December 2020

Great Audiophile Gift Ideas For The 2020 Holiday Season
Enjoy the Music.com celebrates our 15th annual gift ideas to give your audiophile!

Schiit Lyr 3 Modular Hybrid Headamp / DAC / Phono Stage

  To improve on their Lyr 2, Schiit had to completely reinvent the amplifier, introduce two new technologies, and make it modular. Yes, that's right. Not only is the new Lyr 3 (starting at $499) a big sonic upgrade, it can be configured with the DAC or phono preamp of your choice — just like Schiit's Jotunheim. Want to run IEMs? Sure. Need power for your HE-6? Sure. If this means nothing to you, just be confident that you can plug any headphone into Lyr 3 and get great sound. With full power delivered from the standard 1/4" jack, you don't need balanced headphones to take full advantage of Lyr 3.

Select from the internal card or rear-panel analog input, and pick high or low gain with convenient front switches. Connect the preamp output to your powered monitors for a complete desktop system — or use it as a front end to your speaker power amplifier. Lyr 3 provides all the flexibility you need.

Now, you can enjoy a serious tube amplifier, which only requires a single tube. Schiit's Coherence hybrid topology makes the most out of the supplied NOS 6N8S tube, and also works with all NOS and new-production 6SN7 tube types. What's more, Lyr 3 introduces Continuity — a constant transconductance output stage which provides superior performance.

You can select from two different DAC modules, a phono input module, or no module at all to tailor Lyr 3 exactly to your needs. Modular design means Lyr 3 won't be dumpster-fodder when technology changes — just swap a card! Their Multibit DAC Module includes Schiit's unique digital filter and true multi-bit DAC architecture. There's a top-quality AK4490 DAC Module, or choose the more affordable AK4490 G2 DAC module for a world-class delta-sigma DAC.

Turntable lovers rejoice as Schiit's MM Phono Input Module provides 42dB of gain and passive RIAA for great phono sound. Furthermore, with the Schiit Lyr 3 you can choose either a Russian 6N8S NOS or new JJ 6SN7 vacuum tube. Check out Schiit's website for more info and choose your custom configuration too.

Recommended by Enjoy the Music.com's Jeremy Kipnis.

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