Schiit Decrapifier released - USB power isolator

[bonesnv]

  I'm getting confused about this Schiit. I'm planning of upgrading to Bifrost and I think Wyrd probably helps improve the USB signal from my MacBook Air. It seems like I have two options now.
 
1. Getting a better USB cable. I heard from my friend that the good USB cable can decrease the error of data transferring.
2. Getting Wyrd Schiit.
 
Which one is the best option for better accuracy of data transfer?

 
You only need it if you are experiencing issues with your USB connection.  Would wait and see if you experience problems before ordering one.
 
I plead the 5th on any cable questions, monsters come out.

 

[ogodei]

  With the Modi and Magni stack, will the Wyrd fix issues with noise from phones? Every time my phone is close and I get a text or any kind of transmission, I can hear some buzzing. I have to take it out of my pocket and put it on the other side of the desk and when I'm going in and out of my office a lot its a huge pain in the ass.

 
Try a USB cable with ferrite chokes, they work well to reject that type of interference.  I've also used them to get rid of "pops" I was getting in DACs, presumably from having a poorly shielded USB cable running through a rats nest of power cords.
 

 
I wouldn't bet on the Decrapifier to take that noise out though - it's designed to filter out noise going through the USB signal, not to filter out airborne interference, which again is likely going in through the Magni.

 
Have a decrapifier on the way and should be able to do a practical test of this soon, but I agree in theory.  You presumably have the same cable length between the Schiit DC and the DAC that you had before between the PC and the DAC, so it could pick up the same interference as before.

 

[sludgeogre]

   
Try a USB cable with ferrite chokes, they work well to reject that type of interference.  I've also used them to get rid of "pops" I was getting in DACs, presumably from having a poorly shielded USB cable running through a rats nest of power cords.

I had a cord with a big ferrite block on it and I still got the noise. My computer is also on a really bad power grid that has a lot of voltage swings, plus the laptop dock is a piece of crap.
 
So, I put the Wyrd to the test and everything sounded much better. I kept my phone next to the stack and text messages did not cause noise anymore. It seemed like there was a little noise at one point from my phone but I'm not sure. I'll keep testing it next week and we'll see what happens.

 

[ogodei]

Excellent.  Cant wait to try this out and get into huge arguments with people as to whether it actually does something.
 
That entertainment should be worth $99 by itself.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  I'm getting confused about this Schiit. I'm planning of upgrading to Bifrost and I think Wyrd probably helps improve the USB signal from my MacBook Air. It seems like I have two options now.
 
1. Getting a better USB cable. I heard from my friend that the good USB cable can decrease the error of data transferring.
2. Getting Wyrd Schiit.
 
Which one is the best option for better accuracy of data transfer?

 
If you can't hear any obvious issues any improvement you might hear is just placebo. Note that when it comes to "better" cables you might end up with more problems. I remember a thread post before where an "audiophile grade" USB cable whose main selling point was not having any conductors on the power leads actually introduced some noise as the manufacturer whoever it was just twisted up a bunch of conductors and put them in some jacket, neither the geometry nor the jacket material being compliant with USB standard. If you are getting noise off the computer you can just hack up a cable by cutting up its power connectors, but then that depends on whether your DAC needs power through USB or not.
 
IIRC I think the person who posted that eventually removed the noise by getting a quality cable with ferrite on either end. Just go to a computer store and get the one that looks like the build quality is decent enough to last (and that the manufacturer will reliably comply with USB specs). No need for USB cables that cost as much or more than a decent headphone.

 

[sludgeogre]

Still getting some cellphone noise with the Wyrd, so people were correct, it doesn't fix that. It still makes the Modi sound better, though. It fixed the problems I was having with my laptop dock.

 

[darinf]

Tried Wyrd with the AK120 in USB DAC mode. Maybe my Lenovo Yoga 13 laptop has bad USB ports or maybe it's just a placebo effect, but the Wyrd definitely changes the sound for the better and it's not subtle. Call me crazy, it's OK. 

 

[RadioWonder737]

Sounds like an interesting product...

 

[aamer23]

I have tried audiophile grade USB cable from Audiomica and it did not work very well with my Bifrost (not very musical) but the PYST USB does and thats only 20 USD and the Audiomica was 180 USD lucky for me the Audiomica USB cable was a loaner and I was able to return it for a refund. However, that does not mean that you cannot get a great result out of better cables it just means in my system I did not for a high end USB cable. But I do have Audiomica speaker cables and have ordered analog interconnects from Audiomica too as they work very well in my system.

 

[ogodei]

 

 
Well there's nothing surprising in here. It appears to be exactly as Schiit indicates:  USB repeater chip (SMSC USB2412) with internal crystal oscillator for timing (24MHz, +- 350ppm), and a voltage regulator (UA723C, aka LM723) with a low tested output noise voltage (2.5uV).  See the circled items in the image above.
 
So...  It repeats the signal and gives you clean power.
 
Audio testing to follow at some point.
 
edit: gammar

 

[MustelaNivalis]

Did anyone run this device on 9V DC already (1.41 x 6V AC)? I see a rectifier bridge on the PCB, D3, so it should be okay. I live in The Netherlands, we have 230 V AC coming from the power outlets so I cannot use the Wall-Wart from Schiit. My AudioQuest DragonFly will benefit from Wyrds cleaner power I think.

 

[firev1]

Timing is externally provided, see U8. Them lytics look like the good kind. I would love to see the sort of improvements it makes on FFT, I have seen some good with USB isolators, I expect this to be somewhat similar or with high hopes, better.

 

[jexby]

I mainly bought Schiit Wyrd to see if it will eliminate a cyclical hum/buzz out of my iMac USB, when iPhone 5S is on same desk. 
happens at regular intervals through Concero HD into Vali and right channel of my headphones.
as others of stated, Wyrd doesn't fix this.
 
 
 
Having spent a few days with the Wyrd, here are quick findings you can accept or dismiss at will:
 
source:
macbook pro 13” retina—>24/96 and DSD files—>Aurdirvana+—> usb chain —>  GeekOut450 0.47ohm jack to Heir Audio 4.AiS
 
 
Config #1:
GO450 directly in macbook USB port
my base config.  on stage presence of music, very balanced and detailed.  bass/mid/trebles all clear, precise.
black background (oh teeny tiniest amount of air) with no music playing.  even with Audirvana volume at maxed at 0dB.
listening level of -38db is comfortable for testing/detailed listening.
cymbals have a shimmer and sparkle to them, bass guitar lines extend nice and low.
drum skins have a (realistic) hollow echo at certain times.
 
Config #2:
macbook pro connected to Apple Thunderbird monitor
GO450 plugged into USB at back of monitor
changes detected:  nothing obvious.  volume levels stayed the same, bass and treble characteristics unchanged.
soundstage, black levels unchanged.
 
Config #4:
macbook pro USB connected to Wyrd.
GO450 straight into Wyrd.
changes detected:
soundstage, black levels unchanged.
drums:  that “drum skim hollow” and quiet cymbal taps are still present but oh so very tiny slightly recessed.
 
Wyrd + GeekOut Summary:
for this laptop with Audirvana+ and IEMs- Wyrd doesn’t really add or detract to GO450 sound qualities or dynamics.
appreciable difference or improvement, none I could tell.
 
 
Config #5:
macbook pro USB (Virtue Audio USB cable) connected to Wyrd.
Wyrd to iFi nano iDSD using a Wireworld Starlight 7 0.5m USB cable  (nano iDSD powered up after USB cable/power connected. ie. not on battery power.)
Heir Audio 4.AiS
vs.
Config #6:
macbook pro USB (Wireworld cable) connected to iFi nano iDSD (nano iDSD powered up after USB cable/power connected. ie. not on battery power.)
Heir Audio 4.AiS
 
Findings after much cable back n forth:
 
Config #6 had a slightly wider and taller sound field.
guitars that felt "in my ear" on config #5, felt slightly outside my ears a bit in config #6.
bass drum hits that were wide and deep in config #5, also seemed a bit "taller" in config #6.
as if the "window frame" of the sound got a bit wider and a taller, without walking closer to the window.
guitar string decays seemed a bit more real (less fuzzy in the final, quiet trail off) in Config #6.
 
 
Note:
turning on nano iDSD BEFORE connecting USB cable in Config #6 (thus running off battery)
did not slightly widen/heighten the soundstage as in Config #5.
 
Wyrd + nano iDSD Summary:
might be keeping the Wyrd in this nano iDSD desk set up, it widens some of the "in the head soundstage" with IEMs and nano iDSD.
hm, wondering if this is what the micro iDSD will sound like?   

 
maybe something to be said for the combo of USB re-clocking AND clean power.  

 
plus Wyrd can be relocated to other USB DACs should they ever benefit, or for those DACs/Amp without a battery for iPad/iPhone usability at the desk.
 
Discerning Wyrd differences in these setups was harder, took longer to recognize than comparing between DACs themselves (GO vs. nano iDSD, for example.)
no surprise there I guess.
 

 
 

 

[john57]

I thought that config 6 without the Wyrd has the wider and taller sound field. My impression was config 6 seems to be better.

 

[ogodei]

  Timing is externally provided, see U8. Them lytics look like the good kind. I would love to see the sort of improvements it makes on FFT, I have seen some good with USB isolators, I expect this to be somewhat similar or with high hopes, better.

 
External to the repeater chip you mean?  That would be to get tighter clock stability than whats available in the repeater?