TRC Recordwala: Lyrita Audio
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Its always challenging to find addresses in Delhi. First you get to the Colony or Vihar; only to find that it comes in East, West, South Part I, Part II varieties. You then determine which is yours with the help of some unconvincing bhaisaab, find the one open gate amongst the many and finally hunt down the house number. This process tests your resolve - and builds character.
With due process therefore I finally rang the bell to the Lyrita Audio showroom - and Viren Bakhshi's house. Viren is the soft spoken and understated Delhiite who you find with effort. He appears pleased to see my obvious excitement at spotting the expansive Lyrita Audio system in the living room. There is an impressive stack of pre and power mono blocks with tubes galore, giant horn loaded speakers in matching wood - and the understated 301 with the easily identified Tariq built tonearm. All very grand.
We get down to the business of listening to some jazz - and the sound blows me away. Its the rare combination of all valve sound with an immediacy only horn loaded speakers can deliver. Beautiful. Voices take the experience to the next level. Listening to Nina in the room in the glow of tubes is very special. I am in sound Nirvana. This is the kind of system that gets you in a minute - to struggle with every other later. Its a giant system with a light touch. Bewitching audio chemistry at work.
The magic recedes somewhat with loud dense pieces of western classical music - and the system struggles a little with speed. I don't even have the courage to ask for a rock LP to listen. I know this magic is fragile.
This system is clearly not designed to be something to everyone - but can certainly be everything to someone. If it was jazz and Blues - I could live with this forever. But a ghetto blaster its not.
Time was limited - so we went on quick tour to the neat workshop in the room next door. Everything is deliberate and well organised. There are several amplifiers under construction and smaller integrated amps and speakers on display. I am short of time so I promise myself to come back and listen to each one.
Lyrita Audio is one you don't want to skip in your search for HiFi Heaven. You will discover something truly special. And build some character along the way. What more can one ask.
As we were short on time - I subsequently mailed a set of questions to Viren that he very graciously answered.
- Manu Trivedi
Q&A Session with Mr Bakhshi.
Q. What does music mean to you? What role does it play in your life?
Music has been central to my life. I have really enjoyed listening to others play, and have attended many concerts. That interest continues. Starting Lyrita Audio was a quest to make the emotional connect through home music reproduction also.
Q. What are your favourite genres of music? What genres are you currently exploring? Your favourite musician of all time?
Favourite genres are Jazz, and Classical Music. I am also open to all music. There are so many good artists that it is impossible to pick single favourites.
Q. What got you hooked to high quality audio?
Listening to live music is what does it. To try to capture some of that feeling, in music reproduced at home, is what high end audio is supposed to be about. "Supposed to be about!"
Q. Your favourite Brands – and why.
Disappointed in mainstream audio - very little to recommend.
Q. When did you make your first audio component? What was it?
I first designed my own speakers. Then realized that music comes out of a whole system - so a system's approach has to be taken. All components are equally important.
Q. What brought you to Valve audio – key attributes that separate Valve audio from Solid State?
Tubes reproduce music much better than any other device. Their richness of tone, portrayal of harmonics, is what brings music alive. The best of solid-state still falls short.
Q. What would you describe as your design philosophy for amps and speakers? Key challenges?
Home audio systems should connect you emotionally to the music. You should be drawn in. That is the sole intention of a well designed audio system.
Q. Whats the building process? How long do different components take to build?
Good tube based audio systems are built on a point-to-point wiring method. The labour involved is high. That is reflected on the build time.
Q. Any Quality related statement?
Point-to-point wiring is inherently a more rigorous build. Overall quality is higher, and longevity is ensured. Good design also ensures long tube life, from 5-10 years.
Q. What kind of person is a Lyrita customer?
A person who enjoys music, and wants that involvement even at home. Has to have attended live concerts to know what that feeling is about.
Q. What should they expect from a Lyrita product?
Enjoyment of their music.
Q. What kind of a person should explore Lyrita products?
All, that find music meaningful to their lives.
Q. Are records special? Why?
LPs celebrate the all analog recording process. If done well, there is much less processing of the recorded signal, and fidelity is maintained. Out of all the formats, analog LP sound comes closest to the original music.
Contact Details
Website: http://www.lyrita-audio.in/
Address: Lyrita Audio L-458 Sarita Vihar New Delhi 110 076
Tel: 011-4140 1143
Email: viren.bakhshi@gmail.com
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