NEW Schiit Lyr 2: Impressions

[ruthieandjohn]

Problem... I am not sure that I hear ANY difference between playing a digital lossless stream from my FiiO X3 into my new Schiit BiFrost Uber USB2 and then to my new Schiit Lyr 2, or playing just directly from the FiiO X3 straight into my headphones, which are the Grado PS1000.
 
I've used the first 12 sec or so from the start of "You're Going To Miss Me" by the Band of Heathens (from there One Foot In The Ether album), which is one of four test songs I use over and over again in my 20+ three-way comparisons of headphones and amps.
 
Maybe different music, or different headphones, but my point is... the difference to me between through the Bifrost and Lyr 2 vs going straight out of the X3 is minimal, at best.  If I do hear a difference, it might be in the sound of the first cymbal at the very start, and maybe a slightly "airier" spatial distribution of instruments.
 
But if I didn't know whether I switched between the two modes (with vs. without the Schiit boxes), I rather doubt I could tell any difference.
 
Yike!

 

[Gibsonmac]

Glad you are enjoying it! It is really nice with the HE-560's! Are you using it as a pre-amp then?

Really? I was pretty underwhelmed with the lyr and he560's... But I was using stock tubes.

 

[DavidA]

  Problem... I am not sure that I hear ANY difference between playing a digital lossless stream from my FiiO X3 into my new Schiit BiFrost Uber USB2 and then to my new Schiit Lyr 2, or playing just directly from the FiiO X3 straight into my headphones, which are the Grado PS1000.
 
I've used the first 12 sec or so from the start of "You're Going To Miss Me" by the Band of Heathens (from there One Foot In The Ether album), which is one of four test songs I use over and over again in my 20+ three-way comparisons of headphones and amps.
 
Maybe different music, or different headphones, but my point is... the difference to me between through the Bifrost and Lyr 2 vs going straight out of the X3 is minimal, at best.  If I do hear a difference, it might be in the sound of the first cymbal at the very start, and maybe a slightly "airier" spatial distribution of instruments.
 
But if I didn't know whether I switched between the two modes (with vs. without the Schiit boxes), I rather doubt I could tell any difference.
 
Yike!

I don't have a PS1000 but if its easy to drive then the difference between the X3 direct and going thru the Bifrost/Lyr2 will not make much of a difference.  Try a planar like a HE-560 or LCD series headphone or something with a high impedance like a HD-6XX or Beyerdynamic, this is where the power of the Lyr2 will make a difference, and as always, YMMV

 

[Exacoustatowner]

Really? I was pretty underwhelmed with the lyr and he560's... But I was using stock tubes.

I don't use stock tubes.

 

[DavidA]

  I don't use stock tubes.

What tubes do you use?  Any favorites? Any to stay away from?

 

[Exacoustatowner]

 
What tubes do you use?  Any favorites? Any to stay away from?

Siemens CCA  1962/63. 1966, Reflektor SWPG Silver Shields 1975, 1974, Amperex 7308's, etc. All great! I jumped in with the advice of Billerb1, Guidostrunk and Rb2013-so I avoided repeating mistakes made early on. They all elevate the Lyr from OK to GREAT! With the stock RCA tubes it's good-but I moved on quickly to tubes suggested by the above people. Most that have tried newly made tubes are not terribly happy with them, that could change-I've not tried them myself.  If you have the Lyr you have more options for tube types than the Lyr2.
 
 I would do some reading on the thread-and be aware there are earlier threads on the Lyr as well. Again, my tube choices have been based on advice from the folk listed. They also say that the tubes improve after 100-200 hours_I've no way to test that as audio memory is short!

 

[reddog]

What tubes do you use?  Any favorites? Any to stay away from?

The best tube, I have used are the NOS Telefunken E88CC platinum. These tubes make the lyr2 sing like a muse of fire, and make the Alpha Primes and the HE1K sound great. But because the NOS Telefunken tubes cost so much, I also use Gold Lions, in the lyr2 to drive my headphones, and I like how they sound. Another option is to get some vokshods NOS tubes. These tubes sound wonderful and are cheaper
than Gold Lions. Look up Bob, he should help you. I would know his email address but my kindle crashed and I lost two years of data.

 

[Exacoustatowner]

The best tube, I have used are the NOS Telefunken E88CC platinum. These tubes make the lyr2 sing like a muse of fire, and make the Alpha Primes and the HE1K sound great. But because the NOS Telefunken tubes cost so much, I also use Gold Lions, in the lyr2 to drive my headphones, and I like how they sound. Another option is to get some vokshods NOS tubes. These tubes sound wonderful and are cheaper
than Gold Lions. Look up Bob, he should help you. I would know his email address but my kindle crashed and I lost two years of data.

I've not yet tried them but I want to! Send Rb2013 a PM- he still checks in from time to time...

 

[M-83]

The best tube, I have used are the NOS Telefunken E88CC platinum. These tubes make the lyr2 sing like a muse of fire, and make the Alpha Primes and the HE1K sound great. But because the NOS Telefunken tubes cost so much, I also use Gold Lions, in the lyr2 to drive my headphones, and I like how they sound. Another option is to get some vokshods NOS tubes. These tubes sound wonderful and are cheaper
than Gold Lions. Look up Bob, he should help you. I would know his email address but my kindle crashed and I lost two years of data.

Do the Telefunken really make that big a difference? I'm hoping to purchase some end of the month, as long as I get at the right price. I've had an hour of listening time with my lyr2 and bifrost uber with my alpha primes.

 

[reddog]

Do the Telefunken really make that big a difference? I'm hoping to purchase some end of the month, as long as I get at the right price. I've had an hour of listening time with my lyr2 and bifrost uber with my alpha primes.

The nos Telefunken tubes sound very nice but I was pretty satisfied with the current production tubes like the gold lions and the current produced Telefunken TK's after 200 hour burn in, really made my Alpha Primes sing. I would compare the NOS Telefunken E88CC platinum tubes to a bottle of 60 year old single scotch. And the current production tubes to 10 or 12 year old single-malt scotch, or just a good blend.

 

[reddog]

I've not yet tried them but I want to! Send Rb2013 a PM- he still checks in from time to time...

+1 Rob rb2013 is a very nice guy who is very knowledgeable, he should be able to help you find the vokshods.

 

[DavidA]

The nos Telefunken tubes sound very nice but I was pretty satisfied with the current production tubes like the gold lions and the current produced Telefunken TK's after 200 hour burn in, really made my Alpha Primes sing. I would compare the NOS Telefunken E88CC platinum tubes to a bottle of 60 year old single scotch. And the current production tubes to 10 or 12 year old single-malt scotch, or just a good blend.

Like the scotch analogy, I have 2 pairs of Telefunken's CCa which are great but for the price I'm liking the 74' Reflectors and some Siemens Lorenz for less than half the price.  Also tried some current production tubes (Gold Lion, Electro Harmonix) and they are pretty good so I'll pass on buying more NOS tubes unless the price is really good.

 

[ruthieandjohn]

  Problem... I am not sure that I hear ANY difference between playing a digital lossless stream from my FiiO X3 into my new Schiit BiFrost Uber USB2 and then to my new Schiit Lyr 2, or playing just directly from the FiiO X3 straight into my headphones, which are the Grado PS1000.
 
 

I am pleased to report that even though I cannot hear a difference with and without the Schiit Lyr2 + Bifrost Uber USB2 placed between my Grado PS1000 headphones and my FiiO X3 digital source, my son CAN, and even in a blind test. 
 
(Of course, then his much more practical wife asked me, "Well, why do you have it (the Schiit stuff) if you can't tell a difference?"  But like any good politician, I obfuscated and absquatulated my way out of that sensible question!).

 

[money4me247]

I am pleased to report that even though I cannot hear a difference with and without the Schiit Lyr2 + Bifrost Uber USB2 placed between my Grado PS1000 headphones and my FiiO X3 digital source, my son CAN, and even in a blind test. 

(Of course, then his much more practical wife asked me, "Well, why do you have it (the Schiit stuff) if you can't tell a difference?"  But like any good politician, I obfuscated and absquatulated my way out of that sensible question!).

hahah funny. if u cant tell that differencr, then i wld absolutely stay away from tubes. in my opinion, the expensive tubes are all basically a scam. almost impossible to blind test out any differences. differences between tubes were much more subtle than I was lead to believe. your money can go further elsewhere. in my own personal opinion only of course, ymmmv.

 

[DavidA]

  I am pleased to report that even though I cannot hear a difference with and without the Schiit Lyr2 + Bifrost Uber USB2 placed between my Grado PS1000 headphones and my FiiO X3 digital source, my son CAN, and even in a blind test. 
 
(Of course, then his much more practical wife asked me, "Well, why do you have it (the Schiit stuff) if you can't tell a difference?"  But like any good politician, I obfuscated and absquatulated my way out of that sensible question!).

If you can't tell the difference lucky you, you can save a lot of money on not buying tubes and you will not need the Bifrost and Lyr2, just your X3 DAP.
 
 

hahah funny. if u cant tell that differencr, then i wld absolutely stay away from tubes. in my opinion, the expensive tubes are all basically a scam. almost impossible to blind test out any differences. differences between tubes were much more subtle than I was lead to believe. your money can go further elsewhere. in my own personal opinion only of course, ymmmv.

I was able to do a sort of blind test where my friend came over with his Lyr2, we installed different tubes and I had my girlfriend switch the headphone between his Lyr2 and mine so we didn't know which was which.  Depending on the tubes used, sometimes there were large sonic differences between tubes and with other tubes there was little difference.  This is like trying wine, if you only open one bottle and don't have anything to compare it to its hard to tell the differences from a bottle you opened yesterday but if you open say 4-6 bottles at the same time, even if they are from the same vineyard but different years you will notice a difference and like sound everyone has there own preference.