Schiit Happened: The Story of the World's Most Improbable Start-Up

[sixergixer]

I had a Miata that I loved, and then, well, came to my senses after a year and one harsh Minnesota winter to realize how impractical a car it is in these here parts, and sold it. Loved to drive that car though. My daughter loves her Mazda but other than that convertible I've not owned another myself.

Now that my week long call is over, and I have a welcome gap in my morning meetings, I'm listening to this delight on my Folkvangr. Lovely record by Arooj Aftab.


Relieved and excited to not have to be a slave to the pager this week and I'm looking forward to lots of vinyl listening and evaluating some tubes @Paladin79 sent me to audition.

And on an exciting note, I expect a little unexpected money from some consulting work that might mean I can get that Valhalla 3 a bit sooner than I expected, maybe later this month. A very welcome development for a Monday. Okay, onto the next meeting.

And @fb020997 welcome to the thread; and there does indeed seem to be room on that desk for a Magni Unity.

Haha. My brother tried owning a convertible E46 M3 in Minneapolis a while back. It wasn't his primary car but it still didn't last very long. Glad I got to drive it a couple of times - that thing was a blast!

And that Arooj Aftab was probably my favorite album of 2024. Astonishingly good music and singing. Dark noir jazz with a slight Middle Eastern twist... Love it.

 

[StimpyWan]

That's odd...since Schiit was founded in 2010. Is he Schiit?


Cheers!

My wife would probably agree with that assessment...!

 

[DACattack]

And that Arooj Aftab was probably my favorite album of 2024. Astonishingly good music and singing. Dark noir jazz with a slight Middle Eastern twist... Love it.

It is splendid, and I suppose it didn't hurt that it has a song on it titled "Whiskey" either.

 

[JanMc]

I went from driving a 1953 MG TD to a 1969 Datsun 510. I looked really cool in the MG but I was a terror in the 510, especially once it got lowered and flared and nice fat tires on it. Rebuilt the engine and got 90HP out of that 1,6 liter.

 

[docBliny]

I’ll be so excited when EV infrastructure is more robust and we get those battery advancements which allow people to feel comfortable with them.

EV infrastructure is only a problem for people who don't own an EV (but can be limiting for those that live in apartment complexes and the like). After going on ten years of EV only, I don't miss the Golf Rs, Dodge Challengers, and the like that we used to own.

Plus, we pay $0 for home charging thanks to time of use plans, so driving is "free" (tires are not since you put on more miles thanks to the cars being more fun and "free" to drive).

And yes, that includes multiple coast to coast level roadtrips and roundtrips from Texas up to Montreal/Toronto etc. Just don't expect to tow a trailer on one of those trips. And, of course, those aren't "free", but in practice have been much cheaper than previous equivalent polluting options.

Just my $0.00.

 

[Moondog55]

I drive a Mazda 3 hatchback.
95% of the year, it's waaaay too big for what I need. But every once in a new moon, I need the rear seats. If not for that, I would have bought a Miata instead.
But I'm a weirdo, so there's that.

I believe that Mazda recently kinda sorta confirmed that they're working on an NE MX5 right now, probably for a release around 2030. Still ICE, no EV nor even hybrid, apparently. Even lighter than the ND. Music to my ears!

Mazda learned a significant lesson years ago when the Wankel almost bankrupted the company. Back to basics, Mazda produced one vehicle, the GLC, for years. What became the RX-7 was in development for nine years. It will take time but Mazda will get it right. Oh, patents and trademarks have been filed so looking at the horizon there is a RX-9 that will appear for approximately $80,000.

 

[Les Strat]

The weight (and torque) of an EV is great for that, yes.
Not so much for cornering.

Just to clarify:
I want people to drive whatever the hell they want. The more EVs are on the road the better for the planet.
But for this-here weirdo, small and tossable is what I like. Tons of fun in a canyon and on narrow back roads without risking lives or breaking laws.

Colin Chapman brought it to the point perfectly: Simplify, then add lightness.

Spot on!

Colin Chapman was a very clever engineer.

The Lotus Elan was the basis for Mazda's MX-5.

They took a brilliant concept, ironed out the faults and made it reliable...

No more 'Lots of Trouble Usually Serious'.

As a result, the MX-5 is the best selling sports car, ever!

Edit: Saw this lovely Elan at a local Classic Car show

 

[golfbravobravo]

The Iconic is a very strange concept. A rotary engine that is not directly connected to the drivetrain, and serves only as a generator for the batteries? What's the point? The rotary, even though greatly improved over the years culminating in the Renesis version used in the RX-8 is still less fuel-efficient, less reliable, less durable, and less emission-friendly than a piston engine of comparable horsepower. So why even bother with it? Fun. Yes, fun. And nothing wrong with prioritizing fun over the drawbacks if that's what one chooses to spend their money on. But where's the fun if it's only used as a generator? I don't get it.

we have been here before, with gas turbines!

 

[MindBreak]

Hello everyone! I'm a veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery long time reader here, and decided to register today.

I'm Federico from Italy. I'm an... how can I describe it... entry level IT guy in a bank (basically preparing/repairing/changing PCs, phones and all the work stations in the various offices), I'm a huge PC gamer (and PC/tech nerd in general) and I like listening to music, especially since I have an hour commute both from and to work. I've started reading (and read it all) Schiit's story and this thread since Schiit's name became quite known on many best-anything list, and was curious about its weird name.

I wasn't that sure about registering and posting here because of this:
I'm a human "contradiction" as far as audio goes..
I absolutely love Schiit's engineering and business practices, and especially love nerding over all of Jason's and Martin's innovations... but I'm currently Schiit-less and very happy with my current systems;
I really love listening to good systems, and I can discern good ones from bad ones... but I'm perfectly happy with using mid-level BT IEMs and car stereos (and realy don't like using over-ear headphones);
I absolutely can't recognize how deep or wide a soundstage is, or imaging, even using good headphones... but I am maybe overly sensitive on how good or bad a voice is recorded as far as "harshness" or sibilance.

But hey, the atmosphere here is maybe the friendliest I've ever seein in a forum, so here I am.

As I said, most of my listening to music is done in a car, but for everything else I share time between my living room's system and my gaming rig.
Disclaimer: I haven't spent more than 200€ on audio, since most of my components are gifts or... infinite term loans that became (unfortunately) inheritances.

This is my (our, since I still live with my parents) main system. And yes, we have a VT50 plasma TV! The speakers are Italian-designed-and-built ESB CDX SB5 from mid-to-late 80s, 2 way plus a passive radiator. Me and my younger brother refoamed them. I don't know how the heck they can sound that good even on the low end, but I can't complain! The amp is an Harman/Kardon PM645 VXi, around the same age as the speakers, with an old PC fan for cooling. FM tuner is a Sansui TU707, which both sounds great, way better than many modern ones, and it's a joy to use its huge knob to tune. CD player is a Marantz CD6000 OSE Limited Edition, but it's rarely used since we mostly use a laptop connected to a Motu M2 audio interface (as my brother works in the pro audio/lighting business, he wanterd something that could be used also for recording, and it's the only new component). And yes, there's a Bose 3-2-1 GS system for movies and as an easy FM radio for my mom. Movies don't sound as good with the ESB speakers, way less impactful effects.
Everything audio-related, audio interface and Bose excluded, was the infinite term loan that became inheritance from my late dear uncle I wrote earlier. As the foam suspension of the speakers was KO, he put everything away until 7 years ago, when he loaned to us and we repaired it. Two years ago we inherited it (may he RIP).

This is my pride-and-joy gaming rig. I designed, built and upgraded (too) many times the PC myself (currently ful custom loop 9800X3D + 7900XT for those who know modern gaming components, and an OLED main display). As far as audio goes, Bose Acoustimass 5 Series-2 speakers (another loan-turned-inheritance from my uncle) powered by a Creative Soundblaster X7 DAC-amp combo, a gift from a dear friend who doesn't use it anymore.
And yes, I have an old oven cooling fan as a personal cooling fan under the display!

"No highs, no lows, must be Bose" is dang real, as here's the EQ I use with my Bose speakers!

Asyou can see on both rigs, space is at an extreme premium, so unfortunately I can't do any Schiit stacks on either room, as my desk is full and my mom has the last word on how much space of the TV furniture can be used for gear.

And after this ACP-esque post, I can only say that I'm happy to be here!

P.S. Hats off to Paladin79's woodworking skills. Amazing.

Welcome to the thread,

I have a R7 5800x3D paired with a RX 6950XT on my end . We all enjoy talking about a wide range of topics in this thread as you well know after reading many posts. Looking forward to your future posts.

Happy Listening/Gaming!

 

[fidgeraldo]

My favourite from my fleet...

Cheers!

 

[Paladin79]

Welcome to the thread,

I have a R7 5800x3D paired with a RX 6950XT on my end . We all enjoy talking about a wide range of topics in this thread as you well know after reading many posts. Looking forward to your future posts.

Happy Listening/Gaming!

I gave a red RX 7 to my son as his first car. Two tickets followed by a crash caused me to get him a mini-van next.

 

[Ripper2860]

If you've not had a chance to listen to the remastered "Deluxe Edition", do give it a go. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[MindBreak]

If you've not had a chance to listen to the remastered "Deluxe Edition", do give it a go. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Another one of his albums I listen to.

 

[Ripper2860]

Another one of his albums I listen to.

Another favorite. And there's also a remastered Deluxe version of it as well.

** Also a fan of "Tumbleweed Connection".

 

[JanMc]

If you've not had a chance to listen to the remastered "Deluxe Edition", do give it a go. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Probably my favorite Elton album. Just love All the Nasties.