Schiit Lyr - The tube rolling thread - Page 178

Big +1

Despite my view of the 6N1P stated above, the tubes I favor - Matsu 6922 - were not big in consensus terms at the time I bought them. It was a passing comment by MacedonianHero buried way back in the pages here that made me think I would like them. And I did.

[Edit: accidentally submited before adding this...] We all vary too much to be pedantic or narrow-minded about what works. In other words, take notice of the group wisdom - but not too much notice 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kremer930 

I know that my opinion varies from the general consensus on the Schiit matched 6N1P tubes.  I run the Lyr/Bifrost and HE6 cans and really like the sound of the 6N1P's.  I use any of three tube sets rolled through my home rig.  The 6N1P, The amperex orange globes or the Lorenz PCC88.   I have another 20 different tube sets approx including the 6BZ7 made by sylvania, RCA and some others and I really dont think much of them in my rig.  It is either a case of different sound signature preferences or rig components....

 

If they are a cheap tube then jump in and give them a go.  When a lot of the tubes cost less than $20 each then why not have some fun?  Who knows what you may uncover.

 

Just jumping in ahead of perfect-pitch, there was some comment on these (Matsu 6922) through December & maybe November IIRC. Might be worth trying a 'search this thread' or google 'head-fi Matsu 6922' might work too.

They are my favorite combination to date with my rev 1s, but it's been 2-3 months since I last used them in the Lyr TBH. (Was distracted first by a comparative review in which I rolled back to 6BZ7, and since by work and a new amp).

I found their sound rich in texture and detail in the bass and lower-mids. This was not at the expense of upper extension - they did not sound unbalanced or muddy. I can't comment on sound stage or imaging as this is not something I particularly listen for with headphones. I found them a large advance over the GE 6BZ7, my favorite of the stock options. I also enjoyed their sound over some quite nice (clear, neutral) Siemens 6DJ8 tubes.

They made me appreciate that the Lyr responds considerably to tube-rolling.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrksgrn 

Are you using the LCD-2s? Can you comment on the sound using the Matsu?
 

 

mwilson has a number of amazing tubes posted to the FS forums.  There's a matched pair and a matched quad of S&H CCa, among others.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckc527 

Hi,

 

I'm going to check out a local vintage radio repair shop after work. The owner said he's got many vintage tubes, new and old. What should I be looking for? I wrote down all the model numbers that will work for our Lyr but I have no idea what is best. From what I've been reading over the last few days on this thread, it seems the vintage 1950s - 1960s are best? How about origin? Are the ones from Europe better vs. American made?

 

Thanks,

ckc

Turns out this shop had a room full of tubes but no matched set I can use on the Lyr. I was bummed out leaving the place. On the phone he thought I could use PC88, which he had plenty in NOS.

Went ahead and ordered a set of the Matsu/National E88CC from Tubemonger last night. Looking forward to how this will sound with my Bifrost > Lyr > HD-600 setup. 

Searching through this long thread, I don't see too many HD-600 pairing w/ the Lyr. Is this not a good match? If you have this can, please chime in on your tube rolling experience. Would love to hear some feedback on this combo.

Thanks,

ckc

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckc527 

Turns out this shop had a room full of tubes but no matched set I can use on the Lyr. I was bummed out leaving the place. On the phone he thought I could use PC88, which he had plenty in NOS.

 

Went ahead and ordered a set of the Matsu/National E88CC from Tubemonger last night. Looking forward to how this will sound with my Bifrost > Lyr > HD-600 setup. 

 

Searching through this long thread, I don't see too many HD-600 pairing w/ the Lyr. Is this not a good match? If you have this can, please chime in on your tube rolling experience. Would love to hear some feedback on this combo.

 

Thanks,

ckc

 

Well, sometimes i use my HD 600 in combination with my Lyr. Last night i listenend with the HD 600 (cardas cabled) to my Lyr with the Matsushi* ... Very nice sound. I think, that all high impedance headphone are a good combination with the Lyr.

Today i rolled the Tungsram E88CC into the Lyr .    I really love them....

Quote:

Originally Posted by perfect-pitch 

Well, sometimes i use my HD 600 in combination with my Lyr. Last night i listenend with the HD 600 (cardas cabled) to my Lyr with the Matsushi* ... Very nice sound. I think, that all high impedance headphone are a good combination with the Lyr.

 

Today i rolled the Tungsram E88CC into the Lyr .    I really love them....

Using the HD-600, can you describe the difference between the Matsu vs. Tungsram E88CC?

Thanks,

ckc

Well, i've listened to the Matsush* only for a few hours. The Tungsram are one of my favoirite ones so far. But the soundstage of the Mats. is imho better/ bigger than the soundstage of the Tungs. But the Tungs have a little bit more bass.

Difficult to say one tube is better than the other. Both are great on their own way....

Keep on rollin'  

Quote:

Originally Posted by perfect-pitch 

Well, i've listened to the Matsush* only for a few hours. The Tungsram are one of my favoirite ones so far. But the soundstage of the Mats. is imho better/ bigger than the soundstage of the Tungs. But the Tungs have a little bit more bass.

Difficult to say one tube is better than the other. Both are great on their own way....

 

 

 

Keep on rollin'  

Thanks for your feedback.

ckc
 

Which tubes for the Lyr are consider the warmest?

Thanks,

ckc

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrScary 


I do not have the HD-600's but I did test the Matus's with my HD-650's they sounded great much better than my LCD-2's that was quite awhile ago I still have my HD-650's I should put them on for a week or so and do a check of my current tube inventory and how they sound.

Cool, it would be nice to get your feedback on which tubes you prefer on the Senn.

Thanks,

ckc

I am moving on to Stax now, and am selling my LCD-3 and Lyr amp on the for-sale forum. Check it out if you are interested, links here:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/594730/lcd-3-for-sale-or-trade-for-stax-007-mk-i

http://www.head-fi.org/t/594638/fs-schiit-audio-lyr-amp-110-v

Apart from that, I am also selling all my tubes on Ebay because I have no need for them, and I need the money to fund the purchase of Stax 007/009, check it out here:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/kh90123/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

A long time ago I promised to write some sort of short impressions about the sonic qualities of different tubes, and now before I sell all the tubes on Ebay, let me post them here, so some of you might find useful. The descriptions are fairly short, and more like notes I made when I was listening. And also I was listening to them using my LCD-3, with Lyr amp and DACmini as the source. 

The notes are not very tidy. Some of them are written down at different period of time, towards the end my notes were shorter, as I spent more time listening than comparing. I apologize for that. Some pictures of my tubes and headphones. The last pair of tubes I bought is the CCa, which is a gem. I could not compare tubes that I got later to the Siemens E188CC and Mullard CV2493, because one side died due to mishandling, for both pairs. Never remove your tube unless the tubes have cooled down!

Amperex USN-CEP 6922 

- Very forward midrange.

- Feels like sitting at front row.

- Bass is very palpable, deep, and punchy, has the visceral quality to it.

- Guitar slightly soft

- Very lively.

- Intimate, focused listening.

- / \ shape soundstage. Reasonably wide.

- Singer in front of the band.

- Some overlapping of instrument sounds.

- Not so much of a sparkly treble.

Valvo E88CC

- Less palpable bass (don't feel the bass moving the air that much), very good definition still.

- Delicate midrange.

- Less warmth.

- More sense of space and depth.

- More sparkle than Amperex 6922.

- Singer further away from you.

- Vocal no longer takes precedence over the music.

- Guitar twang sounds stronger.

Siemens E188CC

- More palpable than the Valvo E88CC less than Amperex

- Sense of depth and height is better

- Very clean, clear sound (not as forward as the Valvo/Amperex)

- Excellent separation

- Resolution slightly better than the Valvo E88CC

- Timbre is more accurate than the above 2.

- Singer is slightly further back than Amperex 6922, but she has her own defined space.

- It calls for your attention.

- Sibilance that is there in the songs can be heard well, not masked.

- Perhaps slightly soft vocals, but amazing details and resolution.

- Sparkly treble, sizzle is there, possibly the best 'real-ness'

- Not as smooth sounding as the warmer Amperexes

Mullard CV2493

- Palpable bass with texture

- More forward vocals than Siemens E188CC

- As delicate sounding as the Siemens

- Very good depth and height

- For me personally, just the right 'intimate-ness'.

- Incredibly smooth, calls attention to each delicate sound of the instruments.

- As good separation and sense of space as the Siemens.

- Natural sounding guitar.

- Incredibly accurate timbre.

- Less sparkle than the Siemens E188CC.

- Sibilant still there, but less pronounced than the E188CC.

- Some might consider this as rolled off at the lows and highs, but I think it's just right. Siemens E188CC can be considered as slightly bright, and Amperex 6922 can be considered as slightly warm, this is in the middle of the road.

Amperex USN CEP 7308

- More forward than Mullard CV2493

- Not as warm as the Amperex 6922

- Palpable bass.

- Amperex house sound is there, but has some of the good qualities as the Siemens/Telefunken/Valvo tubes.

- Good treble.

- Fairly natural guitar sound.

- Not as bright as the Siemens E188CC.

Telefunken E88CC

- About the same sound as Siemens E188CC.

- One of my Siemens E188CC died due to my mishandling, so I could not compare them.

- Perhaps slightly brighter than Siemens E188CC, two notches brighter and I would consider this as edgy.

- Like all the German tubes, have the 3D soundstage, clean, clear sound.

- I prefer CCa/ 7308 than this.

Valvo Cca

- As good as the Amperex, but with slightly better definition and slightly more air in the highs. Definitely not as bright as the Siemens though, but inherits all the good traits of German tubes, with a hint of warmth and smoothness that is in the Amperexes. 

- One of the best pair of tubes I have heard, 'nuf said.

Some people might say that the likes of Amperex 6922 and Valvo E88CC to be full sounding, and Siemens thin sounding.

Personally I lean towards palpable yet not overwhelming bass; natural, smooth, emotional, detailed midrange, with the ability to portray the grain of female voices, and also the raw power in them; slightly sparkly treble with good sense depth and height. Accurate timbre is a must.

In terms of preference,  I would say Valco CCa > Siemens E188CC= Amperex 7308 > Mullard CV2493 > Telefunken E88CC > the rest. Preferences also changes with the music I play. But in terms of listening time, I would say I used the CCa and the 7308 the most (since one tube of the CV2493 and Siemens E188CC died).

My impressions are surprisingly, very similar to the impressions by Brent Jessing: 

http://www.audiotubes.com/6dj8.htm

Regards.

Nice write up, I have a few pairs in your list and agree with your findings

The lcd3 your selling is beautiful,that first picture with the lcd3/tubes has been the background to my phone for about three months now

Quote:

Originally Posted by dailydoseofdaly 

Nice write up, I have a few pairs in your list and agree with your findings

The lcd3 your selling is beautiful,that first picture with the lcd3/tubes has been the background to my phone for about three months now

Hehe, thanks. 

I used to shoot for the yearbook for our college, but after that my schoolwork became heavier and I had to put more commitment into it so I quit shooting for them.

The main reason I am selling the LCD-3 is mainly because of comfort problems, as good as the LCD-3 sounds, I can't justify keep both headphones.

Some might not agree with my impressions, but those are strictly what I heard, and the comparisons were not all done in the same day. After I broke my tubes because of hot-swapping, I wasn't inclined to break either the 7308 or the CCa tubes, so most of the time I just picked one and listened to music instead of listening to tubes.