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

[cgb3]

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!

Love the Lyr3... as a preamp for my Jot 2.

Roll tubes to one's content for various signatures. One tube only (to rule them all).

Nice synergy for me.

 

[asiegel]

Hi everyone, has anyone done a comparison of the various Psvane tubes on Lyr3 - specifically the 6SN7-UK, 6SN7-SE, and CV181-T MKII? I've searched through the various threads and couldn't find anything, but the amount of content is huge so it's entirely possible I missed something... I'm interested in sonic differences as well as any differences in burn-in time (the Psvanes clearly have a reputation for long burn-in times...)

I just got a new Lyr3 and I'm eager to try out various tubes, and I'd like to include *one* Psvane tube in the selection (must resist the urge to acquire more than one...)

Thanks!
Aaron

 

[FLTWS]

You can't go wrong with any of the 3, and I have all 3 purchased new. My preference overall is for the Treasure Globe (SE?)

I like it for any of my amps that take 6SN7 type.

 

[DTgill]

Hi everyone, has anyone done a comparison of the various Psvane tubes on Lyr3 - specifically the 6SN7-UK, 6SN7-SE, and CV181-T MKII? I've searched through the various threads and couldn't find anything, but the amount of content is huge so it's entirely possible I missed something... I'm interested in sonic differences as well as any differences in burn-in time (the Psvanes clearly have a reputation for long burn-in times...)

I just got a new Lyr3 and I'm eager to try out various tubes, and I'd like to include *one* Psvane tube in the selection (must resist the urge to acquire more than one...)

Thanks!
Aaron

I can forsee a large hole in your wallet, as you go down the rabbit hole of tubiness....

 

[Odin412]

Hi everyone, has anyone done a comparison of the various Psvane tubes on Lyr3 - specifically the 6SN7-UK, 6SN7-SE, and CV181-T MKII? I've searched through the various threads and couldn't find anything, but the amount of content is huge so it's entirely possible I missed something... I'm interested in sonic differences as well as any differences in burn-in time (the Psvanes clearly have a reputation for long burn-in times...)

I just got a new Lyr3 and I'm eager to try out various tubes, and I'd like to include *one* Psvane tube in the selection (must resist the urge to acquire more than one...)

Thanks!
Aaron

Nah - buy them all! My favorites are the 6SN7-SE ('tennis ball') and the CV181-T MKII (grey glass). I'm using the tennis ball tube now.

 

[Odin412]

You can't go wrong with any of the 3, and I have all 3 purchased new. My preference overall is for the Treasure Globe (SE?)

Agree - that is a lovely tube that also happens to look really cool.

 

[asiegel]

Agree - that is a lovely tube that also happens to look really cool.

Thanks everyone! Sounds like it's hard to go wrong with the SE. How long did it take yours to burn in?

And I can see how tube rolling can become a bottomless money sink I have a Tung Sol (new production) and a Westinghouse GTB tall D getter on the way. I'm sure that will not be the end of things...

Aaron

 

[FLTWS]

... How long did it take yours to burn in?
Aaron

There's one for sure way to determine that. Buy a pair. Use one only for say 100 hours of listening/playing time. Then pop in the un-burned one at 100 hours and 1 minute and give it a listen. You will then know what if any difference is detectable to your ears. Some people hear significant differences, some hear only subtle differences and only sometimes, some hear no differences. I fall into the middle category. Of course the tubes must be new manufacture, not used.

The Westinghouse GTB tall D getter-is another great tube.

 

[bcowen]

Thanks everyone! Sounds like it's hard to go wrong with the SE. How long did it take yours to burn in?

And I can see how tube rolling can become a bottomless money sink I have a Tung Sol (new production) and a Westinghouse GTB tall D getter on the way. I'm sure that will not be the end of things...

Aaron

You are wise and perceptive.

I only have the CV-181T Mk II so can't help with comparisons, but if you get the tennis ball version you'll probably want to get a socket saver to make sure the tube's glass clears the Lyr 3's top cover. The CV181T fits without one, but just barely.

 

[asiegel]

You are wise and perceptive.

I only have the CV-181T Mk II so can't help with comparisons, but if you get the tennis ball version you'll probably want to get a socket saver to make sure the tube's glass clears the Lyr 3's top cover. The CV181T fits without one, but just barely.

I already ordered a socket saver - one of these:
https://pulsetubestore.com/products...on-base-not-made-in-china-everybody-needs-one

I'll wait for it to arrive before trying out any nonstandard shaped tubes...

 

[bcowen]

I already ordered a socket saver - one of these:
https://pulsetubestore.com/products/plug-play-novib-octal-nos-ge-usa-omron-japan-socket-saver©-with-vibration-reduction-base-not-made-in-china-everybody-needs-one

I'll wait for it to arrive before trying out any nonstandard shaped tubes...

Perfect! You got the best one out there.

 

[asiegel]

Perfect! You got the best one out there.

Great! ... and how often in hi-fi audio can one get the best of something for $38? Even if it's just a socket saver, that feels pretty satisfying

 

[JamminVMI]

Hi everyone, has anyone done a comparison of the various Psvane tubes on Lyr3 - specifically the 6SN7-UK, 6SN7-SE, and CV181-T MKII? I've searched through the various threads and couldn't find anything, but the amount of content is huge so it's entirely possible I missed something... I'm interested in sonic differences as well as any differences in burn-in time (the Psvanes clearly have a reputation for long burn-in times...)

I just got a new Lyr3 and I'm eager to try out various tubes, and I'd like to include *one* Psvane tube in the selection (must resist the urge to acquire more than one...)

Thanks!
Aaron

Given Lyr's a tube hybrid, there isn't a HUGE difference to be heard, but there certainly is some. An acquaintance on this forum has difficulty hearing differences between tubes using Lyr, and I respect his opinion - and his ear. My ears are as old as I am (born in the 60s), and therefore suspect by definition, but... I can hear differences between tubes on Lyr, but best with my DCA Aeon RT Closed and less so with my open cans. Right now, there's a -SE (I call it the tennis ball - 'treasure globe' sounds like a marketing guy got ahold of a tennis ball and renamed it) in Lyr, and I like it a lot. Part of me suspects that it's the same guts as the -UK tube, with a different envelope, but it's impossible to see. Those two sound virtually alike to me, there's a -UK in Saga at the moment.

Haven't tried the CV181-T MkII as yet, but I will.

As far as break-in goes, my examples sounded very good out of the box, but are still changing slightly after about 60 hours. Note that the -SE can be really tight (like the envelope touches the top of the Lyr's chassis), so a socket saver is your friend here. I do have a Baldwin-labeled Sylvania NOS that I like a lot as well, and there's nothing wrong with the current production Tung-Sol I have either...

 

[FLTWS]

Given Lyr's a tube hybrid, there isn't a HUGE difference to be heard, but there certainly is some. An acquaintance on this forum has difficulty hearing differences between tubes using Lyr, and I respect his opinion - and his ear. My ears are as old as I am (born in the 60s), and therefore suspect by definition, but... I can hear differences between tubes on Lyr, but best with my DCA Aeon RT Closed and less so with my open cans. Right now, there's a -SE (I call it the tennis ball - 'treasure globe' sounds like a marketing guy got ahold of a tennis ball and renamed it) in Lyr, and I like it a lot. Part of me suspects that it's the same guts as the -UK tube, with a different envelope, but it's impossible to see. Those two sound virtually alike to me, there's a -UK in Saga at the moment.

Haven't tried the CV181-T MkII as yet, but I will.

As far as break-in goes, my examples sounded very good out of the box, but are still changing slightly after about 60 hours. Note that the -SE can be really tight (like the envelope touches the top of the Lyr's chassis), so a socket saver is your friend here. I do have a Baldwin-labeled Sylvania NOS that I like a lot as well, and there's nothing wrong with the current production Tung-Sol I have either...

I've got a matched pair of Baldwins, they were originally made for the Baldwin Organ company for use in their consumer range of organs. Bought them several years ago at the price of $20.00 each plus matching. If I remember correctly they were labeled Baldwin but the suppliers they used were Sylvania and Westinghouse.

 

[JamminVMI]

I've got a matched pair of Baldwins, they were originally made for the Baldwin Organ company for use in their consumer range of organs. Bought them several years ago at the price of $20.00 each plus matching. If I remember correctly they were labeled Baldwin but the suppliers they used were Sylvania and Westinghouse.

I’ve heard the same. And that, since they were intended for organs, the most musical (best?) of the batch. Don’t know how much of that is truth or fiction, but my two (about the same price at the same time as yours), sound great!