Lyr 3 Discussion Thread

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by neogeosnk, Mar 20, 2018.

  1. G0rt!

    G0rt! New

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    At this moment, using a 60's Brimar 6BQ7A, which ran me $40 for a pair, in adapter that I think cost $10. I got these for Valhalla2, and they work a treat, but couldn't resist trying one in Lyr.

    I've got other Brimars in a Mjolnir2, CV4033, and those were pricier, like $45 each from TubeMonger, plus the adapters, but they also sound great. Early 60's vintage, and I'll try one of those in Lyr when I get the right adapter someday.

    The actual 6SN7 family I got for Lyr, black and clear CV1988's from the 40's and 50's, cost rather more, $100-150 apiece, NOS, and to my ears they do sound best.

    All these Brimars have much more in common than not, and after 15-20 hours initial burn-in all show an overall tonal balance and transparency, detail and air that I really enjoy, in all my Schiit, but especially Lyr3, since it needs only one. :D
     
  2. will_f

    will_f Friend

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    I think the 6SN7s have gone up a bit in price since you’ve bought yours. Looking around they seem to sell for over $200 in NOS condition. I did manage to find a used rebranded one (Cossor) in good condition (gm 95% for both sides) going for less than $50 so I bought it and will give it a shot. From my research it checks all the boxes for genuineness though it looks like a later version clear glass.
     
  3. G0rt!

    G0rt! New

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    Mine were bought within the last couple of months, but I think I just got lucky, 2 separate purchases from England for 2 clears from the Footscray factory, and a pair of Oldway black bottles from Germany, originally bought in England.

    They're just warm enough to temper my Senns, possibly sacrificing some attack to help subdue resonance effects that can seem harsh. The combination is in any case very beautiful sounding, to me.
     
  4. dematted

    dematted Friend

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    I had the opportunity to A/B this amp with a solid state considered by some to be one of the best out there: the Bryston BHA-1. I really -wanted- to like the Bryston. I spent a good deal of money on it, and it has a very nice, solid build. But I found that with my modi 3 and Focal Clear, the Lyr 3 beat out the Bryston in most relevant categories (Dynamics, micro and macro, timbre, staging, imaging) except for raw detail retrieval, treble resolution, transient speed, and bass control. Pretty impressive for a $500 dollar amp competing with a piece of gear 4 times its price. I'll write more later, but those are my initial thoughts.
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2020
  5. will_f

    will_f Friend

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    I keep thinking about picking up another amp (because, well, new!) but I’m actually really happy with the Lyr3.

    Thank you for reminding me so I can take my play money and blow it on something else with a bigger bang/buck ratio.
     
  6. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

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    Eventually very different sounding amp. More complementary imo.

    Pair something like the Auteur with the Lyr 3, I find it to be compressed, slow, rounded, and boring. Pair it with the BHA-1, it will wake up and come alive. It retains its musicality, with added dynamics and punch. Amazing pairing.

    The Lyr 3 matches better with something like the Ananda. Takes some edge away and makes it more pleasant and musical.
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2020
  7. barbz

    barbz New

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    Can anyone comment on whether this amp would pair well with both the lcd2c and the AFO?
    Thankyou
     
  8. will_f

    will_f Friend

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    I had the AFO as well as the AFC for a while. On Head-Fi there were a lot of Lyr3 owners that really liked the AFO/Lyr3 combo and the Lyr certainly has no problems driving the AFO. Personally I like the AFC better but that’s just my taste and not because of the Lyr 3.
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2020
  9. ca_leo

    ca_leo New

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    I just bought the Lyr 3. Hopefully customs fees won't be too high, I've never imported something from the US before (I live in Germany). Planning on using my micro idsd BL as a DAC, I don't have anything that's higher quality yet. Will listen with my new Focal Clears. Apparently, the stock tubes aren't the Tung-Sol anymore but "only" the JJ (at least that was the only selectable option). Will give them a try before deciding on rolling tubes.
     
  10. will_f

    will_f Friend

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    IME the Focal Clear works very well with the Lyr3. I think you will like it. The Lyr3 /Clear combo is good enough that you will definitely be able to hear differences between DACs and tubes. There is plenty of potential for fine tuning to your tastes. Never heard the JJ so no comment there. While I still look at a lot of gear, I feel the Lyr3/Clear plus a good DAC and tube are about as good as it gets in the price range.
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2020
  11. ca_leo

    ca_leo New

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    Do you have any recommendations for a good DAC in my chain (iphone (Tidal) --> micro idsd BL --> Lyr 3 --> Focal Clear) that's also in the same mid- to hi-fi price range? Want to replace the micro idsd with a stationary device.
     
  12. squishware

    squishware Friend

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    I would recommend Bifrost 2 but you would need a better source than the phone. I use a LG V40 as a source for the Ifi Micro BL and it sounds great but into the Bifrost 2 it sounds very bad. Bifrost 2 with a Raspberry Pi/ Pi2AES source would be the ticket if you can swing it.
     
  13. ca_leo

    ca_leo New

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    Thanks for your suggestions. Why would the iphone be a bad source for the Bifrost 2? It seems to me that Schiit is now even endorsing USB connections. You're saying your LG V40 sounds "bad". Do you hook it up via USB as well? What exactly do you mean by "bad"? Thin/no impact, low resolution, boomy,...?
     
  14. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    I'm pretty sure @squishware is using it as an analog source not digital. As a transport the iphone should be ok.
     
  15. ca_leo

    ca_leo New

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    Ok, good to know. :) Unfortunately the Bifrost 2 is 849€ incl. VAT and delivery here... Is there something that's also pretty good around 400 bucks? Or not worth it considering the good performance of the Bifrost, so saving up would be the better choice?
     
  16. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    You might look at Soekris, but you'd also not go wrong saving up for bf2.
     
  17. squishware

    squishware Friend

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    I use it USB out with USB Audio Player Pro which bypasses all the Android fuckery and can pass High Resolution if it applies. I imagine the BF2 suffers without WASAPI as a driver. It sounds thin and LoFi. I love my BF2 on my main system fed from my laptop.

    EDIT: After typing the above I realized it could be Audio Player Pro's Driver that is a bad match with the BF2 and not to do with phone as a source.
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2020
  18. ca_leo

    ca_leo New

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    Would be interesting if you could pair it with an iDevice and hear how, or if, it differs
     
  19. will_f

    will_f Friend

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    I used an IPhone with my Bifrost2 for a couple of months before getting a better source. From the iPhone the BF2 was a significant improvement over my previous DAC (Topping D50) but switching to a better source improved the sound further. I thought the sound was great from the iPhone, so if you don’t know what you’re missing it won’t be a problem.
     
  20. squishware

    squishware Friend

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    Unfortunately iHate Apple Mac for their proprietary business model (back in the day) or I certainly would . They use Apple products for testing at Schitt per Jason. Is it the same audio across apple devices? I do not follow their line at all.
     

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