Schiit Syn DAC/Preamp/HP Amp Review

[EJ3]

Very interesting! But the price is a rich at $1000. Interesting, that they included internal amplification. Surprisingly, there are internal amps for both the fronts and the rears. And they use lame spring clip speaker jacks They don't specify the amplifier power output.

For what it is, I think the price is fair.
Spring clip speaker jacks: I have never had an issue with them (I just use tinned 14 gage wire [the tinning keeps stray strands from touching things that they shouldn't touch]). It just works and it works just fine.
Power output, perhaps they figure that you will dig deeper if you are interested.
I looked into some of their other gear years ago, when I lived in Oceana (and I even went to Freemantle/Perth but was too busy to go look at a place that carried their gear).

 

[john61ct]

Could details on other products please get their own threads?

Costs nothing, can cross-link for reference...

 

[EJ3]

Could details on other products please get their own threads?

Costs nothing, can cross-link for reference...

How to do?

 

[amirm]

How to do?

He is saying create a new thread and then just post a link to it in the review thread.

I personally don't mind thread drift after a while and tail end of a review especially when alternatives are being discussed. But if the discussion becomes more than a few posts, it is best to create a new thread so more interested parties can participate.

 

[john61ct]

And topic discipline does help avoid confusion, nice when everything about an alternative product is in its own place

 

[Avatar25]

I would like to share my personal experience with Syn: Good sound over all, well build and simple to use. I had it with Emotiva BassX A3, left, center, right speakers from SVS (Prime line), WiiM pro streamer and Bifrost DAC.
Stereo - sounded pretty good and I was happy with it.
Movies - it does a decent job but it is not the same as Denon or Yamaha. The sound is immersive but the dynamics are different. I believe the main benefit is over all higher sound quality compared to what the TV can do.
After listening to the combo for about a year I decided to transition to simple stereo only. I found two used Tyrs at a great price and that was it. Please keep in mind that Syn and Tyr do not work well together.

 

[EJ3]

He is saying create a new thread and then just post a link to it in the review thread.

I personally don't mind thread drift after a while and tail end of a review especially when alternatives are being discussed. But if the discussion becomes more than a few posts, it is best to create a new thread so more interested parties can participate.

After a second read: I don't know how to post a link?

 

[amirm]

After a second read: I don't know how to post a link?

You see the "#" followed by a number? You can click on that and have it open a new page. Then copy that URL in your browser and past it anywhere you want to show such a link. You can also right click and select "Copy Link Address." Here is a link to your post for example:

Schiit Syn DAC/Preamp/HP Amp Review

Very interesting! But the price is a rich at $1000. Interesting, that they included internal amplification. Surprisingly, there are internal amps for both the fronts and the rears. And they use lame spring clip speaker jacks :( They don't specify the amplifier power output. For what it is...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[kyuu]

I believe the reasoning is that Schiit wanted a minimalist product. An alternative to complicated surround processors, plus freedom from licensing fees that are usually necessary for decoding surround formats.

AVRs/AVPs are a single box. What's more complicated?

In any case, the licensing fee thing has been addressed previously in the thread: the parents for basic Dolby 5.1 are expired and cheap decoders are available with no licensing fees. You wouldn't even need to pay the HDMI consortium, you could just use SPDIF.

If people enjoy these things, that's cool. But for someone who has invested in a multichannel system it seems weird to skimp here instead of just getting something that can do actual decoding and more sophisticated upmixing. This product is about the same price as an entry-level AVR, and those throw in amps and proper bass management.

 

[EJ3]

You see the "#" followed by a number? You can click on that and have it open a new page. Then copy that URL in your browser and past it anywhere you want to show such a link. You can also right click and select "Copy Link Address." Here is a link to your post for example:

Schiit Syn DAC/Preamp/HP Amp Review

Very interesting! But the price is a rich at $1000. Interesting, that they included internal amplification. Surprisingly, there are internal amps for both the fronts and the rears. And they use lame spring clip speaker jacks :( They don't specify the amplifier power output. For what it is...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Thanks!

 

[john61ct]

In my case if I did not have SYNs I would not bother with surround at all.The film-viewing aspect is below 10%, 2channel would be "just fine".

It's also not about money - I have zero interest (negative in fact) in decoding "standards that evolve" even faster than the HDMI mess, much less sophisticated upmixing.

I want on principle that whatever I buy will likely still be useful to future generations; if circuits fail so be it, but not from supporting planned obsolescence.

I realize these are not mainstream positions, but SYN was never more than a niche product, just trying to help clarify that niche.

I also am mainly focused on DC powered units, so any signal processing that isn't built into a "car amp", needs for me to be at line-level.

That being micro-niche I realise...

If people enjoy these things, that's cool. But for someone who has invested in a multichannel system it seems weird to skimp here instead of just getting something that can do actual decoding and more sophisticated upmixing. This product is about the same price as an entry-level AVR, and those throw in amps and proper bass management.

 

[ChrisH-CT]

AVRs/AVPs are a single box. What's more complicated?

In any case, the licensing fee thing has been addressed previously in the thread: the parents for basic Dolby 5.1 are expired and cheap decoders are available with no licensing fees. You wouldn't even need to pay the HDMI consortium, you could just use SPDIF.

If people enjoy these things, that's cool. But for someone who has invested in a multichannel system it seems weird to skimp here instead of just getting something that can do actual decoding and more sophisticated upmixing. This product is about the same price as an entry-level AVR, and those throw in amps and proper bass management.

For music listening, I find it a great product. And I have no bass management concerns. And I appreciate the compact footprint. And when combined with a compact amplifier, takes up much less space than a typical receiver. If I was mostly interested in movies, I might feel differently.

 

[ChrisH-CT]

Please keep in mind that Syn and Tyr do not work well together.

Why not? Please explain.

 

[mhardy6647]

Why not? Please explain.

Yeah, I was wondering about this, too...

 

[john61ct]

me three

 

[Avatar25]

Why not? Please explain.

Tyr magnifies the limitations of Syn especially when you crank up the volume. Vocals start to sound unnatural and the bass becomes boomy. Right now I use Kara and I don't experience this.

 

[john61ct]

I'm not buying it without confirmation from known trustworthy sources.

 

[borisM]

My use case was basically dropping a center speaker (no 5.1 etc) to boost clarity in movies and I guess I waited too long to get the Syn. Damn, I guess huge ass receiver it is then?

 

[Mort]

My use case was basically dropping a center speaker (no 5.1 etc) to boost clarity in movies and I guess I waited too long to get the Syn. Damn, I guess huge ass receiver it is then?

You can always do the minidsp thing but it's not cheaper.

 

[john61ct]

My use case was basically dropping a center speaker (no 5.1 etc) to boost clarity in movies and I guess I waited too long to get the Syn. Damn, I guess huge ass receiver it is then?

They can be found secondhand, bought another for my son.