[CharlesC]

  from what understand the wyrd schiit is only needed if you have noise on the usb not really going to improve SQ as per schiit themselves. also the schiit way of working is only pay for what you need as modular as it can be. therefore the schiit remains affordable and scaleable over period of time. i love this approach. feeding the upgraditis when one can afford it

But, but, but .....
1) power problems over USB are common
2) power problems over USB are frustrating
3) Modi is not exactly portable so USB power isn't necessary
3) USB Modi would work better with iPhones and Androids if it had a proper power supply.
Just sayin .....

 

[aamer23]

yep you do have some good points too, however the usb on my pc are not too bad so for me the usb powered loki has been working very well from an SQ perspective so feel i don't need a power supply. however the schiit's modular approach gives you you flexibility so you can invest in better usb power supply than wyrd if you like too. so pros and cons on both sides. this world dose not have perfect solutions just a choice on which set of compromises you can live with

 

[aamer23]

just to let you guys know i have got of my soap box now and come back down to earth

 

[he-500guy]

Would love a gain switch on Magni for sensitive headphones. I would prefer to not chop bits off with digital volume if i can help it.

 

[superjawes]

Bonus Post: Schiit Pipeline Update

Hey guys,

I am finally fully up and back to it, and I wanted to update you on where we are with new products.

We’re expecting to launch 6 new products before the end of this year (stop laughing.) You know about three of them:

• Mani. As usual, waiting for parts. We guess mid-September.
• Ragnarok. Currently we have full runs of production boards, metal, etc and are finishing debugging one last little problem and finalizing a test fixture to process boards at a reasonable rate. Soon, I will open up a final beta program for 20 buyers at a discounted price, and with 100% refund if you don’t like it. There will be a form to fill out for inclusion in the beta; it won’t be first-come, first-served. After the 15-day beta, assuming all is well, we’ll open up ordering. Please don’t bother hounding me about this. It will happen soon, and it will happen when it happens.
• Yggdrasil. Will be at RMAF, in what should be final form. For further questions, ask Mike (Baldr.)

You don’t know about the other three, but you’ll see if I make good on the promise. Again, stop laughing. I’m hoping to have at least one of the three at RMAF. Yeah, I know. We’ll see.

After that, buckle up for 2015. You ain’t seen nothing yet.

All the best,

Jason

Anyone want to speculate

As a recap, here is Schiit's product lineup to date:

Entry Level
Magni - SS Amp
Vali - Hybrid Tube Amp
Modi - DAC (USB or Optical)
Loki - DSD DAC (Adds DSD to any DAC)
Mani - Phono Preamp (Not Yet Released)

Midrange
Asgard 2 - SS Amp (Revised 2013)
Valhalla 2 - All Tube Amp (Revised 2014)
Lyr 2 - High-Power Hybrid Amp (Revised 2014)
Bifrost - Upgradeable DAC

High End/Balanced Tier
Mjolnir - Fully Balanced Amp (No Single Ended Outputs)
Gungnir - Fully Balanced DAC (But has Single Ended Outputs) (Also Upgradeable)

Highest End
Ragnarok - A Universal Amp with Tons of Power (Not Yet Released)
Yggdrasil - A Bitperfect DAC (Not Yet Released)

BONUS STAGE (Accessories)
SYS - Passive Preamp
Wyrd - USB "Decrapifier" to Provide Better USB Signals

I would still like to see a fully balanced tube or hybrid amp at Mjolnir's tier, but I'm mostly curious as to what they're looking to add. Will they be adding accessories? New amps? DAC upgrades? Or something completely different?

EDIT: Doh! Forgot about Loki...

 

[aamer23]

errrr excuse meee I happen to like the Loki and I like DSD and I use as a dedicated DSD DAC for my headphone rig

 

 

[superjawes]

I'm not knocking Loki...I just forgot about it. It's really the oddest character of the bunch.

 

[aamer23]

just pull'in your proverbial 

 and yes you are correct it is a bit odd and a little high maintenance but its adding to the Schiit Stack. 

 

[Aikanaro]

SQ is very much in keeping with his character lore lol

 

[CharlesC]

Hey, Schiit: how about a thumb drive sized USB device that puts out a perfect SPDIF signal - assuming that such a device would be able to skirt all the problems that make USB audio such a PITA.

 

[superjawes]

Hey, Schiit: how about a thumb drive sized USB device that puts out a perfect SPDIF signal - assuming that such a device would be able to skirt all the problems that make USB audio such a PITA.

I'm no expert, but I doubt it. Modi optical uses a power source, and one of the present problems with USB DACs is drawing too much power (because not all USB ports are made to the needs of USB audio). I suspect that such a device wouldn't get enough power to provide a great optical signal.

Also, this is kind of what Wyrd is for.

On the other hand, not all PCs have optical outputs. Perhaps they could release a Wyrd 2 or "Wyrd" Optical to add an optical signal to such machines.

 

[CharlesC]

 I suspect that such a device wouldn't get enough power to provide a great optical signal.
 

 
Since the device would have no analog circuits, I think power wouldn't be a problem.  The problem might still be screwy USB implementations, but maybe not.  One can hope.

 

[aamer23]

What I would like to see is Schiits modular approach to be further extended. so in a box with the same width as the Bifrost but can be taller and longer  a very modular DAC that can spec'd with 2 x USB, 4 x Optical, 1 x XLR, 0 x Coaxial inputs and 2 x RCA outputs one for the speaker amp and one for the head amp. and 1 x XLR out with a built in DSD DAC with drivers that switch switch seamlessly between PCM and DSD without manual intervention around a 1000 bucks or less if possible 

 

[whirlwind]

Would love to see a fully balanced tube amp  

 

[Johan R]

Pass-through RCA on Magni/Vali to be used with powered speakers/speaker amp.