The All Purpose Advice Thread

Does anyone have experience with both the Lyra and the Jupiter? I haven't made up my mind if I want to upgrade at all, but I'm really digging the initial reviews and build quality of these two IEMs. I've read that the Lyra has a more abundant bass (mid-bass? sub-bass?) but some say that it bleeds into other frequencies.

I am a bit of a basshead and I'm very happy with the Omni's FR (strong sub-bass, slight mid-bass hump, but no bleeding into the mids). If both IEMs were available for similar price points, which would people recommend?

 

Much like the hd650 is often the top recommendation at the $3-500 price point for open backs, what are a couple closed backs in that price range that are a must to try? I'm looking for a good closed back to compliment my hd650 and 400i.

 

oh man, a used ZMF Vibro should fall squarely in that range and is awesome, or perhaps towards the upper end of that range, a used ZMF Blackwood or LFF Paradox/Slant. if you want new, then probably a Fostex TH-X00. probably others too, but those are my picks in that price range

 

Oppo PM-3, for sure.

 

Funny, the Pm-3, Th-x00 and ZMF Classic or Vibro were some of the exact headphones I was looking into myself, plus the beyer DT150.

 

Oh yeah, the PM3 is great too. I think the main question is whether you want the headphones to be relatively (trans)portable or not. To me, the ZMF, LFF and THX00 aren't really portable. The PM3 could much more easily be taken around with you.

 

Definitely demo the PM-3 if you can. It's a stellar headphone.

 

I auditioned it for a couple days awhile back. Overall I liked it, aside from the small earcups and the soundstage sounded a little congested. That is why I've been looking at bigger full sized closed backs lately.

 

Ah, yeah. I can live with the smaller soundstage because I find the PM-3 has so many other stellar qualities.

 

Thanks Josh pulled the trigger and picked up Lyr 2 with LSST tube. Initial impressions are good - a tad more bass than X-Can V8P + soundstage. Clarity though is alot better too - overall a 'decent' step up from the X-Can V8P - not a total mind blowing step up but one enough that I can notice.

I tried the LSST tube didn't really match well with the Alpha Primes but the Amperex Orange PQ ones are quite good (warm, still detailed enough and the bass has more of a nice slam to it).

Yeah I love the build quality of the Jupiters - its great looking and very sturdy - built like a tank!

I had a quick audition of the lyra/jupiter before I made my mind up purchasing the Jupiter. Can't remember too much about Lyra but it definitely felt from my 10 minute demo of them that the bass was more prominent than the Jupiters. I however went with jupiters because it was much more energetic and the mids have great clarity and has that wow factor for me.

I honestly recommend demoing them if you can both really good IEMs but one will definitely suit your sound signature more than the other.

 

Bottom line: Best amp under $450 for hd650? (Besides BH Crack, as I have no experience in DIY)

I'm thinking Valhalla 2 or Lyr 2.

 

Vali 2 should be in that convo too

 

I own a Vali 2. I'm looking for an upgrade. Valhalla 2 or Lyr 2 would be endgame for me.

 

I have owned both the Lyr and Valhalla 2 with the HD650s, and I would choose the Valhalla 2. I haven't heard the Vali 2 yet, but I have noted some people prefer it over the Valhalla 2. Since you already own the Vali 2, you would be in a great position to decide yourself and return the bigger amp should it prove to be more of a sidegrade to your ears.

 

People have preferred the Vali 2 over the Valhalla 2 for the HD6x0? Everything I've read said that the Valhalla 2 excels with high impedance dynamics.

 

When I made this decision, I remember a post from @Hands saying that the Valhalla 2 was a bit cleaner / more clinical where the Lyr had more of a traditional tube sound - warmer and lush. I ended up with Lyr 2 due it pairing well with more headphones, but as stated above if just looking to power 650's Valhalla is the popular opinion. I haven't really heard anyone unhappy with either.

 

Correct: I think the majority of impressions from those who have experienced both amps have preferred the Valhalla 2 to the Vali 2 with the HD650, but I have noticed a few people have actually said they prefer the Vali 2. I personally have not heard the Vali 2 so can make no comment from experience (I acquired a Cavalli CTH recently instead of the Vali 2).

Between the Lyr and the Valhalla 2, I preferred the latter with the HD650. I thought the Lyr was pretty good with the HD650, but, for most types of music, I personally felt something was a bit off with the synergy between the two. On the other hand, I can see why, as Hands points out, the relatively drier and less punchy character of the Valhalla 2 might turn some people off. For me, these features worked well with the HD650s signature.

The way that people talk about the Vali 2 and HD650 pairing makes me think that I would prefer it to that of the Lyr since I wasn't crazy about the Lyr/HD650 pairing.

It would ultimately be great if someone could do a shootout between these three amps.

 

Hi again...

Amp ~$200 USD, to go with GO450 as DAC, for Fostex TH-X00 (and Sony MA900)?
I'd reckon I won't really get anything better than my Leckerton but just seeing if there is anything, otherwise I might just stick with the GO450.
It's just for my desk setup.

I prefer slightly relaxed treble but not bloomy bass.

cheers!

 

hmmm. have this urge to upgrade my work set up lol. Right now feeding GOV2 into vali 2 w/ some russian OTK 1972 6N23P reflektor (and switching to the 7308 phillips CCa from time to time).

Main headphones are Fostex TH-x00 and modded HD650. Looking to tube roll and specifically find creamier / more liquidy sweeter sounds (non-neutral). Had some luck with a crappy Indeed G2 amp using a 1950s RCA blacktop 12AU7, but then that unit just broke on me. I had a Valhalla 2 before i got my hd650, and the sound was clean but probably too clean for me. Currently running the Vali 2 its very nice but just not sweet / liquidy enough. Also sound stage is kinda small. Really looking for that warm / lush sound.

Budgeting around $300. Thinking about the following:

• Project Ember II - auto-bias and tube roll galore. so i can roll in 12AU7, 6922, 6N1P, and 6SN7 (the tubes i currently have)
• Laconic Nightly Blues Mini - Russian tube amp that i'd have to figure out how to get lol, but from the way marv describes it, it sounds like just what i need. the only thing not sure about is if i can roll in 6n1p tubes in it or not
• Or just stay with the Vali 2? i just recently found out that you can roll 6SN7 tubes using an adapter. are there tubes that are more creamier/sweet/liquid + bigger soundstage- sounding for this amp?