Damn it @ProfFalkin I don’t need this amp! But it’s uniqueness calls to me lol!
Dig on the style of it as well! Was the cat a custom job or part of the logo?
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Part of the logo.
I think he is on wave 2 of orders, so if that sounds like a good amp for you, I suggest reading the thread on sbaf for more info.
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Awesome info guys. Bit of reading to do.
I do have a Beyer MMX300 headset it needs to drive too, for gaming. So I guess a Lyr is a more solid choice. Only one tube too, that’s manageable.
Lyr 3 (bother with a DAC?) can be bought from Schiit direct, just exchange rate sucks and postage. Around 850 AUD from Schiit, over 100 of that is postage. 930 locally.
Don’t see them used often.
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What are the local offerings? Maybe we can help you navigate some of the amps available to you locally?
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Well. Anything on Amazon Au, or Amazon US that ships here. Schiit.
Anything at www.minidisc.com.au or www.addictedtoaudio.com.au
Then forums, here, head fi, eBay.
For some more context. A Lyr 3, no add on, in Aus, is about 2 weeks of house mortgage on a nice/ok house 16km (10 mile) out of the city. Or 500 litres (132 gallon) of decent fuel/petrol/gas. Fun facts.
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I also enjoy Verite with tubes as well, and higher impedance amps make a difference on the ZMF dynamics. Still sounds good on a solid-state, but I prefer using them with my tube amp.
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Yeah, the whole internet seems to say the same thing.
I think I want something that smooth, adds a bit more warmth/kick.
Finding more and more recordings have clipping/distortion etc and this THX is just shoving it in my ears.
So there is the brief 
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Bottlehead Crack, but its a kit, I would stand this up with most any amp for high impedance cans…
Alex
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Ok so after three days of BH Crack and HD600’s. I just took out the Schiit Vahalla 2 and warmed it up.
This is the other really great pairing IMO with the HD600’s…the other for me is with the Crack.
But there are differences…and the first thing that immediately is this Vahalla 2 is definitley cleaner and more open and transparent than the crack, but less “euphonic”…The V2 seems more like a SS amp compared to the Crack…but yes its not an SS amp for sure.
Kind of like that THX AAA vs the Schiit Jotenheim thing…
I will start an official thread for the Vahalla 2, a often overlooked headphone amp thats really another Schitt gem IMO.
Alex
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I always wanted to like the Valhalla, but it’s a fickle amp when it comes to headphone pairings. Hd600/650 seem to be ok, but it can sound grainy on other headphones, I think. Still, it’s a good little amp for the $.
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Listening with mine right now with the 600’s and its very nice…understand if you use lower impedance cans things are not as good but its still an OTL amp…and they really are orientated towards the high impedance cans for sure…
I dont hear any grainy-ness, but the bass becomes more bloated for me…I never use it with low impedance cans except with the 80 ohm Beyer DT1350 on low gain…the bass actually really surprised me that it was as good as it was…not so nice with the 55 ohm Clears.
The reason I bought it was I had the BH Crack, Mr. Euphonic, but wanted to see what more power would bring to the table and the Vahalla 2 has more power at the higher impedances for sure…you can really crank it up…and destroy stuff!! Not a good idea!
I agree with your comments, it tries to be an all arounder but IMO its really a good OTL amp for those HD6XX and HD800 and other high Z cans.
Alex
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Sounds like you are a good candidate for the LYR 3, plus tube rolling is a lot easier with only one tube. I haven’t even started that adventure yet as the tube it came with sounds pretty awesome.
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Lyr 3 or SW51 
@ProfFalkin - SW51 is $570 AUD delivered (i know because I have filled out the order form and have it sitting here). But I’d have to get a seprate Amp (JDS or something small) for my Headset.
Lyr 3 is around $850 AUD, but both cans will run fine.
I suspect I know what you’ll say is the best option 
And there is a Bifrost Multibit (gen 1) on eBay at the moment for $500 AUD. How does it stack against the Bifrost 2?
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Wow prices are higher for you…sorry about that.
I would lean towards the Lyr 3, because it works with all your headphones and the Rolling tube thing is less costly with one tube if you go down that path.
I had a Bifirost 1 since 2017 and recently sold it and got the Bifrost 2. Honestly you will be happy with either and you can upgrade the B1 to the Unison USB interface if you like.
Yes the Bifrost 2 is abit better, but again the B1 is just fine!
Alex
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Yeah, prices bit rough down here on some things. General Australia things. Items cost more and the cost of living is high. Nice country though
The Lyr 3 can come with a MB Dac on board. Is that worth bothering with, or a separate is a better option?
Woudl something like the MB Modi do ok? I have a Topping D50S, meant to be ok. I assume its the SP200 that isn’t working for me.
The modi multibit would also be excellent and be better priced for you for sure. The Lyr 3 doesnt have balanced inputs, so the Bifrost 2 you wouldnt be able to take advantage of that so the modi makes more sense to me.
That said the MB adapter in the Lyr 3 also is a nice solution and makes for a nice less cables solution.
Both have the ad5547 chip…the cost looks the same…
The decision here is seperates or integrated physically. In this case I would do the internal MB in the Lyr…
Decisions, decisions!
Alex
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Hmm ok. I’ll see if I can find one locally used first. Near on $1000 here for one, so if I find one may or may not have the MB in it.
Personally, I think the Gen 1 Bifrost MB sounds too similar to the same generation modi MB to want to spend the extra $, based on sound alone. There are of course a plethora of other things that can go into such a decision, such as balanced outputs, stacking a Lyr 3 on top of it, etc.
Edit - oops, I forgot the Bifrost 1 only had SE outs.
As for the MB card in a Lyr 3… the Lyr 3 I owned had the DS card in it - not the MB card - but the Modi MB I owned did sound better. The internal MB card could be just as good as a Modi MB, I just don’t know from experience.
I think if I were in your shoes, I’d probably go SW51+ and a Modi MB, then grab a Schiit Fulla for your headset.
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Yeah the internal mb card and the modi are pretty much at the same level…same chip etc…same cost.
A nice person has leant me their Valhalla 2 for a short time.
I like the more filled out low end. Doesn’t hit any harder or softer than the THX, but it just feels a bit more full, and a nicer tone. THX is definately clearer/cleaner though.
Rest of spectrum unsure on my thoughts. I’m not the best critical listener.
Don’t appreciate the added heat though. I live in Queensland in Aus, where we wear shorts and t-shirts during winter.
Warmer/lusher SS amp might be the happy medium for me?
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