Any sound impressions of the Lyra Etna Lambda cartridge?
- Thread starter Lee
- Start date
Hi, I am using Lyra Etna Lambda for some months now. It’s a clear improvement over the classic Etna.
Thanks Vienna. Can you elaborate on the improvements? Soundstage? Resolution? Airiness on top?
The Etna Lambda arrived today. Just waiting for my setup guy to schedule me in. It looks fantastic. I like that they include a bottle of SPT stylus treatment.
I'm going from an excellent Soundsmith Paua II to this so should be a nice step up. I really enjoyed the Paua II. Previously I had a Lyra Argo(i) and I missed just a bit some of the detail that cart offered. Nonetheless I would highly recommend the Soundsmith line. Very musical and affordable re-tipping. Peter has upgraded the carts recently in terms of body shape and other bits too.
I'm going from an excellent Soundsmith Paua II to this so should be a nice step up. I really enjoyed the Paua II. Previously I had a Lyra Argo(i) and I missed just a bit some of the detail that cart offered. Nonetheless I would highly recommend the Soundsmith line. Very musical and affordable re-tipping. Peter has upgraded the carts recently in terms of body shape and other bits too.
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We got the Etna Lambda installed today. Mike Burns from Wolfsong Audio did the usual perfect job, I felt a bit weird on the very first listen because the detail and soundstage leap in performance was immediate (stage is incredibly wide, at least full room dimensions)...but it sounded a little less musical due to the lack of lushness I had with the Paua II.
But then I listened. The sound characteristics over time became more evident. The slam and dynamics of the bass and the extra extension was immediate on the Show Biz Kids track from Rickie Lee Jones. The midrange advantages were superb on the Blue Note Tone Poets. And vocals are so natural and smooth. Dream with Dean was already a standout on the Paua II but now it was even more lifelike.
So I am really impressed so far.
But then I listened. The sound characteristics over time became more evident. The slam and dynamics of the bass and the extra extension was immediate on the Show Biz Kids track from Rickie Lee Jones. The midrange advantages were superb on the Blue Note Tone Poets. And vocals are so natural and smooth. Dream with Dean was already a standout on the Paua II but now it was even more lifelike.
So I am really impressed so far.
Up to 12 hours on the cartridge and I am really impressed by three things: 1. resolution, 2. huge soundstage, and 3. the best bass I have personally heard in analog, The woofers on the Alexias have just come alive!
Audioquest is telling me I have not heard anything yet. They say it takes off at 30-50 hours.
Audioquest is telling me I have not heard anything yet. They say it takes off at 30-50 hours.
Congratulations. I'd have to agree, 50 or so hours it'll improve. I've owned 4 Lyra's in my life and the Lambda's might be the 5th.
My Lyra ? Etna took around 50 hours too, to show its full potential.
This cartridge holds its position next to my Opus I and Atlas ?.
This cartridge holds its position next to my Opus I and Atlas ?.
Hi CCKeung
please see below my personal view on these three fine cartridges.
All three are offering great separation, dimensionality, resolution and wonderful performance throughout the frequency spectrum. All three manufacturing quality is outstanding and all of them had yielded perfect Values during their installation with Smart Tractor and their fine tuning with Analog Magik (channel separation over 32db, IMD less than 1.7%- and equal values for both channels- absolutely perfect zenith and almost zero azimuth correction).Really it was hard for me to part with any of them and decided to keep them all.
Etna ? is romantic and offers very emotional listening sessions. I love this cartridge with my original old Japanese jazz pressings.This cartridge has outperformed more expensive cartridges of other manufacturers.
Atlas ? offers the absolute accurate reproduction with muscle, authority and displacement. This cartridge really shakes my listening space and keeps me engaged throughout every single listening.
Opus I, is the golden section of both. Is offering Atlas performance with Etna’s delicacy, emotions and romance. This is the cartridge that I will keep forever.
please see below my personal view on these three fine cartridges.
All three are offering great separation, dimensionality, resolution and wonderful performance throughout the frequency spectrum. All three manufacturing quality is outstanding and all of them had yielded perfect Values during their installation with Smart Tractor and their fine tuning with Analog Magik (channel separation over 32db, IMD less than 1.7%- and equal values for both channels- absolutely perfect zenith and almost zero azimuth correction).Really it was hard for me to part with any of them and decided to keep them all.
Etna ? is romantic and offers very emotional listening sessions. I love this cartridge with my original old Japanese jazz pressings.This cartridge has outperformed more expensive cartridges of other manufacturers.
Atlas ? offers the absolute accurate reproduction with muscle, authority and displacement. This cartridge really shakes my listening space and keeps me engaged throughout every single listening.
Opus I, is the golden section of both. Is offering Atlas performance with Etna’s delicacy, emotions and romance. This is the cartridge that I will keep forever.
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I agree. As with most components, the better cart has allowed me to experience more of the bass excellence in the Alexia 2 woofers.
I'm not doing a whole lot of reviewing these days but what I meant is that the Etna Lambda allows the bass to propagate in a way that you feel its fullness. Or simply it sounds like real bass. That punch you in the gut kind of feel that I experienced even more magnificently with the demo of the WAMM Chronosonics.
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