USB Nervosa Thread Decrapifiers, pro interfaces, and bears oh my

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by zerodeefex, Sep 28, 2015.

  1. NDonchev

    NDonchev New

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    @bixby,
    I'll research on the Grimm TPR cables. Generally I don't want to obsess on cables too much and put a lot of money in it.

    @k4rstar, @rlow, @msommers,
    I'll definitely not hurry to put more money on a transport. It's been a week since the Yggdrasil is here and playing music non-stop with the exception of a few seconds turn off to change the power outlet. I would say it improved a lot for the first 24-48 hours. After that it's more subtle. It's good that the DigiOne Signature will improve on the USB Gen 5. I want to finish this knowing that I don't have weak point in the chain.

    @purr1n,
    This quote from you was one of the contributors to make the decision for buying the Yggdrasil:
    "This is the DAC that brought me from exclusively vinyl back to digital. Vinyl is still better, but Yggdrasil Analog 2 is close enough that my second system is exclusively digital".

    I have tried Metrum Onyx at home with this setup, but I returned it. I'm still not sure that was a good decision as the DAC was really good. Really liked the fullness of sound, the timbre and the atmosphere around different sounds. However, I felt at the time that something is missing. Maybe it was too laidback for me. This is, at that point I didn't have much experience with DACs.

    I had the RME Adi 2 at the same time which was also returned, but no regrets there. I didn't like it - I got headaches from it and it was edgy on my setup and thin sounding (was comparing it to the Onyx, so not a surprise). At times I thought of buying the Onyx again, but my not so smooth experience with returning the unit prevents me from doing that.

    Also, I had the opportunity to hear the Chord Hugo 2 with my setup in a store. Was really impressed with it. So logically the Qutest was another candidate.

    I was on CanJam in London a two weeks ago. I had the opportunity to try a lot of high end equipment there, including the Benchmark DAC3, Chord TT2, Dave and others. I was a bit sceptical about the Schiit's stuff because of poor measurement results. Unfortunately no Gungnir Multibit or Yggdrasil on their stand, so tried other stuff. I liked the Jotunheim Multibit, but especially the Ragnarok 2 Nexus Multibit. Very analogue like sound (no experience with high-end analogue sound, but anyway that is my association), relaxed and pleasant to listen to. So I was convinced that Schiit are legit and I ordered the Yggdrasil the same night. It was a hard decision between Yggdrasil and the Gungnir Multibit.

    By the way, @purr1n, I think this is the first time I see someone saying that the Gymby is colder sounding than the Yggdrasil. From the forums, my impression is that is it warmer and smoother then the Yggdrasil. More pleasant to listen to, some say.

    To clarify a bit what I mean by "sharpness". It's not necessarily that the highs are edgy and sibilant. Even a bass sound can be sharp. It's that the tone is so sudden (sharp) that it feel unpleasant.

    I know the Violectric gear is not very much loved around here, but the V281 was the top amp at my local audio store and after hearing it I really liked it, especially the balanced out. I don't think it is edgy generally.

    Ultimately, I want to get a TOTL Tube amp (Eddie Current, DNA for example), but will probably be sometime in the future. For now I might try the Laconic Night Blues Mini as it gets a lot of praise around here and I might have the option to get it from Russia through a delivery proxy.

    Anyway, I think I might found the source of the problem. So far the amp's volume pod was at most at 9 o'clock when listening very loudly. That is less then 1/4 of the amp's volume capacity. The v281 has a pre-gain settings set to it's default values. I read that the volume pod has be at around 12 o'clock (50%) for optimal listening experience. So adjusted the pre-gain settings to -18db and now it seems a lot better. The sound is a lot smoother, relaxed and pleasant. I need more listening time with different music, but so far it seems I might have found the solution.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2019
  2. Sonorus

    Sonorus Facebook Friend

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    The V281/V280 are not edgy - zippy and in no way sharp sounding with HD800S.
    On the contrary they are warm sounding with the HD800S.
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The Gungnir "A1", the first version was warmer than the Yggdrasil. With the latest "A2" revisions, the Gungnir (which underwent a silent revision) is actually cooler (and also slightly less bright, just a tiny bit, than Yggdrasil A2). In terms of this "sharpness, even in the bass", The Gungnir has slightly sharper less rounded transients than Yggdrasil too. Just by a little bit. The most noticeable difference in tone is Yggdrasil has more organic lows and Gungnir is cool in the mid-bass and upper bass (but still has strong sub/low bass).

    Ragnarok 2 and Multibit card: the internal DAC card is most similar to the Modi Multibit in terms of sound. In addition, the amp is robust and rich sounding.

    The NBM / Drop x ZDT Jr. has been covered intensively with both strengths and weaknesses well covered in the thread here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...t-jr-official-thread.5408/page-40#post-267867

    HD800 stock sounds sharp to me on 85% of solid-state amps, and on the ones that don't, the amps are broken. HD800S sounds warm and even sharper at the same time from 85% of solid-state amps. I generally dislike the stock HD800/HD800S on any amp and find it an abomination unless mods are applied. And even then, it has to be from the right amp. This is just my perspective and may not reflect anyone else's reality.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2019
  4. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    I did a comparison if Onyx and Gungnir A1...I'll try to dig it up for you
     
  5. NDonchev

    NDonchev New

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    Thanks for the clarification about the Gungnir Multibit A2. I didn't know it changed the sound in that direction. That basically solves the dilemma about exchanging the Yggdrasil for a Gungnir Multibit. I think I'll stick with the Yggdrasil for now. And if I decide to downscale my setup, probably will get a Chord Qutest because of the small form factor and not having to be awlays on.

    Ragnarok 2'a multibit card being similar to Modi Mulitibit is valuable information. I was wondering about that and you just answered that question. By the way, I tried the Ragnarok 2 with my own source (Fiio X3 II DAP) and the HD800S and it sounded edgy on some recordings. Fiio have never been edgy using my amps - Teac HA-501 and Violectric v281 with the HD800S. However, not a hint of edginess with Ragnarok 2's internal multibit DAC.

    I went through the NBM / Drop x ZDT Jr. thread already. That is where I got my good impressions from, mostly. I hope it can be a good entry point to the world of tube amps.
     
  6. NDonchev

    NDonchev New

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    Thank you. Anyway, there is a good chance I already have read it as I read everything that I could find before ordering the Onyx.
     
  7. NDonchev

    NDonchev New

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    I came upon the future Schiit USB implementation several times already. Still, using DigiOne Signature with BNC seems like a good option as it is more universal. Even if I change my DAC in the future, I don't have to worry about USB implementation and most good DACs have BNC/RCA SPDIF input. Becides, who knows when the new USB card will be available...
     
  8. Baten

    Baten Friend

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    Consider AES à la Pi2AES too, maybe. Lot's of hype over at https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/raspberry-pi-i2s-to-spdif-hat.1990/page-100
     
  9. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Here if you missed it:
    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...ade-balanced-dac-pre.5181/page-12#post-254964

    I haven't compared the Bifrost to the Onyx yet but my experience with A1 Gungnir and Yggdrasil is that they're Schiit products, and a bit too zippy up top for my preferences on my speaker setup. Going through L-MCHT + 6C8G tube, and stock HD650, I don't notice any accentuated highs.
     
  10. NDonchev

    NDonchev New

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    Hi guys! A user on another forum complained that Yggdrasil makes clicking sounds between tracks when using DigiOne Signature with Volumio via SPDIF. Does anywone have similar experience? I'm now using the Yggdrasil with Volumio via USB and it doesn't click between tracks. Maybe it's dependant on which Yggdrasil input is used?

    On a side note, I searched about the PI2AES board for the Rasbperry Pi, but unfortunately it seems to be out of stock. So can't find a way to buy one.
     
  11. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    That should change this week I think, hey @Michael Kelly ?

    Yggdrasil does click depending on but rates but it shouldn't between tracks that are the same.
     
  12. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Regarding Pi2AES, Michael answered that yesterday over in that thread:
    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...pi-i2s-to-spdif-hat.1990/page-100#post-268118

    As far as the clicking sound between tracks, I’ve heard of this before in Schiit DACs with certain CD transports - something about the lack of data being sent while the track is being changed. No idea about the DigiOne Sig with Volumio however. As you say - normally the clicking only occurs when sample rates change.
     
  13. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    I'm using Gungnir Multibit with Digione Signature and I think it only clicks if there is change in sample rate. I have DietPi as OS
    But I must add these clicking never transfer to transducers.
     
  14. ohshitgorillas

    ohshitgorillas Friend

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    Let's say I've already voided the warranty on my Eitr because when I got it, there was a loose capacitor floating around the case freely and I put it back myself. Would changing the RCA output on the back to a true 75 ohm BNC connector be as easy as switching the connector out? I saw some measurements recently (ASR, I know I know...) that jitter on the same device (Allo DigiOne Signature) was much lower from BNC coax vs RCA coax. I am getting an audioGD DAC19 mk3 in soon (used) and going to replace the coax RCA with a BNC adapter there too. I am going to listen to it stock for a while first though.

    Seems like a simple upgrade, but it can't really be that easy, can it?
     
  15. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

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    I have both and the Pi2AES is hands down the winner and doesn't need lps. To me on par with the best cd transports i've heard and the most resolving roon/volumio endpoint. Yggdrasil a2 via Aes is the best, most resolving and transparent input. Working on a quick review.
     
  16. NDonchev

    NDonchev New

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    Hi guys! I did some additinal research and based on your suggestions and others I ordered a PI2AES unit as a transport for the Yggdrasil.

    Regarding cables I was going to get Blue Jeans cables, but got a suggestion for the Grimm TPR XLR cable. Several people suggested it may be a better option then the Blue Jeans. Also Grimm TPR can be ordered from Europe which is a plus.

    Can the Grimm TPR XLR be used for analog interconnects and for AES/EBU digital as well? Is it a 110ohm cable? To my understanding the mono cable is what is needed in both cases.

    I think of getting three of these:
    TPR Mono XLR 1 Meter
    https://www.grimmaudio.com/shop/index.php?route=product/product&path=65_66&product_id=94

    Any other suggestions are also welcome. Thanks.

    EDIT: It seems the following document answers part of my questions:
    https://www.grimmaudio.com/site/assets/files/1086/grimm_tpr_leaflet.pdf
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2019
  17. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    So what you're saying is Pi2AES w/ stock switcher PS excels in all categories vs. DigiOne Sig using LPS for clean side?
     
  18. neogeosnk

    neogeosnk Friend

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    That's correct. It was also better than batteries for clean side. Was pleasantly surprised.
     
  19. MisterRogers

    MisterRogers Ethernet Nervosa

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    Please keep in mind, that with different PS' comes different presentations - which places such evaluations square in the middle of personal preferences. To my ears, better (quieter, more stable) power always results in a more pleasing presentation. Bottom line: you may not agree with @neogeosnk :)
     
  20. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    The little consensus that is available seems to point to the Pi2 being a little better, I could use AES input and don't need an LPS right away to have it sound pretty good. That's worth changing things up if the $$ makes sense to do so.
     

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