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Lyr 3 Discussion Thread

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

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  1. twice

    twice New

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    Is the Lyr 3 in the same sound ballpark as the Valhalla? Pre-corona, i got tired of futzing with all the tubes on my first-gen Valhalla+Bifrost 1 combo and replaced it with an Asgard 3+Bifrost 2 to take advantage of the upgrade discount from Schiit. The Asgard is fine and solid state is much easier to live with, but I miss the general vibe of the Valhalla, but would like something that doesn't rely on high-temperature black magic from four antique light bulbs that need to play well together. I do most of my listening through an HD-6XX, an old K702, and an even older Grado SR125, so nothing too exotic, sensitive, or power hungry. I don't plan to do any rolling or dipping my toe into the world of $200 NOS tubes, but I would like something in the Valhalla realm. Is the Lyr 3 at least worth the audition cost?
     
    twice, Sep 14, 2020
    #1181
  2. will_f

    will_f Friend

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    There’s a nice chart on page 5 or so of this thread that I think will answer your question better than I can.
     
    will_f, Sep 14, 2020
    #1182
  3. SSL

    SSL Friend

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    SSL, Sep 14, 2020
    #1183
  4. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    A little update from my non-expert listening experience - as Marv mentioned, the Lyr 3 does play well with orthos. I initially tried my LCD-X with this amp using the ZMF OFC cable and thought it was just meh/bland. When I recently switched back to the stock cable I liked it much better. So for my preference, with this amp, as the upgrade cable helps the Auteur it hurts the LCD-X.

    Curious to see how Schiit evolves this one, perhaps as the next iteration of Mjolnir.
     
    rott, Sep 15, 2020
    #1184
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The Schiit DAC that works really well with the Lyr 3 (laid-back and needs some kick) is the Gungnir MB A2 (current). Bifrost 2 will have kick, but it's warm and not an ideal match with the Lyr 3. A lot of this musicality is the Continuity deal and why I asked Jason to make a Class A low-power Continuity version of the Vidar which became the Aegir. There are other DACs that would also work (Convert 2, Solaris, etc.) but we are moving to another price bracket.

    It's good you are already thinking about synergy. Buying of bunch of good expensive stuff and slapping it all together without taking component synergy in mind rarely results in great sound. This so rarely talked about - but it's a reason why so many manufacturer rigs at the CanJams suck.
     
    purr1n, Sep 15, 2020
    #1185
  6. twice

    twice New

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    thanks! is there much difference between the Valhalla 1 I had and the Valhalla 2?
     
    twice, Sep 15, 2020
    #1186
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Huge difference! Valhalla 1 was warmpoo made for bright Beyers and Ultrasones which were popular during that era. Valhalla 2 is solid-state-ish and was meant for HD650, maybe HD600 or highly modded HD800 if used appropriate darker sounding DAC.
     
    purr1n, Sep 15, 2020
    #1187
  8. twice

    twice New

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    I see! Is the Lyr 3 closer to the Valhalla 1 or Valhalla 2?
     
    twice, Sep 15, 2020
    #1188
  9. Spacehawk

    Spacehawk New

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    Hi

    I have ordered a Schiit Lyr 3 to use with my Focal Elegia headphones.

    I at also looking into the posibillity to get rid of my old integrated amp and get a power amp and use Lyr 3 as a pre amp.

    Have anyone got any experience with this? What is the pre out impedance on the Lyr 3?
     
    Spacehawk, Sep 25, 2020
    #1189
  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Sorry I couldn’t read this whole thread. How would a CA Andromeda 2020 iem fair with the latest Lyr Multibit with an ieMatch adapter? Or is Jottunheim a better match?
     
    rhythmdevils, Oct 4, 2020
    #1190
  11. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I had a Lyr3 for awhile and it was excellent with IEM's! Noise free and super detailed and superb. Just watch it with microphonic tubes. Never tried it with IEMatch, although that mike take the top end brightness down some.

    Jot is probably too much for IEM's. I mean tgat can power a set of RAAL SR1a's.
     
    Azimuth, Oct 4, 2020
    #1191
  12. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Is the Lyr 3 bright?

    anyone willing to loan me a latest version Lyr with mutibit DAC? ( I pay shipping both ways)
     
    rhythmdevils, Oct 4, 2020
    #1192
  13. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

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    The Lyr 3 isn't bright at all, it's a touch warm and very laid back and relaxed.
     
    dmckean44, Oct 4, 2020
    #1193
  14. loadexfa

    loadexfa MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I have a Modi Multibit that I'm not using if someone loans you a Lyr without the DAC. It is the latest revision as of last year. From what I've read it's basically the same thing as the multibit DAC you can get with the Lyr.
     
    loadexfa, Oct 4, 2020
    #1194
  15. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Cool thanks for the offer!
     
    rhythmdevils, Oct 5, 2020
    #1195
  16. PTS

    PTS Friend

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    My RME ADI-2 was hooked up to a Lyr 3 at your last Calabasas meetup - I though it had a lovely synergy. As a standalone DAC, the ADI-2 is similar to the Solaris, but less expensive and more versatile. I think they use the same AKM converter chip.
     
    PTS, Oct 5, 2020
    #1196
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Personally, I'd opt for a passive volume controller as a pre - it depends upon the source. Any kind of headphone amp will tend to color the sound at the expense of transparency, but maybe this is what you want. The Saga is a very good preamp that will add some tube coloration and barely lose any detail.

    Jot will be quieter, but Lyr 3 is much better in terms of sound. The Lyr 3 does have a small bit of gain. This could be too much for any CFA IEM - limited usability on volume knob. IEMatch and perhaps a lower output DAC can help here.
     
    purr1n, Oct 5, 2020
    #1197
  18. Koka

    Koka Friend

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    I hoop Ly3(MB card) up with Ara and Solaris OG at night because I don't want to annoy neighbors in dormitory too much. Hiss is apparent from the start without IEMatch. Healthy volumne level reached around eight o'clock at low gain for me. Just too much power for CFA IEMs. I sometimes prefer it without IEMatch with the extra noise, mostly after three glasses of wine.;) Sound is pretty engaging with some minor EQ. Better synergy with Ara, reminds of Utopia midrange density. But I am a bit treble sensitive, most times with Solaris OG. Enjoyable pairings anyways.
     
    Koka, Oct 6, 2020
    #1198
  19. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    the Creek OBH-22 is a cool passive preamp. It actually plugs into the wall for power so it can have a remote control for volume. But it disengages the power when you’re not adjusting volume via the remote so it remains passive.

    out of production but you can get them on eBay for around 300$

    I have one and love it.
     
    rhythmdevils, Oct 6, 2020
    #1199
  20. GrahamB3

    GrahamB3 New

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    I loaned the big D (Donald Trump) my Lyr3/ with some choice tubes.

    Trump likes Hard Bop Jazz, Who knew? Thanks, Mr. President!
     
    GrahamB3, Oct 6, 2020
    #1200
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