Lyr 3 Discussion Thread

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

  1. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    Dumb question - what’s “OG”?
     
  2. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    Original. Gungnir Multibit?
     
  3. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

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    It used to be the rap term "Original Gangster", but is just used as abbreviation for original now days.
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2018
  4. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    Ahhhhh, thank you. I haven’t been hip in so, so long....
     
  5. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    No. It's only worth it if you're having weird ground loop issues. There's no real improvement otherwise.
     
  6. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    I've had a chance to burn-in and try out four different tubes, so here's some quick impressions.

    As others have noted and I found to be true, rolling on Lyr 3 seems to be more of a game of inches rather than miles. Most of the differences between tubes I observed were in distortion content, macrodynamics and bass.

    TungSol 6SN7 GTB - Least dynamic but smoothest sounding. Inoffensive. Darkest treble presentation of the lot, with not a ton of bass volume, which isn't well extended and mostly unresponsive to even aggressive EQ. All the same, easy to enjoy for long periods.

    Foton 6H8C 1966 - Slightly more bass and macrodynamics than the TS with more harmonic distortion, but again, not seeing much volume or quality in the bass. Warmish

    Foton 6H8C 1959 - Highly similar to the '66 with slightly less macrodynamics and the most distortion content. Some might find this desirably rich, while I find it a bit too vintage sounding. I felt the same about late 50's Reflektor 6N3P's on MJ2.

    PSVANE UK-6SN7 - Most macrodynamics, seems to attack quicker, tightest most extended bass, and I think most treble extension and lowest distortion. Sounds a touch V-shaped in comparison to the TS. I might criticize it as too clean, and possibly needing the slightest touch of distortion to give more cohesion. All the same, technically good and seems to run cooler than the other tubes, while being physically largest. Expensive at $70 (or $100 for a pair) but worth trying if you want something that hits a bit harder than the TS or Fotons and has lower distortion.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2018
  7. KWWJ

    KWWJ New

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    Hi guys,

    Has anyone experienced this before? Just got my Lyr a few days ago and I noticed something today when changing tubes - one of the components in green has moved out of alignment (very un-savvy about the components, pardon my ignorance).

    Poked it with my finger and it moves; stiff but not loose. Sound has not been affected so far - should I be worried? Thanks in advance!

    https://ibb.co/etpRNp


    [​IMG]
     
  8. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Looks like a capacitor. If it doesn't freely move around, your fine. If it does, be worried.
     
  9. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    It's a capacitor, the legs are a bit bendy. If it's not a gross displacement so the leg snaps, or shorts on something, it's fine. They tend not to be 100% straight.

    Edit: Yes, what @Elnrik said too- if it's not flapping about loose..
     
  10. KWWJ

    KWWJ New

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    Yup it is not flapping around so I think it is fine as well. Many thanks guys!
     
  11. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    I doubt the electrons get their panties in a knot if the wire is bent versus straight ;) Yea so long as it's not a broken solder joint, I wouldn't worry about it either.
     
  12. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    Just picked up a few tubes from @Elnrik for the lyr3. Popped in a nice Westinghouse black plate top D getter. Wow, just wonderful. There is a wonderful delicacy to the tone of the presentation that I'm really liking. Very balanced and emotionally connective. Just when I was getting a little bored with the lyr3, I'm liking this amp more than ever!

    Just cued up a little Don Henley "Cass Country" 24/96...yummy.
     
  13. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    I'll throw in some quick impressions, since I have the loaner in house.

    I fed the Lyr3 from my PC via JRiver > GunD/S USB(gen5) and mostly 650 (J-mod) or Eikon (Cherry).

    Tubes do make a difference with this amp, at least to my ears. Wow. The Sylvania & the one marked OTK just didn't do it for me. Great detail, but they sounded awfully lean for my preferences. Once I tried the Tung-Sol there was no going back for me.

    Now I hear why everyone is raving about this amp...I'm finding it super engaging. I really enjoy the MCTH, but the Lyr is a step up in just about every category, more refined overall. Build quality is more than just a step above.* Solid chassis, knobs and switches, and heavier than I'd guess for an amp this size.

    Bass is just as deep, but tighter. Still plenty full & rich, some might say north of neutral, but it sounds spot on to me.

    Zero bleed to the mids. That's always headphone dependent of course, but the Lyr3 didn't exacerbate any flaws that I could hear. And it was the hypnotic tube mids that draw you in & don't let go.

    Treble is detailed but no craziness at all. Doesn't sound etched or unnatural. Just about right for my tastes.

    Detail retrieval is quite good, and I agree with @purr1n , it makes you want to crank it...be warned.

    Headstage is not something I'm very good at discerning, but it seems pretty good to my ears good width & depth, but a little less tall if I'm nitpicking.

    Plenty of power on tap as well...the 650 is probably the most power hungry thing I fed it, but it had no issue at all, rarely going above 9:00 on high gain (and able to get plenty loud on low gain as well).

    It seems to work well with many headphones of all impedances and sensitivities, from the 2 mentioned above as well as my Blue Lola, a LCD3 (pre-Fazor) I have on loan & my Senn HD238s.

    The thing that's best about this amp (I think) is that it succeeds in not doing anything wrong. There are amps out there that do many pieces of this or that better, but the overall package is solid & coherent...I never feel like I'm missing something, no major annoyances & the price is certainly right.

    This is probably the best mid-fi amp I've ever heard, and I'd go so far as to say a really good amp in general. My Pro iCan is definitely more versatile, has a little more power, but this overall is not less enjoyable to me. If it's in your budget, I highly recommend an audition if at all possible.

    I hope that makes some sense.


    *There seems to have been an issue with the loaner, 1st there was a smoking amp incident, and now there is a rhythmic ticking or clicking that comes & goes with all the tubes. Might be related to the meltdown or not, but it never intruded while listening, and is all but inaudible on low gain.
     
  14. buonassi

    buonassi New

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    The overall sound of the amp is more tube dependent than I had expected given its hybrid topology. It really comes alive with the Westinghouse D getter mentioned by @Ice-man. If you're really wanting to go down the tube rabbit hole, be warned, there is no end. Ah the allure and curse of there being only one tube to roll!

    My favorite tubes so far have been the '53 fotons (first pic) and surprisingly a '63 westinghouse halo or "O" getter (second pic left). For reference, the coveted "D" getter is shown as well (second pic right)

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/GsibnntoFXoP4Fbh9
    • The D getter has more bass slam and impact, better macro dynamics I think you'd guys say.
    • The O getter has more natural and articulate treble, great width, and just the right amount of harmonic content to add excitement and 3D enveloping presentation, however is somewhat bass light.
    • The foton seems to morph the best of the above two into one tube. No lack of bass, but retains the pristine treble. There are reports of this tube needing 100 hours to "get there".
     
  15. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    So far, I've tried the new TS I got with the Lyr 3, then a 1944 black staggered plates Ken-Rad VT-231 that filled in the midrange and deepened the bass, most recently the Psvane 6SN7-SE that @atomicbob endorsed, which added depth and width, and instrument separation. Been hearing so much about the W D-getter that I may be tempted, although rationally it makes no sense to spend this much on tubes relative to the amp's base price. Really enjoying the synergy with the Holo Spring KTE 3 DAC, which now makes my work solid-state setup (Soekris dac1541>Neurochrome HP-1) sound a tad boring. Anyway, I've been much enjoying this nice detour through tube-land, coming as I did from a hardcore solid-state background ever since my DYI days in the late 60s (that dates me, I know).
     
  16. Brad Tombaugh

    Brad Tombaugh Facebook Friend

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    Headphonia mentions in their review (https://www.headfonia.com/review-schiit-audio-lyr-3/):

    Schiit does not spoil their Lyr 3 customers with some luxuriously over-designed package. The amplifier comes in a simple cardboard box with some hard foam in it to securely transport the Lyr 3. You’ll also get a power chord, a short manual and the selected tube (s).

    Now that’s what I call a musical amplifier! ;-)
     
  17. KWWJ

    KWWJ New

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  18. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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    I had a power surge while the unit was on and my HD650s were plugged in. There was a loud pop and the left side driver ceased producing sound. I had it replaced under warranty but I decided that was the last time I would use the Lyr.
     
  19. Dzerh

    Dzerh Friend

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    It is unfair to blame an amp for a power surge, IMHO.
     
  20. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    First I've heard of it.

    I'd imagine any device who's job is to amplify electrical signals will do bad things to the stuff plugged into it when hit with a power surge.

    Unless it becomes a commonly reported issue, I personally won't put much stock into this being a design issue.
     

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