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

[theveterans]

With companies who are not Schiit. Which means Schiit is losing customer shares.

Not logical IMHO. Streamers DO NOT compete with pure DACs. In fact people buy streamers to further improve the SQ of Schiit DACs subjectively.

Streamers work thru the internet. You know how many times the internet goes out? LOTS. (or has the ability/potential to) However, my phone signal almost ALWAYS works even when the internet to the house is out, such as in a storm. This is why I prefer bluetooth over network streaming.

You can literally get a backup 5G cellular prepaid receiver (that runs on your backup generator) if your internet dies out at home BTW

I've never had a bluetooth chip die on me from any company/product. They all just work all day.

Statistically, I've never seen a "serious" 2-channel guy use bluetooth on their system. Make sense for car audio or on-the-go/travel but not for home audio

 

[MindBreak]

Streamers work thru the internet. You know how many times the internet goes out? LOTS. (or has the ability/potential too) However, my phone signal almost ALWAYS works even when the internet to the house is out, such as in a storm. This is why I prefer bluetooth over network streaming.


With companies who are not Schiit. Which means Schiit is losing customer shares.

We get plenty of storms in GA. If my internet connection goes out, it is normally accompanied by a power outage so I won't have a functional audio setup either way.

The other option is to use your phone as a hotspot which would still allow you to use other streamers.

No one size fits all solution for any use case, so to each their own.

 

[stuck limo]

We get plenty of storms in GA. If my internet connection goes out, it is normally accompanied by a power outage so I won't have a functional audio setup either way.

The other option is to use your phone as a hotspot which would still allow you to use other streamers.

No one size fits all solution for any use case, so to each their own.

Of course you can get hotspot or backup --- if you want to spend the extra money. Using bluetooth = FREE. There's nothing wrong with either solution.

I've had more internet outages than power outages. Most of the time the internet just craps out. Try living in Phoenix for a while - you'll still have AC but you'll be stuck looking at the walls because your internet will be out.

Statistically, I've never seen a "serious" 2-channel guy use bluetooth on their system. Make sense for car audio or on-the-go/travel but not for home audio

Define "serious" and what age ranges are we talking about? Because, sure, the older generations have a fear/mistrust about bluetooth but I assure you the younger generations definitely don't. I would define myself as VERY serious 2 channel audio enthusiast, and I also know people within my circle who are very serious 2 channel people as well. We all use bluetooth or wifi or -gasp- Spotify! I mean, you'll find "serious" 2 channel guys who won't use anything but CDs and/or vinyl. Some guys who are into vinyl will tell you that anything BUT vinyl is crap and not intended for serious listening. There's 2 channel guys who don't use anything but hi-res files. We could come up with examples of what "serious" listening should entail all day here. There's 2 channel guys who would swear that listening to headphones isn't the proper way to listen to music and that we're cheapening the experience and doing life wrong. In fact, I've ACTUALLY heard from "serious" guys that Schiit audio is not for "serious" enthusiasts and that they would never trust the brand based on the name alone.

Even with DACs that have Bluetooth in them, many owners end up turning it off since they do not have need of it. I understand why some companies offer it in their DACs as a convenience feature, but that is not the use case that Schiit is marketing/designing their DACs for. Many of us own streamers for convenience, and that kind of makes Bluetooth for audio streaming useless. Just my own observation & opinion, but to each their own.

Most streamers include Spotify, which is 320kbps. AptX/HD or LDAC will handle that just fine. Which makes streaming that useless. They also include internet radio stations, a LOT of which are 192kbps. I mean, we can go all day here on what should or should not be streamed or bluetoothed.

 

[Syan25]

Do any of you guys have any closed back recommendations? I've got too many open backs and iems. But I don't own any closed back non BT cans. I was looking at the Dan Clarke Noire X.

 

[MindBreak]

Do any of you guys have any closed back recommendations? I've got too many open backs and iems. But I don't own any closed back non BT cans. I was looking at the Dan Clarke Noire X.

I have read a lot of good impressions of the Noire X, but I have yet to try it for myself. The only closed back cans I currently own are the Starry Nigh V1s which are no longer in production. I think a few in this thread have tried the Noire X though.

 

[artur9]

2025, Chapter 7
In A World Where…

A great read, thanks!
And I love love love your mentoring or paying it forward, however you'd like to describe it.

....

I like that leftmost one a little more than the one that was made.

...

The Result

So, for those who’ve been skimming the text, let’s be clear: these aren’t renderings. They aren’t AI. Kellen designed, engineered, and built actual physical products that play music. Furthermore, he took our design style, extended it, and made it more in-keeping with a “cost no object” approach (10).

You really really need a Schiit Museum for this sort of thing. Maybe in your basement so we can have some of your wine while touring it

...

And let’s be realistic: the only reason I bring up the horizontal/vertical orientation issue is that I know some people will bring it up. I also have a feeling, completely without supporting data, that maybe people like the idea of vertical amps, but end up not buying vertical amps?

The amps I have now I got partially because I knew they would fit inside my Linton speaker stands. A vertical one, like Kellen's, would fit even better. Co-marketing opportunity with Wharfedale :-D

...
What Do You Think?
...

Kellen clearly got the silver memo. Very intelligent young man there :-D

I love a lot of your design and ethos and .. and but this just hits it out of the park. Paying it forward, coming up with something cool that is also practical, just so much that makes my heart light go supernova :-D

@Ableza there are some Halcro amps on eBay I was sorely tempted by. Were they not in California I might have made an offer....

 

[docBliny]

I have read a lot of good impressions of the Noire X, but I have yet to try it for myself. The only closed back cans I currently own are the Starry Nigh V1s which are no longer in production. I think a few in this thread have tried the Noire X though.

I would've said the Audeze B-stock sale has some LCD-2 and X closed still left, but probably don't ship that way even if you're interested. Posting purely since I literally just got a message the sale is about to end.

 

[AstronomerXI]

No one is forced to use bluetooth. It's there as an option for people who enjoy using bluetooth from their phones without the need for a PC or separate DAC component (ie, all in ones). If I want to use even an all-in-one Schiit product, I HAVE to have something else (source) hooked up to it. If I have a Fiio product, I can choose a) to hook up a source or b) not hook up to source. I'm in charge of the situation.

Substandard? Not really, no. The differences between aptX and LDAC are pretty slight. The differences between LDAC and true lossless are very slight. Bluetooth has LDAC functionality and also lossless functionality now too (aptX Lossless). Bluetooth will continue to get even better and better. Again, the people who use bluetooth are aware of the fidelity issues but a) we don't care (or can't hear them) and b) we value the convenience and flexibility over having to be forced to feed our equipment a certain way.

Currently, the majority of sources do no pump audio losslessly via Bluetooth. That will change slowly over time. Regardless, I'd rather not have the extra cost added for a module that I'd never use. As Jason has always said, there are lots of choices out there if a feature that you want isn't in Schiit's lineup. If Schiit chooses to add it in at some point, great for you and other like-minded folks. I see @ArmchairPhilosopher liked your reply, so who knows? With Forkbeard as an option, you might get your wish via the optional Forkbeard Bluetooth stick. It can't be that hard to program into being an audio receiver too.

 

[theveterans]

Of course you can get hotspot or backup --- if you want to spend the extra money. Using bluetooth = FREE. There's nothing wrong with either solution.

I've had more internet outages than power outages. Most of the time the internet just craps out. Try living in Phoenix for a while - you'll still have AC but you'll be stuck looking at the walls because your internet will be out.



Define "serious" and what age ranges are we talking about? Because, sure, the older generations have a fear/mistrust about bluetooth but I assure you the younger generations definitely don't. I would define myself as VERY serious 2 channel audio enthusiast, and I also know people within my circle who are very serious 2 channel people as well. We all use bluetooth or wifi or -gasp- Spotify! I mean, you'll find "serious" 2 channel guys who won't use anything but CDs and/or vinyl. Some guys who are into vinyl will tell you that anything BUT vinyl is crap and not intended for serious listening. There's 2 channel guys who don't use anything but hi-res files. We could come up with examples of what "serious" listening should entail all day here. There's 2 channel guys who would swear that listening to headphones isn't the proper way to listen to music and that we're cheapening the experience and doing life wrong. In fact, I've ACTUALLY heard from "serious" guys that Schiit audio is not for "serious" enthusiasts and that they would never trust the brand based on the name alone.



Most streamers include Spotify, which is 320kbps. AptX or LDAC will handle that just fine. Which makes streaming that usless.

Lots of all-in-one options other than Schiit for your BT needs at the end of the day. AFAIK, Schiit isn't gonna miss you or anyone that is looking for a solution that Schiit does not need to offer

 

[stuck limo]

Currently, the majority of sources do no pump audio losslessly via Bluetooth. That will change slowly over time. Regardless, I'd rather not have the extra cost added for a module that I'd never use. As Jason has always said, there are lots of choices out there if a feature that you want isn't in Schiit's lineup. If Schiit chooses to add it in at some point, great for you and other like-minded folks. I see @ArmchairPhilosopher liked your reply, so who knows? With Forkbeard as an option, you might get your wish via the optional Forkbeard Bluetooth stick. It can't be that hard to program into being an audio receiver too.

Of course they can add it as an optional function. That's literally the point. You wouldn't need to pay anything for it if you don't want it because Schiit could just not auto-include it. That's also why it would be upgradeable throughout the years. That's also why companies offer non-MQA and MQA separate products. That's why Schiit offers products that you buy optional components for.

 

[theveterans]

Define "serious" and what age ranges are we talking about? Because, sure, the older generations have a fear/mistrust about bluetooth but I assure you the younger generations definitely don't. I would define myself as VERY serious 2 channel audio enthusiast, and I also know people within my circle who are very serious 2 channel people as well. We all use bluetooth or wifi or -gasp- Spotify! I mean, you'll find "serious" 2 channel guys who won't use anything but CDs and/or vinyl. Some guys who are into vinyl will tell you that anything BUT vinyl is crap and not intended for serious listening. There's 2 channel guys who don't use anything but hi-res files. We could come up with examples of what "serious" listening should entail all day here. There's 2 channel guys who would swear that listening to headphones isn't the proper way to listen to music and that we're cheapening the experience and doing life wrong. In fact, I've ACTUALLY heard from "serious" guys that Schiit audio is not for "serious" enthusiasts and that they would never trust the brand based on the name alone.

Serious 2-channel below:

I don't see any BT use on the photo below. BT does not exist especially on a high end streamer. Most likely the iPad is used as playback control in this case

 

[AstronomerXI]

With companies who are not Schiit. Which means Schiit is losing customer shares.

Jason et al have always stated that they are not a "me-too" company, with a board and shareholders to please by hitting growth and profit targets. As the biggest shareholder at Schiit, Jason has stated here that he does what he pleases because it pleases him and it's fun. As someone else pointed out, the streamer market is saturated and there's really nothing unique to add to the product, and it's a bigger software stack and (oh gawd!) an OS to support. WiiM makes 'em cheap and good (I have 2), and good on them. A company can't lose market share to something that isn't in its wheelhouse. Is Ford losing wheeled transportation marketshare because it doesn't make bicycles?

 

[theveterans]

Jason et al have always stated that they are not a "me-too" company, with a board and shareholders to please by hitting growth and profit targets. As the biggest shareholder at Schiit, Jason has stated here that he does what he pleases because it pleases him and it's fun. As someone else pointed out, the streamer market is saturated and there's really nothing unique to add to the product, and it's a bigger software stack and (oh gawd!) an OS to support. WiiM makes 'em cheap and good (I have 2), and good on them. A company can't lose market share to something that isn't in its wheelhouse. Is Ford losing wheeled transportation marketshare because it doesn't make bicycles?

exactly! 100%!

 

[Daniel Johnston]

Do any of you guys have any closed back recommendations? I've got too many open backs and iems. But I don't own any closed back non BT cans. I was looking at the Dan Clarke Noire X.

Audio-Technica WP900.

Insanely good. They are incredibly comfortable and have near planar speed.

I love the DCA Stealth as well. The T+A Solitaire T is a great BT headphone and wired HP.

 

[ArmchairPhilosopher]

AFAIK, Schiit isn't gonna miss you or anyone that is looking for a solution that Schiit does not need to offer

Come on, be nice to each other, guys.

Serious 2-channel below:

I don't see any BT use on the photo below. BT does not exist especially on a high end streamer. Most likely the iPad is used as playback control in this case

Please stop gatekeeping, you know this isn't welcome in this thread. You can be just as serious without spending that kind of money on your system. That's literally our company's mission.

Of course they can add it as an optional function. That's literally the point. You wouldn't need to pay anything for it if you don't want it because Schiit could just not auto-include it. That's also why it would be upgradeable throughout the years. That's also why companies offer non-MQA and MQA separate products. That's why Schiit offers products that you buy optional components for.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sch...most-improbable-start-up.701900/post-18717079