Lyra was one of the first brands that I sought out when I started Signals over 14 years ago. Despite quite a few model changes over this time they remain very much our sort of cartridge. Open, uncoloured, dynamic. Just plain musical. Our recent discovery of Nottingham Analogue turntables and arms has given us fresh enthusiasm for analogue replay and the new range of Lyra (and Sumiko) cartridges dovetail wonderfully with Nottingham turntables and Naim electronics.

None of the Lyras seem to be particularly fussy about arm matching. Unipivots such as the Naim ARO and Nottingham Space Arm suit them, as do all current SMEs. Tonally, none are exactly cosy, but neither are they cold. Having said that, system matching from turntable through to cable and loudspeaker choice can have a dramatic effect.

Lyra Dorian

One of the most popular (and one of the best) £500 cartridges. We have had excellent results in a wide range of turntables and arms, including the Nottingham Analogue products.

Stereophile Recommended Component, Class B

The "budget-priced" Dorian offers 0.6mV of output and a recommended tracking force of 1.8-2gm. MF: "The Dorian's transparency, transient speed, rhythmic solidity, resolution of low-level detail, and taut, well extended bottom end brought an overall balance and musical excitement that I've yet to hear from any cartridge competing at this price." (Vol.28 No.3)

For the technical, the Dorian specifications:

• Type: Moving Coil, low-impedance, low-output, medium compliance
• Frequency range: 10Hz ~ 50kHz
• Channel separation: 30dB or better at 1kHz
• Cantilever system: Solid boron rod with Micro Ridge line-contact stylus
• Internal impedance: 9.5ohms
• Output voltage: 0.6mV (5.0cm/sec., zero to peak, 45 degrees at 1kHz)
• Cartridge weight (without stylus cover): 6.4g
• Compliance: Approx. 12 x 10-6 cm/dyne at 100Hz
• Recommended tracking force: 1.8 ~ 2.0g
• Recommended load
• Into non-inverting RIAA equalizer amplifier or head-amplifier: 10ohms ~ 47kohms
• Into step-up transformer: 5~ 15ohms

Lyra Argo i

The next level to the Dorian and, with the "i" version repesenting a proper upgrade over the original Argo, a very worthwhile uplift in performance. More refined, more expansive and slightly warmer in balance, the Argo i has become a very popular choice with a wide range of turntable / arm combinations.

Argo specifications:

• Type: Moving Coil, low-impedance, low-output, medium compliance
• Frequency range: 10Hz ~ 50kHz
• Channel separation: 30dB or better at 1kHz
• Cantilever system: Solid boron rod with line-contact stylus (3 x 70 micrometers profile)
• Internal impedance: 4ohms
• Output voltage: 0.45mV (5.0cm/sec., zero to peak, 45 degrees at 1kHz)
• Cartridge weight (without stylus cover): 6.5g
• Compliance: Approx. 12 x 10-6 cm/dyne at 100Hz
• Recommended tracking force: 1.7 ~ 1.8g
• Recommended load
• Into non-inverting RIAA equalizer amplifier or head-amplifier: 10ohms ~ 47kohms
• Into step-up transformer: 3 ~ 6ohms (not exceeding 10ohms)

Lyra Skala

The rather unassuming white blob left is the Skala, the latest creation by Lyra designer, Jonathan Carr. It costs £1849 and comes second down the range below the Titan.

This little baby might appear unassuming but it certainly does comprehensively outclass its cheaper brethren. Even a scarcely run-in sample that we listened to offered improvements in solidity, resolution, scale, sheer vibrancy over the Argo i when mounted in an Origin Live Illustrious arm on a Nottingham Dais turntable. As is always the case with these things, the ‘star’ product suddenly seemed to be lacking in all areas by comparison. Definitely only to be auditioned if you can actually afford it.

There is a trade in allowance of £550 for any Lyra cartridge, so the trade up price is £1299. Of course, unless you actually get to hear the Skala, ignorance is bliss. As with the Dorian and Argo above, we have this cartridge on demonstration and available for home trial.

Carriage free within UK on all of the above. For Lyra trade in prices, please speak to a fully interactive real live human being on 01473 655171 or email.

Arcam, ATC, Audio Technica, Creek, Chord Company, Eichmann, Dynavector, Epos, Focal / JM Labs, Grado headphones, Harbeth,

Isoblue (and special branch), Kudos Audio, Lyngdorf, Lyra, Michell Engineering, Naim Audio, Neat Acoustics, Nordost, Origin Live, Ortofon, Nottingham Analogue, Partington, Primare, Rega, Roksan, Sim2, Graham Slee, Shahinian, Something Solid, Stands Unique, Stax Earspeakers, Sumiko, Trichord, Wireworld, Wyrewizard