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

[433521]

I've been a long-time customer, owning 12 Schitt amps and DACs, but sadly I had my first device fail, a brand new Lyr+ with a major channel imbalance in high gain mode, which failed within an hour of unboxing it.

Sadly, customer service has been less the stellar. The issue has been dragging on for 5 days. Sadly, they don't have any replacements in stock, but I said "no problem, the website says they'll be available in 2-4 weeks, so ship me one when they're ready, and I'll return the failed one in the meanwhile" - but no dice, and rather I need to repurchase it after returning the old one and getting a refund.

It might not seem like a big deal, but I get the feeling I'm going to get screwed on shipping, as in my original order there were multiple items, so I'll probably only get a partial shipping refund. And waiting for the return/refund before ordering the replacement is just going to further delay the time until I get a new one.

I don't know what's so hard about them shipping me a new unit after I return the broken one, when I'm fine waiting the 2-4 weeks.

I do not understand complaining on spec.

One thing that is hard about them shipping you a new unit after you return the broken one, 2-4 weeks later.

Have you been reading the chapters??????????????

SUPPLY ISSUES ANYONE?

They have no idea how long it may be and they don't need dozens of RMA folks going ape schiit every time a delay pops up ... got it?

That's just for openers.

 

[433521]

@Jason Stoddard

Do Schiit UK send the Yggdrasil to the US if doing the Plus upgrade please? Or do you know if they do it within the UK please?

Sounds like a chance to earn trip to Europe to a certain worthy Schiit employee! Schedule a dozen or so ...

 

[macdonjh]

Spent whole day and a/b as well, still no use. Lame excuse of needing higher end stuff or take some time to listen to stuff. Hearing differently is placebo and perception.

Several years ago I went from a Modi 3 to the Modi multibit and it was a holy cow moment on first listen. I had the early Bifrost multibit and I couldn't tell the difference between it and the Modi multibit. It's still the king of the budget DACs for me. My Vali 2++ sounds the best with my Modi multibit in comparison to my other DACs.

I can hear the difference between my original Modi Multibit and my original Bifrost Multibit. I also tried a Bifrost 2 and it was audibly different from the Modi Multibit. All the comparisons were done in my speaker system, not in my headphone system.

This is a pretty long thread. I know there's a thread for the Gungnir DAC and I assume there are other threads for the other Schiit DACs. The Gungnir thread is shorter than this one and has plenty of user comparisons between the various Schiit DACs. I didn't have any problem hearing the difference between macdonjh Jr.'s Modi multi-bit, my Bifrost I multi-bit, and my Gungnir delta-sigma. Of course, I did everything backward: Bifrost first, Modi second, so Modi is not all the DAC I need.

That said, I'm sure the differences I hear would, for many, fall into the "I can't tell", or "Really, you care about that" categories.

 

[Paladin79]

Spent whole day and a/b as well, still no use. Lame excuse of needing higher end stuff or take some time to listen to stuff. Hearing differently is placebo and perception.

I do not go about blind listening like most folks, when a large group scores a device and the scores are similar, I pay attention. This does not mean the expensive items always do well by any means. Each individual can do this on a smaller scale and use music they know well. I use music that is made to show off different sounds and most anyone entering our tests can use quickly. They are pretty much taught what to listen for if they have not been a test subject before.

 

[ImagesbyMurray]

Maybe relevant: http://futurismic.com/2006/12/06/jacks-gift-by-jason-stoddard/

LOL

Hypothetical question:
Who would you choose to program the milk-and-cookies bladder? Dave or Ivana?

 

[433521]

I do not go about blind listening like most folks, when a large group scores a device and the scores are similar, I pay attention. This does not mean the expensive items always do well by any means. Each individual can do this on a smaller scale and use music they know well. I use music that is made to show off different sounds and most anyone entering our tests can use quickly. They are pretty much taught what to listen for if they have not been a test subject before.

I do sighted comparisons. If the difference cannot withstand sighted bias, it is not a difference worth paying for. Unless it's a cable.

I find with headphones above $250 or so, price does seem to indicate quality more than anything else. Now, bias is introduced as I use reviews to eliminate subpar gear that isn't a good value on the market, so my experience with this selection of a subset of gear isn't representative of the market as an entity.

 

[hottyson]

I've been a long-time customer, owning 12 Schitt amps and DACs, but sadly I had my first device fail, a brand new Lyr+ with a major channel imbalance in high gain mode, which failed within an hour of unboxing it.

Sadly, customer service has been less the stellar. The issue has been dragging on for 5 days. Sadly, they don't have any replacements in stock, but I said "no problem, the website says they'll be available in 2-4 weeks, so ship me one when they're ready, and I'll return the failed one in the meanwhile" - but no dice, and rather I need to repurchase it after returning the old one and getting a refund.

It might not seem like a big deal, but I get the feeling I'm going to get screwed on shipping, as in my original order there were multiple items, so I'll probably only get a partial shipping refund. And waiting for the return/refund before ordering the replacement is just going to further delay the time until I get a new one.

I don't know what's so hard about them shipping me a new unit after I return the broken one, when I'm fine waiting the 2-4 weeks.

I purchased a variety of $100 amplifiers to compare them, Monoprice Liquid Spark, JDS Labs Atom, Topping L30 amplifire, Schiit Magni 3, Schiit Magni 3 plus, Schiit Magni Heresy. The Topping L30 and the Schiit Magni Heresy had problems each destroying a headphone and I needed to return them. Like you, I too was very worried.
.
With Topping I had a nightmare trying to deal with the company. Topping was just awful. Topping gave me directions to follow saying to contact the seller, which I did. I followed Topping's directions and then they said that they would not help me because I contacted the seller instead of contacting Topping directly. The experience was a nightmare that still bothers me to this day. Lesson learned to not deal with a deceitful company like Topping ever again. Lesson learned.
.
With Schiit I was treated beyond fair. Schiit paid for return shipping. Schiit refunded me with no hassle. Schiit did not lie nor deceive me. Schiit even asked if they could pay for damaged headphones, which I denied because I was able to return them. In short, Schiit made EVERYTHING right. They seem to want to make things right even if it costs them money.
.
I would not worry too much about your situation. Luckily you purchased from Schiit. So, you should come out okay in the end.

 

[MarkF786]

I purchased a variety of $100 amplifiers to compare them, Monoprice Liquid Spark, JDS Labs Atom, Topping L30 amplifire, Schiit Magni 3, Schiit Magni 3 plus, Schiit Magni Heresy. The Topping L30 and the Schiit Magni Heresy had problems each destroying a headphone and I needed to return them. Like you, I too was very worried.
.
With Topping I had a nightmare trying to deal with the company. Topping was just awful. Topping gave me directions to follow saying to contact the seller, which I did. I followed Topping's directions and then they said that they would not help me because I contacted the seller instead of contacting Topping directly. The experience was a nightmare that still bothers me to this day. Lesson learned to not deal with a deceitful company like Topping ever again. Lesson learned.
.
With Schiit I was treated beyond fair. Schiit paid for return shipping. Schiit refunded me with no hassle. Schiit did not lie nor deceive me. Schiit even asked if they could pay for damaged headphones, which I denied because I was able to return them. In short, Schiit made EVERYTHING right. They seem to want to make things right even if it costs them money.
.
I would not worry too much about your situation. Luckily you purchased from Schiit. So, you should come out okay in the end.

I’m curious, how did the Heresy destroy your headphones?

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Currawong]

That said, I'm sure the differences I hear would, for many, fall into the "I can't tell", or "Really, you care about that" categories.

There are different thresholds for different people -- that has actually been researched. It depends, apparently, on a variety of factors, such as how much you were exposed to musical instruments etc. when you were younger.

Irrespective of that, I consider anyone shouting "placebo" and "DBT" at people to be basically attempting to gaslight them. It is not in the least about science or getting closer to understanding the truth in any matter. It's no different to extremist politics or religion.

 

[hottyson]

I’m curious, how did the Heresy destroy your headphones?

Thanks for the feedback.

My guess is static discharge. I live in the desert. Schiit has top notch customer service. Wonderful to deal with.
.
You can read my Topping ampliFire nightmare here Post #343 of 505

 

[Alcophone]

Irrespective of that, I consider anyone shouting "placebo" and "DBT" at people to be basically attempting to gaslight them. It is not in the least about science or getting closer to understanding the truth in any matter. It's no different to extremist politics or religion.

So what you're saying is... ASR stands for Audio Scientology Review?

 

[adydula]

Schiit has superlative customer service compared to some of the overseas companies. I have had several issues and Schiit has always taken care of the issue to my satisfaction. You dont have to even deal with an intermediary or distributor as some vendors suggest. Its right to the horses mouth with Schiit.

This has always been a concern and has influenced me in my purchases several times.

Buy from a reputable source that will take stuff back without making you jump through hoops.

Looking forward to testing and reviewing the MM2!

:>)
Alex

 

[Plautus001]

If only there was a universal cable solution.

Which USB-C was supposed to be

 

[Pondoro]

There are different thresholds for different people -- that has actually been researched. It depends, apparently, on a variety of factors, such as how much you were exposed to musical instruments etc. when you were younger.

My mother played me scratchy 78-RPM jazz and big band records when I was young. It has made all the difference. I played Elvis Costello and The Ramones, and an actual banjo to my kids.

 

[KaiFi]

I honestly don't really know what a "multibit" DAC is or how it should sound better than the Modi+, but I am curious to read the comparisons. What do Schiit's multibit DACs usually have over the delta-sigma DACs?