A bit sad for me ... A little story
I was a student in NYC (early 80's) when I first went to Lyric Audio. I was a hardcore subjectivist then ( and for the next 30 years or so ..
). I knew , I couldn't afford any most of those gear but HP (The Man, TAS personified) said that the NAD C3020 was the bee-knee so I went to audition it ...
First salesperson was snooty and haughty ... I was about to leave.. I met with Mike Kay who politely asked me what I came to buy ... We fast became friends. He called me "Kiddo". From that point on ... 1985 , perhaps, I had basically a free pass at Lyric. I bought a few weeks later a used Magnepan Tympani and a Modulus something preamp and found a Dynaco ST-70 at a flea market, Mike gifted me a pair of Fulton Brown ... I went home with those.. I was in heaven ... Those were the only stuff I bought at Lyric, it didn't matter, I had a free pass.
From that point on , I auditioned at Lyric whatever and whenever I want; only rule was that I would defer to a customer or potential customer. I went to the best room they had and listened to whatever I wanted or brought in. Mike would join for some sessions. My dream system was that with the Infinity IRS V, late they were replaced by the quasi-identical Genesis One.
Years later a friend (who introduced me to Burmester) and I, brought a pair of smallish Burmester 878 amplifiers to Lyric. My friend, Mike and I listened to these for hours. He later carried the brand, whether it was because of that encounter I don't know ... . Of course auditions were carried with full knowledge, with a full dose of hyperboles from my friend and I.. THe amps were indeed small by High-End AUdio standards but they did drive some difficult loads with apparent ease.
We would often discuss Classical music concerts. I continued to visit Lyric Audio for many years until I left NYC.
Lyric had 3 stores at one point in NY: One on Broadway until the early 90's, another one in upstate NY and the main store at Lexington Avenue.
I learned of his passing through the audiophile press and audiophile fora. I wished to see him before as I knew he was ill.
The man was a passionate person and a good business man. I believe his wife and him came to buy a piece of Mark Levinson, the brand, and sold it later to Harman.
Other people may have had a vastly different experience with him. He wasn't universally liked.
He
was Lyric Audio. When he went, I knew Lyric Audio would follow.
Times have changed: The Internet has not been too keen on Brick and Mortar.