Strange audio issue with Asgard 3

[NA Blur]

Yay!

 

[holden4th]

Having read through this thread and with my own new A3 on it's way to Australia it seems obvious that the 6.25 headphone socket is the issue. The A3 hasn't been available for a short period of time and hopefully this was used to trouble shoot this issue. Most other threads talk about the left channel.

 

[holden4th]

The Asgard arrived today and, you guessed it, it's faulty - or is it? More about that later.

The issue is that it's playing in a sort of mono. A quick test with a stereo test tone produced the following. From the headphone jack when the test played either the left or right channel by itself, no sound whatsoever. When both channels were played together, the sound came out from the middle of my head with single tones. Fortunately I found a 2xRCA to 3.5 female jack cable and plugged it into the preamp out. This time, the right channel played but the left didn't. Both played together. This eliminates the headphone jack and probably the RCA jacks. Switching between high and low gain made no difference.

So I'll send it back but before I do I have what might seem like a stupid question. I've connected the A3 to my Mac via the Modi 3+. What role does a DAC have in determining stereo signal? As I got the Modi from an Australian retailer and the Asgard from Schiit I need to determine if the Modi could possibly be faulty as I need to send the right piece of equipment back.

This leaves me with a dilemma as I don't have another DAC at home to connect to the Asgard. However, I do have an A&K Junior DAP at home which I believe will act as a standalone DAC. I also have the Fiio Q1 at work and I believe that it will also work as a standalone DAC. But how do I connect either to the Asgard which takes RCA connectors? Of course, if you tell me that the stereo issue can't possibly be DAC related it all becomes moot.

What else have I done? I used a different Micro USB to USB connector from the Modi with no change. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

EDIT: I had a thought. If I turn the A&K into DAC mode, can I then output the signal via the headphone socket? If so then I can connect it to my Asgard via the 2xRCA/3.5 female jack?

 

[Redcarmoose]

Yes, use the A&K to get into DAC mode. But before you do that just get a 3.5mm to RCA X 2 to the device to check if (DAP) stereo works. It should be pretty easy just play a song you know and listen for right and left? Make sure the output on your DAP it at zero then add some volume. Also start the Asgard very low output and add volume as needed, till you hear something.

Don’t hook up your DAP in any form of balanced mode. Only go 3.5mm. Make sure you hook the RCA with cable to the back (Source) input of the Asgard 3 ........not the preamp outputs.... they are designated as such.

 

[PointyFox]

The Asgard arrived today and, you guessed it, it's faulty - or is it? More about that later.

The issue is that it's playing in a sort of mono. A quick test with a stereo test tone produced the following. From the headphone jack when the test played either the left or right channel by itself, no sound whatsoever. When both channels were played together, the sound came out from the middle of my head with single tones. Fortunately I found a 2xRCA to 3.5 female jack cable and plugged it into the preamp out. This time, the right channel played but the left didn't. Both played together. This eliminates the headphone jack and probably the RCA jacks. Switching between high and low gain made no difference.

So I'll send it back but before I do I have what might seem like a stupid question. I've connected the A3 to my Mac via the Modi 3+. What role does a DAC have in determining stereo signal? As I got the Modi from an Australian retailer and the Asgard from Schiit I need to determine if the Modi could possibly be faulty as I need to send the right piece of equipment back.

This leaves me with a dilemma as I don't have another DAC at home to connect to the Asgard. However, I do have an A&K Junior DAP at home which I believe will act as a standalone DAC. I also have the Fiio Q1 at work and I believe that it will also work as a standalone DAC. But how do I connect either to the Asgard which takes RCA connectors? Of course, if you tell me that the stereo issue can't possibly be DAC related it all becomes moot.

What else have I done? I used a different Micro USB to USB connector from the Modi with no change. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

EDIT: I had a thought. If I turn the A&K into DAC mode, can I then output the signal via the headphone socket? If so then I can connect it to my Asgard via the 2xRCA/3.5 female jack?

Make sure the headphone plug is pushed in all the way

 

[holden4th]

Make sure the headphone plug is pushed in all the way

I've already eliminated the headphone jack by using the Pre Amp outputs. Same result.

 

[holden4th]

Yes, use the A&K to get into DAC mode. But before you do that just get a 3.5mm to RCA X 2 to the device to check if (DAP) stereo works. It should be pretty easy just play a song you know and listen for right and left? Make sure the output on your DAP it at zero then add some volume. Also start the Asgard very low output and add volume as needed, till you hear something.

Don’t hook up your DAP in any form of balanced mode. Only go 3.5mm. Make sure you hook the RCA with cable to the back (Source) input of the Asgard 3 ........not the preamp outputs.... they are designated as such.

Can someone clarify for me please. If I go into DAC mode on my A&K is the output the headphone jack or the Micro USB jack?

EDIT: Solved this. It's definitely the Asgard that is faulty.

 

[holden4th]

OK, got the A&K up and running as a DAC with the A3 and it's the amp that's the culprit, not the Modi. Now to negotiate with Schiit on the S&H cost of returning the amp. This is disappointing, surely someone in QC would have picked this up.

 

[Skeza]

Just received my Asgard 3 (australia) and unfortunetly i'm having the same problems. Huge distortion thats very prominent in male vocals and background noise. bypassed the AK4499 amp and tried line in. All the same. I've contacted Schiit today but it's almost not worth the return if they cant refund the shipping.

 

[holden4th]

Just received my Asgard 3 (australia) and unfortunetly i'm having the same problems. Huge distortion thats very prominent in male vocals and background noise. bypassed the AK4499 amp and tried line in. All the same. I've contacted Schiit today but it's almost not worth the return if they cant refund the shipping.

Schiit were very happy to pay for the return, As soon as I sent them the tracking details they refunded that cost to my account. My replacement is now on its way and I should have it early next week via FedEx. It helps speed up delivery when the courier companies have their own aircraft.

 

[Skeza]

Schiit were very happy to pay for the return, As soon as I sent them the tracking details they refunded that cost to my account. My replacement is now on its way and I should have it early next week via FedEx. It helps speed up delivery when the courier companies have their own aircraft.

That's good to hear, they've taken a few days to respond now but could be just holiday related.

Did they say what the fault was likely to be? Seems Preety common.

 

[holden4th]

That's good to hear, they've taken a few days to respond now but could be just holiday related.

Did they say what the fault was likely to be? Seems Preety common.

Yep, it's holidays. I got a response yesterday arvo after asking a question a few days previously so your's should be in the pipeline very soon I would expect.

The fault you've got is quite common, distortion in one of the channels. I could not get stereo and it seemed to be the left channel at fault so they could be related. I am hoping that because I've sent back a faulty product that they will do a serious QC check on the one they are sending me. I've heard such good things about this amp so I want to own one that works.

 

[Skeza]

Yep, it's holidays. I got a response yesterday arvo after asking a question a few days previously so your's should be in the pipeline very soon I would expect.

The fault you've got is quite common, distortion in one of the channels. I could not get stereo and it seemed to be the left channel at fault so they could be related. I am hoping that because I've sent back a faulty product that they will do a serious QC check on the one they are sending me. I've heard such good things about this amp so I want to own one that works.

Right there with you! This was meant to be my final amp purchase for a long time. Such a disappointment. Mines happening in stereo but my right channel is more distorted. I honestly didn't notice it until listening to a particular voice and then I couldn't unheard it. Seems to effect sub base aswell.

Mine was a B-stock (close out)A3 with the 4499 DAC. Hopefully doesn't effect the return clause

 

[holden4th]

I chose to not get the DAC module and bought a Modi 3+ from Addicted to Audio, an Aussie retailer who are great to deal with. I'm very happy with Schiit's customer service and am hoping that this amp works perfectly. My Modi 3+ is already plugged into my iMac and all I have to do when the A3 arrives is connect it to power, connect the RCA cables from the Modi, select the Modi as my sound source on my iMac and away I go. Anyway, I'll know early next week and will update via this thread. I really want to hear what the A3 can do with both my HD650 and also my beautiful HD580. As noted in earlier posts, I've got the Audeze LCD1 and while it is very efficient for a planar, it still takes a bit of winding up on the volume knob of my Burson Playmate 2. Will the A3 make the LCD1 even more resolving?

If the A3 that arrives is also faulty, I'll ask for a full refund and look for a 'used' one that I know will work.

The one question that I still haven't totally got my head around is how a DAC might affect stereo reproduction. I can't find anything on the net and people on forums like this don't appear to know either.

 

[Redcarmoose]

I chose to not get the DAC module and bought a Modi 3+ from Addicted to Audio, an Aussie retailer who are great to deal with. I'm very happy with Schiit's customer service and am hoping that this amp works perfectly. My Modi 3+ is already plugged into my iMac and all I have to do when the A3 arrives is connect it to power, connect the RCA cables from the Modi, select the Modi as my sound source on my iMac and away I go. Anyway, I'll know early next week and will update via this thread. I really want to hear what the A3 can do with both my HD650 and also my beautiful HD580. As noted in earlier posts, I've got the Audeze LCD1 and while it is very efficient for a planar, it still takes a bit of winding up on the volume knob of my Burson Playmate 2. Will the A3 make the LCD1 even more resolving?

If the A3 that arrives is also faulty, I'll ask for a full refund and look for a 'used' one that I know will work.

The one question that I still haven't totally got my head around is how a DAC might affect stereo reproduction. I can't find anything on the net and people on forums like this don't appear to know either.

It’s controversial what exactly a DAC does. I mean I always think different DACs offer a different soundstage? Sometimes very different and at times very close to the same. But it actually depends on a number of things. As a more powerful amp will also seem to alter soundstage by 1) making the bass tighter and better defined 2) seemingly changing imaging. 3) A lot more...really.

So....if the DAC is part of that it depends? But I’ve read two different ideas about the line out of DACs. Different OP amps are maybe going to sound different in the line out section of the DAP? Maybe not?

But I for one much of the time view the DAP as changing soundstage. We argue about it endlessly!

It’s difficult to measure so........combine that with different expectation biases and you get many opinions.