Lyric HiFi & Video

What Lyric HiFi & Video does

Lyric HiFi & Video is a privately held, New York-based custom residential audio, video, and home automation installation firm founded in 1959 by Michael Kakadelis, an electronic engineer trained at the National Technical School of Athens and the Sorbonne. The company designs, sells, and installs high-end residential technology systems — including listening rooms, multi-room audio, outdoor sound, video projection, home automation via Control4 and Crestron, networking, automated lighting, shade control, home surveillance, and HVAC control — for high-net-worth individuals and families in the New York metropolitan area. Its underlying technology stack is a curated portfolio of premium third-party brands (McIntosh, Wilson, Bowers & Wilkins, Focal, Kaleidescape, Aurender, JVC, Stewart Filmscreens, Sonos, Bluesound, and others), integrated on a project basis rather than built on proprietary platforms.

Lyric operates a product-plus-services revenue model. The "Custom Installation Services" stream generates professional-services revenue from commissioned, quote-based engagements, while the "Equipment Sales" stream generates hardware revenue from the resale of premium AV/automation components embedded in each project. Pricing is custom-determined per scope; no standardized tiers are publicly disclosed. Distribution is exclusively direct: Lyric closed its physical Upper East Side Manhattan storefront in 2020 after nearly 65 years of continuous retail operation and now operates through on-site consultations and commissioned installations. Customer acquisition is relationship-driven, relying on long-tenured multi-generational HNW client relationships and partnerships with luxury interior design firms (Paris Hadley, Mario Buatta, Albert Pinto), rather than paid marketing or digital funnels.

The company employs 11–50 people, has no disclosed external funding, no parent entity, and no M&A activity, and operates under founder/management ownership following a 2004 leadership transition from Kakadelis to Leonard Bellezza. Its competitive position rests on brand longevity (nearly 70 years), technical expertise, and deep entrenchment within the Manhattan HNW design and residence ecosystem.

Name

Lyric HiFi & Video

Legal name

Lyric HiFi & Video

Website

https://lyricusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lyric HiFi & Video is a New York-based custom residential audio, video, and home automation installation firm serving high-net-worth clients in the New York metropolitan area since 1959 through commissioned, quote-based installations of premium third-party AV and automation systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Residential Audio/Video & Home Automation Installation

NAICS

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (334310)

SIC

Household Audio & Video Equipment (3651)

akta.pro primary industry

Hi‑Fi / Audiophile Components (DACs, Amps, Turntables, Streamers) (CRACANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

AV Receivers, Amplifiers & Hi‑Fi Components Retail (CRACAEAE), Speakers & Subwoofers Retail (Soundbars, Surround, Smart Speakers) (CRACAEAF)

Keywords

• Custom audio installation
• Residential home automation
• Home theater design
• Smart home integration
• High-end audio video

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Installation Services: Commissioned residential audio, video, and automation installation services including listening rooms, multi-room audio, outdoor sound systems, video solutions, home automation (Control4/Crestron), networking, automated lighting, shade control, home surveillance, and HVAC control.
2. Equipment Sales: Sale and installation of high-end audio and video equipment from premium brands including speakers, amplifiers, turntables, projectors, media servers, and home automation components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Lyric HiFi & Video is a custom residential audio, video, and home automation design and installation firm serving high-net-worth clients in the New York metropolitan area. The company conducts personalized consultations and designs, sells, and installs bespoke systems including listening rooms, multi-room audio, outdoor sound, home theaters, smart home automation (Control4/Crestron), networking, automated lighting, shade control, surveillance, and HVAC control. It also supplies and integrates premium audio and video equipment from a curated collection of premium brands.

Product overview

Lyric HiFi & Video is a custom residential audio, video, and automation installation company that serves as a single-source provider for high-end home entertainment systems. The company operates as a product-plus-services model, offering both installation services and curated product selections. Their core service offerings include listening rooms, multi-room audio, outdoor sound, video solutions, home automation via Control4 or Crestron platforms, networking, automated lighting, shade control, surveillance, and HVAC control. They carry an extensive portfolio of premium audio/video brands including electronics (Arcam, Audio Research, McIntosh, Marantz, NAD, Rotel), speakers (Focal, Wilson, Bowers & Wilkins, Genelec, Magneplanar), headphones (Audeze, Grado, Master & Dynamic, Sennheiser), turntables (Rega, VPI, Clearaudio), media servers (Kaleidescape, Aurender, Autonomic Mirage), multi-room streaming (Sonos, Bluesound), projectors (JVC) and screens (Da-Lite, Stewart Filmscreens), home automation platforms (Control4, Crestron), and supporting accessories including cables, racks, and isolation products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Listening Room Design and Installation Meticulously crafted listening room installations designed for optimal audio fidelity and clarity, enabling clients to experience music in stunning detail. Targeted at high-end residential clients seeking premium two-channel music reproduction in their homes.
• Multi-Room Audio Systems Sophisticated multi-room audio solutions that extend music throughout the entire home with synchronized playback, using sources such as Sonos, Bluesound, and other premium streaming platforms. Targeted at luxury residential clients.
• Outdoor Sound Systems Outdoor audio installations featuring weather-resistant speakers from brands such as Planter and Rockustics, delivering immersive sound for outdoor living spaces. Targeted at high-end residential clients with outdoor entertaining areas.
• Video Solutions and Home Theater Installations Video system installations ranging from elegant TV setups to mirrored touchscreens and projection theaters, utilizing projectors from JVC and screens from Da-Lite and Stewart Filmscreens, plus Séura Mirror TVs and Samsung/Sony displays. Targeted at high-end residential clients.
• Home Automation Integration (Control4 / Crestron) Smart home integration enabling unified control of shades, temperature, lighting, pool systems, doors, and security through voice commands or touch interfaces via Control4 or Crestron platforms. Targeted at luxury residential clients seeking whole-home automation.
• Whole-Home Networking Solutions WiFi and networking solutions providing fast and reliable connectivity throughout homes for uninterrupted streaming, gaming, and smart device integration, using enterprise-grade products such as Ruckus wireless. Targeted at high-end residential clients.
• Automated Lighting and Shade Control Lighting control systems and motorized shade control that blend ambiance and functionality to create precise atmospheres and manage natural light and privacy, integrated with the home automation platform. Targeted at high-end residential clients.
• Home Surveillance and HVAC Control Comprehensive home security monitoring systems and advanced climate control systems integrated within the home automation platform, allowing effortless temperature adjustment and safety assurance. Targeted at high-end residential clients.
• Premium Audio/Video Equipment Sales and Integration Sale and integration of high-end audio and video equipment from premium brands including speakers (Wilson, Focal, Bowers & Wilkins, Genelec, Magneplanar), electronics (McIntosh, Audio Research, Arcam, Marantz, NAD, Rotel, MOON, Chord, PS Audio, Datasat, Lexicon), turntables (Rega, Clearaudio, VPI), headphones (Audeze, Grado, Master & Dynamic, Sennheiser), media servers (Kaleidescape, Aurender, Autonomic), and supporting accessories. Targeted at high-end residential clients.

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Control4 Home AutomationcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary home automation platform offered by Lyric, enabling integrated control of lighting, shades, temperature, security, and entertainment systems.
• Crestron ElectronicscoreTechnology or IntegrationEnterprise-grade home automation alternative to Control4, offered by Lyric for high-end residential projects requiring advanced integration capabilities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Adorama: New York City-based electronics and AV retailer with a wide product catalog. Comparable as a fellow NYC-headquartered AV seller; serves overlapping customer base but at much broader retail scale.
• B&H Photo Video: Iconic New York City-based AV and electronics retailer. Comparable as a major NYC-headquartered AV seller, though it is a mass-market retailer rather than a luxury custom installer.

Broad incumbents

• Crutchfield: Major US consumer electronics retailer specializing in audio/video and home theater. Overlaps in product portfolio and category but operates as a broader, higher-volume retailer rather than a luxury bespoke installer.
• Magnolia Audio Video (Best Buy): Best Buy's custom-installation division offering premium AV and home theater design. Overlaps in custom residential integration but operates at much broader national scale as part of a mass retailer.

Direct peers

• World Wide Stereo: Pennsylvania-based custom residential AV integrator with a similar product-plus-installation model serving premium home theater, audio, and automation clients. Highly comparable as a regional bespoke AV specialist.
• AHT Global (Residential Systems by AHT): National luxury residential AV and smart-home integrator serving ultra-high-net-worth clients. Directly comparable in targeting premium residential projects with concierge-grade service.
• Audio Advice: North Carolina-based custom AV integrator offering high-end audio, home theater, and smart-home installations. Comparable in offering bespoke premium residential systems with curated brand collections.
• Gramophone: Maryland-based high-end audio retailer and custom integrator offering premium speaker and electronics brands with installation services. Comparable boutique audiophile specialist with installation model.
• HiFi House: Philadelphia-area high-end audio specialist and custom installer. Comparable as an audiophile-focused retailer carrying premium brands like McIntosh, Wilson, and Focal with installation services.
• ListenUp: Colorado-based custom AV retailer and integrator carrying high-end audio brands and designing residential installations. Comparable niche audiophile retailer with strong custom installation services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lyric-hi-fi-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lyric HiFi & Video