LYRA
The Brothers Dorian
Hi Fi Plus 01 August 2007 Full Review
I seem to have been a bit of a cartridge snob. I’ve always tended to look at a company, like Lyra, and see what fruit is blossoming in the highest branches. This decision of course is made after listening to other products the company makes and also having an opportunity to listen to the product I’m about to buy.
I’ve gone through various phases of what I want and expect from a cartridge. There was the ‘midrange’ phase which was followed by the ‘give me the bass’ phase. These soon passed and I added that ‘open silky highs’ phase to the equation. Always searching but never completely being satisfied.
I remember a few years ago very much enjoying the early Helikon stereo cartridges. I’ve always been a fan of the Lyra products even before they were manufacturing products for them- selves (the Spectral MCR comes to mind). My first Lyra was the Clavis around 1990-1. I moved on up the line over the next few years until I reached the Parnassus dc/t. Wonderful cartridge and one of the best around at the time of its release (mid 1997 I think).
I got caught up in another phase at this time . . . the age of information retrieval let’s call it. I went over to the camp of Clearaudio. I traveled the path from Signature (very briefly) to the Accurate. My next move was the Insider followed by the Insider Gold which ultimately led to the Insider Gold wood body Reference. I loved the Clearaudio cartridges . . . especially my last one. There was nothing happening on that piece of vinyl I wasn’t hearing. Every chair that moved, each cough or rustle and even that drumstick which may have fallen. What began to happen however, was that I was listening to the information and not the music and wasn’t getting the satisfaction from my system I required. Now, please, don’t take this as a negative against Clearaudio. They make a fine product. I just think I began to grow into a different phase.