AKG Lyra

55

Ultra HD USB Microphone

  • 4 Selectable characteristics
  • Specially tailored to the needs of podcasters and content creators
  • Plug n 'play on PC and Mac using class drivers
  • Plug n 'play on iOS devices such as iPhone and iPad with Apple Camera Kit and external power supply (not included)
  • Plug n 'play on Android devices from Android V9.x or higher in connection with OTG adapter (not included in delivery)
  • Built-in headphone output for latency-free monitoring
  • Polar pattern: 4 switchable capture modes - front, front & back, tight stereo, wide stereo
  • Resolution: 24 bit / 192 kHz
  • Frequency response: 20 - 20.000 Hz
  • Max. sound pressure level: 129 dB SPL (0.5% THD)
  • Headphone output with 16 ohms nominal impedance, output power (RMS) of 43 mW and a frequency response of 20 - 22.000 Hz
  • Signal to noise ratio: 98 dB
  • THD: <0.9%
  • Incl. 2 m USB-C to USB-A cable and Ableton Live 11 Lite registration card
  • Current consumption: 75 mA via USB
  • Weight: 1 kg
Available since November 2019
Item number 479684
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Desktop Microphone Yes
Phones Output Yes
B-Stock from 754 kr available
888 kr
Including VAT; Excluding kr200 shipping
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A full-fledged audio system

AKG presents its latest creation: The Lyra, a versatile USB microphone in an attractive retro design. Whilst the majority of USB mics are designed as entry-level devices for singers and podcasters who don't yet have their own audio interface, AKG has chosen to take a different path with the Lyra, which instead has been designed as a full-fledged audio system that is highly flexible in application and suitable for a range of sophisticated functions thanks to its four - yes, FOUR - microphone capsules, which put a variety of different capture modes at the user's disposal. The AKG Lyra's impressive functionality is complemented by its elegant design, which instantly recalls radio microphones of a bygone age, and also it tips the scales at around one kilogramme, thus promising a respectable level of stability.

No cutting corners

As mentioned above, the AKG Lyra features four different capture modes, a feature that clearly sets this mic apart from the competition. These modes operate in a fashion similar to those found on a large-diaphragm condenser microphone but are also a step ahead, since they also cover stereo applications. In "Front" mode, the microphone captures a direct mono signal from in front of the capsule while suppressing signals from the rear and sides, and "Front & Back" mode captures mono signals from in front of and behind the capsule. The remaining two modes can be used to create stereo recordings: "Tight Stereo" captures a stereo signal from in front of the mic, while "Wide Stereo" employs all four capsules simultaneously to create an omnidirectional signal with wide stereo imaging.

Much more than meets the eye

The AKG Lyra is an excellent choice for podcasters thanks to its "Front", "Front & Back", and "Wide Stereo" capture modes, which allow the user to record themselves alone, to record interviews conducted with another person, or even make podcasts with the participants seated in a circle around the mic. The "Tight Stereo" capture mode on the other hand is the go-to when recording acoustic instruments and musical performances in intimate settings. The Lyra additionally features a headphone output with direct monitoring to allow the user to listen directly to the recorded signal without latency. Since the microphone is USB-powered, it is also highly suitable for use on the go, and the USB connection is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.

About AKG

AKG was founded in Vienna, in 1947, by Dr. Rudolf Goerike and Ernst Pless. After only a few months, the first AKG microphones were already being used for the first time in radio stations and theatres. AKG’s big breakthrough occurred during the early 1950s, due to specific and sophisticated innovations in their field. One example is the first large-diaphragm condenser microphone with remote-controlled, switchable polar pattern (D12) – the first client to acquire them was the BBC in London. AKG is today a world-renowned brand in many different fields. With countless high-class products in its range, such as the well-known C414, the name AKG has always been synonymous of quality and outstanding sound.

Something for everyone

In addition to the aforementioned podcasters, the AKG Lyra's range of potential users also includes YouTubers and musicians, and those who want to make spoken word or music recordings without having to familiarise themselves with multiple different devices first will certainly appreciate the Lyra's "set it and forget it" usability. Mobile content creators in turn will benefit from the microphone's plug-and-play compatibility with PC, MacOS, Android, and iOS operating systems. That is by no means all, however: The four capture modes made possible by the AKG Lyra's four microphone capsules give the user more options for making high-quality recordings than many high-end recording devices.

55 Customer ratings

4.5 / 5

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43 Reviews

D
Great for voice & guitar not so great for saxophone
D.F. 09.05.2021
I use this for home recording - with a view to trying to improve my playing - mostly sax but also a bit of guitar and mandolin. It makes voice and guitar sound very good but it is very, very difficult to set it up to capture a loud instrument well.

Two big issues - the lack of a dial or read out on the gain is just plain careless and would be easy and cheap to sort out. I suspect it owes more to the visual product design aesthetic than any acoustic idea. This is not a cheap USB microphone and it seems a bit cheapskate to skimp like this on something small but so important. To be clear there will be many situations where a change of gain settings is necessary and where it would be far more convenient to look at the mic than check input levels on the computer - not least because the knob is on the back of the mic and easily moved by accident.

The second problem is something I can hear clearly but have not got the technical vocabulary to express clearly - to my ear it seems to make the sound, particularly of tenor sax, somehow bland and not assertive enough. I guess that that might be desirable for speech and many styles of singing but it takes a lot of the fun out of the sax. It also makes it hard to get a feeling for developing good tone.I think that this is because it is difficult to set the gain at a point that allows for loudness through all the overtones without clipping. This seems strange to me, given that the Lyra is supposed to have an SPL of 129dB - which is a lot louder than an unamplified sax will normally get near.

So while it's probably great for podcasts and singer songwriters it's a questionable buy for loud instruments
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4
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C
Does the job I wanted beautifully
Cassidy 25.08.2020
I've worked as a film maker for many years so I know my way around audio solutions without being an audio expert. I wanted a USB plug and play solution for my MacBook Pro 16 that would do voiceovers and podcasts without the hassle of an audio interface. The AKG Lyra seemed the best fit for my needs after a bit of research, and I was pleased to find out that this was the case. The microphone is robust, nicely designed and has simple, useful features. It has a USB C input on the mic so that can go to the older USB formats or directly to the USB C input on my MacBook. There is also a headphone socket under the mic so, using it with Audacity, for example, I can set the software to both input from and output to the mic unit. The sound quality, as you'd expect from a well trusted brand such as AKG, is super. For me, a good purchase with nothing negative to report.
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9
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B
BogdanO 20.12.2020
sounds very nice and it is very sensitive. But you need a very quiet room to not have unwanted noises
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3
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J
Superb!
JM126 14.10.2021
Phenomenal piece, very versatile both for podcasts and your own recordings. Perfect for Zoom too!
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