If that's the case, it's probably just not meshing with your system. The only other suggestion I have is to pair it with a tube amp if it isn't already. The best sounding combination with the Yggdrasil in the chain at a recent meet involved a SET headphone amp with transformer output. Much more life-like vocal and instrumental timbres than with the solid state gear (including the Schiit Jotunheim).
But that's an easy suggestion for me to make since it's not my wallet!
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@yage ,
Thanks for the info and sharing your experience. Yes, I am keeping the DAC powered up. I am burning it in with the IsoTek disc plus heavy metal CDs on repeat, letting it run overnight. I keep it turned on even when not feeding it a signal.
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I thought that a multi-bit ladder DAC is supposed to interpolate the data on the frequency curve more accurately and smoother than delta-sigma.
Interpolation has nothing to do with the DAC architecture - this is the domain of the digital filter. Schiit's claim to fame is that their oversampling filter 'preserves the original samples'. Rob Watts of Chord Electronics wrote an interesting post on this subject over at Head-Fi ( link here). My own first-hand experience with a Modi Multibit in my system as well as listening to other Schiit DAC's (Gungnir Multibit and Yggdrasil) at head-fi meets have taught me that the overall Schiit house sound can be rather forward and aggressive at times. I did detect a slight 'edge' to vocals as well as plucked guitar when the Modi Multibit was in my system. So I don't think you're hearing things that aren't there. However, some of it was reduced by keeping the DAC powered on for at least 24 hours. Are you doing the same for the Gungnir? |
The Gallos are good, no need to replace them w/bookshelf speakers. My guess is that the Schiit is revealing distortions from somewhere up the chain. Trying the Intona, Remedy, Schiit Wyrd or even a Jitterbug would all be worthwhile experiments. The Schiit will definitely allow you to hear differences between digital cables which can affect exactly what your issue is.
Since you are worried about the 15day policy, I would contact Schiit now and tell them about what you hear, even linking them to this thread. Ask their suggestions and perhaps you could ask for an extra 15 days to figure it out. They might make an exception; it can't hurt to ask. Cheers,
Spencer |
150 hours is often not enough for a DAC...you maybe just don't like the Schiit...they get great reviews but many also do not particularly like them also... |
Found this review regarding the Wyred 4 Sound Remedy...
I
used the Remedy between my Rega Apollo and Schiit Gungnir Multibit.
Since the Rega was an older CD player the remedy improved the clock
timing before input to the Schiit DAC. With the better input to the DAC
the sound improved in all possible ways and continued to improve over
time (break-in period).
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OK, here’s what I’ve tested so far:
Different transports...both the ARC and NAD CDP’s present a hard edge to the sound. This is not at all what is referred to as "glare," but the music is sounding too bright; i.e., violins have a steel string quality to them and not a natural timbre.
I stopped using the Oyaide BNC coax cable since it is very detailed and am using a Mogami, which previous experience has proven that it sounds very natural, but lacks a tight low-end.
After playing Classical disks, I switched to female rock singers. These are well mastered CDs, but thru the Schiit the vocals are sibilant. Strings on acoustic guitar sound bright, not natural or organic. When I play these disks on the ARC, the vocals have no sibilance and sound very nice. The tweeters on my Gallo speakers reproduce female vocals very well.
The Schiit does create better imaging and a lower noise floor than the dedicated CDP. It sounds wonderful.
I thought that a multi-bit ladder DAC is supposed to interpolate the data on the frequency curve more accurately and smoother than delta-sigma. So why is the analogue stage outputting high frequencies in this form?
Next, I will track down my USB cable. I also have a pair of bookshelf speakers to swap into the system.
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Try the Intona galvonic isolater .
Alan |
Excuse me, only one comment about the Schiits was based on spec. I read the specs long after I really liked them.
However, to your own ears be true! :) If it’s too hard for you it’s too hard.
Based on spec and auditioning I think Schiits are source insensitive. If you find it glaring and hard, it's down stream from them, not up.
Best,
Erik
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@skoczylas , A lot of the discussion on dacs - particularly schiit - is on specs rather than sound. if the chord spunds better why not stay with it? we all agree specs dont correlate exactly to good sound. That’s true, but there are so many users praising the sonics of the Schiit, even on this forum, that I wanted to try it. As for the ChordEX, it was very musical, very analogue, but was too forward in presentation for me. Also lacking in low-end and inner detail. It uses a SMPS wall-wart and it’s recommended to upgrade to a linear PS for optimal performance. To add a new power supply would have made it more expensive than the Schiit. I love the sumptuous presentation of the Gungnir MB. I need to find the cause of the digital edge I’m hearing. I have good advice from the contributors that it could be the cable format, CD transport, or even my speakers. Or maybe it needs longer burn-in? |
A lot of the discussion on dacs - particularly schiit - is on specs rather than sound. if the chord spunds better why not stay with it? we all agree specs dont correlate exactly to good sound. |
Erik,
Double agreed! I had B&W. CM6s2 and listened to the B&W 805 diamonds. Those were so bright they were like diamonds cutting my eardrums.
upgraded to Aerial 5T. I left that mass spearker brightness forever.
I have the yggy as well and it does not need any reclocker. I suspect the rest of their line is similar. |
Yes erik, the reviews all state how good the Schiit clock design is.
I will try a different transport, but the Chord DAC sounded so sweet using this setup, so I’m miffed.
The ARC only uses BNC and AES outputs, but I can try USB from an NAD transport.
I have a library of AIFF files on my Mac, but I’m not fully set up for digital audio yet. As for speakers, I’m using Gallo Classico floorstanders which have extended highs, but very smooth.
Thanks. |
Also, Schiit has some of the best jitter control in the industry, a re-clocker is not what you need.
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What are your speakers?
The Schiits don't have an edge like that, but several speaker brands have a rising top couple of octaves that will no longer seem balanced.
Thiel, B&W, Golden Ear, Triangle among them.
Best,
Erik
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Sorry, using a microRendu to feed my Gumby. Definitely haven't heard any digital edge, and I did direct A/B test here vs. Chord Hugo before deciding on Gungnir MB.
Do you have access to a different transport to try or cable that isn't coax? Do you have access to computer audio server etc.? Maybe it's just a synergy thing with your CDP.
150 hours should be plenty of burn-in. Cheers,
Spencer |
