The All Purpose Advice Thread

It's only about the Modi MB that I've seen it mentioned; the dedicated thread is full of it, eg: here and here.

But if it's only been plugged in 3-4 days it'd be odd if it was the problem. Give it a try though. No need to worry about the long warm-up, just unplug it for a couple of minutes then start it again when it's still warm.

Edit: fixed the second link (thanks @Lyander ); also, for more history on/descriptions of this issue, search the Modi Multibit thread for 'ringing'.

 

Well I had the exact same noise but much louder (had grown progressively louder over some days) before I unplugged the ModiMB during the intermission between Vali2 departure and Vali2+ arrival. I dumped the Vali2 because I thought it was the origin of the noise and because Vali2+ appeared to be a nice upgrade. So, if I reset ModiMB now and the noise disappears then we can says its the ModiMB? Will update in a moment. Also, the noise only occurs when music is playing. If I pause the music then the noise stops too.

 

I unplugged the ModiMB for a few minutes then reconnected. Noise persists. And I was wrong, the noise is there even when music is not playing. The noise is there even when I disconnect USB from the Macbook.

Ill try @Ksaurav402 ’s suggestions to determine if its eitr, modi, or vali2. Its not macbook. Oh, and Ill try another tube. Im using stock schiit tube

 

Can you open up your cables? If the ground wire or shield came loose and is touching something it shouldn't, it could cause hum or noise.

 

If you have a mini stereo to dual rca cable around. Grab your cell phone, turn the volume all the way up or 95% and play something on it through the Vali to rule out Vali as the culprit.

 

Without being able to say if it's actually your issue, the Modi MB weirdness appears to be in the DSP getting samples off in one channel so the data fed to the DAC is wrong. Manisfests (at least for me) as an odd squeaking/metallic noise on top of the music and would only occur while music is playing. It sounds like something is obviously wrong, and is easily fixed by a simple power cycle of the DAC. For me it's only happened a couple of times, both after months of power on time.

Actually after your latest post it sounds like the DAC is not the issue.

 

I tried plugging macbook headphone out 3.5mm to amp rca, noise still. Tried 3.5mm from phone to amp rca, still noise. Im thinking its some interference so tried turning off and unplugging electronics nearby (lamp and macbook), still noise. Next closest electronics is tv / media center approx 10ft away. Could it be noise from the electricity outlet? Should I try another outlet? Is my stack too high with too many wires?

Edit: ill try another tube

 

It was the tube. What the Schiit? #tubelife

 

Blame Canada

 

Oh Canada

 

Go Vintage or go home.

@Philimon - These guys are legit. I have been to their shop in Denver and purchased a number of 6sn7s. over the years and they tested a bunch of my ebay tubes for free. They are a well known amp repair shop for pro stuff.

For $6 shipped or so you can get some history.

https://www.ebay.com/str/vacuumtubesupplies?_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2563

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144312543443?hash=item2199b2a8d3:g:miIAAOxywbNQ9Ykg

 

I'm at an audio impasse and would love some advice. But first some background, if I may...

Long-time audio guy, first 2-channel, then home theatre. Currently running a 7.2(+) setup with a somewhat imbedded 2-channel chain in a medium-sized basement. I mostly listen to rock, with some occasional EDM/pop. I'm at that 98% "happy" mark with my current 2.0 chain. The sound is clear, punchy, and resolving.

The thing that is bugging Me, and for the most part always has, is the lack of soundstage. The sound is dead-tied to the speakers, not "wide", "deep", or "tall". I've meddled with settings, swapping components, speaker placement, toe, etc. I'm honestly at a loss. I'm to the point of considering a dedicated preamp before my integrated amp, but would love input from you fine human beings.

What I'm running:

Project Debut Carbon TT > Schiit Mani phono pre > SchiIt SYS input 1
Oppo BDP-103D as a CD transport > Schiit Modi Multibit > Schiit SYS input 2
Schiit SYS output > Schiit Vali 2+ hybrid tube combo head-amp/pre. > Emotiva BasX a-100 Gen. 2 integrated amp
The speakers are Klipsch WF-35 2-way ported floor-standers with horn-loaded 1" titanium tweeters, (3) 5.25" carbon-fiber mid/woofers, a 2500 hz crossover point, and very sold cabinets.

I typically run the SYS and a-100 volume pots full up, and control volume with the Vali 2+. That said, soundstage does not differ if I cut the Vali 2+ out, and run SYS > a-100, using the SYS for volume control (the a-100 has a TERRIBLE felling volume pot). The soundstage is basically the same whether I'm spinning vinyl or CD.

The a-100 has a headphone out, so I'm not completely tied into needing a head-amp. Also, I'm not married to having a tube in the chain.

My thought is this: try a different setup for the preamp. I'm considering purchasing either a Schiit Saga S or Jotunheim 2, and selling the SYS and Vali 2+.

Is this a solid train of thought? I've read that the preouts on head-amps leave something to be desired in comparison to a dedicated preamp. Does anyone have any direct experience with that? I've never had a dedicated pre before, so this is new territory for Me. It the amp itself an issue? Or maybe the speakers? Something further up the chain?

Am I barking up the right tree, or am I completely off-base? Please help!

Thank you all so very much for your time and consideration!

 

Hi. A couple things. First, as with most advice requests this probably belongs in either the all-purpose advice thread or the two-channel advice thread, which I have linked. The latter may be the best location.

Second, If I'm reading this right you have, effectively, 3 preamps/potentiometers in your chain at once: a passive pot acting as a switch, a headphone amp acting as a preamp, and then an integrated amp with the preamp. These are running to nice looking 2-ways that have small woofers and very limited bass extension.

I don't claim to be an expert, but I would probably start by looking first at the amplifier, and second at the speakers. If possible I would demo some other gear in the same space, which would likely help identify which part of the system has the most influence on soundstage.

Big picture wise I would also want to clean up the preamp situation, maybe with a single preamp doing switching and attenuation duty. The chain of an integrated amp being fed by a headphone amp being fed by a passive pre seems overly complex. Broadly speaking while the Schiit headphone amps have convenient pre outs I wouldn't use them as a dedicated preamp; they feel like something meant more for a small desktop setup using powered monitors.

Others may have more specific recommendations for equipment to try.

 

Please accept my apologies for posting in the wrong place, I’ll repost correctly. Thank you for the links and advice scblock.

 

Changing the chain components is unlikely to help with soundstage width but could. When I listened to Schiitt's multibit stuff they tended to come off less lively and with slightly smaller soundstage in my systems.

More importantly any speaker with a waveguide or horn is likely to disperse less to the extreme sides when compared to those without. Some width ques can be in the presence region so any speaker with a dip in this area may be perceived as perhaps less wide. EQ may be needed here. Also speaker placement too far way from or too close to side walls can hurt, try moving speakers a bit closer or further and see if a positive change occurs. And try different toe in or out.

As for depth, those cues normally come from the bass region and getting good linear response under 100hz (think subwoofer here) can greatly improve depth perception, provided the recording has it. Lots do not. And finally height, that has always been a puzzle to me. It can be improved by reducing the smearing and possible dips in the mids with some ceiling treatment but on the whole most wave guides restrict height.

In the end trial and error for speaker placement should be first on the list.

Good luck in your journey.

 

I can try the analog outs from the Oppo, and bypass the Multibit, see if that makes a difference. Fairly stuck with the speakers and placement, but I will play with toe and pushback as much as realistic. Thank you for the insight.

 

@Biodegraded I ordered a pair of Philips tubes from the link, thanks.

@scblock Thanks for directing new users and keeping these boards clean.

@rockwoodkelly I agree most with @bixby that a waveguide will have a smaller soundstage due to the direcitivity of the horn shape. The horn benefit is to increase efficiency (as you may know). The smaller soundstage / directivity of the horn will reduce boundary interference which will increase imaging quality (trade off). Id try messing with very varied speaker placement, or get some other speakers. Also, yes deep bass really solidifies and improves the depth of soundstage creating much more believable soundstage as well as tone. However integrating a sub well into the system will require some more reading and not just simple plug and play unfortunately (crossover and placement and time alignment and nulls and modes etc).

 

@bixby is due the credit for that one.

Seconded!

@rockwoodkelly , welcome, and in addition to this thread and the two-channel advice one, there might be stuff of interest to you in the speakers area of the Two-Channel Gear Discussion subforum (eg there's a subwoofer thread).

 

Thank you all for the welcomes, and the kind consideration of my ‘problem’.

Sub integration is something that I have definitely sorted out over the years. Sub localization is a pet-peeve of mine. I run three subs for the HT in my medium size basement, and eyes closed, you have no idea where they are. That said, I have never considered running one with the 2-channel setup. More things to think about.

 

You guys are great and so are some super videos from the youtube. Not sure of his nationality but this guy speaks excellent English and seems to be on point.

I am experimenting now with pulling my 2.1 based setup sub out of the corner and closer to the right speaker.

Using my filter, his bias is about detail and transient response. Kinda like me 7-8 years ago with my Matrix dac and passive great studio monitors (mistake selling the monitors).