RCA Lyra

File:RCA Lyra RD2201.jpg

The first ever Lyra was released in 1999 as a CompactFlash (CF) based player. It was sold in two models: the RD2201 with a 32 MB CF card ($199.99 list price), and the RD2204 (sold as the Thomson PDP2201 outside the U.S.){{cite web |url=http://www.thomson-lyra.com/ |title=THOMSON Lyra |website=www.thomson-lyra.com |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991128172636/http://www.thomson-lyra.com/ |archive-date=28 November 1999 |url-status=dead}} with 64 MB CF card ($249.99 list price). It was the first MP3 player that could be updated through software downloads.{{Cite web | url=https://news.microsoft.com/1999/12/07/rca-lyra-personal-audio-player-to-support-microsoft-windows-media/ | title=RCA LYRA Personal Audio Player to Support Microsoft Windows Media | date=7 December 1999 }} The Lyra was developed in partnership between Thomson Multimedia and RealNetworks - it has integration with the RealJukebox Windows software and, alongside encrypted MP3, can also play Real's G2 format audio files.{{Cite web | url=https://people.apache.org/~jim/NewArchitect/webrevu/1999/05_14/designers/05_14_99_3.html | title=Web Review: RealNetworks' RealJukebox }} A later firmware also allows WMA format playback.{{Cite web | url=https://www.angelfire.com/clone/miroweb/lyra.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222075438/https://www.angelfire.com/clone/miroweb/lyra.htm | archive-date=2017-12-22 | title=The GUIDE to USING the RCA LYRA }}

It has a 1" × 3/4", 6-line, backlit monochrome display which at that time (1999-2000) was relatively large.{{Cite web | url=https://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/RCA_Lyra/ | title=RCA Lyra Review }} It has a software based five band graphic equalizer, and an external power jack. This series of players requires a proprietary CF reader used in conjunction with specific media players in Windows in order to write files to the card. A supported setup would take a blank CF card, recognize the correct reader attached to the PC, and then while syncing songs to the device, convert them to an encrypted version of RealAudio, MP3, MP3Pro, and later WMA format that is unrecognizable to any other device. It also drops a folder title 'Pmp' onto the root level of the device, which contains the boot image, a config file, and one or more executable, wma.exe, mp3.exe, or rlm.exe. Modified versions of the wma.exe program have been made, capable of playing unencrypted WMA files.{{Cite web | url=http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?s=60658feef1a60f1a887e6913a4990b36&t=2352 | title=DBpoweramp Forum }} This can be used in conjunction with a non-certified CF reader, making the device usable again to anyone who lost theirs and cannot acquire a new one. The only requirement then is to convert your MP3 files to WMA using any number of free converters.

The device also supports much larger CF cards than it original shipped with, up to at least 512MB. At these sizes though, boot time becomes significantly long, as the Lyra scans the entire card before presenting you with any menu. With only 250MB of files, spread across roughly 100 tracks, this can be over a minute. The 2201 also supports custom splash screens via third-party software. The RCA logo can be replaced by overwriting the screen.bit file in the Pmp folder.[http://interbug.com/lyra/howto.html How-to] interbug.com {{dead link|date=September 2023}} An updated version, the RD2204A, sold with a 64 MB CF card, can support CF cards up to at least 2GB. Like the RD2201A, boot times increase with the size of the card. The RD2204A can also be used with a third party CF reader, provided that the user installs the RCA software on the PC.

The Lyra2, released in 2001, has a new design and the addition of an FM radio. It was sold with a 64 MB CompactFlash card.{{Cite web | url=https://uk.pcmag.com/first-looks/31704/rca-lyra2 | title=RCA Lyra2 | date=8 May 2001 }} It has a newer, faster external CF reader that now uses the USB interface instead of the parallel port. It no longer comes with RealJukebox software but instead with Music Match Jukebox 6.0.{{Cite web | url=https://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/rcalyra2/ | title=RCA Lyra 2 Portable MP3 Player Review }} Market rivals of the Lyra2 were the likes of Creative Nomad II and Rio 600/800.

The first Lyra Jukebox model (RD2800) was released in mid-2002. It cost $250. It competed against Creative Nomad Jukebox 3, the Apple iPod, and the Rio Riot.{{Cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/07/16/rca-rd2800-lyra-jukebox-review | title=RCA RD2800 Lyra Jukebox Review | date=16 July 2002 }} A variant was the RD2820 and later an update called RD2821 was released.{{Cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/01/16/ces-2003-lyra-in-force | title=CES 2003: Lyra in Force | date=16 January 2003 }} Another player was the 20 GB RD2826.{{Cite web | url=https://www.woot.com/offers/rca-lyra-20gb-mp3-player-oct-05 | title=RCA Lyra 20GB MP3 Player | date=5 October 2007 }} This player (along with many others) would come bundled with Musicmatch Jukebox software.{{Cite web | url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2002-09-19-0209191467-story.html | title=Rca Lyra Rd2800 Mp3 Jukebox | date=19 September 2002 }}

The Lyra Mini-Jukebox was a small hard drive player with 1.5 GB space.{{Cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/27/rca-lyra-mini-jukebox-review | title=RCA Lyra Mini-Jukebox Review | date=27 August 2003 }}

The Jukebox HD (RD2840) was released in 2003 with a 40 GB hard disk. It has a 5-line monochrome LCD display.{{Cite web | url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/rca-lyra-jukebox-rd-review/ | title=RCA Lyra Jukebox RD review: RCA Lyra Jukebox RD }}

With a 1 inch hard drive, the Micro Jukebox RD2760/PDP2810 introduced at CES 2003 is a small compact player but with 1.5 GB space. It has an 8-line backlit display.{{Cite web | url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/rca-lyra-micro-jukebox-rd2760-review/ | title=RCA Lyra Micro Jukebox RD2760 review: RCA Lyra Micro Jukebox RD2760 }}

The later Micro Jukebox was released in 2004 with an internal 1.8" hard disk with 4 GB (RD2762) or 5 GB (RD2763FM) space. It also has a rechargeable Li-ion battery.{{Cite web | url=https://www.rajib.com/repairing-the-rca-lyra-rd2762-4-gb-micro-jukebox/ | title=Rajib's Blog }}

File:RCA Lyra RD2765.png

After this the RCA RD2765/Thomson PDP2812 was released with 5 GB memory and a color display.{{Cite web | url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/rca-lyra-rd2765-review/ | title=RCA Lyra RD2765 review: RCA Lyra RD2765 }}

One of the popular Lyra products was the A/V Jukebox (RCA RD2780 and Thomson PDP-2860).{{Cite web | url=https://digital-lifestyles.info/2003/11/26/thomson-announce-portable-multimedia-player/ | title=Thomson Announce Portable Multimedia Player – Digital-Lifestyles | date=26 November 2003 }} Introduced at CES 2003, it was also one of the first portable media players capable of playing MPEG-4 encoded videos. The device has a 3.5 inch display and was manufactured having a hard drive with a maximum capacity of 20GB{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/rca-lyra-a-v-jukebox-rd2780-review/ | title=RCA Lyra A/V Jukebox RD2780 review: RCA Lyra A/V Jukebox RD2780 | newspaper=Cnet | last1=Buskirk | first1=Eliot Van }} but could also work with a 60GB hard drive which had to be installed manually. Battery life was reported to last for up to 3 hours of video and 6 hours of audio playback.

One of the more popular features of this digital audio player was its ability to record live television through the RCA ports on your television set. The player's LCD display had a resolution of 320×240 pixels with 16 million colors. It was also possible to view photos on the display screen while audio was playing. The PDP-2860 was also UMS-capable, meaning that it could act as a portable external harddrive with no additional software or driver installation.

The small, compact RD1080 was released in 2002 and has a blue backlit LCD and built-in FM radio. It has 128 MB flash memory built-in but has a SD/MMC slot for expansion.{{Cite web | url=https://www.cnet.com/reviews/rca-lyra-rd-review/ | title=RCA Lyra RD review: RCA Lyra RD }} In 2003, the RD1090 was released with 256 MB space.

File:Thomson Lyra PDP2222.jpg

These compact sized players with aluminium finishes were released in 2003. They have SD/MMC card slots for expansion. The RD1021 has 64 MB integrated flash memory{{Cite web|url=http://www.audioreview.com/product/portables/mp3-players/rca/lyra-rd1021-64-mb-mp3-player.html|title=RCA Lyra RD1021 64 MB MP3 Player MP3 Players user reviews : 0 out of 5 - 0 reviews - audioreview.com|website=www.audioreview.com}} while the RD1071 has 128 MB{{Cite web | url=https://freemusicplayers.blogspot.com/2011/08/rca-lyra-rd1071-128-mb-pocket-digital.html | title=Free Music Players: RCA Lyra RD1071 128 MB Pocket Digital MP3 Player Review | date=27 August 2011 }} and RD1075 has 256 MB.

The new series of compact sized players, released in 2005.

The RCA Lyra RD2010 series (RD2010/2011/2012/2015) was released in 2004.

RD2112/2115/2117 are small splash proof sports-oriented music players.{{Cite web | url=https://www.engadget.com/2006-03-28-rca-offers-up-four-new-lyra-players-with-a-yawn.html | title=RCA offers up four new Lyra players with a yawn }} The RD2210/2212/2215/2217{{Cite web | url=https://uk.pcmag.com/electronics/101509/rca-lyra-rd2212?p=1 | title=RCA Lyra RD2212 | date=26 June 2018 }} include a calorie counter, pulse rate monitor and stopwatch.{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/30/technology/circuits/workout-gear-for-the-ears-and-for-the-heart-as-well.html | title=Workout Gear for the Ears, and for the Heart as Well | newspaper=The New York Times | date=30 June 2005 | last1=Zipern | first1=Andrew }}

The RCA Lyra X2400 is a portable audio/video recorder and player with a 3.5" LCD screen released around 2006. It has a CompactFlash slot, audio out, built-in speaker and RCA A/V inputs.{{Cite web | url=https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/497468-REG/RCA_X2400_X2400_Lyra_Personal_Multimedia.html | title=RCA X2400 Lyra Personal Multimedia Player and Recorder w/ 3.5" LCD }} Recorded video is compressed with an XVID encoder. The included software, Blaze Media Encoder, can transcode from most popular video and audio formats.

The Lyra X3000 from 2006 cost $399 and featured a 3.6" screen. It has a 20 GB hard drive. It is PlaysForSure certified.{{Cite web | url=https://www.engadget.com/2006-03-28-rca-lyra-x3000-gets-thumbs-up.html | title=RCA Lyra X3000 gets thumbs-up }}

The Lyra X3030 features a 30 GB hard drive with support for many audio and video formats. Included is a DIVX encoder which can translate most video formats into smaller more efficient formats.{{Cite web | url=https://www.engadget.com/2006-10-24-rcas-lyra-x3030-portable-media-player-reviewed.html | title=RCA's Lyra X3030 portable media player reviewed }} There is no provision to randomly play video clips, as the user may wish to do for a music video jukebox. The DiVX converter gives its output file with the .divx extension, which the Lyra rejects as incompatible. However, all the user has to do is rename the file with a .avi extension to make it work. The first documentation to be shipped spoke of a system tray resident icon and program to manage the device. No such software exists in the distribution, and they have since revised their documentation to remove all mention of it.

File:RCA Lyra M20 series.jpg

This player includes an SD card slot and an FM radio tuner.{{Cite web|url=http://www.audioreview.com/product/portables/mp3-players/rca/lyra-m2030-512mb-mp3-player.html|title=RCA Lyra M2030 (512MB) MP3 Player MP3 Players user reviews : 3 out of 5 - 1 reviews - audioreview.com|website=www.audioreview.com}} Models are: M200 (256 MB), M2000 (512 MB), M2001 (1 GB), 512 MB (M2030).{{cite web |url=http://www.rcaaudiovideo.com/en-US/modellist.html?CategoryID=Audio+Player |title=RCA Audio / Video - Product List |website=www.rcaaudiovideo.com |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070601043511/http://www.rcaaudiovideo.com/en-US/modellist.html?CategoryID=Audio+Player |archive-date=1 June 2007 |url-status=dead}}

These microdrive players were released in 2006. They are the H100 (4 GB), the H106 (6 GB) and H116 (6 GB) models.{{Cite web | url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/rca-launches-three-new-microdrive-mp3-players/ | title=RCA launches three new microdrive MP3 players }}

Under Audiovox ownership, the Slider was introduced in 2008. This PMP has a sliding mechanism, a 2.4" LCD display and 8 GB storage.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.com/2008/09/audiovoxrca-ann/ | title=Audiovox/RCA Announces Slick Media Player, Slacker Compatible Player, Headphones | magazine=Wired | last1=Fermoso | first1=Jose }}{{Cite web | url=https://www.engadget.com/2008-01-07-audiovox-launches-lyra-by-rca-a6008-8gb-slider-dap.html | title=Audiovox launches Lyra "by RCA" A6008 8GB slider DAP }} Another version with 4 GB was also made. In 2009 the SL5016 model was released with 16 GB space.{{Cite web | url=https://www.engadget.com/2009-01-08-rca-dishes-new-16gb-sl5016-lyra-slider-mp3-player-we-yawn.html | title=RCA dishes new 16GB SL5016 Lyra Slider MP3 player, we yawn }} After this, Audiovox dropped the Lyra name and started producing players as just RCA.

In the fourth quarter of 2002 in the United States market, RCA was the biggest selling vendor for MP3 players with a 12.95% market share.{{Cite web | url=https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_ipod_number_one_in_music_player_market | title=Apple iPod Number One in Music Player Market }}

As of August 2004 in the United States market, RCA had a 9% share among both flash and hard disk portable media players, ranking it fourth behind Apple, Rio and iRiver.{{Cite web | url=https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/ipod_claims_82_hd-based_retail_market_share_42_all_players_update | title=IPod Claims 82% HD-Based Retail Market Share; 42% All Players (UPDATE) }}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100114044352/http://www.rcaaudiovideo.com/product.aspx?product=409 LYRA "Slider" - SL5004]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100114042120/http://www.rcaaudiovideo.com/product.aspx?product=410 LYRA "Slider" - SL5008]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100114042741/http://www.rcaaudiovideo.com/product.aspx?product=445 LYRA "Slider" - SL5016]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100114044940/http://www.rcaaudiovideo.com/product.aspx?product=193&post=7 LYRA by RCA - X3000]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100114045026/http://www.rcaaudiovideo.com/product.aspx?product=203&post=7 LYRA by RCA - X3030]
• [http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_do_i_download_songs_onto_an_rca_lyra_mp3_player.html How do I download songs onto an RCA Lyra MP3 player?]
• [http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/lyra.html Review - The RCA Lyra]
• [https://musicdigi.com/ Sell Your Music Online]

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Category:RCA brands

Category:Consumer electronics brands

Category:Digital audio

Category:Portable media players