Lyra Etna and Airtight Opus 1? Is it different enough?

[Johan K]

It's been 6 months since I've had the Opus installed on my second table.

And I can say, it's been a joy having 2 carts. I would say the Lyra Etna definitely sounds different compared to the Opus. The Opus was a great choice for a 2nd vinyl option.

Thank you all!

Congratulations Joey, to the Opus-1! Great choice! I have the Opus-1 myself and is very satisfied with it. I have tried several Lyras in my system, and some of them didn’t sound right here, due to (at first) lack of know-how during setup. However, after some crazy nerdy study - the latter ones I’ve had here have been sounding really really good. So I’m definitely planning for an Atlas in the future !

Enjoy the music, Joey !

/ Jk

 

[Ron Resnick]

It's been 6 months since I've had the Opus installed on my second table.

And I can say, it's been a joy having 2 carts. I would say the Lyra Etna definitely sounds different compared to the Opus. The Opus was a great choice for a 2nd vinyl option.

Thank you all!

What fraction of your record playing time would you estimate you use the Lyra, and what fraction of your record playing time would you estimate you use the Opus?

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

I recently chose two new stereo cartridges. A Lyra Etna Lambda and Etsuro Urushi Bordeaux.

They turned out as I expected to be excellent competitors because of equal but different strengths and no weaknesses that these ears recognize. And these two are different enough, that I do not regret, having both in my arsenal. Sometimes, depending upon a given recording one will flush out a little more of a character mood from a performance. Where the Etna has a very clean and decisive punctuation and presents very linear and balanced, the Bordeaux leans in with a bit more lush midrange bloom, and sweetness in the upper registers. But mind you, I am splitting hairs. Neither lacks what the other has as a strength, but it just may present with a bit less emphasis in these regards. These are all subtle complex nuances. More a seasoning than a specific flavor, more a shading in contrast rather than a different hue.

Couldn’t even imagine giving one up for the other. Both exceptional. Best I’ve ever had.

 

[Al Stewart]

Joey,
Happy for you on the second cartridge. I’m asuming you are still running the VPI Avenger. What is the second TT and tonearm might I ask?
Hope you are having a great New Year.
Best
Al

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

How do you find the Opus and Etna differ Joey? Do you have a feel for the character of the two?

And by the way, congratulations to you on both, and being able to enjoy both interchangeably!

Could you mention what tonearms they are on?

 

[bonzo75]

How about Top Wing?

what arm are you using it on

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

what arm are you using it on

For my resent set-up, the Etna Lambda is on a 10” Graham Phantom III and the Bordeaux is on a Reed P3 12”. With the tonearms I have presently available these seem best suited.

The reason why I ask, is, I believe it gives some perspective to how the cartridge performs. I’m always curious to what combinations other listeners are choosing.

 

[bonzo75]

For my resent set-up, the Etna Lambda is on a 10” Graham Phantom III and the Bordeaux is on a Reed P3 12”. With the tonearms I have presently available these seem best suited.

The reason why I ask, is, I believe it gives some perspective to how the cartridge performs. I’m always curious to what combinations other listeners are choosing.

sorry I was asking phantom about the top wing

 

[Ron Resnick]

Koetsu is just overpriced poor but if you are listening to amplified music and not classical you will be fine

Hello Kedar,

When did you get so down on Koetsu?

 

[bonzo75]

Hello Kedar,

When did you get so down on Koetsu?

i have written my koetsu experiences over 7 years now, in detail, many of them. You can just search koetsu by bonzo75

 

[worldtime]

I recently chose two new stereo cartridges. A Lyra Etna Lambda and Etsuro Urushi Bordeaux.

They turned out as I expected to be excellent competitors because of equal but different strengths and no weaknesses that these ears recognize. And these two are different enough, that I do not regret, having both in my arsenal. Sometimes, depending upon a given recording one will flush out a little more of a character mood from a performance. Where the Etna has a very clean and decisive punctuation and presents very linear and balanced, the Bordeaux leans in with a bit more lush midrange bloom, and sweetness in the upper registers. But mind you, I am splitting hairs. Neither lacks what the other has as a strength, but it just may present with a bit less emphasis in these regards. These are all subtle complex nuances. More a seasoning than a specific flavor, more a shading in contrast rather than a different hue.

Couldn’t even imagine giving one up for the other. Both exceptional. Best I’ve ever had.

Since you have the experience of the two and liked them, I would say if one day you want to have some softer, more romantic, soothing and tasteful magic, I highly recommend Miyajima Destiny.

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

Funny enough from the conversation above, and I do trust the experience and ears here, I would be more than a bit Opus 1 curious.

 

[PeterA]

So many people loved the Lyra Atlas (including Michael Fremer) but it seems to me that the evolution to Lambda was a Lyra corporate acknowledgment that the Lyra Atlas was lean and analytical (if very resolving and transparent).

How can a cartridge, or any component, be both transparent and lean at the same time?

 

[bazelio]

How can a cartridge, or any component, be both transparent and lean at the same time?

It achieves this remarkable feat the same way many audiophile reviews achieve being simultaneously verbose and meaningless.

 

[Ron Resnick]

How can a cartridge, or any component, be both transparent and lean at the same time?

Transparent and lean are independent variables.

 

[Johan K]

How can a cartridge, or any component, be both transparent and lean at the same time?

That’s the magic !

 

[PeterA]

Transparent and lean are independent variables.

Transparency means little to no character of its own. Different recordings will sound different and the cartridge will not impose itself on the presentation. Lean is a coloration in this case imposed by the cartridge. A cartridge that presents each recording as lean can not also be transparent.

 

[XV-1]

Transparency means little to no character of its own. Different recordings will sound different and the cartridge will not impose itself on the presentation. Lean is a coloration in this case imposed by the cartridge. A cartridge that presents each recording as lean can not also be transparent.

Well, that's not true. Lean is not a colouration imposed by the Lyra cartridge. All the cartridge is doing is being transparent to the rest of the system.
As you well know, no component is truly transparent, they are all coloured to some degree.

 

[DasguteOhr]

Well, that's not true. Lean is not a colouration imposed by the Lyra cartridge. All the cartridge is doing is being transparent to the rest of the system.
As you well know, no component is truly transparent, they are all coloured to some degree.

+1
Lyra cartridges usually ruthlessly expose errors in the rest of the signal chain. So, back to school and research where the error lies. Unfortunately is also easier to say the cartridge is to blame for the discordant sound. There are some types of lyras that aren't do this, and they need to be identified if you don't want to completely redesign the signal chain.my opion.

 

[PeterA]

Well, that's not true. Lean is not a colouration imposed by the Lyra cartridge. All the cartridge is doing is being transparent to the rest of the system.
As you well know, no component is truly transparent, they are all coloured to some degree.

Ok, I see your point. Thank you. The cartridge is not truly transparent but it does reveal, perhaps ruthlessly, the sound of the rest of the system. And the cartridge is not lean sounding. So, you seem to agree that the cartridge can not be both transparent and lean at the same time as Ron suggested it is. Is this what you are saying?