[johnjen]

I also remember those BIG heavy as SCHIIT tek tube based O'scopes.
We had one in the shop I used to work in and it was 'touchy' to setup and use.

And there are a plenitude of tek rebranded tubes on ebay, which speaks to their longevity.

I use a next gen tek scope, the 468, which was amoung their 1st series of combined analog and digital signal processing, using solid state instead of tubes, which also means I DON'T have to use a cart to lug it around, thank dog.

But a friend brought over his latest acquisition, a new digital scope from keysight https://www.keysight.com/us/en/prod...ion-1000-x-series-low-cost-oscilloscopes.html

And it has one button that literally saves the day WAY more often than it should…
The Auto Scale button is a MAJOR time saver, especially when figuring out how to use the scope and get meaningful results.
http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/5992-3484EN.pdf

And yeah it's over a grand depending on which version, so it isn't cheap, but it can be 'feature packed' (FFT's, Bode plots, signal generator etc).

But I still like my 468 as it gives me meaning results, and since it was a donation from a friend, the cost of acquisition was a deal I couldn't refuse. hahahahahaha.

JJ

 

[bcowen]

Are those Trompeter strain relief boots on your digital cables? Reminds me of old school TV studio video patch bay cables.

No, those are Canare 75 ohm connectors with their boots and 75 ohm cable. The interconnects are VH Audio's (excellent) V-Twist cable with KLE Copper Harmony RCA plugs. Made them myself because 1) I wanted the minimum lengths necessary to get all the Schiit connected with a minimal amount of cable clutter, and 2) I'm cheap. But mostly number 1.

http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=40
http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=48
https://www.vhaudio.com/connectors-rcaxlr.html
https://www.vhaudio.com/wire.html

 

[Paladin79]

No, those are Canare 75 ohm connectors with their boots and 75 ohm cable. The interconnects are VH Audio's (excellent) V-Twist cable with KLE Copper Harmony RCA plugs. Made them myself because 1) I wanted the minimum lengths necessary to get all the Schiit connected with a minimal amount of cable clutter, and 2) I'm cheap. But mostly number 1.

http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=40
http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=48
https://www.vhaudio.com/connectors-rcaxlr.html
https://www.vhaudio.com/wire.html

I for one knew those were Canare connectors. you can use the Canare cable or the connectors are specifically made for Belden cable.

 

[Paladin79]

They're still kinda big and heavy. Definitely in the boat anchor category by modern standards! The build quality is astounding in these beasts.

The most amazing thing about the Tek 500 series is that the tubes are very conservatively run. The circuit designs are very forgiving of the tube parameters. So forgiving that most of my restoration work involves cleaning and replacing leaky caps. The tubes are usually original, even in 'scopes that have 30K hours on them. And the vast majority of the tubes are common receiving types - none of the exotic industrial 5xxx series that are harder to find. Every once in a while I come across a 'scope that is too far gone to restore (or put aside for future restoration...) and it becomes an organ donor. One of these days I want to build another tube headphone amp using the ceramic terminal strips that Tek used, built in the Tek style, just for fun.

So much of working on equipment 20 years old or more is just cleaning pots and replacing caps then calibration I would think. I may have to watch out for one, I used to know guys who got military surplus test equipment but that was a while ago and the market changes.

 

[AudioGal]

I also remember those BIG heavy as SCHIIT tek tube based O'scopes.
We had one in the shop I used to work in and it was 'touchy' to setup and use.

And there are a plenitude of tek rebranded tubes on ebay, which speaks to their longevity.

I use a next gen tek scope, the 468, which was amoung their 1st series of combined analog and digital signal processing, using solid state instead of tubes, which also means I DON'T have to use a cart to lug it around, thank dog.

But a friend brought over his latest acquisition, a new digital scope from keysight https://www.keysight.com/us/en/prod...ion-1000-x-series-low-cost-oscilloscopes.html

And it has one button that literally saves the day WAY more often than it should…
The Auto Scale button is a MAJOR time saver, especially when figuring out how to use the scope and get meaningful results.
http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/5992-3484EN.pdf

And yeah it's over a grand depending on which version, so it isn't cheap, but it can be 'feature packed' (FFT's, Bode plots, signal generator etc).

But I still like my 468 as it gives me meaning results, and since it was a donation from a friend, the cost of acquisition was deal I couldn't refuse. hahahahahaha.

JJ

If you want a cheap but very usable modern oscilloscope, you can buy a Rigol DS1054Z DSO for $350 now. While it's only 50 Mhz bandwidth, that bandwidth is software limited. It's hackable. With the right license key you can unlock the full 100 Mhz bandwidth and the extra triggering options. I have one, it's a surprisingly good DSO, especially for the $$. It sucks for low level analog work though, there is internal noise that makes its way into the vertical amplifiers. Only noticeable on the highest vertical resolution. And there's an Ethernet jack on the back, you can control all the aspects of the instrument from a PC - the host software is free for the download. I recently started buying them at my day job to use as sputter cathode waveform monitors on our AC PVD optical coater tools.

 

[AudioGal]

No, those are Canare 75 ohm connectors with their boots and 75 ohm cable. The interconnects are VH Audio's (excellent) V-Twist cable with KLE Copper Harmony RCA plugs. Made them myself because 1) I wanted the minimum lengths necessary to get all the Schiit connected with a minimal amount of cable clutter, and 2) I'm cheap. But mostly number 1.

http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=40
http://www.canare.com/ProductItemDisplay.aspx?productItemID=48
https://www.vhaudio.com/connectors-rcaxlr.html
https://www.vhaudio.com/wire.html

Cool. I'm very familiar with Canare cable products, having used the L4E6S Star Quad microphone cable for decades (yeah, I'm old). Form my Schiit stack I just bought the Pyst jumpers to go between them. Price was right and they're good cables.

 

[Rensek]

My headphone system on my desk in Modei MB > Vali 2. Fantastic system and IMHO no need for Eq.

Cheers

Maybe not, but she already owns a Loki

If you are just using headphones Loki and Modi 3 is the same price as modi multibit. It's a very strong contender. I have a modi 3 and Loki in my office rig, modi multibit at home. I don't miss the modi multibit at all, in this setup. Loki is a nice toy to play with. And mmmmmm that toggle switch on modi 3. Modi 3 is also great as a 2ch, but modi multibit offers a greater advantage in 2ch vs the modi 3.

Edit - also, I think Schiit and Grado teaming up is awesome.

 

[JamminVMI]

I've read some very positive comments lately that the Modi MB -> Loki -> Vali 2 is a tremendous Schiit stack

I use it every day. Add my positive comments to your arsenal!

 

[33na3rd]

Here's some news about the phono cartridge shootout at the Schiitr.

https://audio-head.com/a-schiit-shootout-4-turntable-cartridges-compared/

 

[GumbyDammit223]

I also remember those BIG heavy as SCHIIT tek tube based O'scopes.
We had one in the shop I used to work in and it was 'touchy' to setup and use.

And there are a plenitude of tek rebranded tubes on ebay, which speaks to their longevity.

I use a next gen tek scope, the 468, which was amoung their 1st series of combined analog and digital signal processing, using solid state instead of tubes, which also means I DON'T have to use a cart to lug it around, thank dog.

But a friend brought over his latest acquisition, a new digital scope from keysight https://www.keysight.com/us/en/prod...ion-1000-x-series-low-cost-oscilloscopes.html

And it has one button that literally saves the day WAY more often than it should…
The Auto Scale button is a MAJOR time saver, especially when figuring out how to use the scope and get meaningful results.
http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/5992-3484EN.pdf

And yeah it's over a grand depending on which version, so it isn't cheap, but it can be 'feature packed' (FFT's, Bode plots, signal generator etc).

But I still like my 468 as it gives me meaning results, and since it was a donation from a friend, the cost of acquisition was a deal I couldn't refuse. hahahahahaha.

JJ

Back in the early 90's when I started my laser career, I had the need to measure the output pulsewidth of a laser with a scope having better than 300 MHz bandwidth. I ended up borrowing the one I used to use in grad school at the local university and had to borrow a friend's 4Runner to haul the beast and it's cart from school to work. Boy, was I glad we had an elevator to get to the 2nd floor! Now, the GHz scope I have in the lab can be lifted with one hand. And the current bells & whistles model we demoed just shames the 10 year-old one beyond belief. Still, they cost about the same - $50-60k...

 

[mp29k]

Here's some news about the phono cartridge shootout at the Schiitr.

https://audio-head.com/a-schiit-shootout-4-turntable-cartridges-compared/

One observation from all photos I have seen of the Sol arm, it seems like all of the cartridges are slammed near the front of the adjustment range. To me, especially across such a range of cartridges cited in this shoot-out, is that the adjustment range in the headshell isn't optimized. Question for Schiit, have you considered lengthening the arm length by a couple millimeters to allow for the average cartridge to sit near the center of the headshell? Optimizing sound in a turntable is all about getting the cart setup correctly, and I have concerns that either the setup for the carts we have seen in all photos isn't good, or the headshell doesn't allow a wide enough range of adjustment. Interested to hear other's takes here...

 

[33na3rd]

One observation from all photos I have seen of the Sol arm, it seems like all of the cartridges are slammed near the front of the adjustment range. To me, especially across such a range of cartridges cited in this shoot-out, is that the adjustment range in the headshell isn't optimized.

Hmm. I hadn't noticed that until you mentioned it. Doesn't seem plausible that all the cartridges would end up in the same position on the headshell if properly aligned.

 

[mp29k]

Hmm. I hadn't noticed that until you mentioned it. Doesn't seem plausible that all the cartridges would end up in the same position on the headshell if properly aligned.

Go look back at other videos with the SOL, they are all slammed fully forward... I had expected as the development was matured over the last year, that would start to change, but this latest shootout, and observing the same "problem", makes me think maybe I should wait until the second version of the table. I have waited over a year, another 6 months won't kill me.

 

[Robert Padgett]

If you are just using headphones Loki and Modi 3 is the same price as modi multibit. It's a very strong contender. I have a modi 3 and Loki in my office rig, modi multibit at home. I don't miss the modi multibit at all, in this setup. Loki is a nice toy to play with. And mmmmmm that toggle switch on modi 3. Modi 3 is also great as a 2ch, but modi multibit offers a greater advantage in 2ch vs the modi 3.

Edit - also, I think Schiit and Grado teaming up is awesome.

I guess we all have a story to tell, when we first discover Schiit, and how we read the forums and start making a decision based on the information gleaned. I bought a Modi 2 and thought the World had a new version of sliced bread. I have never heard music so clean--the music from the earphone jack on an ancient laptop, to a real USB interface, was mind-boggling. Then came the Modi Multibit...and soon the Modi 2 started collecting dust in the corner.
How could something so revolutionary have fallen so far? Actually, other concerns caused its demise--Coaxial SPDIF. Now, we built out the system and created a network of RasPi endpoints, our focus turned from the DAC (Which is the heart of the system) to all sorts of confusion. Another DAC came along for testing, and it rivaled the Modi MB, and then another.
My original Modi 2 started looking like yesterday's news.
Schiit announces Modi 3. Sure it will do SPDIF but it is Delta/Sigma, and still a $99 entry-level DAC. By this time, we are convinced the real argument is which Multibit? Ladder resistor or multiple chips, seems to be the core of the argument.
REDEMPTION
I had to bring the Modi 2 out of retirement for system two. I am again blown away about the sound quality. But...but, it is Delta/Sigma? I find that yes, it is Delta/Sigma, and so are just about everything else in the marketplace with the exception of ModiMB and some French units that sell for the Thousands. Even the measuring folks are touting D/S DACs across the board. Blind listening test conducted with students of the famed Indiana University School of Music confirms that not only are Delta Sigma DACs good, but they are also among the best.

Maybe my belief that Multibit was the ONLY way to go was in error-- a case of over-enthusiastic Schiit-fanboy.

I see a Modi 3 on b-stock for $79, and I buy it. For system two, the original Modi 2 is running USB from a RasPi, through a $49 Wyrd...we could do better. The RasPi still has its Allo DigiOne SPDIF hat, and the Modi 3 has coaxial.

Was all the hullaballoo about Multi just some Jedi-marketing Mind-trick? Certainly not from Jason or Mike. They seem agnostic in the D/S vs. MB debate that we in the fanboy community engage. The make both and they sell both--up to and including their second top-flight DAC--the Gungnir.

I am here to say, I don't care about arguing with anyone-- a great sounding DAC for $79 is good enough for my second system, and I know that SPDIF sounds better than RasPi USB.

 

[Varejao17]

For me, the intro to Schiit was caused by my aging 2ch system. The 20 year old power amp developed an input stage intermittent dropout, so I bought a replacement with has both balanced and single-ended inputs. Then, the 20 year old CD player started having transport issues (skipping). Given I have about 1100 CDs and have not ripped them to lossless, I still needed a CD player - so I got one with digital inputs (USB, optical, CoAx) and balanced outputs. So far, so good.

But thinking about the fact that I had balanced on the CD/DAC and the power amp, I started itching to upgrade the 20 year old preamp to something that can do balanced. The preamp was (is) a McCormack Micro-Line Drive - which is essentially a passive or buffered switcher/high quality pot - but only single ended.

I like the idea of passive preamps, but in looking for what was available that could do passive and balanced without spending a fortune, the Freya bubbled up to the top (as the website says, there's nothing else in this class). Before I could pull the trigger, the Freya+ became available - better tube section, buffer, and passive - what's not to like?

Now...speakers...