Lyra Atlas λ Lambda SL Phono Cartridge

Flagship asymmetric titanium-body moving coil cartridge with “New Angle” and Lambda suspension technologies

The Atlas λ Lambda is Lyra’s new flagship phono cartridge, embodying an innovative asymmetric design that literally displaces the structural “barriers” to great sound found in conventional cartridges. Different-shaped structures on the left and right sides of the titanium body suppress standing waves, greatly reducing resonance-induced colorations. The offset front magnet carrier opens a direct, rigid path between the cantilever assembly and the tonearm headshell, quickly draining unwanted vibrations once converted into electrical signals.

Lyra remains the only cartridge manufacturer to mount the cantilever assembly directly into the cartridge body, creating a seamless mechanical link between stylus and tonearm. The Atlas λ Lambda’s narrowed mounting area increases coupling pressure for more effective energy transfer, while the meticulously machined non-parallel body surfaces further inhibit resonances through a pre-stressed, phase-interference system.

This cartridge continues Lyra’s yokeless dual-magnet system, diamond-coated boron rod cantilever, and long-footprint variable-radius line-contact stylus. It also employs the “New Angle” technology, which pre-biases the coils to align perfectly with the magnets during playback, ensuring uniform coil movement and equal compliance in all directions.

The Lambda suspension represents a major refinement over Lyra’s earlier designs. The tapered dampers of previous models are now separated into flat elastomer discs for damping and an independent “pillow” for cantilever pre-load. This separation allows each part to use materials ideally suited to its task, improving stability, tracking, and overall sonic transparency. These improvements apply to both single and double coil layer models, including the Atlas SL.

Each Atlas λ Lambda is machined from a solid billet of titanium using both contact and non-contact methods, resulting in a body structure that is both visually striking and acoustically inert. The result is one of the most transparent, dynamically responsive, and tonally balanced phono cartridges ever built.

Specifications

Type: Medium-weight, medium-compliance, low-impedance moving coil

Stylus: Lyra-designed long-footprint variable-radius line-contact nude diamond (3 μm x 70 μm), slot-mounted

Cantilever System: Diamond-coated solid boron rod with short one-point wire suspension, directly mounted via high-pressure knife-edge system

Body: Machined asymmetrical titanium with synthetic composite gemstone

Coils: Single layer, 6 N high-purity copper, chemically purified high-purity iron cross-shaped former

Internal Impedance: 1.52 ohm

Inductance: 1.9 μH

Output Voltage: 0.25 mV @ 5 cm/sec.

Frequency Range: 10 Hz–50 kHz

Channel Separation: >30 dB @ 1 kHz

Compliance: Approx. 12 x 10⁻⁶ cm/dyne @ 100 Hz

Mounting Screws: 2.6 mm 0.45 pitch JIS standard

Stylus Tip to Mounting Hole Distance: 9.5 mm

Recommended Tracking Force: 1.62 - 1.72g

Recommended Load (Direct MC Input): 104–887 ohm (finalize by listening)

Recommended Load (via Step-Up Transformer): Transformer designed for 1–3 ohm cartridge impedance, connected to 10 kΩ–47 kΩ MM-level input via short, low-capacitance cable

Recommended Tonearm: Medium to medium-high mass tonearms

Weight: 11.6 g (without stylus cover)