Full of Schiit
ALL212
Posts: 1,260
I've been through a few DAC's over the years and have had some decent ones. I've also owned a few that didn't stay in the system very long. I recently picked up some new speakers that opened up my listening experience. As I rotated my DAC's through the main rig I found some differences but suspected there was something missing.
I've recently sold my LITE DAC 60 and the Stello DA 220 - both were very good DACs. In their stead I purchased the Oppo Sonica. A very flexible and also good sounding DAC but I kept reading about Schiit and the Multibit approach with the non-standard (to audio) D/A converters they were using.
Bring on the Schiit. I like their irreverence towards this hobby, kind of a no BS approach to what to expect with their products and also not afraid to post about their failures and successes as they bring a product to life.
I played with the idea of a Gungnir Multibit but have sold a few things so decided to dive headfirst into the Yggdrasil (yes, I'm sure you actually have to spit between the g's to pronounce that correctly). As I ordered I noticed that they were available so expected the Yggy to arrive shortly. A couple days later I noticed that there was a shipping delay and emailed in to see what the status on my order was. I got a very prompt and honest response that there would be a delay in shipping mine. I kept in touch with Laura from Schiit and got updates as I requested them. Finally...finally my box of Schiit arrived double boxed with plenty of space age foam surrounding it so no issues with packing or shipping at all.
I'm feeding the Yggy from an Oppo UDP-203 with hard drives attached to it. The Yggy is "only" a DAC - no fancy stuff - so the Oppo is the media source for me. Schiit recommends some break in time before full evaluation. I've had mine running since Saturday night - 8pm ish so we're coming up on 48 hours of Schiit experience.
So...
DAMN!! Go buy yourself some Schiit.
Everything is "tighter" and I'm not going to get more precise than that. All instruments live in their own space, nothing over rides anything else. Soundstage is dead on as the speakers have disappeared. This DAC is hands down the best DAC I've ever owned.
At 16" x 12" x 4" and 25 lbs it's not a small pile of Schiit.
Stock picture of the Schiit butt.
I've recently sold my LITE DAC 60 and the Stello DA 220 - both were very good DACs. In their stead I purchased the Oppo Sonica. A very flexible and also good sounding DAC but I kept reading about Schiit and the Multibit approach with the non-standard (to audio) D/A converters they were using.
Bring on the Schiit. I like their irreverence towards this hobby, kind of a no BS approach to what to expect with their products and also not afraid to post about their failures and successes as they bring a product to life.
I played with the idea of a Gungnir Multibit but have sold a few things so decided to dive headfirst into the Yggdrasil (yes, I'm sure you actually have to spit between the g's to pronounce that correctly). As I ordered I noticed that they were available so expected the Yggy to arrive shortly. A couple days later I noticed that there was a shipping delay and emailed in to see what the status on my order was. I got a very prompt and honest response that there would be a delay in shipping mine. I kept in touch with Laura from Schiit and got updates as I requested them. Finally...finally my box of Schiit arrived double boxed with plenty of space age foam surrounding it so no issues with packing or shipping at all.
I'm feeding the Yggy from an Oppo UDP-203 with hard drives attached to it. The Yggy is "only" a DAC - no fancy stuff - so the Oppo is the media source for me. Schiit recommends some break in time before full evaluation. I've had mine running since Saturday night - 8pm ish so we're coming up on 48 hours of Schiit experience.
So...
DAMN!! Go buy yourself some Schiit.
Everything is "tighter" and I'm not going to get more precise than that. All instruments live in their own space, nothing over rides anything else. Soundstage is dead on as the speakers have disappeared. This DAC is hands down the best DAC I've ever owned.
At 16" x 12" x 4" and 25 lbs it's not a small pile of Schiit.
Stock picture of the Schiit butt.
Aaron
Enabler Extraordinaire
Enabler Extraordinaire
Comments
SDA 2BTL * Musical Fidelity A5cr amp * Marantz DV-9500 * Modded Adcom GDA-600 DAC * Rythmik F8 (x2)
Micro Seiki DQ-50 * A hodgepodge of cabling * Belkin PF60
Preamp rotation: Krell KSL (SCompRacer recapped) * Manley Shrimp * PS Audio 5.0
Been pondering some of their Schiit myself.
"Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
When do we expect to see the "upgrade thread"?
The Yggy has a warm up/ break thing like no other.
CJ
Since we're dealing with Schiit do we refer to this as a "scratch" and sniff project?
I'm not opposed to cracking the case but only after my work salary doubles so you may have to wait a bit before that will happen. There were a couple of capacitors in the stock picture on the Schiit site that looked like they might be improved on...
Enabler Extraordinaire
I've got Odyssey Audio gear so I'm very used to break in periods. Klaus' stuff doesn't even begin to open up until well after 200 hours.
I've left it on and running with music running through it since Sunday night so it'll be getting there shortly.
Enabler Extraordinaire
Congrats, awesome piece of gear. I was always impressed with the Stello you had, so this must be some good Shiit.
H9
Pass Aleph 30 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Plus DAC | MIT Shotgun S3 | MIT Z P/C's | updated SDA 1C| SQ Box Touch/Welbourne Labs P/S- Tubes add soul!
Audio: PS Audio DirectStream Jr. * Belles 20a * Pass Aleph 30 - Zu Omen DW * Sunfire Sig II - Polk SRS 2.3tl * PSAudio PP3 * MIT S3
Den: Sonore ultraRendu * Cary xCiter * Dayens Menuetto * KEF LS50
I disabled, I am the South Carolina woman who gouged her eyes out on meth.
I like their design. Love that balanced out. First dibs for when you upgrade to that EMM Labs DAC2X....
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
Let them know - another happy customer!!
Enabler Extraordinaire
DAMN...would you look at that - Schiit just jacked the resale price on the Yggy to $20,000. I'll let you steal it from me for $15k.
Enabler Extraordinaire
Probably should pull the group together again. Let's see what the fall brings. I think we can keep this group looped in also just in case we feel the need for foreigners.
Enabler Extraordinaire
I'm headed in the DAC direction, too . . . soo . . . . I was wondering if you or anyone else here has had any experience with PS Audio PerfectWave or DirectWave DAC
The used market puts these 2 in the same $$ vicinity . . . . thoughts?
TIA
G
PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
Rears Salk SuperCharged Surrounds
Source PSA PWT into NSD Supremo
Pre/Pro Integra DHC 40.1
LCD Samsung LN46B750
Mains Salk HT2-TL
Center Salk HT2C
Pre Cary SLP-05
Wires WW & MIT
It's been said a good deal is a state of mind...
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
Reminds me of some things we have done with our DAC's...
Modular design too. Future upgrades possible.
I'm on the fence waiting for Twisted Pears newest offering. Of particular interest is a new output board he has been sitting on.
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
I hear you! My stuff sounds really good, but Aaron is stirring the upgrade pot again...lol
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
FWIW, a Bufflao IV with 9028 DAC chip. It is essentially a 9018 with an improved core and digital stage. The analog stage is basically the same. The main thing I am interested is the output stage he has been tinkering with. He has said it won't be a kit but fully assembled. Better than the discrete output of the Legato, he says. I won't go dual mono this time due to the mapping issues with DSD.
Per Russ..."ES9038 absolutely needs a special output stage - it's output current and current consumption is huge - it needs very special care to be sure. This is because the analog output is directly referenced to the AVCC input - there is no PSRR. So with the huge currents involved you need very special care indeed."
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
This discrete balanced out of the Legato is what nudged me into a balanced out pre amp, as I already had a true balanced input amp. Oh what we do sometimes for small gains in SQ..... It started with the Krell KSA I rebuilt, then the Krell KRC HR with R2R ladder volume and ended with the ARC Ref 3.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/twisted-pear/224305-legato-3-common-mode-dc-choose-deal-2.html
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
"Fully discrete JFET buffers for balanced output and discrete JFET summing stages for single-ended output, direct coupled throughout"
So... what the heck does that mean? Guess I don't care as more importantly how the heck does it sound?
My pre does not support balanced inputs. However, Cardas makes a rather nice balanced to rca adapter all pinned up and ready.
I'm in the middle of the evaluation. Initial impression is that there is some mid bloom with the balanced out to adapter to RCA. But I've got a lot more listening to do.
I also just upgraded the digital cable to a Wireworld Silver Starlight 7.
Sweet things are a'playin'!
Enabler Extraordinaire
Those connectors don't look balanced at all. One ends obviously heavier than the other.
Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ & Pro 11+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS* Twisted Pear Buffalo III Dual Mono ESS Sabre32 DAC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
I stuck one of those in each ear and my head stayed in one place - balanced!!
Enabler Extraordinaire