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

[kiwivda]

Thankfully never had an amp destroy a headphone before. They just sent me a label to return it with, kudos for good customer service, so will likely have the replacement within a week. I like the sound, so I do want to get a properly functioning unit.

Now thinking about my past moves, you made me remind that my Sundara was having some trouble on the right channel, and I changed the 1/4 adapter with a new one I wad in a drower. Since than and swapping some tubes, the issue disappeared.

 

[ProfFalkin]

Bad adapter then?

 

[kiwivda]

Bad adapter then?

yes I really think so eventually.

 

[bboris77]

I have a couple of question for you guys that will help satisfy my curiosity. Keep in mind, I do not have an expansion module installed in my Lyr 3 and I stumbled across these things accidentally. They are not functional issues but I am simply wondering if this is normal behaviour for this amp.

1, Theoretically, the Lyr 3 should be silent when you flip the input selection switch up if you do not have the expansion module installed. However, if I turn up the volume all the way on my Lyr 3 in high gain mode, I can actually hear the other channel playing, albeit very silently. This only happens if I use sensitive IEMs. I was just wondering if this is because there is no module installed and whether there would be some channel cross-contamination if I actually had an expansion module installed. This is really more of an academic issue because it is not a problem while listening at normal volume levels.

2. Secondly, after about 25 minutes of warm-up time using the same setup described above, a low volume high-pitched whine appears only in the left channel. It is only present there in the when selecting expansion module mode, not in the RCA analogue input mode. The level of this whine diminishes when volume is turned down. It does not appear for the first 25 minutes of warm-up time.

3. Again, only when the expansion module input is selected and the volume is turned up, touching either the gain or input selector switches produces an audible hum. This does not happen in the analogue RCA input mode regardless of the volume level. I have tested the amp and it is fully grounded.

Keep in mind that any of these quirks appear only when the input switch is in the "module input" mode, and that I do not have a module card installed. It should theoretically be 100% quiet, but it is not. It appears that this input is picking up some kind of interference that is related to grounding and/or thermal expansion. It is not at all a functional issue as the RCA analogue mode is perfectly fine, but I wanted to see what other people's experiences have been. I also wanted to know whether these issues would disappear if I actually had an expansion module card installed.

Edit: This happens with 3 different tubes, so it is not tube-specific.

 

[bboris77]

Just a followup - heard back from the Schiit support (within 30 minutes) and they confirmed that this is normal behaviour when there is no expansion module. Therefore, nothing to worry about.

 

[kiwivda]

I've written to Schiit, stil having muting issue while listening. I'm uncertain between ground or heat related problem. I home not to have to send ti back in the Us from Italy. Maybe they cen suggest me something to do or measure to check..

 

[lentoviolento]

is lyr3 better than lyr2?? i mean price/performance ratio considering that maybe i could find lyr2 at a lower price..

 

[Zachik]

is lyr3 better than lyr2?? i mean price/performance ratio considering that maybe i could find lyr2 at a lower price..

Schiit completely redesigned the amp. I never auditioned Lyr2 (I own Lyr3), but from what I understand, it is a very big step up.
Will let others who auditioned or owned both to respond further, but short answer: buy the Lyr3 despite being more expensive!

 

[lentoviolento]

Schiit completely redesigned the amp. I never auditioned Lyr2 (I own Lyr3), but from what I understand, it is a very big step up.
Will let others who auditioned or owned both to respond further, but short answer: buy the Lyr3 despite being more expensive!

ok thx.
what tube is better of the two available on the site?

 

[Zachik]

I never had the stock Russian tube.
The $25 Tung Sol upgrade tube is pretty good. People that tried both claim one should always get the Tung Sol...
Obviously, if you're going to invest and roll other tubes, you could skip the $25 upgrade and use that money for even better tubes

 

[lentoviolento]

I never had the stock Russian tube.
The $25 Tung Sol upgrade tube is pretty good. People that tried both claim one should always get the Tung Sol...
Obviously, if you're going to invest and roll other tubes, you could skip the $25 upgrade and use that money for even better tubes

i don't have all that money.. so i would stick with the tung sol.
i am looking for an affordable tube amp for my aeolus. thanks for the suggestion

 

[exdmd]

Any NOS 6SN7GT from 1940-1960 will sound better than the current Russian production Tung Sol 6SN7GTB. You can't expect Schiit to use a more expensive vintage tube in a $500 amp. Try a 1950's Sylvania or Tung Sol Mouse Ears 6SN7GT you should be able to get either for about $50 with some looking.

 

[lentoviolento]

I knew someday i would have felt in the tube rolling hole. It is an addiction in the addiction

 

[Zachik]

I knew someday i would have felt in the tube rolling hole. It is an addiction in the addiction

Yup!
I already spent more on tubes than the cost of the amp...

 

[kman1211]

Got the replacement Lyr 3 Multibit, haven't had any issues with this one. Definitely liking how the amp sounds. The DAC will take time to determine how much I like it, it's different than what I'm used to, not sure if I like it as much as my old DAC, the Sony UDA-1. I'll definitely spend time with it to see where my impressions end up.