Lyr 3 - The new Coherence™ and Continuity™ hybrid amplifier from Schiit - Impression & discussion thread

[JustRon]

Wouldn't you want to match amp cost to the overall quality of the rest of your system? Unless you are getting an amazingly good deal on the Fostgate, a mid-priced amp (one of the Schiit models, a Gilmore mk2, ...) would seem a more appropriate combination.

The Fosgate can be had for $600-700. Obviously I'm considering the Lyr 3 (that's where I posted my question). I'd rather my amp be better than my HP; I'm not married to them. I chose them because they had the best bass response of ones that I was comparing, by my system is completely different now.

 

[earnmyturns]

The Fosgate can be had for $600-700. Obviously I'm considering the Lyr 3 (that's where I posted my question). I'd rather my amp be better than my HP; I'm not married to them. I chose them because they had the best bass response of ones that I was comparing, by my system is completely different now.

Then it will be a matter of taste. I like neutral-ish, so the Lyr (and Apex Peak on my fancier setup) is a good match, just that touch of tube-ness, I suspect the Fosgate might be quite a bit warmer. With respect to bass, who knows. The good side of Lyr is that it has solid, dense, fast bass, but it is not bass-heavy. But then I would not put up with any bass-heavy setups given what I listen to (modern jazz and classical). For other genres the story might be quite different.

 

[earnmyturns]

My normal musical diet does not typically have a big electronic beat, but listening right now to Shuffle Mode, a new jazz fusion album by the Italian crew Rosa Brunello/Los Fermentos with a lot of electronics, bass guitar, and heavy kick drum. Must say, the Lyr with Psvane UK-6SN7 drives my Ether C Flows 1.1 beautifully on this stuff, fast edges, gut-moving kicks. The Lyr output stage really punches big here. I suspect the NOS DAC is always helping make this intense, building on that depth and separation in the low-mids that good NOS offers. Loving it.

 

[tcellguy]

I just heard the Lyr 3 for the first time at CanJam. It was running the multibit card and a Tung Sol tube. I really sounded fantastic. It was initially paired with an HD800. I had never heard that headphone before but have read it described as bass thin and with fatiguing treble. I heard none of that today, but instead experienced a great, wide sound stage, deeply layered and well controlled bass, and non fatiguing treble. I later switched to the Aeon Flow Open with which I'm more familiar and the Lyr 3 sounded to me to be a better pairing vs. the Jotunheim.

I was totally ready to buy a Lyr 3 until I heard the Mjolnir/Gumby setup. That was a really great sounding setup with the AFO. I wonder if there will be a Mjolnir 3 using the coherence engineering.

I'm still relatively new to audio and I'm surprised how much better the AFO sounded on these setups vs. my Jotunheim. I guess I like tubes

 

[Zachik]

I guess I like tubes

Welcome to the dangerous waters of tube rolling and tube addiction

 

[pichu]

Does no one here get bothered that on startup theres a LOUD click of the amp that also pops through the headphone drivers if the headphones are plugged in on startup? This was enough for me to sell it no matter how good it sounds.

 

[bcowen]

Does no one here get bothered that on startup theres a LOUD click of the amp that also pops through the headphone drivers if the headphones are plugged in on startup? This was enough for me to sell it no matter how good it sounds.

There's no click audible through the headphones with mine. Nothing. I've listened for it even with the volume turned up, and....nothing.

 

[bcowen]

I guess I like tubes

We'll have a memorial service for your wallet this evening at 5:00.

 

[earnmyturns]

Does no one here get bothered that on startup theres a LOUD click of the amp that also pops through the headphone drivers if the headphones are plugged in on startup? This was enough for me to sell it no matter how good it sounds.

The amp you sold might be defective. The click one hears from the outside just under 1 minute after power-up is the relay that blocks headphone output until the amp circuity reaches operating condition. Until that relay clicks on, there should be no headphone output. From the manual:

There’s no sound for a while after I turn Lyr 3 on. That’s perfectly normal. Lyr 3 has a built in startup delay (and instant shut-down.) It’s set to 40-45 seconds to let the tube come up and the bias servo to stabilize.​

 

[Ripper2860]

I've found the click on Lyr 3 varies with the tube inserted. For me, it can go from no pop via headphones to a relatively noticeable one, depending on the tube. Nothing that causes me great concern, however.

 

[JamminVMI]

Does no one here get bothered that on startup theres a LOUD click of the amp that also pops through the headphone drivers if the headphones are plugged in on startup? This was enough for me to sell it no matter how good it sounds.

No click on mine either. Slight click when the muting relay cuts the output in, as per usual (after a minute-ish), but that’s it. Did you try with different tubes?

 

[porchwizard]

Does no one here get bothered that on startup theres a LOUD click of the amp that also pops through the headphone drivers if the headphones are plugged in on startup? This was enough for me to sell it no matter how good it sounds.

I get a very soft click when it un-mutes that is utterly unremarkable.

 

[chimney189]

Any impressions with the HE-1000v2? I'm kinda asking everywhere for amps matched with this headphone.. tortuous research

 

[bcowen]

I've found the click on Lyr 3 varies with the tube inserted. For me, it can go from no pop via headphones to a relatively noticeable one, depending on the tube. Nothing that causes me great concern, however.

Are you putting the tubes in the same way each time (ie: with the pins down)?

 

[Ripper2860]

Yep. Just like indicated on the 'this side up' sticker you placed on them after testing.