14 DAY TRIAL // Although listening to high-volume music in one's headphones is not exactly the healthiest thing to do for one eardrums, the truth of the matter is that many people simply want more Watts in their portable speakers (either in-ear or on-ear), and that's exactly the reason why a company called Schiit Audio has just unveiled the Lyr headphone amplifier, a high-power hybrid design producing 10X more power than a typical headphone amplifier. The Lyr, that can deliver 6W RMS per channel into 32 ohms is a tube-MOSFET fully discrete, no-feedback, noninverting headphone amplifier with a unique Dynamically Adaptive output stage.
The Dynamically Adaptive output stage allows Lyr to operate essentially like a single-ended Class A amp into high impedance loads or at low volumes, then seamlessly transition to push-pull Class A and Class AB at higher output levels.
Lyr's hybrid design uses JJ ECC88 tubes for voltage gain. The tubes are exchangeable ("rollable") for any 6DJ8, 6922, or ECC88 type, up to and including 6N1Ps, which allows owners to fine-tune the sonic characteristics of the amplifier, with literally hundreds of different tube choices, from NOS American to new-build Russian and Chinese tubes.
Other details of Lyr's topology include a single voltage gain stage, and DC-coupling at the input and output, for exceptional transparency and enhanced dynamics.
"The popularity of orthodynamic headphones such as the Audeze LCD-2 and HiFiMan HE-4, HE-5, and HE-6 has created a need for very high-power headphone amps," said Jason Stoddard, Co-Founder of Schiit.
"Lyr exceeds the power needs of these low-impedance, low-efficiency headphones, while also being easy on the wallet," added the company's rep.
Of course, “easy of the wallet” depends directly on one's personal standpoint, since the Lyr sells for a cool $449, which is not exactly a sum many people will be willing to spend that easily.