According to an official announcement, Lyra Co Ltd. says it has chosen the recently formed MIBS Distro to manage all aspects of its distribution, dealer network, marketing, and brand management in the United States and Canada, “effective immediately.”
MIBS Distro is comprised of industry veterans Isaac Markowitz and Shane Buettner. Markowitz will handle sales and business development, while Buettner will focus on marketing, communications, and logistics. “Lyra is one of the few genuinely unique audio brands in the world, with products that not only set performance standards in the category but are treasured like heirlooms by their owners,” Buettner said in the announcement. “Isaac and I are honored to work with Lyra to further enhance this revered brand’s position in the North American market.”
To that end, you can expect to see Lyra favorites like the Delos MC phono cartridge ($1,995; shown directly above), all the way up to the top-of-the-line Atlas SL λ Lambda and Mono MC λ Lambda phono cartridges ($12,995 each). The Delos offers a pre-angled damping system, microridge stylus, non-parallel solid metal body, and nude construction.
Meanwhile, Lyra’s λ Lambda models utilize the company’s acclaimed New Angle technology, which is said to mechanically pre-bias signal coils to be perfectly aligned to the front and rear magnets when LP playback takes place. In the specific case of the Atlas λ Lambda seen above, that cartridge retains the yokeless dual magnet system, diamond-coated boron rod cantilever, and variable-radius line-contact stylus of the prior Atlas.
The full Lyra MC photo cartridge array to be distributed in the U.S. and Canada as of this posting will include the aforementioned Delos ($1,995), in addition to the Kleos ($3,695), Kleos SL ($3,995), Kleos Mono ($3,995), Etna λ Lambda ($8,995), Etna SL λ Lambda ($9,995), Etna Mono λ Lambda ($9,995), Atlas λ Lambda ($11,995), Atlas SL λ Lambda ($12,995), Atlas Mono λ Lambda ($12,995), as well as the SPT – Stylus Performance Treatment ($60 each).
We haven’t reviewed a Lyra MC phono cartridge in, well, ages, so let us know your thoughts on that possibility in the Comments section below.
COMMENTS
Curious, as I move up the Lyra line, does the extra price guarantee longer stylus longevity? Nagaoka, Shure, JICO, and even Ortofon state that once you hit 500 hours on a line contact stylus, you should get it replaced or at a minimum checked. One should definitely not exceed 1000 hours.
Art Dudley always used to say he hated paying too much for something that would eventually wear out, so I am always curious about the lifespan of these higher priced styluses.
Hello, the “life span” of a cartridge will all depend on how it's used. We have seen cartridges that have lasted decades, while others “die” after a few years. It depends on how well they are setup and care for, and a very important factor is how much dirt and dust is around.
In many cases we see cartridges coming back that are so clogged with dirt and dust that the cantilever cannot move, and the sound is understandably and obviously distorted. In the very worst cases the cartridges are so clogged internally that they are beyond rescue, and only a full rebuild (disassembly, full cleanup, replacement of all wearable parts, adjustment and voicing like when building a new cartridge).
If a cartridge is perfectly adjusted and used very respectfully with proper stylus cleaning and clean records (but not using excessive amount of liquids to clean), it can last for 10 - 20 years regardless of model.
So, all things being equal; if the records are clean, the stylus is cleaned after each play, it is perfect aligned, correct skating force, and tracking weight applied. Would it be fair to say you can get 3,000 hours out of the top flight Lyra?
 |
Equipment Reviews | |
The Gruvy Awards | |
Blogs Analog Tips | Columns Music | |
Show Reports | |
News Resources |
© 2025 AnalogPlanet
