Schiit Unison USB

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by gaspasser, Aug 31, 2019.

Tags:
  1. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Likes Received:
    7,735
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Canada
    I used Roon ROCK OS, which is based on Linux if that counts. If the Linux version you want to use supports UAC2 it will likely work. Windows older than 10, no.
     
  2. Syzygy

    Syzygy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,144
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    DFW, Texas
    I tested the beta with Solus Linux (desktop-focused) and both Rhythmbox and DeadBeef. Had issues with Rhythmbox, but DeadBeef using the ALSA backend worked perfectly. I suspect other distros with software using ALSA should work fine with the release firmware.

    At the time of the beta, OpenBSD didn't support USB2 audio, but it does now. Haven't had time to go back and try it again yet, but I'll get there. Also have a FreeNAS here (FreeBSD), which I've not yet tested, but will soon.
     
  3. tlainhart

    tlainhart New

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2019
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    MA, USA
    I'm confused by this post - perhaps I haven't been following along well.

    How is it that you are able to get a Unison USB upgrade on your Yggdrasil? Are you part of a beta program? I thought that @schiit has said that Unison won't be available until the demise of Win/7. Perhaps he's referring to a different form factor release?

    One reason I ask as I've been holding off sending my Yggdrasil back to the mothership for an A1=>A2 upgrade, wanting to do both Unison and A2 upgrades on one cycle.
     
  4. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,070
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Cape Town, South Africa
    It was a closed beta.
     
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Just wait until next year. Keep in mind that A2 does sound different from A1, so if you've built a synergistic or optimized system around the A1, you may have to resort to tweaks to get the system back to how it sounded like.
     
  6. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,268
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Or get a Gungnir A2 (ish).
     
  7. Scott Kramer

    Scott Kramer Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,446
    Trophy Points:
    93
    There's an ominous fog about... the Gungnir I feel, as we know it, is not long for this world by any stretch of the imagination. Many many clues.
     
    Last edited: Sep 5, 2019
  8. Audionics

    Audionics New

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2018
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Amsterdam
    I find this message a little foggy. :)

    Yggdrasil and Gungnir Multibit are getting old.
    Maybe we get more than just Unison in the new year...
     
  9. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2019
    Likes Received:
    1,419
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    .
    To those who had a Unison board in their Bifrost Multibit, did the music become more engaging?

    In my speaker setup, the BM is resolving, has great separation of layers, no hint of music being muddled...but it just doesn't engage me like the Modi 3 does. On technicalities (clarity, separation, focus, blackground, etc.) the BM is clearly superior to the Modi 3 but I'm still left with dissatisfaction. The Modi 3 has a bit of bloom that I find pleasing to my ear, even if details are a bit smeared. (On another note, the lack of microdynamics from the Vidar has become obvious after switching DACs)

    I read impressions of the Unison that there is a kind of tube-like bloom and less of a "reference" sound. This might make the BM a preferable DAC in my speaker setup. Just curious how dramatic the change in sound will be.

    I've used EITR, built-in USB, and CD transport SPDIF coax with my Bifrost.

    On the other hand, I prefer the BM with the HE-6, it just plays to its strengths better.
     
  10. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    6,833
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Home Page:
    I think the Unison in my Bifrost Multibit removed some haze and brought in clarity. Less grey backgrounds, more plankton, and engaging, but not in a lush tube-like kind of way. It just sounded more accurate, but it might highlight the leanness of the first gen. Bifrost Multibit.
     
  11. Syzygy

    Syzygy Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,144
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    DFW, Texas
    Yes. More blackground, more clarity, more engaging.
     
  12. wout31

    wout31 New

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2019
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Yggdrasil Old? The analogue 2 upgrade for Yggdrasil is hardly 2 years old.
    I'm anxiously awaiting the Unison USB module to upgrade.
     
  13. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    May 7, 2019
    Likes Received:
    2,062
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NY
    I don't think DAC needs yearly upgrade. I feel both these DACs are fantastic and in Jan we will get USB upgrade anyways. Plus Schiit has launched Bifrost 2
     
  14. tlainhart

    tlainhart New

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2019
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    MA, USA
    Will the Unison upgrade have a self-service option?
     
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    If Gungnir, I believe you have to send it in for a firmware update on the motherboard.
     
  16. allegro

    allegro Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2017
    Likes Received:
    637
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Florida
    Don't take this as gospel since I am writing from memory of the thread at HF but if you swear you are competent to install it I believe Schiit will sell you the Unison USB board for older Bifrost and Yggdrasil only to install yourself when available next year. Look at some of the videos on Schiit's YouTube channel.
     
  17. tlainhart

    tlainhart New

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2019
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    MA, USA
    Thanks. Yeah, this will be going into an older Yggdrasil.
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
  19. tlainhart

    tlainhart New

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2019
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    MA, USA
  20. Mindbender

    Mindbender Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2019
    Likes Received:
    81
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Anywhere the Wind Blows
    @purr1n - thanks for the detailed instructions for the previous Yggdrasil upgrade. Just wondering if the Yggdrasil screws were easy to strip or pretty durable for being non-steel screws?

    My biggest concern would be if the Yggdrasil Unison board were overly complex or larger, resulting in a difficult at-home install. The process would seem to be much easier if it were a simple rPi hat-like board.

    But I’ve got this friend named Murphy, and he’s got this Law...

    That dude is never wrong.
     

Share This Page