Schiit Syn Review, Discussion, Impressions, Measurements

The Schiit Syn was publicly shown at the Schiit Meet in CCTX last evening. I will write up a couple notes I took from the meet and also provide commentary for many things brought up in this thread: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/schiit-syn-discussion.13317/

Blu-Ray Player -> Syn -> Bunch O' Rekkrs -> Klipsch speakers

On Schiit's website, the Syn is described as a "UNIVERSAL SURROUND DAC / PREAMP / HEADPHONE AMP"
So WTF does the Syn do and how can it be used? Based on this meet, I see it used in several ways:

1. As a cheap drop-in surround sound processor for those with existing two-channel systems - allowing them to pull off 5.1 HT duties. This would my my person use case.
2. As a headphone listening soundstage enhancer, providing the ability to expand stereo width and adjust the presence region to move the vocals (or other instrument in the vocal range) forward or back.
3. As a surround sound processor for music. Holy shit, this was the surprise of the night for me.
4. For people with PCs to build a cheap multi-purpose setup for surround sound gaming or watching streaming with surround.

I will do a little FAQ in the next post.

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• MEASUREMENTS: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...n-impressions-measurements.13335/#post-406402
• FAQ AND RANDOM QUESTIONS: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...n-impressions-measurements.13335/#post-406218
• FOR MUSIC AND SETUP DIAGRAM FOR MULTI-CHANNEL STREAMING: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...essions-measurements.13335/page-2#post-407014
• THOUGHTS ON USE FOR GAMING: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...essions-measurements.13335/page-3#post-407047
• SCALABILITY, INTERNAL DAC VS EXTERNAL SOURCES: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...essions-measurements.13335/page-3#post-407082
• IN A NUTSHELL: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...essions-measurements.13335/page-3#post-407084

 

The Syn does not decode DD5.1 or DTS. What is does is decode the matrix surround information encoded into the stereo channels of Netflix, Paramount+, Disney+, HBO Max, etc.

If using from a TV's optical output, we will need to get the TV to PCM or Stereo Out. Setting the TV's optical output to Auto or DD5.1 will not work.

Cannot take 5.1 unless it is folded down into matrixed stereo.

I would highly advise that normal or ornery peoples get such if they want to build a home theatre. The Syn is for audiophile weirdos, of which 99.8% of people who participate in this site area. To give you guys some perspective, I rarely talk about SBAF to normal people. And I never talk about SBAF to girls.

With respect to functionality, the $400 Atmos receiver from BB will only have speaker outs and no line outs. That $400 receiver will likely sound like ass. The downside of Syn is no real double-D 5.1. Also, an external DAC can also be used with the Syn.

Anecdotally, I would say it's pretty darn close. However, being in the biz, I've always felt the double-D stuff was a company that muscled into the biz tech heads at the studios to maintain their licensing fees. Blind testing and objective measurements between a bonafide 5.1 processor and the Syn of the channel outputs waveforms would best demonstrate.

FWIW: https://www.stereophile.com/content/jim-fosgate-surround-sound-mind-page-2

Yeah, exactly.

Yup none of them standards are supposed - and yet compatibility with all them because of matrix surround encoding into the base stereo channels of content as a fallback.

I believe the xover frequency and slope is fixed. I will measure and let you guys know. We will have to make the adjustments on the subwoofer ourselves.

No XLR outputs. Also doesn't scratch my balls. To be serious, I did have issues with an early Syn bare PCB with interference noise from the OLED at high refresh rates on my computer. Basically had to go with RCA that were shielded instead of cheapy ones. I will test again now with the final Syn in a chassis and report back. Note that I was using self powered speakers so the RCA runs were lengthy.[/quote][/quote]

It's Hel/Fulla class. Not enough real-estate on PCB probably.

Presence region mid/upper mids only. Will measure and report back.

This is the one advantage that a true double-D system should have, dedicated dialogue channel. The center is indeed a sum of the L and R. The center channel volume can be adjusted independently from the master. Same thing for the surround channels. Sub volume will have to be adjusted at the sub.

 

For folding down a surround experience into headphones, I feel the Creative Solution (Sound Blaster G6) with these very specific tweaks from @Hands will likely work better: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...tual-surround-musings-and-measurements.11838/ worked better for games. I can see the Syn better for music though.

 

Not totally certain. It's based on what I'm used to hearing at the theater or mix stages compared to at home with the Syn. I do find that I crank up the presence EQ knob when the center channel is used, otherwise dialogue gets drowned out a bit. Another factor is that in proper theaters and mix stages, the systems are more often than not JBL Cinema horns - that means super low distortion, very high clarity, and articulate transients.

I'm using a small JBL self powered monitor for the center channel - so this could be the cause of less than expected performance (again note my reference). Still way way better than the LG TV and running without a center especially if sitting off to the side of the couch.

 

Some measurements...

Here is the effect of the presence knob. In practical use with a center channel, I set the knob to about 3 o'clock. Adding the center channel sum makes the sound a bit bassier. The EQ of the presence knob seems perfectly suited. It does lift everything above the bass with the emphasis near 2kHz.

 

Here is the subwoofer output (non adjustable - user must adjust level at the sub).
The slope is a nice 18db/octave already. xover point is 80Hz.

 

Obligatory SINAD. (SINAD is almost next to useless, but some people think it means something. It means about as much as alcohol % on a bottle of wine).

Schiit Syn
(optical input, volume cranked to max, 100k-ohm load, 20kHz bandwidth, HPSA cheat mode on)

Note: The output is limited to 1.87Vrms using the optical input.

 

Schiit Syn
(analog input 2Vrms, volume cranked to max, 100k-ohm load, 20kHz bandwidth, HPSA cheat mode on, HPSG on)


Oooh, with a better source, we get betterer SINAD!

 

typo, 100k, fixed

 

Get Gjallarhorn. Rekkr seems to work better for smaller woofers.

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FWIW, just playing around with stuff.