The xDSD is very versatile. I use it in line-out mode with the Lyr3 and my STAX headphone amp. And it’s a good to-go DAC/amp that fits most anywhere. Not saying that there aren’t more resolving things out there, but it’s good at what it does, and handles MQA to boot.
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So it looks like you may have had some of the same headphones or similar ones as I do at one point or another @mshenay and I am wanting to check out a tube amp that brings some of that tube magic if it exists to my current line up of headphones. I know the best bet for my money for my 6XX would be the ZDT JR. Which I can get a well cared for used one from an awesome person on this forum, however my only concern is it would be to essentially use with only one set of headphones I currently own the 6XX As it doesn’t pair well with any of the other headphones I currently have, this could change as I might want to add another high impedance headphone into the mix one day but this may be awhile.
The LYR3 was originally recommended to me but with the caveat that the true tube sound may not be there. I also have truly fallen for the sound of planar headphones and have the Ananda headphones and especially love them when listening to vocalists, rock, classical, movie sound tracks or really anything other than hip hop or EDM. I want to add the Aeon2 Closed for when I can’t listen to open back as well for travel with my iFi XDSD in place of my current ANC headphones which are very good but not at the same level as my other headphones. I read your thoughts on them on a few other threads which seemed very positive. I also have the Elear’s which have been really fun for listening to electronic, rock, classic rock or hip hop. Currently I am using the SMSL SU8 V2 DAC and the SMSL THX 200 Amp which has more than enough power in my opinion to drive all my headphones really well. In your opinion would the LYR3 give me a considerable better quality of sound with my 6XX as they are supposed to sound at their best with tubes and what could I expect from my other headphones vs my current amp? Or am I just chasing small differences in tonality With the hybrid tube amps that can somewhat be achieved with my Loki tone control?
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I really like the XDSD as well!
Has anyone ever picked up B Stock from Schiit on the LYR 3?
Tube sound, well what is Tube Sound?
I like a drier “tube sound” my self with a open spacious image, for some I think tube sound is wetter with more impact
To my ears Lyr 3 is wetter with more impact, it’s one of the only amps where I’ve been impressed and quite satisfied with HD 600s bass, heck I can dig EDM with HD 600 on Lyr 3
Tho other qualities take a step back with that matchup,
EQ has it’s place but it won’t entirely mimic a tube amp, tell ya what tho buy your self something like the Loxjie P20 or a good ole Schiit Vali 1 and see how you like HD 6XX on that before you spend more on something else.
SP200 is pretty clean and I enjoy it with my HD 600 from time to time alongside my planars. Tho regarding Aeon 2 C I pretty much exclusively listen with it out of my Ember II as the tonality and staging are less impressive on SP 200. My Ember II brings slight improvements to midrange presence/body with a nice open stage so I feel Aeon 2C does best there.
Or what would be best, attend a Head Fi meet and have a listen to a LOT of stuff. There’s one up in PA that I’ll be attending here in a month or so
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Thank you, 
appreciate the advice.
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Never, but I find odd they always have it on B stock( Lyr 3), probably people don’t buy it B stock since $50 off is not enough saving to give up the chance of returning the amp if you don’t like it. However, all my “basic” Schiit stuff ( A dac, two amps, eq and lys) and my Bifrost MB are from the B stock sales.
I would’n risk it if I wasn’t sure, not for $50.
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Exactly the conversation I had with the Schiit customer service person, I am going to wait anyways and see if they update that amp offering with a new improved DAC.
I bought a Lyr3 with MB DAC and returned it. I thought the DAC module was an afterthought and I had better sounding options after listening to it. The headphone amp section of the Lyr3 is excellent. I ended up returning the LYR3 and using the funds toward a Mjolnir 2 HA.
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I had read the multi bit dac wasn’t implanted well at all, although I have never heard it, so this is just from reading online. I wonder if a newer dac will be implemented in 2020 since it’s just a card and the Lyr 3 is a modular system in that sense. Does Schiit follow a traditional product life cycle?
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Schiit is hard to anticipate with product rollout. In my case, I thought the MB DAC sounded grainy. It was for convenience that I purchased that DAC module. I have an old Schiit Bitfrost with the AK 4399 chip and it sounds great. I’ve owned a MB Gumby DAC and it was a great sounding DAC. This one just didn’t do it for me. If you have a good DAC you can feed the LYR 3 with, you could go that route, or get another external DAC…Massdrop has some inexpensive quality options.
When I decided I wouldn’t use the MB DAC in the Lyr3, I traded it back for full credit toward a Mjolnir 2, which is a two tube 6BZ7 or 6DJ8 setup. It accepts both balanced and unbalanced connections (both input, output, and headphone cabling)
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I think my next desktop amp will be a hybrid tube amp which is why I was leaning towards the Lyr 3, I would likely use a separate dac or go with the standard internal dac card offering as I read that combo sounds better than the multi bit.
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I just wanted an amp. Very happy with the base Lyr3 with either the TungSol tube or the RCA Red Base modest tube roll I tried.
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I use the xDSD as the amp to go with the Lyr3. Eventually I will have a Bifrost.
I never had an amp from Schiit with a dac module installed, but most of the opinions around are unfavorable. Individuals amps and dacs, on the other hand, have mostly positives reviews !!
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Go for it !! Is really amazing and I’m mean the Bifrost before the actual 2, which I’m sure is way better.
This is very true. I wonder if anyone here has heard the Lyr 3 with the standard Dac, I could also just follow the same path @pennstac took and use my Ifi as the dac, not a bad idea honestly and saves me some money.
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I’ll suggest the same @Torq and @pennstac suggested to me 6 or 7 months ago. Buy the amp ( if that is what you are buying right now) and used with the dac you already have ( the ifi ir any other) and give it some time.
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I have a pretty solid desktop amp and dac for my needs now, so really the Lyr 3 was to dip my toes in the tube water. I am in no rush.
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My #1 tube amp is an Amps and Sound Kenzie Encore.
Top quality and made to last. Simple design and craftsmanship.
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