Schiit, can you make a portable/transportable DAC/AMP?

Discussion in 'IEMs and Portable Gear' started by rhythmdevils, Sep 25, 2020.

  1. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,238
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    @schiit i I'm thinking two models at two price points, both with some version of ieMatch for sensitive iems like CA iems that need high output impedance to sound good and a super low gain option. Maybe the more expensive version has a Multibit DAC. And it could be thin, but the size of an iPhone X/11. Nice flat, slightly warm sound.

    Look, I already did half the work for you. All you have to do now is make them... |\/|


    [​IMG]
     
  2. scblock

    scblock Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2019
    Likes Received:
    1,419
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Denver
    Fiddly hardware that relies on batteries and software (android) seems a long ways outside what Schiit wants to deal with. But given my frustrations with existing DAPs I understand the sentiment. Maybe we should be begging Apple to think hard about the iPod again too.
     
  3. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    May 11, 2020
    Likes Received:
    2,209
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    open sky
    Fulla is pretty portable, knob is just a little big.
     
  4. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    A Jot with a multibit module and an iEMatch plugged in pretty much fits the bill already, right? It's reasonable transportable, like it'll fit in a backpack.

    Edit: changed to transportable. @rhythmdevils' post below makes it more clear what his desired usage model is.
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2020
  5. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,238
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    No not a DAP I don’t see Schiit making a DAP either. I’m talking about a portable/transportable DAC/amp that you plug into your DAP or more likely phone or computer or iPod via USB. Which Schiit is very good at dealing with.

    The Agi and Pyri are much more portable ;)
     
  6. Roman

    Roman Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2018
    Likes Received:
    219
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Moscow
    What don't you like about iFi? They have at least three models to choose.

    Also I don't really think Schiit could do portable and affordable. At least portable gear requires different chassis, not something like a simple combination of steel/aluminum plates like in all Schiit DACs. Probably a milled aluminum or something like would suffice raising the price of the device. On top a lot of components need to be placed into that small space meaning they have to use more expensive parts raising the price even more.
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2020
  7. oldschool

    oldschool Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    38
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Bulgaria
    Portable DAC/Amps are so 2012.. And I don't see Schiit making a DAP due to having to deal with UI..
     
  8. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,238
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    I believe dedicated DAC/amps have more sonic potential then DAPs due to space alone. DAPS have to include basically a smartphone in there as well which takes up a lot of space and companies like Astell and Kern and Fiio don’t have the money to engineer all those parts into tiny enclosures like Samsung or Apple. The DAC/amp sections of the DAPs on the market have to be pretty small. Not to mention the price tag on DAPS some of which are 3k.

    Schitt is super creative about casing. I don’t see that being a deal breaker. I just think Mike could make a killer portable if he tried.
     
  9. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 4, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,684
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NH
    Yep the biggest short comings of DAPS is the software or android. I use a pixel 2 prefer android but I don't want an outdated android OS on my daps. I think schiit could make something that would kill all that stuff as far as the UI and the responsiveness of the device. Not sure if that's the market they want to be in.

    As far as just portable dac amps, i don't see a huge market for return. Most the people I know do not care enough and just use phones/blue tooth or just suffer through a decent sounding dap with crap software. Major reason I avoid portable gear and I don't really use IEMs everything is a huge step down from even a $200 headphone amp, $99 dac and a pair of 6xx for $225.
     
  10. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,274
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bird-watcher's paradise
    Can? Of course. Will? Not a bloody chance.
     
  11. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,238
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    Believe in something!!
     
  12. Metro

    Metro Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,590
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    San Francisco
    You think so? They have not done anything remotely similar, and they do not currently have capability to do it in-house. They'd have to outsource most of the software.
     
  13. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 4, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,684
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NH
    Not sure how they are staffed, I know they brought in a couple talented people to deal with Unison and the transport. Software is probably a bit of a different ball game, the time and resources required R+D. I'm sure they could do it but would they want to ? Not really Schiit's thing is it ? Probably little return in an already oversaturated market. How much SQ can you drag out of these DAP's anyway without spending a lot of money on an AK or the like ?
     
  14. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,238
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    I don’t want a Schiit DAP wtf I agree with @Metro on all points. I want a couple portable DAC/AMPs. There’s few on the market and Mike could make something spectacular.
     
  15. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 4, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,684
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NH
    I wouldn't mind that either, a nice portable dac/amp would force me to listen to headphones at work.
     
  16. roscoeiii

    roscoeiii Acquaintance

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2016
    Likes Received:
    80
    Trophy Points:
    28
    And even if it was Schiit doing just a portable DAC/Amp rather than a DAP, they'd still need to ask if they could top iFi, who is killing it in that space with the iDSD Black Label (my fave) and others.
     
  17. Elysian

    Elysian Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    I second @rhythmdevils suggestion. I finally gave up my headphone jack after upgrading my Note 9 to a Note 20 Ultra and now I can't connect any of my headphones anymore. I've read so many dodgy reviews about Chifi USB-C DACs and don't want a box full of $60 connectors.

    My LG V20 and G8 have much better audio than both Samsung Note phones but I'm done with LG after their inability to upgrade their stone age Android skin and don't have enough pockets to carry two phones along with my wireless IEMs.

    I've been frustrated trying to find a reasonably priced DAC/AMP option from a reputable company for my USB-C only smartphone. I'm at the point that I'm reading ASR out of desperation for leads.
     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2020
  18. lagadu

    lagadu Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2019
    Likes Received:
    238
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    PT/DK
    @Elysian is bluetooth not an option? There are some very acceptable bluetooth amps.
     
  19. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,238
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    so many negative Nancy stupid posts in my thread that was supposed to be fun encouragement. oh, no, can Schiit compete with Eddie Current, Donald North and Alex Cavalli? oh, oh, oh no I'm so worried. They crushed it. The portable DAC/AMP market is wide open right now. One or two companies making a few products. And I don't like the iFI Nano much after hearing the Xduoo 05 Plus. It's just boring as hell.

    Once again, Mike could really kill it in this market. Way few players with far inferior designs compared to the home doc/amp market which was full of great designers and products when Schiit entered.

    Stop being negative, more good products is good for us. And if you don't use iems or portable phones it won't hurt you.
     
  20. robot zombie

    robot zombie Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 11, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,408
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Ennui, FL
    Nah, phones are phasing out headphone jacks more and more. It's all going to be BT, dongles, and portables one day.
    Haha, was gonna say something similar. It's portable combo units, or shitty dongles. Take your pick. I do give props to LG for continuing to put those ESS 9218p chips in their phones. It's a wonder that with all of the things that make their phones inferior, the sound is miles ahead. G8 and Porta Pro gets me along pretty well. I do 4-6 hours on that setup at work most days. That's not to say it's a perfect sound. But it is pretty full and tonally inoffensive. Fairly resolving compared to entry-level Schiit stack, which would be the next closest step-up. Not too boring... actually quite musical imo. I don't bother going further because the market for portables is, well... kinda dismal. I'd really rather phones just sound better (or at least take wired stuff at all,) just for simplicity, but I'd kill for a decent midrange external solution. I mean, Fulla is already close. If Schiit can do that, I'd put some faith in a totally portable-oriented DAC/amp, at least.
     

Share This Page