I just bought some Schiit

[Tleung]

I just purchased couple of Schiit USB filer/converters. Schiit Eiter and Schiit Wyrd.

I have not heard such a large improvement in my system for along time. I connected the Wyrd to my 190.00 Maverick DAC and they just transform into a high-end DAC. Vocal more real and very quiet background. I can hear more detail and better bass extension. Best 80.00 investment for my digital. I hook up the Eiter to my old antique Micromega MicroDac which does not have USB input. This USB to SPDIF "converter/USB signal cleaner" turn this old DAC in to a new one and I was listening to them both last night until late in the evening.

I am using a laptop as my source and just plain iTune for playback.

 

[Mortsnets]

I've been considering the Eitr, my Modi Multibit much prefers coax spdif input.

 

[Tleung]

The Eiter really make a big improvement if your source signal is noisy.

 

[JohnVF]

Is it a reclocker/converter or something like the Audioquest jitterbug or both?

 

[Tleung]

Wyrd is a reclocker and Eiter is both

 

[mhardy6647]

Is it a reclocker/converter or something like the Audioquest jitterbug or both?

Thanks for asking -- I was afraid to ask what these things were!
I will ask this, though:
So --you're using two different gizmos between your laptop and -- whatever?

 

[Tleung]

Well. I use Wyrd to connect to my current DAC (Maverick and the Musical Paradise) to clean up the USB signal. I use the Eiter to connect to my OLD Micromega so I can use USB input and clean up the signal. My only digital source is my laptop. Based on the performance I might get myself another Wyrd.

 

[JohnVF]

Sounds similar to my old system. I ran usb out of my Mac through an Audioquest jitterbug and then through an April Music Stello U3 usb-AES/ebu converter (could also do coax but my Berkeley Alpha DAC liked the AES input best.) The jitterbug cleaned up the signal, isolated it a bit. Resulted in tighter image and just a feeling of more coherency. The U3 was a converter/reclocker. And a very good one. I’m assuming the Schiit devices do similar duty. I’ve since moved to a BlueSound setup and no longer have a computer in my system, but both of those devices managed to get excellent sound out of my computer (and iPad).

 

[Tleung]

I am very new into digital source. These two little device help clean up the source signal. I am sure other devices like these will do the same to their system.

 

[Mortsnets]

Darko explains the Wyrd:
Schiit Audio Wyrd USB 'Decrapifier' review | Darko.Audio

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

Thank you, Tony.

I've got some reading to do.

 

[mhardy6647]

Darko expains the Wyrd:
Schiit Audio Wyrd USB 'Decrapifier' review | Darko.Audio

There's not much there there (inside of it, that is).


No LSICs (by the looks of it). No crystal. Coupla transistors or VRs and a small handful of capacitors.
I mean, maybe there's stuff on the other side of the board; but it kinda doesn't look like there is... EDIT Well, I guess there is! (that USB hub chip mentioned in the review Sorry!
Wonder what the thing actually does?

That Amir guy should test these two gizmos (if he hasn't already, that is) -- that should be interesting.
Audio Science Review: Articles, Reviews and Measurements of Audio Products

 

[mhardy6647]

Whoop, he did
Review and Measurements of Schiit WYRD USB Filter
Review and Measurements of Schiit Eitr USB to S/PDIF Bridge

offered (mostly) for entertainment purposes (stirring the Schiit, one might say)
Indeed, I haven't read 'em yet -- but I am gonna.

 

[JohnVF]

Whoop, he did
Review and Measurements of Schiit WYRD USB Filter
Review and Measurements of Schiit Eitr USB to S/PDIF Bridge

offered (mostly) for entertainment purposes (stirring the Schiit, one might say)
Indeed, I haven't read 'em yet -- but I am gonna.

Everytime I see that guy I want to scream "oooooh, that objective so and so" then recall that I've read his posts on various Schiit gear and can't deny that its affected my opinion of it, though I've also read takedowns of his, apparently suspect, motivation and measurements on ANOTHER site that seems to be somewhat at war with the one Amir is on. Which all just leaves me rolling my eyes and going to edit photos or something non-audio-related.

 

[TubeHiFiNut]

Pinged the folks at Schiit to confirm if the Eitr has Wyrd functionality built in.

Already got an answer: Yes, the Eitr does have the functionality of the Wyrd built in.

Might be an interesting addition.

 

[Tleung]

After few days of switching back and fore I came to the conclusion that what the Schiit did was remove lots of noise that generated from my laptop. With that I can hear more finer detail from my music and darker background. Well I guess this is a good investment if you have a noise source.

 

[MikeyFresh]

After few days of switching back and fore I came to the conclusion that what the Schiit did was remove lots of noise that generated from my laptop. With that I can hear more finer detail from my music and darker background. Well I guess this is a good investment if you have a noise source.

I also find that's precisely what these kinds of devices do, and it is now better understood that both the +5v, and the GND coming from the PC are very noisy. Removing that noise not only allows downstream connected components to sound better, but it also allows for much better performance in terms of precision clocking of the data.

The system will sound better in that scenario, though exactly how much better will vary from system to system. Some of it is even ground loop oriented, not the massive 60Hz type of hum that makes all listening impossible, but lower level noise and hum that you need to put your ear right up to the speaker to hear (or not if they are very high efficiency) that harms both the tonal balance and the stereo image.

While I use the Wyred 4 Sound Recovery, and the iFi micro iUSB3.0 in my living room and bedroom systems respectively, anyone can test how this might play out in their system for zero cost, but only with DACs that have their own power supply and don't require the +5V bus power over USB.

To do so you simply place a small piece of cello tape or even thin plastic/paper over the +5V and GND pins before plugging in the USB cable. That typically sounds much better already, though it won't work if the DAC is bus powered, or relies on the bus power just for the initial handshake. Even then it can be done by means of split USB cable where power is carried on one leg and data on the other, after the initial handshake takes place you can simply unplug the power leg.

The above trick doesn't give you any re-clocking of course, but it does give you an idea of how much noise the PC is injecting into the system via the +5V and GND of the USB connection, if the DAC does not require bus power.

 

[Mortsnets]

Looks like the Schiit Wyrd and Eitr may be discontinued due to slow sales.

"...Eitr is pretty much dead as a product due to slow sales (like Wyrd) and will probably not be made anymore. "

Schiit Happened: The Story of the World's Most Improbable Start-Up