About the Company
Lyrec Manufacturing A/S was an audio‑equipment and precision‑engineering firm founded in 1945 in Skovlunde, Denmark. Originally the company built synchronous motors, turntable and disc‑cutting equipment, but it soon expanded into magnetic tape recording technology, including reel‑to‑reel tape recorders.
Founded: 1945
Headquarters: Skovlunde (later Lyngby), Denmark
Primary Industries: Audio equipment, tape recorders, motors, duplication systems
Era of Reel‑to‑Reel Production: ~1950s to late 1990s
Historical Timeline
Late 1940s – 1950s — Early Tape Machines and Breadth
1950: Lyrec’s first tape recorder — the TR1 — was introduced as a large portable machine used for recording sound in professional settings.
Early 1950s: Subsequent models such as the TR2 and TR4 expanded on this design, with higher reel capacities and use by organizations like Danish Radio and government agencies.
These early reel decks were tube‑based devices intended for broadcast and institutional use long before the consumer open‑reel market matured.
1960s – 1970s — Expansion & Diversification
During the 1960s and 1970s, Lyrec was one of the prominent Danish developers of professional tape gear, introducing both studio and multi‑track recorders:
Throughout the 1960s, Lyrec built general‑purpose and studio machines like the TR50 series and early duplicating equipment.
By the 1970s, the company was producing multitrack recorders (e.g., TR532, TR533), indicating its serious involvement in broadcast and studio technology design.
These machines incorporated transistor electronics and more advanced mechanics, reflecting the shift in recording tech of the era.
1970s–1980s — Consumer & Professional Hi‑Fi Models
Lyrec also catered to the consumer and prosumer market alongside its studio line:
Lyrec AR‑2: A consumer portable deck with models evolving into stereo solid‑state designs, supporting 7½ and 15 ips speeds and 7″ or larger reels.
Lyrec TR55: A high‑end studio and broadcast reel‑to‑reel machine with three motors, balanced outputs, and multiple speeds — capable of 30 ips high‑speed operation for professional use.
These products show Lyrec’s technology stretching across basic portable recorders to sophisticated professional recording decks.
Late 1980s–1990s — Advanced Studio Decks & Final Years
Lyrec PTR‑1 “Frida” (1989–1995): One of Lyrec’s last major reel‑to‑reel designs, the PTR‑1 “Frida” offered four‑head stereo performance, multiple tape speeds (3¾, 7½, 15 ips), balanced XLR connectivity, and professional features like auto‑locate and a rugged portable design.
This model later saw use in BBC Outside Broadcasts and similar professional workflows.
While reel‑to‑reel popularity declined with the rise of cassette and digital formats, Lyrec continued supporting high‑end analog workflows into the mid‑1990s.
Technology & Product Evolution
Electronics Progression
Tube Era (1950s–1960s): Early tape decks like TR1/TR2 used tubed circuits common in professional gear of the time.
Solid‑State Era (1970s–1990s): Later models (e.g., AR‑2, TR55, PTR‑1) featured transistor and integrated circuitry, improving reliability and audio performance.
Market Segments
Professional Studio & Broadcast: TR series, TR55, PTR‑1 and multitrack recorders.
Consumer & Prosumer: AR‑2 and related consumer reels.
Geographic Market
Primarily Scandinavia and Europe but devices also circulated in broadcast and professional settings internationally.
Decline & Legacy
After the mid‑1990s, as cassette and digital recording formats supplanted open‑reel, Lyrec’s reel‑to‑reel production effectively wound down.
Lyrec then diversified into tape‑duplication systems, cassette automation, and related machinery before ceasing operations around the early 2000s.
Legacy: Lyrec reels remain respected in vintage pro‑audio collecting circles for their solid engineering and the company’s role in early European professional audio recorder development.