Schiit Vidar Impression Thread - UPDATED WITH REVIEW (CHECK FIRST POST)

Discussion in 'Power Amps' started by Rotijon, Jul 17, 2017.

  1. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Please read what @scblock said he had some good points/questions.

    Is the Vidar going into protection mode (I.e shutting off) like he asked? If so, something is definitely wrong. If you have another set of speaker cables, definitely try those. Also make sure the cables are not touching or really close together at either the amp end or speaker end - sometimes cables can be close enough that they’re not quite touching and will will run ok at low volumes and then when you get higher volume, you’ll hit a short circuit and POP.

    I assume you are running Lyr 3 in high gain? What happens when you use low gain?

    Schiit recommending Freya plus is BS in this case, because Lyr has a ton of gain in high gain mode (if I’m reading the specs correctly, it’s more gain than Freya plus has!) I don’t know what they were thinking. Not cool, something is off there.

    As an experiment, I setup my Lyr 3 in my 2 channel system with a single Vidar (normally I run a pair), with 85dB sensitivity bookshelf speakers and they get blisteringly loud at about 11oclock. And no protection circuit kicking in.

    24509EC3-D140-4126-B6A7-77AF311AC421.jpeg

    I would mess around with your speakers cables and other parts of your setup and see what happens. Also do you have any other tubes you could try in the Lyr? Perhaps a bad tube is causing issues.

    If it’s a new Vidar, then if you can’t get it working at ear splitting volumes at 6 feet without it going into protection with a proper setup, then something is definitely off. I would ask them to send you a new one. Do not get a Freya, that’s ridiculous. Lyr is supposed to be a preamp too, and these are both Schiit products, they should work well together.

    Maybe Jason @schiit can provide further suggestions.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2021
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    There seems to be something wrong. So it's not volume but rather the Vidar shutting down or going into clipping? Or is it both not having enough volume with a pop? Can you clarify by what you mean when Vidar "pops"?

    Can you try with a cheap volume control like Sys or JDS OL instead of Lyr 3? Trying to isolate the issue.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2021
  3. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    I don't have a Lyr3 to verify, but high/low gain should only affect the headphone output, not preamp out. However, Schiit's response implies that Lyr 3's preamp output is too low to drive a Vidar, which doesn't seem right.
     
  4. JanMc

    JanMc New

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    Thanks for the replies. The Vidar is going into protection mode the moment I turn the volume up. It never gets too warm to hold your hand on. I tried using my Saga+ also and have the same problem. I have some old Monster speaker cables so I'll try those and make sure that nothing is shorting. I have an old Kenwood M2A that I pulled from the living room that just blasts my speakers using the same setup and a cheapy class D amp with less watts that also plays really loud so I expected the Vidar to just crush.
     
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Check speaker wires in back to make sure there isn't a short. I've done this myself with a loose strand with temp cables which I had not yet terminated with plugs.

    Otherwise sounds like you need an RMA. Just tell them it goes into protection too early and that it's not gain that is the issue.
     
  6. JanMc

    JanMc New

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    I put new speaker wires on and it behaves the same. I double checked everything. It's funny, if it got about 5 db louder I would never have has an issue but it kicks off just a little before where I want to listen to music.

    Schiit just sent me an RMA label so I sure hope the new one gets louder than this one. Thanks for the help everyone!
     
  7. JohnnyCanuck

    JohnnyCanuck Acquaintance

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    Have you ruled out DC offset coming from your preamp?

    JC
     
  8. JanMc

    JanMc New

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    Since the Vidar goes into protection with two different preamps, both also from Schiit, that seems unlikely to be the issue.
     
  9. JanMc

    JanMc New

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    Got a new Vidar today. Schiit was amazing and sent me a new one as soon as mine hit the FedEx office. New one sounds amazing and plays REALLY loud. Thanks for all the help here! Loving my Schiit stack - Modius, Lyr 3, Vidar.
     
  10. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Glad to hear it! I was surprised when I tried my Lyr 3 as a preamp on the Vidar as well to check for you - it sounded quite good. Not quite up to my Freya+ level, but really quite surprising. I was totally enjoying that setup. What tube do you use with it?
     
  11. JanMc

    JanMc New

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    I've had a Saga+ in the living room for a long time and love it so when I wanted a headphone amp for my office I popped for the Lyr. Then I decided to add an amp and speakers and since the Lyr had pre-outs I just started using it. I only need one set of inputs since everything is coming off my computer so it worked perfectly and sounds really good. I'm playing thru SVS Ultra Bookshelves and an SB2000. I was surprised when I was in the Schiiter how much better these sound than the Salks they had there.

    I've been using an Electro-Harmonix Gold Pin tube. I keep thinking about popping for a Psvane or Shuguang Treasure but can't really find any reviews of how they work in a Lyr 3. And I keep hoping that Schiit will come out with a Lyrius soon so I can used the balanced outputs on my Modius.
     
  12. Jigitz

    Jigitz New

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    Hey SBAF - I am working on a desktop setup and need a power amp for some speakers. I have my eye on a Vidar but I am reading mixed reviews on the heat they produce. I know I am probably better off with a class D but I really like A/B. How hot does this amp get when running 8ohm loads? Lyr3 hot or hotter (i know that this may not be the best comparison)? I don't think I will be pushing it too hard but either way... would this work for a desktop amp? I have a fairly large desk but it would either sit under or behind my desktop monitor.
     
  13. tranq

    tranq Friend

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    It gets warm, but not hot. Asgard 2 runs far warmer then Vidar does.

    Vidar will take the edge off a cold room. 14x16. I used my Vidar in my work office for a few months in 2019, with Elac B6s. To the touch its about as warm as a modi multibit, maybe a bit warmer..

    I had my vidar sit on the desk underneath my monitors. I had a large desk as well.

    I should also mention it depends how hard you push it. Vidar gets pretty damn warm when pushing speakers hard. Pushing my Maggies, it gets to Asgard 2 temps, and Ive put it into thermal shutdown often.
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2021
  14. Jigitz

    Jigitz New

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    I'm torn between speakers as it is a corner desk I am somewhat space limited on the left and right side. I am looking at the Micca RB 42s. They aren't efficient but they are small and have good sound according to many reviews. I was going to go with a smaller amp or class D but I know I will be missing my beloved Class A/B. I don't think that I will be pushing it too hard since it will most if not all be near-field listening.
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2021
  15. JanMc

    JanMc New

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    My Lyr 3 gets a lot hotter than my Vidar. I was in the same boat as you but with better speakers and a 9 foot wide desk so I can get them a long ways apart. I started with an SMSL class D amp but the Vidar is in a whole different realm! I've only had mine for a few weeks but love the depth and power of that class a/b.
     
  16. Jigitz

    Jigitz New

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    Nice, i was able to get one used - waiting for it to come in. What speakers are you running?
     
  17. JanMc

    JanMc New

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    I'm using SVS Ultra Bookshelves with an SB2000 sub tucked behind my computer under the desk. It isn't centered but is aimed at the wall under my feet and seems to play well like that. It took me a fair bit of listening to find a spot for it that I liked with it being out of the way of my feet. Speakers are about 9 inches off the desk which is only 26 inches high (I'm short).
     
  18. Jigitz

    Jigitz New

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    Nice, I have a def tech pro sub 800 that I was using with my Kef eggs. I just put down the credit card for some Ascent Acoustics - Sierra Luna speakers and they are in their way. Pretty cool company out of CA. I’m gonna see how they fair and maybe get a different sub. The ProSub pumps the bass but it’s kinda “sloppy” even with it tuned - may go and try and find something more geared towards music rather than home theater.
     
  19. JanMc

    JanMc New

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    Sweet, I LOVE ribbons! I have a pair of Infiniti Quantum 2s in the living room with 3 6" 'emit' ribbon tweeters (and a 12" Watkins woofer). Nothing else can do the top end as well as ribbons. My SVS are in my office and while not near field are close and I wanted something a little softer and smoother and frankly couldn't be happier with them. I really like my SVS sub, but if you look there only look at the sealed subs. I understand that REL makes some great musical subs too.
     
  20. renault4

    renault4 New

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    Hi folks, thought I'd try this one here:

    I'm driving a set of Magnepan 1.7i's with a pair of mono Vidars. I've not had any trouble with the Vidars going into protection given how I use my system. After a lot of research, I have chosen to go down the path of adding a pair of Magnepan DWM woofer panels. Thing is, I doubt the Vidars can run both mains and DWM panels--if wired in parallel as recommended by Magnepan, that's 2 Ohms they'll be seeing so I think my luck will run out. I know I have the backup of just driving mains with one Vidar and the DWMs with the other, but I do want to look at a separate amp to pair with the mono Vidars. Short of another pair, of Vidars which seems a bit crazy, what are my options and constraints? I gather I should try to match gain (27db) and power 400/?? which doesn't seem to leave a lot of choices--possibly a Crown Class-D amp.
     

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