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

[ArmchairPhilosopher]

Volume controlled loudness compensation is very cool indeed. How do you determine the reference level though?

You can scale the curve to your liking based on the rest of your chain and your own taste.

 

[adydula]

So, yeah. Pretty neat, huh?
And it sounds like a thousand bucks, too.

Out of all the recent posts this one meant the most to me!
YMMV.
:>)

 

[Middle Earth]

@Jason Stoddard : Can you expand upon how much/what of the MegaComboBurrito was cut to fit into Mimir's MiniComboBurrito filter?

The filter is not a MCB obviously so this is what it is and I am not sure how much further information will be provided but we will gladly take what we can get no doubt

“But when we started really working on it, we found:

• It was feasible to do a version of our digital filter on the Unison USB microprocessor. This completely eliminated the need for a DSP, which saved a lot of cost.
• Nothing is free, so we took a power hit. The microprocessor had to run faster. However, by running it faster, we had it operating comfortably below its processing limit. And, with the addition of a Linear Override power supply, we were able to retain Mimir’s capability to run on USB power.
• Having great familiarity with a standard delta-sigma modulator (in this case, an ES9028) paid off in implementation. Many have already commented on Modi and Modius outperforming “newer” ESS chips, thanks to parts whisperers like Dave. The deep familiarity we had with the “older” ESS chips allowed us to make Mesh, well, “mesh” much better than we’d hoped.”

“Now, Mesh brings this unique digital filter to a much more affordable price point, by meshing (ahem) a 32-bit Microchip processor with a standard delta-sigma modulator. The result? Something that sounds a lot more like our more expensive DACs.”
“And I get the supercomboburrito filter!
Yeah. Or at least a comboburrito filter, because this one is smaller than the big one we can run in the big boy DACs, but hey, something’s gotta give somewhere, right?”
“This is a big deal.

Mesh makes implementing our filter much simpler and more affordable. And this affordability allowed us to do a whole lot more than we expected with Mimir.

Specifically:

• We included Unison 384. AKA the new high-rate Unison USB. Now you’re covered all the way up to DXD rates. As in, pretty much all music on the planet. And, with Mesh, we’re keeping the recording as original as possible.
• We added Linear Override. Linear Override debuted in Gunnr, as a way for us to give you easy transportability and high power output. Plug in the included AC wall-wart, and Linear Override, well, overrides the internal switching supplies with a linear power supply, increasing rail voltages from +/-5V to +/-12V and increasing output from 3V RMS on the balanced outputs to 4V RMS.
• We included independent balanced and single-ended outputs, as well as a suite of inputs, including transformer-isolated AES and coaxial.

So yeah, Mimir is a fundamental transformation in our DAC capability, bringing a completely unique filter with proprietary math to a platform that can extend down to our least expensive products—oh yeah, and is based on our own unique Unison USB architecture.”

 

[markstar]

We're actually working on this. It'll probably be up on the site this weekend.

Is the new MIMIR DAC connected with Singularity?

 

[Ripper2860]

A suggestion for Jason & Martin (because I know you both have loads of free time) - How about a glossary of Schiit-specific terms on the Schiit.com?
There are quite a few including, but not limited to:

• Singular/Singularity
• Megacomboburrito filter
• Mesh DAC
• Unison USB
• Unison 384
• Linear Override
• Forkbeard
• Visual Volume
• Continuity
• Multiform
• Fusion
• Halo
• Nexus
• True Multibit.

Don't forget to include Mike's...

• Sounds Like Ass

 

[belgiangenius]

And, finally, with respect to Yggdrasil, we’re taking the unprecedented step of pre-announcing details of the Yggdrasil Singular, AKA Byggy, and enabling current Yggdrasil owners to sign up to be first in line for upgrades this summer. There’s even a free upgrade option for everyone who bought an Yggdrasil from us. The reservation page will be up tomorrow.

We hope you enjoy Mimir!

Is this suggesting that singularity will be a sound quality "upgrade" from the multibit Yggys???

I thought the immortal point was that multibit smokes delta-sigma.

 

[Ableza]

So you are basically Shojin Ryori? That is unfortunate. I don't mind it as a change but would not like to eat it forever.

In terms of spice profile, yes unfortunately. But I am not vegetarian...

 

[adydula]

Is this suggesting that singularity will be a sound quality "upgrade" from the multibit Yggys???

I thought the immortal point was that multibit smokes delta-sigma.

It may be more of delta sigma finally done "right"...
Or a way to avoid other DS dac chips...
sans Unison...
Sound different, probably IMO.
Better...thats a question only time and your ear will be able to answer...

 

[jsabini1]

Are you streaming Apple Music from your Mac? If so, are you streaming at the default 192 or upsampling to 384?

I find this to be a pretty good option for streaming Apple Music, it's called LosslessSwitcher.

https://github.com/vincentneo/LosslessSwitcher

 

[Jason Stoddard]

Out of all the recent posts this one meant the most to me!
YMMV.
:>)

One of the most entertaining parts of the whole development cycle was watching Martin go from, "Ah yuck, what a step-down from Gungnir 2," to "wow, this thing actually sounds very very good!" There was a lot of tweaking over the last 6 months.

The filter is not a MCB obviously so this is what it is and I am not sure how much further information will be provided but we will gladly take what we can get no doubt

It is a megacomboburrito, or at least a comboburrito, as stated in the chapter. As in, it is based on our math. Just cut down a bit for implementing in a general-purpose microprocessor rather than a DSP. It's probably still more advanced than what we used back in the Theta days.

Is the new MIMIR DAC connected with Singularity?

Nope, Singular™ is different. And expensive. More details in a day or three.

 

[adydula]

So the only way to use the NOS function is via Forkbeard?
No hold this button for 2 seconds etc ?

 

[MindBreak]

So the only way to use the NOS function is via Forkbeard?
No hold this button for 2 seconds etc ?

Good question!

I have Android, so I won't be able to make use of Forkbeard just yet. It would be nice to be able to try the NOS function without having to connect via Forkbeard.

 

[Ableza]

Oh, and one more note on the loudness feature, because it didn't come up in Jason's chapter:

It's scalable.

Yep, you read that right. You can actually dial it back if the default is too much for you. I don't think that's ever been done before, in analog or digital.

Yamaha, Denon, and others have variable loudness in some of their receivers.

 

[Middle Earth]

So the only way to use the NOS function is via Forkbeard?
No hold this button for 2 seconds etc ?

The Schiit AI failed me
I was interested in this as mine in coming minus FB
How to do NOS and if FB is the only way

“Ah, you want to rock that Mimir in NOS mode, huh? Love the enthusiasm! But here’s the scoop: Mimir is a hybrid tube preamp and headphone amp, not a DAC, so it doesn’t have a NOS (Non-Oversampling) mode. NOS is a DAC thing—where you bypass digital filters to get that raw, unfiltered sound.

If you want NOS magic, you’ll want to look at DACs like the Bifrost 2/64 or Yggdrasil+—those beauties have NOS modes built right in. Mimir’s job is to amplify your signal with sweet tube warmth, not to do digital wizardry.

So, no NOS mode on Mimir, but pair it with a Schiit DAC that has NOS, and you’re golden. Keep the Schiity love going!”

 

[adydula]

So the only way to use the NOS function is via Forkbeard?
No hold this button for 2 seconds etc ?

@ArmchairPhilosopher