a cartridge like the Helikon SL will be rewarded when he selects tis model and uses it in the exact way it was intended.

All other descriptions of the design and technology follows that for the regular Helikon model.

TECHNICAL DATA

Internal cantilever-to-body direct mounting system ~

The cantilever assembly of the Helikon (& Parnassus) is mechanically connected directly to the main one-piece structure of the cartridge. In other words, the rear section of the cantilever assembly is extended deep into the body/mechanical grounding structure itself (rather than the center or rear polepiece, per conventional practice), and securely anchored in place by a bolt-mechanism, thereby eliminating as many joints as possible. This arrangement improves the transfer of energy between the cantilever assembly and the main structure of the cartridge, and prevents depleted vibrational energy from being reflected back into the coils, cantilever and stylus, where it can cause modulation distortions which are time-delayed and therefore inharmonic.

Balanced symmetrical field magnetic system ~

The Lyra Helikon uses a polepiece-less magnetic system. The signal coils operate in a magnetic field created directly by two powerful, precisely shaped disc magnets of nearly equal size, mounted fore and aft of the coil gap - in the simplest and purest manner possible. Unlike conventional cartridges, there is no big offset magnet to warp and distort the magnetic field within the gap or affect tracking ability, no polepieces to affect the transfer of energy from magnet to coils, compress dynamics, or add unwanted distortions and sonic colorations. There is simply less there to cause problems. Unlike other polepiece-less "ring-magnet" designs, the disc design creates a more even distribution of magnetic flux across the entire gap, and allows the magnet diameter to be reduced and the cantilever length kept short. The lack of conductive material around the generator and gap also helps insure that no unwanted magnetic fields will be created via inductive effects, allowing the primary magnetic field and generator coils to perform their task of converting mechanical groove energy into electrical musical signal, without
interference.