Lyra Skala - Michael Fremer, Stereophile March 2007

In terms of tone and, especially, texture and harmonics, the Skala has more in common with the Titan i then with the Helikon- and its better then the Helikon in every way. Designer Jonathan carr's evolutionary approach to his revolutionary, still in production, fourth-generation helikon has resulted in an exceptionally fine cartridge in the Skala, that adds a plush, enriching, velvety smoothness to the Helikon's presentation without diminishing in any way its speedy transient attack, finely detailed textures, three dimensional spatial presentation, and tonal neutrality.

LYRA Skala MC PHONO CARTRIDGE

Lyra designer Jonathan Carr does it again! Introducing the 5th Generation of Lyra Cartridge design: The Lyra Skala! The Skala is a major advance in phono cartridge technology. Material selection, body design and stylus/cantilever assembly have all been thoroughly improved. The voicing of this new cartridge is much more natural and closer in tonality to the Lyra Titan. Our highest recommendation

At first listen, you will instantly hear a tremendous sense of dynamics with incredible amounts of fine, low-level musical detail. The Skala combines this incredible detail retrieval with a tremendous sense of warmth and musicality. What’s even more astounding is the noise level of this cartridge; it’s almost undetectable! This is the most natural sounding, quietest phono cartridge ever to come form Lyra. You will hear deeper into every recording you play!

SPECIFICATION - Skala Review

This is a precise and highly resolving cartridge, coupling those qualities to a warmth and weight that results in impressive solidity and dynamic impact. Speed has always been a Lyra forte and in this respect the Skala is a chip of the old block. It totally eclipses the Helikon, bringing forth from the darkness a new light. If this is the first in the next generation of Lyra cartridge designs then the future looks sunny indeed.
Roy Gregory and Curtis Lees, hifi+ issue 52

Lyra Skala MC PHONO CARTRIDGE

The Skala has exceptional control over the micro-sized vibrations picked up by the stylus, has reduced resonances while tracking an LP and will unmask more fine, micro-detail from the pits of the groove. In other words, Lyra has advanced the art of cartridge technology once again!

Lyra’s Skala is designed from a unique multi-section, multi-material structure which combines dense and rigid vertical metal vertebrae with a lightweight horizontal base which tensions the vertebrae against the tonearm headshell.

What this means is the amount of conductive metal has been drastically reduced, which removes magnetic currents which rob many cartridges of dynamics and detail retrieval. Metal has only been used where strength is truly important. The Skala is made from a tremendously strong, non-magnetic new material.

The cantilever of the Skala is mounted directly to the most rigid components, this allows the cartridge to reproduce huge dynamic swings and simultaneously preserve the fine detail all audiophiles crave. The small size of the contact area increases the cartridges energy transfer efficiency.

This means the Skala has exceptional control over the micro-sized vibrations picked up by the stylus, has reduced resonances while tracking an LP and will unmask more fine, micro-detail from the pits of the groove. In other words, Lyra has really advanced the art of cartridge technology once again!

TECHNICAL DATA

Type: Moving Coil, low-impedance, low-output, medium compliance
Output voltage using CBS STR-100 standard @5.0cm/sec: 0.5mV
Frequency response: 10Hz - 50kHz
Channel separation @ 1kHz: >35dB
Diamond stylus: 3 x 70μm Ogura PA line contact
Magnet(s): Dual disk neodymium
Square bobbin: 5N iron core & 6N copper coils
Cantilever: Solid boron circular rod
Recommended tracking force: 1.65 - 1.75 grams
Dynamic compliance @100 Hz: 12 x 10-6 cm/dyn
Internal impedance: 5.5 ohms
Recommended load impedance Preamp direct: 100 ohms - 47 k ohms
Via MC transformer: < 10 ohms
Weight: 9g

Other Features:
5th Gen design using polymer base and metal vertebrae construction Direct Cantilever mounting,
Direct-Flux, dual disk magnet system. Full
Protective, transparent cover

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Lyra Range

Analogue Accessories

Lyra Skala MC PHONO CARTRIDGE