Noob questions about Lyr 2

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Kon Peki, Mar 4, 2016.

  1. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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  2. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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  3. KurtSvensson

    KurtSvensson Friend

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  4. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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    Yeah, noticed that too. I'll see if I find some Orange Globes from EU next. Thanks.
     
  5. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    I have a fantastic pair of Amperex USN-cep NOS matched pair that are perfect for LYR and mjo2. Check them out on ebay etc.They rate very well.
     
  6. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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    I found an EC88/6DL4 Mullard for 26 euros, same store sells an E88C Telefunken gold pin for 34e.

    Maybe there should be more info? That Telefunken seems to be a different type..
     
  7. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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  8. gibosi

    gibosi Acquaintance

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    EC88/6DL4 is a single triode and will not work in the Lyr. What you want is the ECC88/6DJ8, a double triode. And if you want to spend a bit more money, E88CC/6922 and/or E188CC/7308, which are essentially premium ECC88, with gold pins and a 10,000 hour minimum lifetime. That said, gold pins doesn't necessarily mean better sound. :)
     
  9. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    It's my personal opinion that the price jumps in tubes aren't really worth the additional cost. Diminishing returns is a well-known phenomenon in audio, but for tubes it's even more apparent. Spend $100 on a pair, spend $150 on a pair if you like, but $300+ on a pair for an amp that isn't much more expensive than that is madness to me when you could just buy a better amp.

    I don't think gold pins are worth extra cost because when I use a socket saver I can't hear the difference anyway, so that kind of proves them as a gimmick (to my ears).
     
  10. gibosi

    gibosi Acquaintance

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    The more expensive pair test a bit better. That said, both pairs test new. Otherwise, they were manufactured in the same factory at about the same time, so they will likely sound identical.
     
  11. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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    This is exactly the kind of non-mojo/voodoo info I'm looking for, thank you! :)
     
  12. gibosi

    gibosi Acquaintance

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    The difference between the premium E88CC/6922 and E188CC/7308 and the plain-Jane ECC88/6DJ8 is more than gold-plated pins. These premium versions of the 6DJ8 were engineered for industrial and military purposes. In these rather severe and demanding environments, low noise and micrographics, tightly matched sections, ruggedness and long life were highly valued. And further, gold-plated pins do not corrode. But again, just because these premium tubes might have provided superior performance in oscillators, cascode circuits, RF amplifiers, etc, in very difficult environments, this does not mean that they will sound better in your Lyr. :)
     
  13. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    I was referring to the pins themselves, as in, does gold sound better? I doubt it since if I use a socket saver as an intermediate, I can't hear a difference. Thanks for the info regarding the tighter tolerances for the E188CC though.
     
  14. kevnin

    kevnin #facetweeting - Friend

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    I have 4 sets of tubes for my mjolner2 - 1 E188CC, 2 CCa (specially selected E88CCs), and 1 ECC88. They're not all from the same factory so not a true apples-apples comparison, but the ECC88 is clearly a step below the rest of them (lacking in soundstage and clarity). I'd recommend at least going with E88CC. They shouldn't cost that much more - $80-$100 on ebay (don't fall for high BIN prices).
     
  15. Zed Bopp

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    Gold-pins is something I don't have much faith in. Unless every solder inside the headphones and amps were gold-covered too. Maybe a golden DAC-termination too? I call bullshit.
     
  16. rystyshackle4d

    rystyshackle4d New

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    It is pretty much bogus when it comes to gold pins. Gold is an amazing conductor but so is the alloy they use on tube pins (Kovar, it's basically designed to bond well with the glass and and expand with the glass as it heats to maintain seal as well as be very conductive). The only advantage gold has/had over non gold plated pins is that it just plain old doesn't really oxidize which means that they can keep a more reliable connection in adverse environments. I've have some Russian NOS tubes that were pristine but had major pin oxidation and sounded like crap until I polished the pins with some polishing compound and my dremel. Tubes that you see with gold pins and oxidation have usually had the gold plating wiped away hence the little spots of oxidation. So unless you're planning on dropping some tubes in a MiG fighter jet which needs to stay working even if it's been dipped in saltwater, save the cash and skip the gold plated tubes. ;)
     
  17. Malabargold

    Malabargold Flipper

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    Can anyone comment on this amp paired with a HE500? Im considering upgrade to a lyr 2 from a magni 2 uber
     
  18. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Exit stage left....
    despite many of us having/had the HE500 with Lyr2 and other amps, we're not going to answer any quicker by you posting the same question in multiple threads.
    show some patience, some of us work weekends and many have family and friends first.

    i'll reply tonight if I'm not too tired.
     
  19. JoshMorr

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    I think the Lyr 2 was made for slightly inefficient headphones like the he500. Lots of power and slam, clean bass, one of the better amps I've heard them on. Lisst makes them sound more neutral, tubes warm them up at the cost of a bit of detail.
     
  20. Kon Peki

    Kon Peki Friend

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    It's an excellent pairing. In the other thread, you said you were looking for a tube amp to drive orthos. In this price range, excluding DIY, two of the most highly regarded options are the Lyr 2 and the Project Ember II, both of which are hybrid (solid-state output stage) amps.
     

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