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Schiit not that Good?

Schiit was at AXPONA again this year. They were showing a Salk music server streaming into a Gungnir Multibit (?) feeding a Freya and two Vidars. Speakers were the Salk Song 3As.

 

So what happened?


Esoteric was just next door. This allowed attendees to move immediately from one room to another. Esoteric was showing a full stack of thier latest separates plus a VPI Avenger for analog. Speakers were a pair of Cantons I didn’t get the model of.

 

The Schiit room, while not bad, was completely destroyed by the Esoteric room. Esoteric played one SACD that unfurled a massive soundstage that I could sense even not being in the best seat. The sound of the Esoteric system, both via SACD and vinyl was dynamic, resolving, extremely musical, collected, vibrant, both large and delicately structured. It was a system that got all the minor details right. Such a good setup. The Schiit setup, while unoffensive, clean, and musical in its own right, simply couldn’t face the Esoteric in inner detail, soundstage, reality and low-level dynamics.

 

Why did the Schiit system fail so hard vs the Esoteric? Part of the reason might have been the junk cabling used by Schiit. Peaking behind the system I was Blue Jeans speaker cables and mess of power bricks, basic cabling, etc. I don’t know how much of the Schiit’s performance was compromised by inferior cabling, but I’m curious how close it would have come to the Esoteric had Schiit paid some basic attention to that area.


madavid0

Showing 4 responses by jetter

jetter
2,972 posts
 
trelja, a little off topic, but how do you like your dynaco you mention above?  Is it a sweet sounding amp, being so old school?
Thanks
jetter
2,972 posts
 
Hi Treljia, thank you for your detailed response.  I very much enjoyed reading your description of the circuits and the comparison of their simplicity to more modern designs.  The reason I asked was that I remember reading your posts years ago that you really enjoy your ST-70 and somehow it stuck with me that Ralph (atmosphere) also had made favorable comments regarding the Dynaco.  There are always units for sale here and on ebay.  And one cannot help but notice that their are still tubes on sale that are labeled Dynaco from units built years ago.
jetter
2,972 posts
 
In a way the newfound sensitivity of some members is getting to be a bit of a problem. I know wolf was thinking of purchasing either the Pass XA25 or the Schitt Aegir, the exact two amps I have been considering.

So if I ask him what he liked better about the SET, or what he did not like about the Aegir, would he be considered bad mouthing the Aegir?

That’s a crock of Schitt! (sorry, could not resist). Really though, for those of us considering the Aegir versus other amps it would be very helpful to hear his honest evaluation.
jetter
2,972 posts
 
Hi wolf and thanks for your description regarding your time with the Aegirs.  My speakers are a more difficult load to drive than yours and I was a bit worried that the XA25 would have a problem with them, but the Aegirs tempted me anyway.  I have the Schitt sys and for what it is I like it, and there may be a Freya + in the future for my second system.

I have gone a different direction than most, and have recently had a pair of Museatex Meitner mono amps modded (pretty much totally new amps inside) by John Wright who was associated with Meitner, and am happy with them. 

Thanks again,






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