Schiit Gungnir Multibit impressions

Jason right now.

 

So for clarification, the idea here is, give the Gungnir Multibit chassis more venting and the sound quality improves? Not trying to judge or anything but seems a bit extreme approach to improve airflow!

 

Actually is pretty conservative. Ive been using it with the board completely out of any chasse. This was a compromise so it looks normal from the front with the sides open and increased air flow top and bottom. Crazy, and to me it is more relaxed.

 

Ive been doing this for 30 years, it started with the original MSB linc dac. It was very good and when I took it out of the metal case it was much better, more open, relaxed and sweet, I do not know why and In my tests I have found it to be true. Would love to try a yiggy some time if I ever get one.

 

Question- I bought a Singxer u1 to try the toslink and BNC inputs on the Gungnir. Any feedback on folks experence with these compared to Unison USB? Also any recommendations on good cables to try.
best
Josh

 

I now have a singxer su-1 and have coax and bnc hooked up to my gungnir. The volume is half of what I get with the usb direct from my streamer? What would cause this? Anyone have any experience with this type of problem.
any thoughts much appreciated
best,
Josh

 

There must be some digital volume going on. Check your audio settings on your PC.

 

thanks, I found it and it was a digital volume control in Quboz

 

While randomly browsing around for fun, I stumbled upon an interview Mike Moffat did with stereophile back in 1992 where he mentioned that RF frequencies near the analog portion of a dac can degrade sound quality:

"For example, if you have a lot of RF near the analog stages, the RF causes the analog stages to perform in a less than optimal manner. You take anybody's good preamp and load it up with RF—RF that may be only 20 to 30dB below the audio signal—and it will affect the sonic qualities of the preamp to a greater or lesser degree, depending on how well it's RF-protected. That gets to be complex in itself; the more you RF-protect something and roll it off, it can actually intrude into the treble presentation of the electronics. We try to keep the RF as low as possible. In the worst case—our least expensive product—we have in the high 60dB of RF rejection to 100MHz. Most digital audio products are only quoted on signal/noise ratio across the audioband."
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...So maybe @joch was on to something about reducing radio frequencies or other digital noise bouncing back from inside the metal chassis?

To add another point, according to ArmchairPhilosopher on head-fi, Dave from schiit audio also prefers listening to all schiit's DACs without the metal chassis:

Oh, and by the way? If it were up to Dave, none of Schiit's DACs would come in a case. Dave told us after the stream that he prefers the way the DACs sound "bare", with no metal around them. What he does at home is to just stick some shielding and electrical tape over components that need shielding or electrical insulation (see the power switch in the screenshot above for an example), and that's it. Apparently, this results in a cleaner sound. Or so he says.
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So maybe there really is something to DACs potentially sounding cleaner/clearer without the metal casing and such and maybe it's worth trying more (within safety reasons of course-- probably makes more sense for a set-put rack setup than a desk setup for example)

 

I cannot deal with the anxiety of having my dac sit out in open air...

So what we need is some aftermarket cases made of bent 1/4 inch plywood, with lots of holes for aeration/Ventilation and nylon or fiberglass screens under the holes to help with dust control? Maybe have the screens dual layered and offset a bit for double mesh? Or use the material filter material my dehumidifier uses?

Would be a fun/silly exercise to test with my modi 3 or old Bifrost 4490

Maybe acrylic cases instead of plywood? Raspberry Pi/Allo Digi One Style?

 

Maybe just some copper shielding over the sensitive part? The question is, which part where?

 

I don't understand the intent of this... are you taking your dac out of its original case and putting it into a plywood one??

If you're worried about dust, then start with your home air filtration system rather than band-aid something around your components. Get a local air purifier. Up the MERV rating on your ducted central air system if you have one (or set the fan to run constantly). Seal up air gaps in your home. Close your windows. Go nuts and convert your listening room into a semi "clean" room with dedicated power and air systems. Etc.c

 

It is easy to remove the inner metal case and cut the sides off. It leaves a solid back for all of the connections. I drilled extra holes in the top and bottom. This way I benefited from less metal and being out in the air more and it looks good and is protected.
best,
Josh