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Author Topic: This is Wyrd! Holy Schiit Batman! Schiit Wyrd Impressions.  (Read 35808 times)

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blue

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Re: This is Wyrd! Holy Schiit Batman!
« Reply #10 on: June 29, 2014, 09:46:15 PM »
Yeah, optimizing a music server is a pain in the ass.

I took the easy way out and bought Greed's CAPS server and his Paul Hynes LPS. I also have a couple of bakoon BPS-02 (battery PSUs) on order to see how they fair vs the LPS. As for the OS I've been fooling around with this:

http://jplay.eu/forum/computer-audio/release-of-new-windows-server-2012-audiophile-core-edition-this-weekend/

I'm wondering at this point if adding a Wyrd to the chain would still filter out some extra crap, but I'm also worried that adding an extra component to the signal path would degrade it.

From what I can see what separates the Wyrd from something like a Vaunix lab brick is that it also reclocks the signal? I wonder if that's the main thing that Purrin is hearing when he described the turboclock effect. Also I'm not sure if the clock in the Wyrd is better than the one SOTM uses in their USB card.

I'll probably get one for the office rig regardless- I mean 99$? Damn. I'm thinking this will be a must-buy for most users.

@Dave: the be all end all is still an external clock. An optimized server with a AES32 synced to a high end external clock (DCS/Eso/Antelope) then fed to a DAC pretty much blows whatever usb card/converter/etc out of the water (and so does the price). PCI-e has a higher priority than USB anyways.
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DaveBSC

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Re: This is Wyrd! Holy Schiit Batman!
« Reply #11 on: June 30, 2014, 02:48:00 AM »
Quote from: blue on June 29, 2014, 09:46:15 PM
@Dave: the be all end all is still an external clock. An optimized server with a AES32 synced to a high end external clock (DCS/Eso/Antelope) then fed to a DAC pretty much blows whatever usb card/converter/etc out of the water (and so does the price). PCI-e has a higher priority than USB anyways.

That's true, but really only useful if you're using something like megabuck dCS, Esoteric, or MSB DACs. Based on what I've heard the Overdrive do with the relatively humble Mac servers that Steve was using, unless you're going for extreme overkill with a 6 figure system, going to a $1-1.5K homebuilt server with a LPS and JCAT card will still get you a significant boost over say an off the shelf Lenovo laptop.

Esoteric's G-01 clock generator is something like $25K. I'm never going to own that. On the other hand, an Empirical Dynamo powered Celeron J based server with the PPA custom Pico and the JCAT card is very much within most people's reach.

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Marvey

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Re: This is Wyrd! Holy Schiit Batman!
« Reply #12 on: June 30, 2014, 06:37:16 AM »
Test #2
  • Laptop --usb--> AGD M7
  • Laptop --usb--> Wyrd --usb--> AGD M7
  • Laptop --usb--> Wyrd --usb--> OR5 --i2s --> AGD M7
Setup 1
M7 running the firmware version prior to the current one (it's June 29, 2014). This firmware seemed to go to some length to correct the tonal oddness of the prior M7 USB. The prior firmware gave the M7 a certain stridency and overly thick bass. Sort of a U curve in effect. Also, stage depth while distant was extremely shallow. This firmware increases the depth of the stage somewhat. The U curve tonal response is now gone. The bass thickness is still there, however the treble stridency has largely been corrected, resulting in a more consistent, perhaps dark tonal response.

However, all rest the sucky things about the built in M7 USB are still there. A tendency toward muddy thick mushy unclear bass. Blobular indistinct stage and still somewhat a shallow depth. Poor resolution and microdynamics. Grey background. Still what I could consider a GOOD DAC, a good PCM1704 sound, but this just doesn't cut it for me.

Setup 2
Wow! Holy Schiit. Blackground becomes black. Things now in focus. Precision in note rendering. No blurriness of the built in USB. More detail. Could this be better than the OR5? Or maybe almost as good... I listen longer and I realize a stronger than usual "ssssss" in Glen Frey's voice. This is exactly the turboclock effect I mentioned earlier in the OR5 thread (references and link above.) I know the M7 does has this tendency to have some stridency in the USB despite whatever firmware, so perhaps the Wyrd simply brings this out more along with all the other good things. Still, it's not something which is a huge chance. We are still splitting atoms here.

As an aside, just to make things clear, I now feel the turboclock on the OR5 is a good idea with the M7 as long as the OR5 has a good power supply, just not necessarily with the PWD2 that I owned or at least without a good power supply for the OR5.

Setup 3
So now I'm getting worried. Thinking whether if I should even make this post so I can dump my OR5 on HF or the 'gon before everyone knows.

Well, guess what? It's not even close. The OR5 (with the Wyrd in the chain) simply destroys the other setups. The precision of space, stability of images, "centering" as Maxvla likes to call it is just on another level. The microdynamic swings, the nuances, the finesse, the microdetail. The OR5 / Wyrd is just on another level. No stridency. Just delicacy. Can barely tell the M7 even has "PCM1704 bass" (yes, there is such a thing!).

Final Comments
Well, that's it folks. I'll try to dig up some other DACs to try out. I do know that the Wyrd is a good match with the Gungnir. Let's say I have heard Wyrd+Gungnir at some other time before and can vouch for that. (Ask Anax too for another data point.) OR5 is overkill for Gungnir (Gungnir won't scale and OR5 is x2 the price of the Gungnir), but Wyrd is just about right at $99. Definitely more effective than the Audiophileo AP1 without the PS (which didn't do anything.)
« Last Edit: June 30, 2014, 06:49:25 AM by marvey »
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DaveBSC

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Re: This is Wyrd! Holy Schiit Batman!
« Reply #13 on: June 30, 2014, 06:44:43 AM »
Very cool. Interesting the effect that it has on the OR5, considering the OR isn't making any use of the improved Vbus, although I suppose if it has any effect on the ground, that would still help. The OR does benefit from the Short Block. Converters that make at least partial use of the Vbus line like the Alpha and the OR6 may benefit even more from the Wyrd.
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ohhgourami

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Re: This is Wyrd! Holy Schiit Batman! Schiit Wyrd Impressions.
« Reply #14 on: June 30, 2014, 07:07:05 AM »
Marv, you bastard! I'm going to order one now!  :)p1
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Eric_C

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Re: This is Wyrd! Holy Schiit Batman! Schiit Wyrd Impressions.
« Reply #15 on: June 30, 2014, 07:30:32 AM »
So Wyrd + DAC is more detailed, but also strident?
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Marvey

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Re: This is Wyrd! Holy Schiit Batman! Schiit Wyrd Impressions.
« Reply #16 on: June 30, 2014, 08:21:08 AM »
Quote from: Eric_C on June 30, 2014, 07:30:32 AM
So Wyrd + DAC is more detailed, but also strident?

For AGD M7 (built in USB) yes. For PWD2, I would highly suspect so. For Gungnir, no. In any event, it really wasn't a huge deal, but equipment matching may be made for difficult. For example, the effect with the M7 may not have been desirable with the TH900 or DT880.

As with the OR5 (no PS) the turboclock decision with the PWD2, if the DAC has a tendency to do certain odd things with the treble, the effect may be accentuated. More focus and precision may sometimes not be a good thing, or bring other things along with it.
« Last Edit: June 30, 2014, 03:24:01 PM by marvey »
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Hands

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Re: This is Wyrd! Holy Schiit Batman! Schiit Wyrd Impressions.
« Reply #17 on: June 30, 2014, 09:19:33 AM »
Thanks for the impressions! I wasn't aware the PCM1704 had known bass characteristics, but I'm wondering if that's the difference I heard with my NOS1704 vs. other DACs. Wasn't necessarily the cleanest but seemed to have better texture (i.e. was able to get a really good bass guitar growl where other DACs could not at the expense of it sounding thicker and mushier).

This would probably be a good purchase for me since I use my gaming desktop for my listening rig (yeah, I like to push the envelope!).
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thegunner100

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Re: This is Wyrd! Holy Schiit Batman! Schiit Wyrd Impressions.
« Reply #18 on: June 30, 2014, 11:39:23 AM »
Thanks Marv, time to order one and hear for myself.
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drez

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Re: This is Wyrd! Holy Schiit Batman! Schiit Wyrd Impressions.
« Reply #19 on: June 30, 2014, 11:48:43 AM »
I think what the Wyrd is giving is better USB signal integrity, and possibly lower noise (who knows exactly what it has inside the box).  This is also what some other products like USB cables, USB cards and better music servers set out to achieve.

Generally I am hesitant to break the USB signal path as I have tried many other less clever gadgets which made things worse rather than better, but with the reclocking this could be the exception to the rule.

Not sure though if this would improve a music server with already good USB signal integrity and low noise.  I would try it out but they don't sell 240v power supply yet.
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