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Schiit Tyr Monoblock Amplifier Reviews and Impressions

Discussion in 'Power Amps' started by AllanMarcus, Apr 3, 2022.

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  1. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    @Soups knows what's up. I'm thinking of getting the new transformer interface and asking myself if a wavedream is in my future. The Tyr is something else. I've tried a LOT of amps with the RAALs trying to find something worthwhile but these are the best I've found in terms of pairing. I was happy enough in the past but these have made me rethink my setup.

    I'm going to reserve some time during the holidays to rebuild my oris horn centered speakers (thanks @purr1n) + rethink my setup. It's been years since anything has really spurred me to consider changes like this and I'm very surprised.

    @schiit I am really impressed. I thought I left the idea of the high high end behind when I had kids but putting out something like this at this price point has sucked me back in.
     
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    Last edited: Sep 25, 2022
    zerodeefex, Sep 25, 2022
    #141
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    No one will ever believe that it's True Hi-End because of its price.
     
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    purr1n, Sep 25, 2022
    #142
  3. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Also, mine don't hum or have any noise but our subdivision is only a couple of decades old and the power at my house is excellent.

    Fun fact: it's as clean straight out of the wall without specialized gear as my power was in Sunnyvale with a medical grade SOLA power conditioner I bought from a medical research facility.
     
    zerodeefex, Sep 25, 2022
    #143
  4. GoldenYear

    GoldenYear New

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    When do you think the big review sites will cover a review of the Tyr? Honestly, I'm surprised a shop like Stereophile hasn't pounced on them. It's been almost half a year since release.

    I'm particularly interested in impressions against the Benchmark AHB2.
     
    GoldenYear, Sep 27, 2022
    #144
  5. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    You're several price tiers down if you think the AHB2 is in the same category FWIW
     
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    zerodeefex, Sep 27, 2022
    #145
  6. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    One thing that really amazes me: the code-x is totally silent out of Tyr. Absolutely surprising experience here.
     
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    zerodeefex, Sep 27, 2022
    #146
  7. GoldenYear

    GoldenYear New

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    Price, sure, but sound-wise? I'm sure the Tyr and the AHB2 would sound dramatically different. The reason I am looking at Tyr is because I worry the AHB2 would sound sterile in comparison. Would anyone argue otherwise? I'm currently on a Ragnorak 1.
     
    GoldenYear, Sep 27, 2022
    #147
  8. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I meant that the Tyr competes in a totally different league than the AHB2.
     
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    zerodeefex, Sep 27, 2022
    #148
  9. GoldenYear

    GoldenYear New

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    Ah, Tyr is better. Got it.

    I have a set of Tyrs coming Monday. I'll know soon enough. Also eyeing a Bryston 4B3 as well, would be interested to pit that against the Tyrs.
     
    GoldenYear, Sep 27, 2022
    #149
  10. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I've owned the 7B ST and a few others over the years. I think you'll be surprised at how good the Tyr are.
     
    zerodeefex, Sep 28, 2022
    #150
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    To be fair, Tyr is very different than AHB2. The Tyr is mellow in the highs, for better or worse, so this needs to be taken into consideration with component synergy and personal preferences. The AHB2 is super clean and clear, it's like a high-end Chord DAC, except without the expressiveness. Personally I detest the AHB2 because I feel that is obtains its sound by subtracting musical information, expressiveness, microdynamics, the tiny variances in volume levels. AHB2 comes off as antiseptic (but not harsh) and a little lean in the lows. Tyr hits like a truck.

    Both @zerodeefex and I feel Tyr (in private discussion) is at the darTZeel NHB-108 level, but slightly different presentation.
     
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    purr1n, Sep 28, 2022
    #151
  12. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    This is a polite way of saying the AHB2 is neutered to achieve it's signature sound.
     
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    zerodeefex, Sep 28, 2022
    #152
  13. GoldenYear

    GoldenYear New

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    Thanks both, now I really do have high expectations now.

    How about Tyr against the likes of Hegel H390?
     
    GoldenYear, Sep 28, 2022
    #153
  14. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Look up the price of the darTZeel referenced above as your first indicator…
     
    rlow, Sep 28, 2022
    #154
  15. GoldenYear

    GoldenYear New

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    I get that, but price isn't everything. I'm very interested in everyone's subjective experiences, since everyone has different ears.

    Hegel H390 has been on my radar for the last while. Every dealer locally seems to be peddling them, saying how it's the best since sliced bread, and how they are supposed to be warm in spite of being transparent. The Bryston 4B3 was another recommendation, which has supposedly cured the historical "dryness" of Bryston amps. I'll never have the privilege of being to A/B them, but hopefully in time the great folks here can.
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2022
    GoldenYear, Sep 28, 2022
    #155
  16. artur9

    artur9 Facebook Friend

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    If it helps you triangulate, I heard a Hegel integrated against a Simaudio integrated a few years back.
    The SimAudio sounded very good. The Hegel was every bit as good and bested it significantly in terms of 3 dimensionality of the soundstage. That Hegel really opened things up.
     
    artur9, Sep 28, 2022
    #156
  17. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Which range was the Hegel? xx? 1xx? 3xx?
     
    Clemmaster, Sep 28, 2022
    #157
  18. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    I doubt the 390 can get to the level of 2 dedicated monoblock amps of this caliber, but who knows. I suspect the Tyr would be more comparable to Hegel’s dedicated power amps. I believe @purr1n had/has a Hegel H2 if I’m not mistaken - he may be able to comment on how they might compare.
     
    rlow, Sep 28, 2022
    #158
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    H2 I believe is quite different from the H390, which I have not heard. The H2 if I remember correctly uses BJTs. This was something pointed out to my by the owner (he loved the H2 and decided not to sell it). Hegel later went with MOSFETS. Different sound. The H2 was a great amp. Very open sounding, but a bit bright and zippy, so some care needed to be taken by choosing the right components.
     
    purr1n, Sep 28, 2022
    #159
  20. ald0s

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    Heard the Tyr this week in Sydney. Gorgeous. I felt like perhaps they were missing a little bit of top end sparkle but it was just so fatigue free I don't mind the trade off. Bass was fast, although I'm used to tubes so YMMV - lots of extension and never allowed to bleed into the next passage - grippy. It sounded warmer than most solid states I've heard but not into mush territory. Detail retrieval was as good as you'll get from these drivers. It was setup with LS50 Metas, which I don't love but know pretty well. They definitely love getting more power than people give them.

    There's a goldilocks space for a stereo amp with 100-150 WPC in the 19" format with all the Tyr goodies that I wish existed. Something to stack with a Yggdrasil and eventual transport. I live in an apartment and have no time for mono blocks. If the Ragnarok 2 had just a bit more power I'd consider it, but it's on the low end for my speakers.

    I'd love to hear how these scale on big boy speakers.
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2022
    ald0s, Oct 1, 2022
    #160
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