March 2021

Music Lovers Win At Enjoy the Music.com!
John Tampouratzis wins a Schiit Lyr 3 with Multibit DAC option!
Review By John Tampouratzis

  During December 2020, Enjoy the Music.com and Schiit joined forces to give away a Lyr 3 with Multibit DAC option valued at $699! Here are a few words from John Tampouratzis in Greece, who won this wonderful giveaway!

I WON THE PRIZE!!! I'm feeling lucky!!! Since the advent of social media, the world has become smaller, and information, news, and knowledge more immediate. It was on the 4th of January when I received the email that I've won. I looked at the sender and the CC notification....

It was from Steven R. Rochlin from Enjoy the Music.com, and CC'ed to Denise from Schiit Audio. In everything that is happening around us — this difficult situation — the way my year begins with this wonderful news, gives me incredible joy and optimism. (Note: I have never won anything in general, and especially in matters of competitions I would consider myself unlucky). I also think it is not common to give gifts of such value!!!

Of course I answered immediately back and the shipping process started. I do not know Steven personally, after all, we are all on a different continent. But I always appreciated his love for music and interest / care about the audiophile, high-end audio community. He is a really nice guy after all, and, when in a recent online interview he cried talking to the interviewer about the situation around music and the cancellations of exhibitions and other events, you cannot help but appreciate him.

Then came the communication with Denise from Schiit. I explained to her my concern that since I am in Greece, there will be customs costs for this import, which can be a lot due to the value of the product. She did not waste time, she tried to send it to me from European partners, but no one had the product at their disposal in the version with the Multibit DAC that I had won. So she informed me that they would send it to me and they would reverse the customs expenses to themselves so that I could have it in my hands as soon as possible.

How amazing and perfect on their part!!! Ok, due to the Covid situation we live in, I did not expect it to come soon, however, at the beginning of February I was very happy to receive it. I will mention the nice packaging, the ease of connection (windows 10, they did the installation immediately, plug and play), the very good construction, and the well-written and smart manual.

It is a heavy device if this means something to some people, and of course, it gets warm enough... there is also the tube, so let's not forget that. Let me emphasize, of course, the fact that we are all happy to see the 'Made In USA' behind the device!!!

Also to mention the very nice and smart way of approaching the instructions for use, but also the way they approach and present the philosophy behind the Schiit sound machines. After all, the name of the company alone shows the mood for fresh ideas and designs.

Acoustically, I will share with you my humble impression. After all, there are several experts out there who have talked about this device. We are talking about a HYBRID MODULAR HEADAMP+DAC. Clearly it needs a run-in period like all devices do. At first it sounded tight, but it gives you from the start the impression that it does everything right, and this is very important!!!

As time went on the sound became more open and stressless, and it sounded impressive too. It does not tire you at high volume and this is excellent!!! You can get lost in your favorite sounds in high sound levels, because of which otherwise the family would have thrown you out of the house... hahaha. The gain option is very useful. I can use it on both easy and difficult to drive headphones or other components. Don't forget we have nine Watts here.

Plenty of power, great high volume.

Interesting circuits-hybrid technology, single tube design, great idea, and application. Flexibility, since you have the ability of modules, and lucky again that I got the version with the Multibit DAC module, and the USB input, something I needed and did not have. So about the Multibit DAC now....

A real surprise, definitely different from what we are used to nowadays (not "retro" because of the Multibit topology, but different), homogeneous throughout the spectrum, explosive, dynamic, sweet, with full bodies and sound, I loved it and appreciated it immediately! I think that the proprietary digital filter that regulates time and response plays an important role, together with any other magic stuff that may have been written by the designers and programmed on the chip. I think the market needs companies as the Schitt that can offer such well-constructed sound devices with both extremely good sound and very reasonable prices.

And we who love this whole community need and love Enjoy the Music.com, Schiit Audio, and people like Steven R. Rochlin who brings us closer to what we love: music, sound devices, designers, manufacturers, beautiful people, and ideas! And as Steven says, 'As always, in the end what really matters is that you... Enjoy the Music'.

Best wishes to everybody for better days and more music, from Greece.

-- John Tampouratzis

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You can read Enjoy the Music.com's review of the Schiit Lyr 3 at this link.

Specifications
Schiit Lyr 3
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz -0.1dB (2Hz-700kHz -3dB, in gain = 1.5 mode)
Maximum Power, 16 Ohms: 9W RMS per channel
THD: < 0.007%, 20Hz-20kHz at 1V RMS, high gain (worst case)
IMD: < 0.005%, CCIR at 1V RMS, high gain (worst case)
SNR: > 102db, unweighted, referenced to 1V RMS, in gain = 1.5 mode
Crosstalk: < -75dB, 20Hz-20kHz
Output Impedance: 0.3 Ohms, high gain (worst case)
Gain: 7.5 (17.5dB) or 1.5 (3.5dB)
Topology: fully discrete, current-mode non-inverting 6SN7/bipolar hybrid with constant transconductance output stage
Protection: standard muting relay for delayed turn-on and fast turn-off
Power Supply: two internal power transformers with 72VA total rating, plus with over 55,000uf of filter capacitance

Optional Multibit DAC (included with prize):
USB Input Receiver: C-Media CM6631A
D/A Conversion IC: Analog Devices AD5547
Digital Filter: Schiit Comboburrito Time- and Frequency-domain Optimized DSP filter
Input Capability: Up to 24-bit/192kHz
Analog Output: Fully differential, active summing and filtering

Optional Dual AK4490 G2 DAC:
USB Input Receiver: C-Media CM6631A
D/A Conversion IC: AK4490 x 2
Input Capability: Up to 24-bit/192kHz
Analog Output: Fully differential, passive summing and passive filtering

Optional Passive Filtered Phono Stage:
Gain: 42dB
THD: <0.01%, A-weighted, at 1V RMS
SNR: >80dB, A-weighted, inputs shorted
Crosstalk: -70dB, 20Hz-20kHz
Sensitivity: 2.3mV for 400mV output
Overload Margin: >20dB
Input Impedance: 47k Ohms 
Input Capacitance: 100pf
RIAA Accuracy: +/- 0.25dB, 20Hz-20kHz
Topology: Fully passive RIAA network with AD8599 gain stages and PET film capacitors throughout, DC coupled, with DC servo
Size: 9" x 6" x 2.25" (WxDxH)
Weight: 6 lbs
Price: Starting at $399

Company Information
Schiit Audio
24900 Anza Drive
Unit A
Valencia, CA 91355

Voice: (323) 230-0079
E-mail: info@schiit.com 
Website: www.Schiit.com