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USB De-fuckifiers: Schiit Wyrd vs. Uptone Regen

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by purr1n, Jan 24, 2016.

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  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Schiit Wyrd vs. Uptone Regen
    DSC_2156a.jpg

    The Intona USB Isolater was present too, but I wasn't able to get it to work in the chain.

    BACKGROUND
    Read Michael Lavorgna | AudioStream to get a background or intro on these two products. I don't have enough time in my life to cut and paste specs, marketing material, and tidbits from the manufacturers. You can also get a good gist of what these things actually do from the AudioStream articles, because at this point, I don't want to explain it again for the 150th time. Well maybe a little bit. It's something about USB packets and better +5 power into USB. It all gives me a headache, because sometimes I just want to listen to shit rather than understand it, and ultimately all these explanations of how these devices work are semi-bullshit anyways, because they are all conjecture.

    HOW TO USE
    Place between your computer USB output and DAC USB input. You will need an extra USB cable. Both boxes have external bricks for power. The Schiit has an AC wallwart. The Regen has a switcher brick with a IEC receptacle to allow rolling of AC power cables.

    PLAYBACK CHAIN
    The playback chain was as follows: PC > USB de-fuckifier > iFi iDSD Micro (used for USB to SPDIF conversion) > Sonic Frontiers SFD-1 MKII (SE+ upgraded) > Laconic Lab Night Blues Mini > Sony MDR-MA900. I chose this chain for the following reasons:
    1. As of 2016, newer high-end DACs don't seem to benefit from USB de-fuckifiers as much. DAC manufacturers such as MSB, Bricasti, Hilo, Schiit, Berzerkly, etc. are figuring USB out. This is why I chose to use a a decent USB to SPDIF converter (the iFi Micro sucks as a DAC/amp, but as a converter, it's actually pretty good) pair with a vintage DAC using the UltraAnalog chips and receivers.
    2. Don't laugh at the headphone and amp. The MDR-MA900 is highly capable and quite resolving. The fact that the drivers are essentially suspended in air in front of me allows a more proper assessment of imaging short of speakers. Think of the MA100s as K1000s lite. The Night Blues Mini is resolving, lively, and spacious (but a with little less controlled and clarity in the bass because it doesn't use thousands of dollars in transformers.) The NBM also has a fuller sound which plays well with the MA100.
    WARNING: Since we are talking about USB de-fuckifiers, your mileage will vary!

    RESULTS
    Will make succinct points:
    1. The differences are minor. So minor that it would take a lot of practice to make them out in a blind test; and even then, I think it would be difficult, unlike the ODAC and Modi 2 blind test I participated in (which was super easy after some practice).
    2. Regen has more expansive stage with better separation. Wyrd stage is more closed in.
    3. Wyrd has ultimately better micro-stuff. Regen seems to beat it at points, but what I realized over time is that I was hearing the separation of instruments better. Wyrd picks up the trailing tails of decay better.
    4. Wyrd has fuller sound. This is a bit at odds with what some people have told me privately. However, read next point:
    5. Regen has smoother sound. There is a slightly glossing over some microdetail and especially microdynamics, but in return there is more fluidity, a more liquid sound. This liquid provides a certain inner-warmth, particularly to vocals.
    CONCLUSION
    Pick your poison. Both do an good job at opening up the stage, tightening up the imaging, making stuff sound more precise and less sloppy, and providing a slight increase in microdetail and separation. These two little boxes do mostly the same thing, but are complimentary to each other, each doing certain things better than the other. Pick the one that will do the best for your system and your preferences.
     
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2016
    purr1n, Jan 24, 2016
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  2. Smitty

    Smitty Too good for bad vodka - Friend

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    Good to know I'm not the only person that can't get a Wyrd and an Intona to work together. Thanks for the write up @purrin.
     
    Smitty, Jan 24, 2016
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  3. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    Props for coining the term defuckifier.

    Which would play better with a Bifrost Multibit? Or is that even a reasonable question, probably the whole chain matters.
     
    lm4der, Jan 24, 2016
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  4. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    It will be interesting to know how does the Intonia peform as a standalone defuckifier by itself(without Wyrd/Regen in chain).
     
    Madaboutaudio, Jan 24, 2016
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  5. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

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    Intona and Wyrd worked just fine in my chain. It can be tricky. I found the best way to make it work is to have the Intona connected to the Wyrd and then the rest in your chain, but turn on the Wyrd and your DAC BEFORE turning on your PC. Then it should work. You'll know it is working when the LED light blinks very fast.

    So with the PC Turned OFF (or other USB Source) make sure your entire chain is properly connected:

    USB Source->Intona->Wyrd->DAC->Amp

    Then before turning on your PC or other USB source, make sure you turn on your Wyrd and DAC. Once those are on, then turn on your PC or USB source and it should work fine.
     
    The Alchemist, Jan 24, 2016
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  6. Smitty

    Smitty Too good for bad vodka - Friend

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    I'll try that to see if it works.
     
    Smitty, Jan 24, 2016
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  7. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    Madaboutaudio, Jan 24, 2016
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  8. Smitty

    Smitty Too good for bad vodka - Friend

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    More importantly, that's a converter. I've been looking at stuff that does USB to AES/EBU, and that's a very interesting option (and a lot cheaper than the TotalDAC and Berkeley converts). I might pick one up after I pay off the rest of my Stratus.
     
    Smitty, Jan 24, 2016
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  9. takato14

    takato14 God of Ruin

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    sounds like Wyrd for me. thanks for this marv.

    and now I will never call these anything but defuckifiers.
     
    takato14, Jan 24, 2016
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  10. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

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    The Wyrd isn't black, it won't be able to fit into my system because of that. Regen it is!
     
    BioniclePhile, Jan 24, 2016
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  11. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    Thanks Marv... I'll stick with the Wyrd.... I'd love to hear your thoughts about whether the Bifrost MB (I hate the term Bifrost Multibit) or the Gungnir Multibit needs the Wyrd more, relatively speaking...I personally think the Bifrost MB could use the Wyrd more than the latter as I hear less of the grain.
     
    Koth Ganesh, Jan 24, 2016
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  12. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    And I have just ordered the MDR-MA100 !
     
    Koth Ganesh, Jan 24, 2016
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  13. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    Gives you the jitters just thinking about it.
     
    lm4der, Jan 24, 2016
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  14. Olor1n

    Olor1n Friend

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    Haven't heard the Wyrd, but Marv has described the positives I'm hearing with the REGEN (Amber) in my system. Love the overall smoothness of the presentation, the space between elements and the way vocals are made more distinct. Bass seems to have better impact too. It's taut and well defined. My dac is the NAD M51 and the improvements with the REGEN in place are quite stark. Didn't expect this to be the case but very happy with how the REGEN has elevated my dac.

    Curious if the REGEN Marv compared to the Wyrd is the latest Amber version. The NAD M51 is not a thin sounding dac, but the REGEN does give the overall presentation more weight.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2016
    Olor1n, Jan 24, 2016
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  15. Original Ken

    Original Ken Friend

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    I have the top of that line, the Sony MDR-MA900 and I enjoy that aspect of "speakers hung right in front of your ears" (as opposed to the usual headphone drivers directly in line with the ear canal). Their extreme "open air" aspect means that they are more pleasant to use in very hot conditions (remember those?). I will likely hold on to mine for many years. I'm tempted to buy the MA100 just to see how close they come.
     
    Original Ken, Jan 25, 2016
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  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I'm a retard. I meant MA900 instead of MA100. In a rush to get the post out before business trip.
     
    purr1n, Jan 25, 2016
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  17. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Are you sure you're using the ifi micro, not nano?
     
    zerodeefex, Jan 25, 2016
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  18. EraserXIV

    EraserXIV Friend

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    MA900 is good and VERY comfortable, but the lack of that last bit of resolution made me ultimately sell them. They could occasionally sound "wooly" at times. Replaced them with the K7XX and prefer it more.

    Might be worth looking into, but the MA900 does have some sort of resistor in-line with each driver in order to make it more consistent to drive across different sources.. but the thought is that it degrades SQ as a trade-off. I never tried it, but there is a way to bypass the resistor with some soldering.
     
    EraserXIV, Jan 25, 2016
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  19. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    No sweat...That probably explains why it cost me the equivalent of $12 :D
     
    Koth Ganesh, Jan 25, 2016
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  20. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    Alchemist, do you use a USB A to A cable to connect the PC to the Intona?
     
    Koth Ganesh, Jan 26, 2016
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