Lyra again turns the analog world on its ear with the introduction of
the Etna λ Lambda phono cartridge. Sharing its name with Sicily’s
majestic Mount Etna, Etna λ Lambda the cartridge is an impressive
monument in its own right, one that melds tried and true Lyra design
tenets with designer Jonathan Carr’s very latest thinking on phono
cartridges.
Etna λ Lambda was designed with a strong emphasis on engineering
efficiency, so that its performance would be as far beyond the sum of
its parts as possible. For this reason, although it shares some of its
design philosophy with Atlas λ Lambda, the concepts are executed rather
differently.
Etna λ Lambda employs a solid titanium core structure machined
with non-parallel surfaces to inhibit internal reflections whenever
possible, but unlike Atlas (and Titan i before it), this is mated to a
slightly undersized, asymmetric, mirror-black anodized duralumin outer
body that locks over the core like a very tightly-fitting jigsaw puzzle.
The core and body are augmented with bronze and stainless-steel
resonance control rods, then pressure-fit together into a pre-stressed,
solid, void-free structure which is comprised of multiple materials and
complex internal shapes. The constrained-layer nature of this
construction dramatically reduces the resonant signature of each
material and creates a far more neutral-sounding body structure than
otherwise possible, while the high body stiffness benefits transients,
dynamics and resolution.
Etna λ Lambda uses a yokeless dual magnet system, diamond-coated
boron rod cantilever and Lyra-designed variable-radius line-contact
stylus. Lyra remains the only cartridge manufacturer to mount the
cantilever directly into the cartridge body to create a rigid, seamless
connection between the cantilever assembly and tonearm headshell. Why?
Linear transducers such as phono cartridges are inherently inefficient
devices, on the order of 5 -10%. In other words, of the vibrational
energy that enters a cartridge from the LP groove, only 5-10% will be
converted into electrical signal. The cartridge’s internal damping
system will dissipate some of the remaining 90 to 95%, but much of the
excess vibrational energy will reflect inside the cartridge, creating
internal echoes and a general diminishing of fidelity. It is quite easy
to hear this with many cartridges- play a highly modulated LP with the
power amp turned off, and bring your ear close to the cartridge. The
“needle talk” that you hear is excess vibrational energy which isn’t
being controlled properly. Etna λ Lambda’s direct-mounted cantilever
helps conduct this excess vibrational energy into the headshell, where
it is safely dissipated within the greater mass of the tonearm and
turntable plinth.
Etna λ Lambda utilizes the asymmetric design concept first seen in
the flagship Atlas, but moves the screw/screwhole all the way to the
front of the cartridge and interposes a bronze damping barrier between
it and the mechanical path linking the cantilever assembly to the
tonearm headshell. Freed of all obstructions and voids, the rigid,
direct path established between cantilever and headshell is highly
effective at draining away vibrations once they have been converted into
electrical signals, effectively suppressing induced resonances and
internal reflections that would otherwise manifest as sonic colorations.
A narrowed mounting area couples Etna λ Lambda more tightly to the
headshell and facilitates the transfer of vibrational energy into the
tonearm, giving even better control over spurious resonances.
Another design strength is Etna λ Lambda high-efficiency X-shaped
signal coils, another attribute it shares with the flagship Atlas.
Compared to traditional square coil formers the X-shape allows each
channel to operate with greater independence from one another, giving
better tracking, tighter channel matching, improved separation, and
lower crosstalk-induced distortion. Although there are and have been
other X-coil cartridges, their benefits have been accompanied by poor
efficiency (in converting mechanical work into electrical output),
either requiring high internal impedance (the larger coils add
considerable moving mass and increase noise) and/or having low output
voltage (which stresses the phono stage).
To overcome this weakness, Lyra conducted a careful investigation
of X-core coils, using a combination of mathematical analysis and
hands-on experimentation. The outcome of the analysis program was a very
specific X-core shape and dimensions that not only had higher
efficiency than any previous X-core cartridge, but also surpassed the
efficiency of Lyra’s earlier square-coil cartridge designs.
Lyra’s New Angle technology
mechanically pre-biases the signal coils so they are perfectly aligned
to the front and rear magnets during LP playback, which allows the coils
to move optimally in all directions for superior, distortion-free
playback.
A seldom-mentioned yet key factor in defining the performance and
sound of a phono cartridge is the suspension and damper system. A
cantilever’s materials, dimensions and constructions all affect the
sound in unique ways, and unless the dampers and suspension are
engineered to be a suitable match to the cantilever chosen, the sound
and performance will not be optimal.
For Lyra’s post-2008 New Angle models (Delos, Kleos, Etna, Atlas)
we developed tapered dampers to pre-load the cantilever downwards when
it is in the rest position, so that the application of vertical tracking
force (VTF) will bring the coil angle into alignment with the magnets
when the cartridge is in the playing position. Our continued research
into dampers and suspension systems has now led to the next level up -
Lambda.
Lambda separates the tapered dampers of the New Angle cartridges
into flat elastomer discs (for damping) and an additional support
“pillow” to serve as the cantilever pre-loading element. This division
allows the use of more specialized materials that are better suited to
their individual tasks.
The Lambda Atlas and Etna thereby continue the New Angle benefits
(coil and magnet angles become aligned when the cartridge is in the
playing position), but stability and sonic performance are significantly
improved.
The Lambda improvements apply to both the single coil layer models
(Atlas SL, Etna SL) and the standard double coil layer models (Atlas,
Etna). Likewise for the Atlas Mono and Etna Mono models.
While Etna λ Lambda is second from the top in Lyra’s line, one
listen will demonstrate that this cartridge’s performance would define
the very top of any other cartridge line. Atlas has a very refined,
elegant and voluptuous sound while Etna λ Lambda personality is more
outgoing. We truly believe that choosing between these two exceptional
performers will come down to one’s tastes and the system in which it
will live. For many customers Etna λ Lambda will be ideal and become
their preferred Lyra.
Lyra Etna Lambda SL
Lyra again turns the analog world on its ear with the introduction of
the Etna λ Lambda SL phono cartridge. Sharing its name with Sicily’s
majestic Mount Etna, Etna λ Lambda SL the cartridge is an impressive
monument in its own right, one that melds tried and true Lyra design
tenets with designer Jonathan Carr’s very latest thinking on phono
cartridges.
Etna λ Lambda SL was designed with a strong emphasis on
engineering efficiency, so that its performance would be as far beyond
the sum of its parts as possible. For this reason, although it shares
some of its design philosophy with Atlas λ Lambda SL, the concepts are
executed rather differently.
Etna λ Lambda SL employs a solid titanium core structure machined
with non-parallel surfaces to inhibit internal reflections whenever
possible, but unlike Atlas (and Titan i before it), this is mated to a
slightly undersized, asymmetric, mirror-black anodized duralumin outer
body that locks over the core like a very tightly-fitting jigsaw puzzle.
The core and body are augmented with bronze and stainless-steel
resonance control rods, then pressure-fit together into a pre-stressed,
solid, void-free structure which is comprised of multiple materials and
complex internal shapes. The constrained-layer nature of this
construction dramatically reduces the resonant signature of each
material and creates a far more neutral-sounding body structure than
otherwise possible, while the high body stiffness benefits transients,
dynamics and resolution.
Etna λ Lambda SL uses a yokeless dual magnet system,
diamond-coated boron rod cantilever and Lyra-designed variable-radius
line-contact stylus. Lyra remains the only cartridge manufacturer to
mount the cantilever directly into the cartridge body to create a rigid,
seamless connection between the cantilever assembly and tonearm
headshell. Why? Linear transducers such as phono cartridges are
inherently inefficient devices, on the order of 5-10%. In other words,
of the vibrational energy that enters a cartridge from the LP groove,
only 5-10% will be converted into electrical signal. The cartridge’s
internal damping system will dissipate some of the remaining 90 to 95%,
but much of the excess vibrational energy will reflect inside the
cartridge, creating internal echoes and a general diminishing of
fidelity. It is quite easy to hear this with many cartridges- play a
highly modulated LP with the power amp turned off, and bring your ear
close to the cartridge. The “needle talk” that you hear is excess
vibrational energy which isn’t being controlled properly. Etna λ Lambda
SL’s direct-mounted cantilever helps conduct this excess vibrational
energy into the headshell, where it is safely dissipated within the
greater mass of the tonearm and turntable plinth.
Etna λ Lambda SL utilizes the asymmetric design concept first seen
in the flagship Atlas, but moves the screw/screwhole all the way to the
front of the cartridge and interposes a bronze damping barrier between
it and the mechanical path linking the cantilever assembly to the
tonearm headshell. Freed of all obstructions and voids, the rigid,
direct path established between cantilever and headshell is highly
effective at draining away vibrations once they have been converted into
electrical signals, effectively suppressing induced resonances and
internal reflections that would otherwise manifest as sonic colorations.
A narrowed mounting area couples Etna λ Lambda SL more tightly to the
headshell and facilitates the transfer of vibrational energy into the
tonearm, giving even better control over spurious resonances.
Another design strength is Etna λ Lambda SL high-efficiency
X-shaped signal coils, another attribute it shares with the flagship
Atlas. Compared to traditional square coil formers the X-shape allows
each channel to operate with greater independence from one another,
giving better tracking, tighter channel matching, improved separation,
and lower crosstalk-induced distortion. Although there are and have been
other X-coil cartridges, their benefits have been accompanied by poor
efficiency (in converting mechanical work into electrical output),
either requiring high internal impedance (the larger coils add
considerable moving mass and increase noise) and/or having low output
voltage (which stresses the phono stage).
To overcome this weakness, Lyra conducted a careful investigation
of X-core coils, using a combination of mathematical analysis and
hands-on experimentation. The outcome of the analysis program was a very
specific X-core shape and dimensions that not only had higher
efficiency than any previous X-core cartridge, but also surpassed the
efficiency of Lyra’s earlier square-coil cartridge designs.
ETNA λ Lambda Mono
This is a special, built-to-order, mono version of Etna λ Lambda for
real mono playback of monaural/monophonic (mono) microgroove, vinyl
records. It is recommended that the Etna λ Lambda 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 Etna λ Lambda 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 Etna λ Lambda
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 Etna λ Lambda 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 Lyra Etna λ Lambda
- Type: Medium weight, medium compliance, low-impedance moving coil cartridge
- Stylus: Lyra-designed long-footprint variable-radius line-contact nude diamond (3μm×70μm), slot-mounted
- Cantilever system: Diamond-coated solid boron
rod with short one-point wire suspension, directly mounted into
cartridge body via high-pressure knife-edge system
- Coils: 2-layer deep, 6 N high-purity copper,
chemically-purified high-purity iron cross-shaped former, 4.2 ohm
self-impedance, 11μH inductance
- Output voltage: 0.56 mV@5 cm/sec., zero to peak, 45 degrees (CBS test record, other test records may alter results)
- Frequency range: 10 Hz~50 kHz
- Channel separation: 35 dB or better at 1 kHz
- Compliance: Approx. 12×10 cm/dyne at 100 Hz
- Vertical tracking angle: 20 degrees
- Cartridge mounting screws: 2.6 mm 0.45 pitch JIS standard
- Cartridge weight (without stylus cover): 9.2g
- Distance from mounting holes to stylus tip: 9.5 mm
- Recommended tracking force: 1.68~1.78g (1.72 g recommended)
Specifications for Lyra Etna λ Lambda SL
- Designer: Jonathan Carr
- Builder: Yoshinori Mishima
- Type: Medium weight, medium compliance, low-impedance moving coil cartridge
- Stylus: Lyra-designed long-footprint variable-radius line-contact nude diamond (3μm× 70μm), slot-mounted
- Cantilever system: Diamond-coated solid boron
rod with short one-point wire suspension, directly mounted into
cartridge body via high-pressure knife-edge system
- Coils: single layer, 6 N high-purity copper,
chemically-purified high purity iron cross-shaped former, 1.52 ohm self
impedance, 1.9μH inductance
- Output voltage: 0.25mV@5 cm/sec., zero to peak, 45 degrees (CBS test record, other test records may alter results)
- Frequency range: 10 Hz〜50 kHz
- Channel separation: 35 dB or better at 1 kHz
- Compliance: Approx. 12× 10 cm/dyne at 100 Hz
- Vertical tracking angle: 20 degrees
- Cartridge body: Multi-material (titanium,
duralumin, bronze, stainless steel) self-clamping construction with
reduced-surface higher-pressure headshell contact area, predominately
non-parallel shaping, phase-interference resonance-controlling
mechanisms, and body threaded directly for mounting screws
- Cartridge mounting screws: 2.6 mm 0.45 pitch JIS standard
- Cartridge weight (without stylus cover): 9.2g
- Distance from mounting holes to stylus tip: 9.52mm
- Recommended tracking force: 1.68〜1.78g (1.72 g recommended)
- Recommended load directly into MC phono input: Determine by listening.
- Recommended load via step-up transformer:
1〜10ohm (connect step-up transformer’s output to 10kohm〜47kohm MM-level
RIAA input, preferably via short, low-capacitance cable)
- Recommended tonearm: High-quality pivoted or
linear (tangential) tonearm with rigid bearing(s), adjustable
anti-skating force, preferably VTA adjustment
Specifications for Lyra Etna λ Lambda 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: Diamond-coated solid boron
rod with short one-point wire suspension, directly mounted into
cartridge body via high-pressure knife-edge system
- 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: 10 Hz〜50 kHz
- Channel separation: 35 dB or better at 1 kHz
- Compliance: Approx. 12×10 cm/dyne at 100 Hz
- Vertical tracking angle: 20 degrees
- Cartridge body: Multi-material (titanium,
duralumin, bronze, stainless steel) self-clamping construction with
reduced-surface higher-pressure headshell contact area, predominately
non-parallel shaping, phase-interference resonance-controlling
mechanisms, body threaded for mounting screws
- Cartridge mounting screws: 2.6 mm 0.45 pitch JIS standard
- Cartridge weight (without stylus cover): 9.2g
- Distance from mounting holes to stylus tip: 9.5mm
- Recommended tracking force: 1.65〜1.78g (1.72 g 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 tonearm: High-quality pivoted or linear tangential tonearms with rigid bearing(s), adjustable anti-skating force, preferably VTA