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

[roadcykler]

They are made of unobtainium, cryo treated, heat treated, quad shielded, nanotube injected, graphene casted and have perfectly zero inductance, resistance and Impedance.

I can hear Jason Stoddards thoughts through the amplifier using these cables.

I've heard that the background is so "black", it's like a sensory deprivation tank and you can actually see the electrons transversing the wires.

 

[bcowen]

That looks very similar to my $19.95 Pangea's. What could possibly be in there to make it $3,100? Cryo treatment?
$3,100 will buy a lot of hardware and HP's that "will" make a difference in the sound.
Maybe it's the endorsement by Nicola Tesla.

The person that takes it out of the Pangea box and puts it in the Quantum Science box commands a high salary??

 

[paradoxper]

If any of you have a line on Sophia Blue Glass, let me know and I'll pay you handsomely.

 

[DTgill]

If any of you have a line on Sophia Blue Glass, let me know and I'll pay you handsomely.

Is this what you are looking for?

 

[paradoxper]

Is this what you are looking for?

Yes, although I've already spoken with Todd and stock won't be available for a time.

 

[DTgill]

Yes, although I've already spoken with Todd and stock won't be available for a time.

Now I want to try one of those with my Lyr 3

 

[roadcykler]

Is this what you are looking for?

Those are some nice looking tubes and I bet with the glow emanating from them, they probably look even better, but after spending $90 some on a nice RCA and not hearing a difference from the stock tube, I'll pass.

 

[Basil65]

So I've had the Lyr 3 for almost 2 months now. What do I think of it? Simply: wow. I don't have alot of experience with headphones and headphone amps, but this amp is just miles ahead of anything else I have. I thought the Topping A90 was a good amp, but it just doesn't come close to the Lyr3. The A90 is lean and dry, where the Lyr 3 has more body and substance to it. It is just not comparable. It is effortless with my Arya V2s but is is especially good with my LCD-XC 2021. I received it with the Electro Harmonics tube but have also tested it with the TungSol. I think the TS brings a little more precision to the sound and the EH has a more rounded sound, but the difference is not major. I'm happy with either tube but have a little preference for the TS. I'm amazed at how much an improvement this amp has made to my listening experience. It is currently paired with my Musician Pegasus DAC, but I'm starting to wonder of the Bifrost 2 could be a better match.

I really like this amp as it really got me hooked on headphone listening again and I'm wondering how much more $ one would need to spend to have a significant improvement in sound quality... Should I start putting $ aside for the next upgrade?

Aaah!... I feel this hobby is gonna cost me more $ ... again!

 

[jonathan c]

So I've had the Lyr 3 for almost 2 months now. What do I think of it? Simply: wow. I don't have alot of experience with headphones and headphone amps, but this amp is just miles ahead of anything else I have. I thought the Topping A90 was a good amp, but it just doesn't come close to the Lyr3. The A90 is lean and dry, where the Lyr 3 has more body and substance to it. It is just not comparable. It is effortless with my Arya V2s but is is especially good with my LCD-XC 2021. I received it with the Electro Harmonics tube but have also tested it with the TungSol. I think the TS brings a little more precision to the sound and the EH has a more rounded sound, but the difference is not major. I'm happy with either tube but have a little preference for the TS. I'm amazed at how much an improvement this amp has made to my listening experience. It is currently paired with my Musician Pegasus DAC, but I'm starting to wonder of the Bifrost 2 could be a better match.

I really like this amp as it really got me hooked on headphone listening again and I'm wondering how much more $ one would need to spend to have a significant improvement in sound quality... Should I start putting $ aside for the next upgrade?

Aaah!... I feel this hobby is gonna cost me more $ ... again!

Welcome to the Club. I’ll join you in waxing lyrical about the amp…. Since you are a Head-Fier, “the next upgrade” is a certainty. Where?…it could be in tubes (6SN7s)…it could be in cables to your Arya V2 and LCD-XC…it could be in the DAC. In any event, a meaningful improvement in sound quality from a headphone amplifier will involve $$ that is 3x->4x the price of Lyr 3.

 

[Odin412]

I really like this amp as it really got me hooked on headphone listening again and I'm wondering how much more $ one would need to spend to have a significant improvement in sound quality... Should I start putting $ aside for the next upgrade?

Aaah!... I feel this hobby is gonna cost me more $ ... again!

Congratulations on your Lyr 3! It's a great amp. I would recommend playing around with a few different tubes first to see how you like the sound differences that tubes can provide. Vintage tubes are fun, and Psvane makes some new-production tubes that are very nice too.

 

[tafens]

I'm amazed at how much an improvement this amp has made to my listening experience. It is currently paired with my Musician Pegasus DAC, but I'm starting to wonder of the Bifrost 2 could be a better match.

I have no experience with the Pegasus, but I dare say that the Bifrost2 matches up great with the Lyr3

Aaah!... I feel this hobby is gonna cost me more $ ... again!

It never ands (well it might, but probably not)
And, when you’re eventually done with the headphone system, there is the speaker system to do (and that’s usually even more expensive)

 

[bcowen]

It never ends well (it might, but probably not)
And, when you’re eventually done with the headphone system, there is the speaker system to do (and that’s usually even more expensive)

FTFY.

 

[Melting735]

I just quit from tube amps, but got quite a few 6sn7 tubes unsold in my collection. TBH, I was not very impressed by Lyr 3 with stock tube. For curiosity, I bought two Lyr 3 for side by side tube comparison. I have a Schiit Yggdrasil, so that I am able to fed these two units at the same time via rca cables.

I used to believe that tube rolling won't make much difference on hybrid amps, but I changed my mind. Different tubes do make significant difference on Lyr 3. I believe most ppl will be able to pass AB test.

I have tried the following (too bad I forgot to take notes, so all impressions are based on my memory),

1. GE 7N7 tall bottle: closer to solid state sound, the high can be a little sharp but not harsh yet.
2. Sylvania 6SN7W: I am a bit disappointed on this one. It is on the warm side, but its bass is a bit muddy. Overall, it sounds quite similar to the stock tube to me. Not worth the expensive price IMO.
3. Tungsol Black Glass VT-231 round plate: this is my default tube for Lyr 3 now. Very balanced sound, good on almost anything. It's not bass heavy but very satisfying
4. Tungsol Black Glass VT-231 oval plate: very similar to the above
5. Tungsol VT-99 Black Glass round plate: I really like this one on Lyr 3. Very deep soundstage, lussy, bass is a bit heavier than Tungsol BG VT231.
6. Mullard CV1988: very sweet mid and high, airy, but bass light
7. Schiit LIIST: it indeed sounds more like solid state. Faster and more accurate.
8. Raytheon VT-231: transparent, airy, good soundstage
9. RCA VT-99 Grey Glass: Warm, good all around
10. NU VT-231 Black Glass: this is one of my favorites on Lyr 3, similar to TS BG VT231, but better clarity and low end, very engaging.

After replacing the stock tube with something matching my taste, Lyr 3 is now very enjoyable. It loses to my Niimbus 5 Pro on almost anything, but it is only at 1/12 of the cost. Plus it sounds different enough with different tubes, I decide to keep one for myself.

 

[bcowen]

I just quit from tube amps, but got quite a few 6sn7 tubes unsold in my collection. TBH, I was not very impressed by Lyr 3 with stock tube. For curiosity, I bought two Lyr 3 for side by side tube comparison. I have a Schiit Yggdrasil, so that I am able to fed these two units at the same time via rca cables.

I used to believe that tube rolling won't make much difference on hybrid amps, but I changed my mind. Different tubes do make significant difference on Lyr 3. I believe most ppl will be able to pass AB test.

I have tried the following (too bad I forgot to take notes, so all impressions are based on my memory),

1. GE 7N7 tall bottle: closer to solid state sound, the high can be a little sharp but not harsh yet.
2. Sylvania 6SN7W: I am a bit disappointed on this one. It is on the warm side, but its bass is a bit muddy. Overall, it sounds quite similar to the stock tube to me. Not worth the expensive price IMO.
3. Tungsol Black Glass VT-231 round plate: this is my default tube for Lyr 3 now. Very balanced sound, good on almost anything. It's not bass heavy but very satisfying
4. Tungsol Black Glass VT-231 oval plate: very similar to the above
5. Tungsol VT-99 Black Glass round plate: I really like this one on Lyr 3. Very deep soundstage, lussy, bass is a bit heavier than Tungsol BG VT231.
6. Mullard CV1988: very sweet mid and high, airy, but bass light
7. Schiit LIIST: it indeed sounds more like solid state. Faster and more accurate.
8. Raytheon VT-231: transparent, airy, good soundstage
9. RCA VT-99 Grey Glass: Warm, good all around
10. UN VT-231 Black Glass: this is one of my favorites on Lyr 3, similar to TS BG VT231, but better clarity and low end, very engaging.

After replacing the stock tube with something matching my taste, Lyr 3 is now very enjoyable. It loses to my Niimbus 5 Pro on almost anything, but it is only at 1/12 of the cost. Plus it sounds different enough with different tubes, I decide to keep one for myself.

Is #10 supposed to be NU (National Union)?

 

[Melting735]

Is #10 supposed to be NU (National Union)?

Correct. Sorry for my typo