- USB-C stream output
- Metal CD tray and mechanism from StreamUnlimited
- Made in USA
- Dual linear power supplies - one for the drive
- Dual USB-C outs
-
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Review of the new Schiit URD
- Thread starter Zgrado1970
- Start date
I bet version 2 of this thing would have a Schiit mulitibit DAC module on it. What I hate about these type of products (dedicated CD players/transports) is so much waste in terms of space, good quality power supply and missing digital inputs etc.
Just make one excellent digital component that does the following.
1. CD / SACD playback
2. Digital coax, optical, USB outs, and HDMI (DSD out)
3. Digital coax, optical and USB inputs to be used as a DAC. Build a decent quality DAC inside it, so I won't have to buy an external DAC.
4. Analog outputs
5. Low noise power supply
6. Nice remote
7. Optional : even a streaming module like Wiim / DTS PlayFi built in. If people something different they can use the digital inputs.
Just make one excellent digital component that does the following.
1. CD / SACD playback
2. Digital coax, optical, USB outs, and HDMI (DSD out)
3. Digital coax, optical and USB inputs to be used as a DAC. Build a decent quality DAC inside it, so I won't have to buy an external DAC.
4. Analog outputs
5. Low noise power supply
6. Nice remote
7. Optional : even a streaming module like Wiim / DTS PlayFi built in. If people something different they can use the digital inputs.
solderdude
Grand Contributor
Aside from the price this might actually be a handy device.
ASR members would gladly buy one if it were 1/6th of the price and is smaller.
Assuming that the mechanism can make it to at least 30 years of service (my 30 y.o. Technics CDP still works flawlessly)
If that feels 'solid' and is quiet and can play even damaged CDs and does not spin 10 to 20x the regular CDP speed (which is audible) then I think there are some audiophiles that will actually like the Schit turd (oh... sorry did I misplace the space and make the t dual instead of the ?)
it will fit in nicely with the rest of Schiit.
Let's face it. Every self respecting audiophile has at least a good DAC that outperforms that from your average CDP.
The usual transports all require a laptop, tablet, or some other computing device it has to be connected to before it can be connected to a DAC.
This one simply has that 'computing' part inside and even accepts 2 other USB inputs so it can act as an input switch for the connected DAC.
Most DACs do not have 2 USB inputs and many people have more than one USB device that always has to be used with some computing device.
I hope for Schiit this device works out better for them than the vinyl player or 'the gadget'.
The 2 'linear' power supplies is just a marketing gimmick. It is easy to build, has appeal to audiophools it just requires 115 or 230V switch.
I am sure it will do what it is supposed to do.
ASR members would gladly buy one if it were 1/6th of the price and is smaller.
Assuming that the mechanism can make it to at least 30 years of service (my 30 y.o. Technics CDP still works flawlessly)
If that feels 'solid' and is quiet and can play even damaged CDs and does not spin 10 to 20x the regular CDP speed (which is audible) then I think there are some audiophiles that will actually like the Schit turd (oh... sorry did I misplace the space and make the t dual instead of the ?)
it will fit in nicely with the rest of Schiit.
Let's face it. Every self respecting audiophile has at least a good DAC that outperforms that from your average CDP.
The usual transports all require a laptop, tablet, or some other computing device it has to be connected to before it can be connected to a DAC.
This one simply has that 'computing' part inside and even accepts 2 other USB inputs so it can act as an input switch for the connected DAC.
Most DACs do not have 2 USB inputs and many people have more than one USB device that always has to be used with some computing device.
I hope for Schiit this device works out better for them than the vinyl player or 'the gadget'.
The 2 'linear' power supplies is just a marketing gimmick. It is easy to build, has appeal to audiophools it just requires 115 or 230V switch.
I am sure it will do what it is supposed to do.
tmtomh
Major Contributor
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I agree with @solderdude and will take it a step further: I think this is a great product.
In another thread I started less than 24 hrs ago, I was asking folks for suggestions for a device with two digital inputs, one USB and one coax, and a coax output. This is because I have two digital sources and want to feed active speakers that have digital inputs.
Ideally, I wrote, I'd prefer AES EBU output from this device, because the speakers use AES EBU for their digital input. But I figured beggars can't be choosers and coax to AES works fine for short runs.
What I didn't mention was that I have two digital sources because one is my computer-based streamer (which works best when outputting USB), and the other is a disc transport (which has a coax output).
So with this Schiit URD, I get the USB input for my streamer; I get the AES EBU output for my active speakers' digital input; and I no longer need a coax input at all because the disc transport is included in the unit. That makes it a very elegant solution because it not only provides the input switching and digital port format conversion I was looking for, but it also makes the whole deal a one-box solution since a separate disc player is no longer needed.
I understand I've just outlined my own particular use case, but judging from some of the comments in the thread I referred to above, I'm not alone in wanting multiple digital inputs and multiple types of digital outputs in a single device. And I'm willing to bet I'm not alone in that one of those multiple digital inputs I need is for a CD/disc transport, because I still like playing discs sometimes.
As for the price, $1299 seems a bit steep (and $50 extra for silver is just stupid). But that's only if you think of it as just a disc transport, or as a less-full-featured competitor to the famed Oppo UDP-205, which included a DAC, multichannel output, and SACD/DVD/DVD-A playback capability for the same $1299.
But you have to keep in mind that the Urd is not meant as an Oppo replacement (or a competitor with Panasonic or Reavon universal disc players). If you want multiple digital inputs plus AES EBU output, you're looking at a minimum of $1k for a MiniDSP SHD Studio - and that's without a disc transport (and without USB output, for what that's worth). So is $300 too much extra to pay for the included disc transport and USB output? Maybe - but IMHO it's not a crazy premium given the apparent mechanical/build quality of the transport, the elegance of the single-box solution, and the uniqueness of the USB output.
The only thing that concerns me is that "linear power supply with two separate transformers," If you stuff two linear transformers into a 2" thick box with a bunch of audio electronics also jammed into it, you've got to implement that exactly right or else you risk all kinds of interference, noise, jitter, and so on. Oppo did it more or less flawlessly with the 205 - but that was Oppo, and the 205 is a lot more than 2" thick, and one of their two PSUs was switching, not linear.
I also don't like the fact that the black Urd has a silver tray cover - it's goofy aesthetically, and I can't help thinking it's a silly cost-cutting measure so they only have to have that part in one color.
Oh, and finally, Schiit's 15-day money-back guarantee is nothing to sneeze at considering that MiniDSP's return/exchange policy is "No, never, go away."
In another thread I started less than 24 hrs ago, I was asking folks for suggestions for a device with two digital inputs, one USB and one coax, and a coax output. This is because I have two digital sources and want to feed active speakers that have digital inputs.
Ideally, I wrote, I'd prefer AES EBU output from this device, because the speakers use AES EBU for their digital input. But I figured beggars can't be choosers and coax to AES works fine for short runs.
What I didn't mention was that I have two digital sources because one is my computer-based streamer (which works best when outputting USB), and the other is a disc transport (which has a coax output).
So with this Schiit URD, I get the USB input for my streamer; I get the AES EBU output for my active speakers' digital input; and I no longer need a coax input at all because the disc transport is included in the unit. That makes it a very elegant solution because it not only provides the input switching and digital port format conversion I was looking for, but it also makes the whole deal a one-box solution since a separate disc player is no longer needed.
I understand I've just outlined my own particular use case, but judging from some of the comments in the thread I referred to above, I'm not alone in wanting multiple digital inputs and multiple types of digital outputs in a single device. And I'm willing to bet I'm not alone in that one of those multiple digital inputs I need is for a CD/disc transport, because I still like playing discs sometimes.
As for the price, $1299 seems a bit steep (and $50 extra for silver is just stupid). But that's only if you think of it as just a disc transport, or as a less-full-featured competitor to the famed Oppo UDP-205, which included a DAC, multichannel output, and SACD/DVD/DVD-A playback capability for the same $1299.
But you have to keep in mind that the Urd is not meant as an Oppo replacement (or a competitor with Panasonic or Reavon universal disc players). If you want multiple digital inputs plus AES EBU output, you're looking at a minimum of $1k for a MiniDSP SHD Studio - and that's without a disc transport (and without USB output, for what that's worth). So is $300 too much extra to pay for the included disc transport and USB output? Maybe - but IMHO it's not a crazy premium given the apparent mechanical/build quality of the transport, the elegance of the single-box solution, and the uniqueness of the USB output.
The only thing that concerns me is that "linear power supply with two separate transformers," If you stuff two linear transformers into a 2" thick box with a bunch of audio electronics also jammed into it, you've got to implement that exactly right or else you risk all kinds of interference, noise, jitter, and so on. Oppo did it more or less flawlessly with the 205 - but that was Oppo, and the 205 is a lot more than 2" thick, and one of their two PSUs was switching, not linear.
I also don't like the fact that the black Urd has a silver tray cover - it's goofy aesthetically, and I can't help thinking it's a silly cost-cutting measure so they only have to have that part in one color.
Oh, and finally, Schiit's 15-day money-back guarantee is nothing to sneeze at considering that MiniDSP's return/exchange policy is "No, never, go away."
solderdude
Grand Contributor
That would only be a possible case of concern when there were an analog out. A potential issue in that case would be the joining of analog and digital ground plane and leakage differences between the transformers.
In this case one supply is for the mechanism and the other one for the Schiit electronics and there is no analog path. The USB is galvanically separated as well (from what I understood) so no common mode issues with the USB DAC's that ultimately are connected analog to amplifier(s).
I see no reason for this to be a downside or possible issue.
Only the price is a bit on the high side but they have to recover development costs somewhere. Audiophiles looking for such a solution as this do not have any problems paying that amount knowing they can have their DAC of choice doing 'da business' and not having to use a PC-alike device to make the DAC work.
Interestingly the optical assembly seems to be the cheap Sanyo SF-HD850 laser.
The complete mechanism and electronics for driving the mechanism seem to be high quality.
Last edited:
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I was just reading the product page and I agree, I think it could be a very useful hub device to integrate various digital sources with your CD collection into an existing DAC and onwards chain especially in cases like yours.
I really dont like the price though. That is a very tough sell.
HammersRocco
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For that purpose I use the Mini-CD MK2 CD Player as transport - it does upsampling if that is your thing and I love the small form factor. Includes remote.
$279.00
PD-505T CD Transport
Based on our original CD drive design used in the CD-5020A, which boasts a record for many years of use by professional products, we developed a new design optimized for the PD-505T. Utilizing semi-floating mounting and a new drive circuit design, we have realized CD reading that is accurate and...
www.moon-audio.com
v
solderdude
Grand Contributor
This is just a CD player with built-in DAC and SPDIF out, just like most other CDPs.
It can not be connected directly to USB DACs no will it accept USB input signals.
The URD is something with an entirely different use case... O.K. both accept CD's and can read them but that's where the similarities end. The URD is a niche product. A CDP is not.
It can not be connected directly to USB DACs no will it accept USB input signals.
The URD is something with an entirely different use case... O.K. both accept CD's and can read them but that's where the similarities end. The URD is a niche product. A CDP is not.
HammersRocco
Senior Member
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Indeed - thanks for the mansplain - just a suggestion for a "close enough" to the product desired by @Joe Smith - nowhere I said that it was a URD equivalent... nor did I say it was a transport, just that I use it as such, again, close enough to "small form factor with remote control".
v
solderdude
Grand Contributor
Right, that is so... but then again any CDP/DVDP with SPDIF out will have that functionality (act as an SPDIF out transport) though and most CDP/DVD have such an output, optical or electrical.
yeh... that quote struck me as trying to come up with a nice "GOTCHA" comment but comes off as being nonsensical on a 2nd read...
how the F' do you listen to a transport?
This whole thing is a confluence of "not useful idiots"... as opposed to that common phrase "useful idiots"
Here is Schitt trying to be funny again... with their "Schitt-Turd".... and its $1,299... and its a CD transport only... in 2023 when the CD is well and truly... a item from another age... and then you have Johnny Darko and that sort hyping it up...
Its USP is that it can act as a type-c hub so you can pass a streamer or phone or whatever THRU this to your DAC.
Why would you pay $1,299 to do this???
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Does a $1,299 'CD Transport' in 2023 mean I can expect a return of the Sol turntable that I can fit with separate tonearms for playback of 'SQ' and 'QS' quadraphonic vinyl ?
i wish Schitt took this a bit further and added an expansion slot like McIntosh or Accuphase where you can buy a $699 dac board that adds xlr and rca out... of course you choice of AKM ESS and maybe even upgradeable op amps...
Galliardist
Major Contributor
Which is what most people seem to do nowadays anyway. Making it the ideal moment for that CD revival people keep talking about... all we need is the myth that playing CDs sounds better than ripping them to take hold?
but does Schitt have those rabid customers who must have a multi thousand dollar "Schitt Stack"... so to speak
www.schiit.com
does that work well?
maybe then a freya and vidar? sounds wonky
Schiit Audio: Audio Products Made in USA
www.schiit.com
does that work well?
maybe then a freya and vidar? sounds wonky
computer-audiophile
Major Contributor
Sorry, I don't mean to offend anyone, but Shiit seems like a strange company. Strange what they make. The CD player is part of this, imo.
I once wanted to buy their record player (seriously, I am not joking), but only because it has a totally weird look that reminds me of an artistic kinetic object - not a very good record player. It's a technical curiosity. But they couldn't deliver, despite several requests over the years. They always put me off.
I once wanted to buy their record player (seriously, I am not joking), but only because it has a totally weird look that reminds me of an artistic kinetic object - not a very good record player. It's a technical curiosity. But they couldn't deliver, despite several requests over the years. They always put me off.
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