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I wasn’t clear. I meant the transport itself.
btw, Yes, it took about two weeks for the Gungnir to burn in.
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Itzhak,
Thanks for the info.
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Jea48:
Excellent idea.
And I have many Diana Krall CDs. They’re wonderfully recorded.
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Jea48:
I’m using an existing coax cable:
DH Labs Silver Sonic
D-750
0.5 meter length
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Meanwhile back at the ranch.......
I have received the Cambridge transport in question, and it’s a big improvement, right out of the box, on the Oppo 105D I’ve been using as a transport. We’ll see if it gets even better as time goes on.
Bad news: As I was attempting to make an A-B comparison between the two machines, the Oppo crapped out; wouldn’t power up, leaving one of my best sounding CDs locked inside.
Luckily, the Cambridge does handle SACD’s, so I can still play them, although not at the higher bit-rate.
One complaint about the machine’s remote: you can’t access different tracks easily, as there’s no numbers to push. Very primitive for a device dedicated only to CD’s. They save money and lose space by making the remote operate three separate devices.
Chintzy!
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I tried several times plugging and unplugging the Oppo to no avail.
Now here’s a real queer problem:
After removing and re-plugging the coax cable between the DAC and the transport: NO SOUND!
Tried pulling and returning power cords and removing and replugging cable:
still NO SOUND!
Only when I added an optical cable in tandem with the coax did I get any sound.
Sound on both cables. The sound quality is fine.
This happened on two occasions.
Anybody have any idea what’s going on???
All in all a very aggravating day!!!!
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No, on the Cambridge transport.
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The Oppo is now able to turn on. The problem had something to to with the power cord. .(too complicated to go into now.)
However, I’m not getting any sound from the Oppo or the Cambridge transports at this point. The problem is obviously in the Gungnir DAT which is not working at all, regardless of what inputs I use.
I’ll have to return it.
It’s certainly caused me enough aggravation.
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Yes, I tested the inputs several times, and unplugged it numerous times.
I spent so much time on the floor in back of the stereo all day yesterday that I developed a huge blood boil on the top of my foot where I dragged it to get up.
Just came back from the foot doc who lanced it and put me on antibiotics.
Who said audiophilia is not a blood sport?
Meanwhile I hooked up my old Theta DAT with the Cambridge spinner and the sound is very warm but not as refined as the Gungnir Multibit when it was working.
I’ve yet to call Schiit about the problem. Will do that now.
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Thank you.
i dont think there are any misuse issues.
i simply tried the unit with two different transports. |
It’s aggravating to find out the CXC is capable of accessing tracks but can’t because of marketing!
Also, I’m having issues with mistracking on the unit.
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Charlie,
It seems we have many coincidences.
I, too, have an excellent silver coax cable.
The problem with the noise on pause, I’m sure, is a Gungy phenomenon. I get it too. If the unit weren’t so good, it would be a most definite deal breaker. We’ll have to live with it if we want to keep it.
Interestingly, I much prefer the sound of the Gungnir with the Oppo transport.
The definition is probably better with the Cambridge, but there is, on my system, a shrillness I don’t like. The Oppo just sounds better and has plenty of detail. Maybe the Cambridge will sound different after more break in.
I love the improvement in every dimension the Gungy makes over my old Theta, which I’m using now because the Schiit stopped working! (I guess you could say, it crapped out.) They are sending me a new one. (High marks to them for doing that after I had it for almost a month.)
I’m probably going to return the CXC when I get the Multibit back if the synergy doesn’t improve. Even though it sometimes mistracks now, I’ll keep it until I send it back.
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i don’t understand how “it’s a good thing” that you can’t pause a selection in mid stream without having to hear a shattering electrical noise.
If the telephone rings, or you have to go to the bathroom, you have to start a CD from the beginning, even if you are three quarters of the way through a symphony you’ve been avidly listening to for 45 minutes. It’s not a good thing if, effectively, you can’t utilize a pause control, like virtually with every other similar device.
Also, I can’t give a company “credit” for not answering their phones just because they say they won’t.
On the plus side, they are replacing my faulty Gungnir after I’ve had it for about a month. |
First, to answer the edit: question, the light does not go on with the Gungnir.
I have been having some incredibly bad luck with my equipment:
1. The new Gungnir stopped working. It’s now on its way back to Schiit.
2. My Oppo 105D stopped working. It’s on it’s way to Oppo.
3. The new Cambridge CXC transport is evidently having trouble with error correction. It skips or mistracks.
As I mentioned, for whatever reason, the most natural sound Ive been getting is from the combination of the Oppo and the Gungnir, both of which are out for repair. So, currently I’m using the Cambridge with my old Theta DAC. The sound is actually fairly good but not as good as with the previous combination.
I don’t understand why the Gungnir doesn’t sound better with the Cambridge. I thought it would. Maybe it is a question of break in. Shrill is perhaps too strong a word for the problem with the sound. It just seems lacking in fullness.
I’ll try again when the equipment comes back from repair. |
Thank you gdhal.
I can only hope. But I was very happy with the sound I was getting the way it was.
It would really be great if it got better.
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Well, maybe I’ll have to try the Tellurium cable and see.
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At over $500 for the cable, I think I’ll pass, and try to find another solution. |
I believe synergy is the issue as well. It’s really a shame if so.
But, I even if so, I’ll be happy with the alternate combo.
Its a big improvement over what I had.
And I’ll pocket the return of the Cambridge. Or, alternately, fix the mistracking and keep it as a backup for the Theta (I’m listening to it now — very satisfying.)
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Al,
As usual, thanks for the help.
I’ll call Cambridge and try to find out.
Richard |
DH Labs Silver Sonic D 750
0.5 meter
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Interestingly, the Cambridge really sounds great with the old Theta DS Pro Prime
DAC — full-bodied and detailed. It should sound even better with the Gungy.
But it sounds too analytical and cold, without depth.
The best sound, analytical but warm, is with the combination of the Oppo and the Gungy, so far.
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Unfortunately, Cambridge doesn’t give a phone number in the States to call.
I have to rely on email to get a response.
Even then, they make it difficult to ask a question. The query won’t even go through if you don’t enter the serial number of your device. |
Thanks, Willemj.
If I don’t get a response soon I’ll call.
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The only thing I have to add to the above is that, when you first insert a CD or manually change tracks, in my system it’s more of a loud pop or boom from the speakers instead of a click. When the volume is set to high I’m really afraid it’s going to damage the speakers. |
Twoleftears:
Since we share the same combo of DAC and transport, do you notice any lack of synergy between the components, or is your sound full, detailed and rich?
As previously noted in this thread, my Cambridge lacks fullness with the Gungy, but not with another DAC. |
The only thing I have to add to the above is that, when you first insert a CD or manually change tracks, in my system it’s more of a loud pop or boom from the speakers instead of a click. When the volume is set to high I’m really afraid it’s going to damage the speakers. |
Sorry for the redundancy. It didn’t register the first time.
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Charlie,
Thanks for the encouragement!
Hope you’re right.
Happy Thanksgiving to you too.
Richard
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I’m using the CXC every day for many hours with my old DAC. That should break it in pretty well. When I get the new Gungy, it’ll take a while till that breaks in.
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Almarg,
This is Cambridge’s answer:
“The Answer to your question is that the impedance is 75 ohms, a + & - would be a figure for tolerance and not impedance.”
Richard
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I just got a cc from Cambridge from someone who asked that question.
Maybe I’ll get an answer. |
“Carbon copy”.
They answered my query through another correspondent’s email, rather than answering me directly. Strange.
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Almarg,
Here is the final answer:
“After speaking with the engineers on this one again it turns out that the < that is in the spec sheet of the CXC is a printing error and should not be there.”
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Well, here’s the latest chapter in the saga of Schiit service.
They sent me a label which I was supposed to place on the package of the Gungnir Multibit I was returning because it didn’t work. Very graciously, they offered me a new replacement, even though it was beyond the 15 day return period. So, I carefully placed the label on the package and brought it to a FedEx office. Schiit said as soon as they received the tracking information from FedEx they would send me a new unit. I waited a week. No indication of them sending me anything. I called and they said there was no evidence I had sent it, even though I followed their instructions implicitly,
By this time they had received my unit. And, they tell me there’s nothing wrong with it!! And,what’s more, they couldn’t possibly send me a replacement because of “scratches and gouges” on the old one. Hardly!! I had just gotten iit.
So, it must have been my imagination that the many times I tried to run it, it was silent.
Thiis could go back and forth for a long time.
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I wasn’t supposed to send a tracking number. All I was supposed to do was paste the label they sent me onto the package.
Evidently there was a tracking number on that label that would have started the return process.
FedEx probably covered the label with their own and assigned a different tracking number that Schiit had no knowledge of.
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The package was put in its original carton and packed securely,
i dont think it could have gotten scratched by FedEx.
Schiit still says I didn’t put the proper label on it when I assured them I did.
Aggravating!
Its possible that FedEx did screw up by pasting their label over Schiit’s but Schiit insists I’m at fault.
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Unfortunately, I have no record of the serial number.
Also, I was tracking the package with the number I got at the FedEx office, and it got to Schiit the day it said it would.
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Gdhal:
At this point I just want a working unit. If Schiit pulls any more sh*t I will definitely write. They said they’re sending my unit back in working order.
Thats all I care about now. I don’t see them sending me a new unit.
Thank you for your interest and concern!
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That’s a good question.
I’ll find out tomorrow when delivery is expected. |
If you don’t like continuing sad stories, read no further.
I got the Gungnir back today, and the Oppo should be coming later today.
Great news, right? I should be able to experiment to my heart’s content on the merits of the combinations of components. Fun!
.... Just a few minutes prior to the Gungnir delivery, one of my monoblocks crapped out— probably a power supply problem caused by the heat of a fire I had earlier this year. (But that’s a different sad story which some of you might have heard about.)
Sent the amps immediately for repair. But will have to wait a little longer to see or hear what’s up.
SNAKEBIT!
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P.S. And Schiit failed to include the power cord I sent them with the Gungnir with the thought I was getting a complete new unit. No power cord!
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