During dinner with Jason last week, we discussed the need for changes on the production line over time and why. He will probably write a chapter soon with respect to this. Below is my opening with respect to our digital products, particularly those which are upgradable:
For those who are concerned/worried, some additional notes on Schiit upgrades. Since it is inevitable that all of Schiit's upgradable DAC line will be upgraded someday, policy must be relied upon. As I said, we are compelled to change parts from time to time in all of our gear. A typical example is AVX no longer makes a ceramic bypass cap we specced into generally more than one of our products – well, I guess we are stuck with another maker, such as Kemet. This is a commodity part, not like say an expensive Analog Devices DAC which would significantly impact sound or design, a very rare event. Such commodity parts changes are insignificant in all ways, including sonically. This is a change which we will NOT do to older units – not just because it is pointless but because it degrades reliability to work on completed PCB assemblies. The Rand Corporation did a study on why F-14 fighters crashed years ago and the conclusion was too much maintenance. I am well content to listen to my oldest of old Yggys with original commodity parts.
Since all three (Multi Yggy, Gumby, and Bifrost) are software driven, from time to time (rarely) we change software. We have had one software change in several years as I mentioned above. This was done for measurement purposes only, and is completely inaudible. It was done only for the fact that we have many strident, dyspeptic reviewers and shills for other companies who mention any measurement behaviour that in their judgement may serve their purposes. In that case, why do we do it? Because we can due to our software based design while most others cannot. Further, we do not have to do a thing other than remove and replace a socketed chip which was designed for upgrade – no reliability degradation. So if a unit comes back for upgrade/repair, we do it as a matter of course. Because we can, and we will continue to do so. Should you be in high dudgeon because you suspect your unit may not have the software change? Hell, no because there is no audible change. You may worry if you are going to send it to someone like atomic Bob who will measure it below -90db, but otherwise no. Besisdes, when we see it back for a major change, which is inevitable, we will change the software ROM anyway.
Then we have a situation which uniquely affects our delta-sigma stuff. The specmanship hand-job. Our first Bifrosts had AK4399 DACs. Since Delta Sigma DAC makers compete heavily for maximum market share and are designed in an environment where no one has ever given any of their DACs a serious listen, only a tech/spec review against their competition, the effort is toward ever cheaper, ever better speccing new DACs. The AK4490 was just the thing – it was cheaper than the AK4399 and measured a few db better. It also had a multiple digital filter feature which was a significant as mud flaps for sport cars for audiophiles. Nothing more than more hand-job and ZERO audiophile value. So we designed out the 4399 and designed in the 4490. Why? Because AKM stopped making the 4399. They are gone from the market, except for a few hundred here and there. Perfect for some expensive high end company to make $1000 Modi-Uber equivalents marketing the 4399 as a better sounding 4490. So which DAC do I like? It doesn't matter, because my choice was taken away by AKM, but my preference is clear. So in the case of Sigma-Delta, my freedom as a maker and yours as a buyer have been taken away by suits who have never listened to anything much better than Bluetooth. Sad, huh? That's why I prefer multibit - it constrains my design freedom far less than middle market crap which is so often marketed as high end by those who often do not realize what they are doing.
Now, what about all of you early and earlier adopters out there. The mantra is that we will have major changes from time to time. A DAC at the Yggy level makes major changes difficult, but it will happen. The truth is that there are NO major audible changes (besides the USB already offered) as of yet. They will be announced when developed/possible. At that time, all upgrades will be performed on units sent to us. Honest. Have faith. No Schiit.
