Lyr 3 Discussion Thread

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by neogeosnk, Mar 20, 2018.

  1. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    With all inputs disconnected, no hum whatsoever at full volume, high gain (Ken-Rad VT-231 tube). With my current inputs (relatively cheap RCA cables from Holo Spring KTE 3), power hum becomes noticeable at 1 pm on the volume knob. Now wondering about better cables :/ Update: The problem was the crossing between the stock power cable and the RCA cables. When I used instead a fancy Shunyata Venom power cable that I had powering my other head amp, hum disappeared to 4pm on the volume knob. When I raised the RCA cables 3in above the fancy cable, zero hum at top volume. I had gotten so used to the common-mode rejection of balanced interconnects before I got the Lyr 3 that I had got sloppy with cable crossings. Oh well, Maxwell (or was it Faraday?) remembers.
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2018
  2. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    I can confirm noise when the amp is not playing music, nothing connected to it, once it's past 3:00. This is with different tubes. I just assumed it was inherent to the design of the amp. I have heard others report the same issue.
     
  3. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    @earnmyturns - Also a good reminder that for many cases we don't need more expensive RCA cables, what we need is shorter ones.
     
  4. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    I get a slight hum between about 90 - 100% volume (about 4 to 5 o'clock on the dial) on RCA input, and a bit of a hiss on internal card at the same locations. That is on high gain. Both would be ear destroying volumes on the Eikon. On low gain, no noise at all on either input even at max volume.
     
  5. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    @allegro I wouldn't think much into it. Some folks may have different experience with gear, i.e. what sounds spacious to them on the Lyr 3 may be due to limited exposure to other amps. Some might just hear differently. Also note that one of those quotes mentions the HD800 and a crossfeed, making it really hard to determine what of that comes from the Lyr 3.

    And while the ZDT Jr does have more depth and layering, do note that it still doesn't excel here compared to much better amps.

    Read closely and you'll see there isn't as much discrepancy as you think. Forwardness and a wish for more air and depth are common in the quotes you mentioned.
     
  6. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    dac1421 -> Lyr3 (PSVane 6SN7) -> Focal Clear (104 dB/mW)
    Lyr3 set to high gain and volume set to max with dac1421 in quiescent mode
    No perceptible hum in ambient environment of 25 dBC.

    *edit* for followup
    I managed to get my ambient down to 22 dBC. Then I was on the edge of perceiving a slight hum with volume at maximum and disconnecting / reconnecting the headphone cable. With volume set just slightly below maximum, even this extreme test no longer allowed perception of slight hum.
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2018
  7. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    In this particular physical layout I don't have a choice about cable length and crossing between RCA and power, I need to rearrange the room and furniture significantly to be able to eliminate those liabilities.
     
  8. VortexBlast

    VortexBlast New

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    Any updates on the availability of the 230V version? Has it been further delayed?
     
  9. skank

    skank Friend

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    If you can't avoid cables crossing then add some type of spacer to get some distance between the cables at the point of intersection. A few inches should bring a noticeable improvement.
     
  10. Imraan

    Imraan Friend

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    I'm still waiting on mine to ship. My order status page says week of 6/1, and my last email conversation with support (who were super helpful) mentioned that they were waiting on parts so they could not commit to specific ship date other than it 'may be up to several weeks' . I've been practicing my zen meditation in the meantime... :)
     
  11. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    Thank you guys for your input regarding the hum issue.

    A few updates:

    - The hum is barely audible on the low gain setting, but could be very faintly heard if the volume is cranked up all the way.

    - The hum becomes clearly noticeable on high gain setting.

    My Lyr 3 is equipped with the Multibit DAC module. I use my Lyr 3 as a DAC/headphone amp. That being said...

    - When the Lyr 3 is set to amp only mode (the second switch downward), the hum disappears almost completely. There is a very faint hiss when the volume is cranked up.

    - When the Lyr 3 is set to DAC/amp mode (the second switch upward), that's when the hum becomes very evident, even when the USB cable is disconnected. When the USB cable is connected to the computer, the hum becomes slightly louder.

    So, to summarize,

    1. The Lyr 3's amp section itself is pretty quiet.

    2. It's the Multibit DAC module that is noisy.

    3. Since the DAC module's USB input is not the Gen 5 USB, it doesn't seem very good at filtering the noise coming from the computer. Connecting the USB cable makes the already loud hum even worse, slightly.
     
    Last edited: May 31, 2018
  12. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    Thanks, that's what I've done now successfully. Inverse-square law rules!
     
  13. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    You could have a ground loop. I've had that with things with built-in USB sound cards that run from their own mains power before. If you can, try confirming this by plugging the USB into a laptop and comparing the hum when the laptop is on batteries against how it sounds when the laptop is plugged into AC.
     
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I see you discovered one if the methods used by nwavguy / Amir for intentionally borking measures of gear he doesn't like.
     
  15. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophileâ„¢

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    Having been thoroughly enjoying this little amp for more than two months, now I have very solid idea of what Lyr 3 is capable of.

    Just some thoughts:

    1. Initially assumed this amp would be loved by everybody. No.. Not at all. "not dislike" and "like" are totally different. In this respect, Lyr 3 is a bit listener-picky. Lyr 3 does several things extremely (and nearly uniquely) well.. but whether you value them or not is a very different story. Still dare to say, with the right headphones and with the right sonic preferences (and maybe with the right tubes), Lyr 3 is easily 4-5 times as fantastic as the asking price. It's truly a gem of great engineering.

    2. Am I still satisfied with Lyr 3? Heck yes. During the past nine months, I've seriously heard most of the well-received 1k-2.5k tube/hybrid amps (decware, ampsound, cavalli...) except EC(S7/ZDS) and DNA(Sonett). Also tested amp parts of some uber dac-amps such as chord h2 or dave. That said, even if I am offered to replace lyr 3 with any of such amps for free, I will decline without any hesitation. This never means all those amps suck. Some can do some better. Nevertheless, Lyr 3 is way more like my cup of tea (and favored by the way how I perceive key technicalities), hands down. Particularly regarding hd800.

    3. Lyr 3 is likely to be my LAST schiit head amp. However, things may change if @schiit comes up with a bigger brother of Lyr 3. The same output stage (completely addressed gm-doubling issues), but using larger form factors (e.g., Mjo chassis), allowing balanced inputs and outputs, and hopefully with balanced bridged. Maybe such amp will be released with the name of "Mjolnir 3" later this year. Who knows.

    All things considered I never recommend this amp to anyone who doesn't know what he/she is actually doing in this hobby. Both positive and negative impressions/reviews must be cautiously interpreted.

    I am even now goose-bumped by how HD800 amped by Lyr 3 resolves small nuances (in terms of both details and dynamics). Didn't give head time to other headphones recently... Oh well.
     
  16. uncletim

    uncletim New

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    which tube should order the Lyr3 with for my HD800?

    I have Modi Multibit and the Magni 3 at the moment. I don't mind the slight treble peak of the HD800. I'd like to get more musicality mainly. if a get a tad more oomph in the bass that wouldn't hurt of course. thanks
     
  17. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    Hard to answer Depending on preference and whether you have any mods or using EQ Thst said I suggest the ken rad VT 231 which I found at Brent Jesse's Site
     
  18. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophileâ„¢

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    "Musicality" is defined variously (honestly kinda think it a semi-BS term) - so you may need to be more specific.

    Also, imo TS tube is hard to recommend for that purpose. I don't think Lyr 3 is very good at meaty and lush reproduction, either. Maybe other well-received amps can do better.
     
  19. uncletim

    uncletim New

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    thanks for that. I was really just curious which tube to order it with for starters. hard to describe, it's just not that enjoyable to listen as it is. maybe a bit warmer wouldn't hurt.
     
  20. Scott Kramer

    Scott Kramer Friend

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    upload_2018-6-4_12-9-41.jpeg

    upload_2018-6-4_12-51-43.png

    Adding aux in... here's another angle on Lyr3.
     

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    Last edited: Jun 4, 2018

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