Schiit Lyr+ Review (or random thoughts about it)

Out of curiosity, is here solid-state mode. Harmonic distortion is about the same. The noise floor in the lows is better and more consistent between channels, but it's not like we can hear -120db below the fundamental.

Lyr +
0dBu (a little bit higher actually) into 300-ohm load
Steady state 1kHz signal, 2Vrms input, volume knob adjusted to arrive at output
Solid state mode
Low gain

 

Finally here is HIGH gain on tube mode, this is what I personally prefer. Note that even with high gain, there is still plenty of volume adjust with sensitive headphones like Grados and ETA Mini C/S.

Lyr +
0dBu (a little bit higher actually) into 300-ohm load
Steady state 1kHz signal, 2Vrms input, volume knob adjusted to arrive at output
7N7 on adapter
High gain


Noise floor is higher, covering up the higher harmonics.

 

Here's THD. This not to be confused with THD+N or SINAD because I don't care about noise unless it's a problem. Harmonics would be a better indicator of sound.

Lyr +
THD (%) vs Measured Output level (Vrms)


Same thing as above, but THD in db


No sweat with the higher-impedance load. With the lower impedance load, that's 9Vrms before the onset of clipping, and well over 10Vrms until 1% THD (or -40db). The Lyr + is not going to have a problem powering any headphone. Gobs and gobs of current. 10Vrms will explode any headphone.

 

Volume pot channel matching / mistracking. I've always loved this "test" because of another site that does these tests implying that such measurements will be representative of any product, at least those that use potentiometers. They are not. Pots are a dime a dozen. Expensive pots that may perform better cost $100+ each in 10000 minimum quantities (this is the shit that ends up on F-35 jets and HIMARS trucks). Audio manufacturers will tell you that they get speshel pots from Alps with better tolerances. Guess what? Every other manufacturer and their mother gets these, and even then, the better tolerances are still shit. Pots are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get. Some will have greater mistracking toward the most counterclockwise positions than others.

There are four ways to get good results on the volume tracking test:

1. Manufacturers cherry picking which units get sent to reviewers, especially those with APx555s (because anything less means you don't have the gravitas to perform effective measurements /sarcasm off/). Note example how I get very strangely different results with a Topping L30 with the pot test compared to that of another site: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...iew-and-measurements.11164/reply&quote=352845
2. Manufacturers actually taking the time to sort them. Ray Samuels supposedly did this, which I have no reason to doubt.
3. Use a stepper
4. Use a relay-switched volume control, which is like #3, but fancier

Here I tried to turn the volume knob from fully counterclockwise to clockwise in one smooth motion. I was mostly successful, aided by Schiit's latest computer o-metry to smooth out the volume motion (I did mention how much better the action felt on the Lyr+ than Schiit's prior relay-switched volume controls)

Lyr+
Attenuation (fully clockwise to counterclockwise)
Blue= Left channel; Red = Right channel


The results are essentially perfect. Just to make sure, I split them up into separate graphs.

Left


Right

 

What are you using right now? Trying to get a reference. I'm concerned that three things in the chain that are organic/rich/laid-back sounding would be too much.

Think of Vali 2++ being more similar to Magni 3+. Like a Magni 3+ with a hint of tube. We can do a blind test between Magni 3+ and Vali 2++ (with most tubes) and people unfamiliar or who are deaf won't be able to tell the difference.

 

About the same. Lyr + deeper, SW51+ wider. SW51 isn't known to have a particularly huge big headstage like the megabuck tube amps, but it's better than most other solid-state brethren.

 

Vali 2++. I think it's a better match for your LCD-2F and "organic" sounding sources than Lyr +. If it turns out you want something more creamy sounding, then move up to Lyr +. The risk with Vali 2++ is minimal in terms of cost; and although not as technically good as Lyr +, component synergy trumps everything. (It's why the tables at CanJams mostly sound like shit or random - most of the stuff there is vendors scratching other vendors backs instead of hobbyists curating "systems" according to their vision).

Both Lyr + and Vali 2++ are hybrid tube amps with solid-state output. LCD-2F with moderate-efficiency will be fine from them.

 

Lyr + is more cohesive than Jotunheim. Current Jot sounds best from its balanced outs. It hits hard, is richer sounding the lows and sharper in the highs compared to Lyr +. These characteristics, particularly the low-end richness, seem more exaggerated from the SE out.

 

Some folks here really liked the GL mk2, felt it unlike other most other KG designs (noting individual builds, power supplies, etc. will vary with dramatic differences in sound). Tonally perhaps a shift to the warmer side (which is what I think most folks were talking about with respect to the GL mk2 being more palatable). However, the highs were still as according to @yotacowboy's illustration above.

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...lmore-lite-mk2-measurements.8600/#post-280249

Now this is with the switcher power supply.

Also, the gain on the GLmk2 is fixed to +16db (unless that has been changed). This is super high and will be horrible for Grados, as well as high AC mains noise: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/gilmore-lite-mk2-measurements.8600/

 

As always, thanks to schiit and SBAF loaner program to get a Lyr + amp flying around our community for listening sessions.

A bit of background: other than a Vali2+, haven’t owned a schiit amp in a long while. never heard Valhalla or Lyr 3. never preferred magni amps in short demo time. with primarily a Susvara + Oor for the past year, never had a great second headphone to demo a wider variety of amps. Well, the Meze 109 Pro tempted me into a purchase, and has amazed me with its high comfort and quality sonics without TOTL price. This made the Lyr+ loaner tempting, so off we go with short impressions.

Chain here is: intel macmini, Roon to HQPlayer (upsampling to PCM/DSD), USB to Holo Spring3 KTE , SE cables into Lyr+.

Mentioned earlier Lyr+ is warmer than Piety and similarly Magni 3, in certain instances this will be a good thing IMO. 109Pro can be a bit bright before total burn in, insert a Ken-Rad VT231 black glass tube in the Lyr+ helps tame some treble without sacrificing detailing. the other 6SN7 tube I had in was some old Sylvania green, so the degree of warmth could have been due to my tube choices at time of loaner.
Overall the tone, micro and macro of Lyr+ was all very solid, no crazy wonkiness or suck out that I could detect across a variety of genres. Bass was well done without bleeding into mids, but there’s no uber slam jaw punch like Mjolnir2. Perhaps not a plankton presenter of the highest degree, but my aged ears can’t detect high frequency mouse farts as easily anyhow.

Where Lyr+ really begins to stand out as different and betterness is delivering width and depth, plus layering happening! Very welcomed for sure as I prefer this spaciousness over the Piety even. Lyr+ delivers wider Left to Right, with no hole in the middle either and while there is not Eddie Current level of depth and stage, Lyr+ still enhances the layers native to the 109Pro a bit better while remaining cohesive. nothing stretched or flat on a thin 2D horizontal plain.

Now with the ETA Mini C plugged into Lyr+, this spaciousness and depth isn’t as significant of a change. so yes- transducer still matters a lot. Lyr+ provided a bit more L to R than Piety, Magni and even Oor- but it’s not like the Mini C opened wide like an SR1A or semi-open headphone. Mini C stayed pretty true to its spatial delivery for the most part.

taking the tube out and well, the spatial magic flattens out and depth presentation suffers as well. by no means is the SS offering inside the Lyr+ boring or offensive, but if you buy this amp best to just put a tube in it IMO. Lyr+ would give me reason to use these 6SN7 tubes that are sitting here for some reason (EC Super7 leftovers??).

Onto the fancy schmancy relay ladder volume control- super cool channel balancing for sure. In Low or High gain, there was not a sense of linear volume gain from 7pm to 12n on the vol pot with 109Pro. But from 12n-2pm volume increase was more drastic to very loud levels. so there was a lot of clicking but less actual volume increase from 7pm to 12n on the pot, then it seemed like exponential volume increases between 12n-2pm. Maybe other headphones with less sensitivity will behave differently?
The vol pot / signal change takes some getting used to as deltas to volume appears to quickly “short out” the audio and then bring it back- leading to a weird feeling like turning a knob on an old portable AM transistor radio. Guess it’s a small price to pay for channel matching.

i did not plug IEMs into Lyr+ at the time of loan. Probably should have done so with the Supermoon. dummy me.
Would be interesting to hear anyone chime in with a Bifrost 2/64 and Lyr+ pairing, vs. an iFi Zen DAC Signature V2, or other DACs.

Verdict- wanting the Lyr+ as a SE hybrid tube amp with sonic quality and technical chops on my desk for the 109Pro is increasingly likely. I’ve heard whispers that 10tube Folkvanger Frankenstein is some amazeballs at organic tone and spatial presentation, but that cost delta and tube x10 paranoia isn’t a pool I want to wade into. yet. or ever. not sure.
Lyr+ is an easy high quality recommendation for a wide variety of headphones, and DACs if not too warm or smoothed at the source.