Improving Schiit Eitr Sound Quality (2018)

[exdmd]

A Guide on how to get the most from your Schiit Eitr

 

I recently began a quest to determine if it was possible to improve sound from the Schiit Eitr. There are three variables I knew to explore:

• USB Cable from source to the Eitr
• S/PDIF Cable from the Eitr to the DAC
• Power Supply (not necessary: LPS already used by Schiit)

Where I am coming from: I listen using HD800S phones powered by a Kenzie tube amp and Brooklyn DAC+. I avoid powered USB hubs and connect the Eitr directly from a USB 2.0 port on my Win 7 Pro laptop.

 

USB Cables Do Make A Difference

 

My first experiment involved comparing the popular Blue Jeans USB 2 cable to the AudioQuest Diamond USB Cable, Type A to Type B, 0.75m.

 

AudioQuest Diamond USB Cable Review

 

Source was Tidal HiFi using non MQA tracks I was very familiar with. After listening using the Blue Jeans cable I swapped in the AudioQuest Diamond. The most immediate difference was in musicality: tracks were more enjoyable to listen to. Consider swapping a basic turntable for an LP-12 and the music becomes more "tuneful" as Linn used to say.

 

To be more specific sound stage became wider, deeper and taller using the Diamond cable. There was more air around instruments and voices. Treble was silky smooth and I noticed more impact in bass. I heard more detail and it was easier to listen deep into the tracks.

 

Advice: if you have a very revealing system and can get an AudioQuest Diamond on trial from a dealer try it for yourself. Bits are not always just bits and USB cables do make a difference. I have an interesting high-end S/PDIF cable on the way and will update once I have a listen.

[exdmd]

Eitr provides electrical isolation and reclocks the data. Putting a Jitterbug in front of the Eitr may make a difference, may not. You would have to try for yourself. Let us know if you try it.

[exdmd]

Using Windows 7 with Eitr no clicks or pops so one of the Mac guys here will have to chime in.

[exdmd]

On a lark I decided to try an expensive digital interconnect cable between my Eitr and Brooklyn DAC+. I had been using the 75 ohm Blue Jean Cables S/PDIF interconnect with great results.  I bought a Mad Scientist  Flexible Carbon/Graphene Digital cable expecting an improvement but no luck. The FCG cable was veiled and two dimensional. Not recommended.

[exdmd]

5 hours ago, exdmd said:

On a lark I decided to try an expensive digital interconnect cable between my Eitr and Brooklyn DAC+. I had been using the 75 ohm Blue Jean Cables S/PDIF interconnect with great results.  I bought a Mad Scientist  Flexible Carbon/Graphene Digital cable expecting an improvement but no luck. The FCG cable was veiled and two dimensional. Not recommended.

 

Can't edit the original post turns out the Mad Scientist is directional and like an idiot I missed it and installed bassackwards. Sorry about that. The Mad Scientist is a fine cable needs to burn in for a week to form a final impression but at first listen it is an improvement over the BJC.

[exdmd]

If anyone is using a laptop that lets you use a USPCB with an Eitr and still connect power and S/PDIF cables photos please!

[exdmd]

On 12/21/2017 at 4:03 PM, OldBigEars said:

From my experience, cable upgrades make a significant difference to the Eitr.  When I first got mine,  I bought into the ‘basic cables are perfect’ philosophy - using Schiit and Belkin. It wasn’t bad, and I didn’t realize anything was missing.   After a month or two,  I was offered the chance to try some AQ Carbons.  The immediate SQ improvement was startling, to say the least.  Within 15 mins I knew I would be selling my basic USB and Coax and getting something better.  

 

I have no experience of power supply changes to Eitr but understood the standard piece is all you need.  I’ve heard that before ?

 

 

No power supply upgrade needed according to Puma Cat:

 

Quote

Schiit pulled out all the stops on Eitr, including separate linear power supplies for both the USB and S/PDIF circuits, and having the S/PDIF circuit with it's own, separate isolation from the USB circuit (also including the use of transformers instead of optocouplers).

 

That leaves the USB and S/PDIF cable options. Some forums refuse to believe cables can make a difference with the Eitr. Some people also still continue to believe the earth is flat:)

[exdmd]

I also bought a $50 River Cable Digiflex Gold Plus Digital cable to compare to the Blue Jeans and Mad Scientist S/PDIF cables.

 

I have done enough listening to feel confident that any improvement to the sound quality from Eitr comes from use of a better (read more expensive) USB cable from the computer to the Eitr. Coming from the S/PDIF out of my Eitr the best sounding cables in order are:

1. Blue Jeans S/PDIF
2. River Cable
3. Mad Scientist FCG

Recommendation: if you have a highly resolving system you can easily hear better sound using a more expensive USB cable to the Eitr. Going from your Eitr to DAC all you need is a $20 75 ohm Blue Jeans Cable S/PDIF cable.

[exdmd]

4 hours ago, One and a half said:

Despite the claimed use of transformers to isolate the signals in the EITR, noise is getting through, most likely normal mode noise on the USB differential signals, plus of course common mode noise through the AC power network.

 

When changing USB cables and a difference in sound is heard means the cable's characteristics are filtering 'something'. From the posts so far in this thread, the cabling from the PC to the EITR are just cables. To find the right cable that cleans up the signal may be great for one day, then the next day go down the tubes, when noise conditions change. That's the way it is.  

 

From recent experiments on reducing common mode noise and imaging, the two are inversely proportional to each other. If there is more noise, the stage height and depth reduces, less noise and the imaging and resolution improves. The most effective bang for buck is a Topaz/Elgar/Xantech isolation transformer and a plain power strip for everything to plug into.

 

Improving the signal integrity helps as well, so either the ifi MicroUSB3.0, Wyred4Sound RUR, Uptone Regen would work. Using a different USB cable can fine tune the sound to your liking, at least the sound will be consistently good or bad depending on the cable and not change from day to day.

 

 

 

If I had to daisy chain a MicroUSB3.0 before the Eitr I would seriously think about giving up on USB audio and switching to AoIP using RedNet.

[exdmd]

If you can't get your Yggy plugged in to a different wall outlet on a separate breaker try a good UPS. If your power goes out for long enough for the Yggy to cool down you have to go through the warm up process all over again for it to sound its best. You can always have an electrician run a dedicated circuit just for your audio gear.