Schiit Eitr Preview Thread

The Modi family already uses Gen 2, the USB interface on the MP is there to tick a marketing box, not to compete with Eitr.

 

I've got an Eitr coming in shortly (hopefully be delivered tomorrow) to hook up to my Holo Spring DAC (fed from microRendu). I've also got Gungnir Multibit with Gen 5 (that I installed a couple weeks ago) which I will also probably compare to Eitr (just because I can, right) - should be interesting.

If Eitr does with my Holo Spring what Gen 5 did with my Gungnir Multibit, it should be a real treat!

 

I've been comparing two ways of feeding my Spring DAC: 1) microRendu+Uptone LPS-1>USB>Singxer SU-1>I2S>Spring; 2) Allo USBridge>USB>Eitr>Spring and I can't hear a difference, even though 1) was 3.5x more expensive than 2). One warning, though: on another forum, someone was reporting that a microRendu with 2.5 software was unable to drive a Gen 5-ed Yggdrasil.

 

I tried again this weekend to compare the Eitr into Gungnir Multibit coaxial and USB Gen 5 input. Can't tell a difference. Sometimes I thought maybe a slight improvement with Eitr. But after an ear rest. It was gone. Using Black Widow as my amp.

 

May I know what is the next gadget?

 

The microRendu with 2.5 firmware works fine for me with Gen 5 USB on the Yggdrasil. I'm liking the Gen 5, too.

 

I might be wrong, but I think @gixxerwimp may be referring to using the Eitr to go USB to MF/Gadget coaxial before deciding, or I completely misread your post. . Or I have my head up.........

Or you are wondering what the gadget is. Sorry you gotta read the whole thread on this one.

 

"MP/Gadget" refers to Mike Moffat's new creation, playfully codenamed "Manhattan Project", which will be shown at RMAF. The first reference to this codename in Mike's blog is here. Mike recently summarized how it came to be here. And he gave a description of the functionality of the first in the Manhattan series here and here.

Eitr provides Gen 5 USB to S/PDIF conversion, while MP/Gadget will provide Gen 2 USB to S/PDIF + pitch shifting. So we have a choice of a Gen 5 USB>S/PDIF DDC or Gen 2 USB>S/PDIF + chill/skingasms, both for under $200.

 

If you have both Eitr and The Gadget you can go from spdif out of Eitr to spdif input on The Gadget, gaining the benefits of both.

 

Which is what I emphasized in @baldr's quote: The quality oriented USB user would prefer Eitr > Gadget

My original point was that those interested in both functions (USB>S/PDIF and pitch shifting) but who might not want to buy both devices should hold off to see how "bad" the USB is on the Gadget.

I was considering Eitr>Modi Multibit, but if Gadget>Modi Multibit sounds almost/just as good (with pitch shifting disabled, so that it effectively only performs USB>S/PDIF conversion), then I only need to buy one of them.

As I understand it, the Modi Multibit sounds better using the S/PDIF input. People have reported improvements using many different USB>S/PDIF converters, not just Eitr.

Gen 2 USB (Gadget) > S/PDIF into Modi Multibit might be "good enough" for some (like me w/o golden ears), and the incremental improvement of Gen 5 USB (Eitr) > Modi Multibit wouldn't be worth the extra expense (and additional layer in stack).

 

I've been under the impression that the usb in Modi Multibit is Gen 2?

 

No issues with my Gen 5 Gungnir Multibit using microRendu.

I believe @Torq did mention in his review earlier in thread that the Eitr equalized the SQ between the microRendu and the Sonicorbiter SE (which usually the microRendu is better), so it's also likely equalizing other USB devices as well.

I can say that my Gen 5 card in Gungnir Multibit did not equalize the SQ of my laptop (Dell XPS 13) usb output with my microRendu however - microRendu still beat it handily.

 

I did my first comparison of Gungnir Multibit Gen 5 vs. Eitr tonight. Given how good Eitr is, I have to say I was surprised jusst how good the Gen 5 USB is...it's really very good, excellent in fact.

On my loudspeaker-based system (which is very quiet with a very low noise floor), I hear a difference of "character" more than "quality". They both sound excellent, but slightly different. The Gen 5 USB has more "presence", "immediacy" and somewhat "meatier" quality to the sound than Etir/SPDIF, along with slightly more transparency and rhythmic drive. This increased presence/immediacy is not accompanied by "hardness", etch, grain in any way, however. The most accurate analogy I can provide is through digitial photography; there seems to be a bit more delineation of "micro contrast" or a bit more of the Clarity slider around the different "subjects" in the musical presentation. Eitr/SPDiF sounds slightly more "refined" and a touch softer, as if there's somewhat less micro contrast in a digital photograph. Another analogy I can think of Eitr/SPDIF sounds more like an EL-34 based tube power amp, Gen 5 USB sounds more like a KT-120 based power amp.

How much of this one might want in a photograph or a musical presentation is entirely to taste. At this point, on my full tube-based system, I think I prefer the Gen 5 USB; I can see how on other systems, for example, some solid-state systems that are less "tube-like" or leaner in character than a tube system, one might well prefer the Eitr/SPDIF presentation.

I'll have to go back and forth a bit to gather a more fully informed perspective, but both sound great; I think it comes down to: do you want to listen to an EL-34 based amp or a KT-120 based amp? Both are wonderful in their own way, but different.

 

Just thought of a turntable analogy that provides some of the distinctions of qualities between Gen 5 USB and Eitr/SPDIF: Gen 5 sounds more like a Rega P5 or P6 with an RB700 arm and Eitr sounds more like a really good suspended belt-drive table like a Linn or Michell. Gen 5 USB provides a bit more of a propulsive "drive", that PRAT that Rega 'tables are famous for. I've always described my Rega P5 as "kicky", as it really "kicks out the jams"'; my Michell Gyro is....well, the best word I can use to describe it is "mellifluous", more liquid, silvery....

 

Here are my impressions of the Gen 5 USB after getting it installed in my Bifrost Multibit a week ago. My setup is mainly PC(Jriver) > Bifrost Multibit(USB) > Sagaheim + Headphones (HD6XX, TH-x00 and Ether Flow). I mainly listen for differences between PC and the Raspberry PI+502DAC as my source and Bifrost Multibit and Chord Mojo as my DAC. I found from best to worse performing chain:

PC(motherboard USB) + Bifrost Multibit >
PI+502DAC(Coaxial) + Bifrost Multibit >
PI(USB) + Bifrost Multibit =
PC(PCI-E USB card) + Bifrost Multibit >>
PI+502DAC(Coaxial) + Mojo >>>>>
PC(USB) + Bifrost Multibit Gen 2 USB = PC(USB) + Mojo

Listening impressions

- The noise floor sounded significantly lower in Gen 5 when compared to the Gen 2, and yet the high frequency buzzing I get from my PC components before had completely disappeared. As a result I believe during my listening sessions I was hearing a much larger soundstage with better extension at bass and treble, plus much improved detail and dynamics. Before Bifrost Multibit and Mojo performed similarly via Gen 2 but Bifrost Multibit with Gen 5 USB utterly destroys both.

- The performance between the PC and the PI(+/- 502DAC) as a source to the Bifrost Multibit were very similar. I would not be able to pick the chain accurately in a blind test and any differences I heard were not ‘night and day.’ I did feel the PI via USB had more mid-bass emphasis, the 502DAC were more mid-centric in tone and that the PC was more V-shape if I critically listen for minute differences. After listening with the upgraded Bifrost Multibit, I believe that now finding the better performing source will give more gains to the sound than just picking SPDIF over USB.

- The PI+502DAC+Mojo were not far behind in performance with the PC+ Bifrost Multibit Gen 5. In the end, I preferred the Bifrost Multibit because the staging was larger and more accurate and had much better microdynamics in comparison to the Mojo, despite the Mojo having a little bit smoother treble and bit more accurate bass timbre. (An example of this was listening to the song Smoke by Ben Folds Five. The backing vocals in the last verse has a very smooth crescendo and contrasted well with the lead vocal in the Bifrost Multibit, but via Mojo the vocals sounded as loud as each other and felt like the singers were trying to sing on top of each other).

In conclusion, I am very happy with the Gen 5 USB upgrade as I prefer the sound that little bit more over Pi streamers AND it is much more convenient for me not having to change source whenever I change from listening to PC gaming (I cannot believe how accurate the positioning of other players sounds now when I play Overwatch). The Gen 5 USB is the real deal. However I would not recommend changing to USB for people already having a good and quiet performing source like the PI+502DAC streamers as the performance can be just as good (or better pending on tonal preference YMMV).

Other notes

- I still hear differences in USB cables via Gen 5. However differences I heard were only in frequency response only and very mild at best. Before I found I preferred the Curious USB cable over generic cables due to the advantages in staging and dynamics but now that advantage is TOTALLY ELIMINATED with Gen 5 in the chain.

- I can hear how monotone the Ether Flow’s bass is despite the improvement in my chain. In comparison, the TH-x00 Purpleheart’s bass was a revelation with improved timbre and texture. Looks like the Ether Flow gotta go.

 

Are you using Volumio or Runeaudio with Rpi3/502DAC + Bifrost Multibit? Wondering if hardware volume on Volumio or Runeaudio works? Thx.

 

Using Runeaudio with volume control disabled. Tried the hardware volume control and it does not work in my setup.

 

Too lazy to search this thread for it, and a quick google query didn't help so just going to ask

what was the verdict on keeping the Etir plugged in/powered on 24/7? I do unplug my USB when I'm not using it, if that makes a difference

 

I think thermal stability is the only thing of concern. I haven't tested it cold vs warmed up as I haven't powered it down since I got it. It sits in a weird spot behind my desk so it's not easy to access.

 

Leave it on all the time, and I personally would not be plugging/unplugging the USB cable as one may damage the USB port/controller from a static electricity charge when connecting/unconnecting the USB cable. I'd leave everything connected and powered on.