Schiit Fulla 2 Released

I've had mine now for ~3 weeks now at work, and love it!

 

Just plugged in the Fulla 2. Compared to my ancient Pico DAC the attack and bass are increased. My cheap Logitech sounds different.

You know what, more bass is a good start.

Edit: this is good.

The Koss PortaPro sounds good and now there is an all-in-one Amp-DAC for headphones and speakers that works. Next up Tidal and I am set.

 

Just got one. Really enjoying it with my RE400s. My initial impression is that it sounds better than it should for $100 and seems well built to boot.

 

PC + Fulla 2 + Logitech S715i/Veclan Monk Plus = great PC audio on a budget.

24/96 sounds good and is now my standard setting.

 

Ok just ran into a pretty serious issue with my Fulla 2. I just tried to hook it up to my monitors using a 3.5mm to RCA cable and the way the top cover wraps around the back it blocks the rear 3.5mm ports. I tried 2 different 3.5mm cables and neither fit. My ER4s and He500s 3.5mm adapter don't fit either. In fact the only 3.5mm jacks I have that do fit are my RE400s and RE00s. It requires a really slim jack which is going to limit your cabling options. Seems very un-Schiit.

 

So use a different cable, it's hardly the End Of Days. I have one of these plugged into my Fulla 2:

https://www.amazon.com/KabelDirekt-3-5mm-Audio-Cable-Auxiliary/dp/B00DI89MSM

 

But why? It just seems like a bad design choice from a company known for there design. Put simply its going to seriously limit cable options and as far as I can tell there is no reason for it (although I stand to be corrected). The cable you mention won't work for monitors because the y split is <12". It would only work if your monitors are 2' apart.

Not to mention having to buy a special $10 cable/adapter for a $99 product is not insignificant, especially when its suppose to be a standardized cable we all already own. Lastly when dealing with line level RCA which is susceptible to attenuation and EMI, the less distance and the less connection points the better. Every connection point is a possible point of failure and a opening for interference. Many of these "slim" cables have poor sheilding.

Even my cheapo iphone case that has a tight 3.5mm socket included a slim adapter.

Am I going to return my Fulla because of it?, no probably not, but it does seem like a big design oversight on an otherwise superb product to me. It would be very easy for Schiit to make the cutout on the back a little bigger and I hope they do so going forward.

 

I understand you aren't happy, and I agree that it is a design oversight, but "pretty serious," eh...I dunno. Got a Dremel tool?

 

Id be lying if I said I didn't consider that option. It would certainly do the trick but having to take a Dremel tool to your brand new electronic component is not what I would consider optimal. I wasnt trying to go the DIY route with this purchase. That said I don't own a Dremel tool, if I did I would probably go for it.

A 1/8" TRS socket that won't accept the vast majority of TRS cables isn't serious design oversight? I don't know.

 

Good grief, that's a lot of QQ for something so easy to solve.

 

Whats the solution? Buy something like this to use with standard RCA cables?

http://www.cablestogo.com/product/4...-stereo-male-to-two-rca-stereo-female-y-cable

(By the way this brand was suggested by Schiit)

Or you can use something like this with any 1/8" to RCA cable but the quality of these seems pretty low.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JG4A1LI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AYD0N7UY3M8HZ

Either way your introducing a completely unneeded connection point.

When your running unbalanced over 12' having quality cables and connections (as in adequate gauge, sturdy and well shielded, no snake oil here) is a legitimate concern. If you read the amazon review of the Monoprice cable Schiit recommends you will find that a large percentage of the reviews say one of the connections failed within a short period of time. Thats going to be an issue with a lot of these low quality Chinese "made for mobile" type cables and thats what your limited to in this case.

 

Definitely not a serious issue, my fulla2 USB slot is definitely tight to get the cable in there very carefully.

But if this was any other brand (like Chord for example), I don't really think people would be so "c'est la vie" about it.

Easy fix at least.

 

To me, a "serious" design oversight would be something like the SPL Phonitor x that blew up when @gbeast tried to test it for review on hf, supposedly (according to Phonitor) because the SE plug was inserted w/o muting the output first. Now that is a serious design oversight. This was my solution to a similar problem to yours. Inelegant but effective (this should be a tattoo on my forehead).

 

Its not that the socket is tight, the USB on mine is tight too but thats fine, who doesn't like a tight fit ? Its that the case blocks a lot (possibly the majority) of 1/8" cables from inserting all the way, so you get no sound.

A flaw is a flaw and to be honest I find it amazing that you guys are attempting to argue this somehow isn't a flaw. The SPL Phonitor example is a FATAL flaw, and I never said this was a fatal flaw. In fact I said it wasn't even a deal breaker but by Schiit standards its a legitimate flaw non the less. And an easy one to fix.

Given the choice, I would rather not be limited to using cheaply made imported "slim" or "made for mobile cables". Maybe thats crazy.

 

Personally, I'd still just use a cable that f'ing fit. However, Chord have bigger systemic ergonomic and practical issues with their entry level $500+ DAC in any case. Not being able to listen to music on hot days was my personal favourite, but the list is longer than that.

The Fulla 2 did have a bunch of flaws- the power negotiation stuff being broken (apparently due to missing components) was a biggie- took me a while to convince them that there was even an issue with my Fulla and mobile devices . The USB sockets on some units being unusable tight was a bit of a car crash too- I had destroyed a couple of USB cables before I saw the light- you had to loosen the screws and re-align the case, then do them back up again.

This one's a minor flaw which they will hopefully learn from. A reasonably intelligent adult should be able to rock'n'roll deal with it. I still don't see anyone else offering a $99 DAC/amp that can push so much output current from a 500mA input.

 

I know what the problem is, and shaving down the surround to the plug itself far enough to achieve full insertion (aaahhh) would solve the problem. What I can't believe is that you claim that I said it wasn't a flaw, when I clearly agreed with you that it was. Make a warranty claim. Or don't. I'm done.

 

The fact that some other company's product had more problems, while it may be completely true, its also completely irrelevant to what I was saying. So is your comment about no other DAC/amp matching its power output. All I said was this was a real design flaw and it clearly is. If you don't care thats fine, no need to get defensive. Everyone has different standards.

Senorx, my previous post wasn't directed at you specifically! Your solution will absolutely work, and Im not knocking it, its just not the way I usually like to fix things.

 

How does the Fulla 2 compare with the Modi Multibit / Magni 2U stack? There's a couple of comments that it's on par with the regular Modi / Magni stack, but I can't see much about it vs the upgraded stack...

Edit: sorry, forgot to say this is using HD600.

Thanks .

 

Run Dave, the introductions brigade is coming, and they have torches but no weed.

 

Good question. I'd be interested in impressions.

He already has: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?posts/42159/