I've got to believe that the $1300 Schiit DAC is truly capable of delivering more than my $100 Rpi accessory board, but why am I not hearing the difference? (Note: This is not a slam against the Schiit - I am truly asking  for input/guidance.)

This past year I've begun getting into streaming via Spotify, and now Qobuz, via a Raspberry Pi 3B+. I've had a Hifi Berry DAC2 HD hat on it to feed my system. I have been very pleased with what I hear in my system.

But.... after reading and seeing various videos, I thought that getting a more expensive standalone DAC might provide another step up in sound quality. After doing a bunch of research, decided on a Schiit Gungnir DAC, with a key factor being that they state their Unison USB input is excellent, and I could plug a USB cable directly from my Rpi to the Gungnir.

The Gumby arrived a week ago and I placed it in my system. I let it warm up and have kept it on the entire time. I've had it play for hours (probably 40-50), and over the last couple of days have tried doing some A-B testing between the Gumby and my Hifi Berry DAC hat.

I've got a high quality A-B switch that I made a few years ago, and had the RCA outputs from the Gungnir and the Hifi Berry go into it. Then, via Volumio, and I can change which device is receiving the signal from the Rpi. By doing this, and altering the A-B switch, I can have the "same" signal feeding the Spud amp (I also took my preamp out to get a more unbiased sound).

I had expectations that I would have true magic happening with my stereo by having the Gumby in as a part of the system. When I go back and forth between the Gumby and the Hifi Berry, I honestly can't tell between one and the other. During some extended listening sessions, I've found myself really enjoying the sound stage and the music overall, and think "Wow - I guess this Gungnir" really does sound great", only to check and realize I was listening via the Rpi DAC hat! Soundstage height, width, and depth don't seem to change much. Sometimes I feel like I get a little more instrument separation with the Gumby, and other times I don't. Honestly, with A-B testing (not even blind), I can't readily tell the two apart, or have a preference between one and the other (although the Gungnir looks cooler!).

I am using the Rpi via wireless internet (no ethernet cable is available in the room) and am using a Schiit USB cable to connect the Rpi to the Gungnir. The various interconnects are not all the same, but when swapping them, hear no difference.

I've also done an A-B test while playing my CD player (Rega Apollo) by having the Apollo connected via s/pdif to the Gungnir. I then can A-B directly between the output of the Apollo versus that of the Gungnir. When doing this testing, I can tell a slight difference between them (favoring the Gumby).

Any thoughts or input before I send the Gungnir back to Schiit? I've wondered if an Allo Digione (regular or signature) hat might make a significant difference?

Or could it simply be that:
1. The hifi berry hat is really that good
2. I am feeding the Gumby improperly
3. My system is not isn't good enough to distinguish a difference
4. My ears aren't good enough to hear a difference
5. Something else?

I know that my hearing doesn't go above 14000hz,  and that my full-range Betsy drivers also don't go super high.

Many thanks for any input.

Chris

CJinArcadia,

I have a 1 year old Schiit Bifrost with the Unison USB.  While it did sound very good out of the box, it sounded ALOT better after like the 75 hour mark.  Keep playing…it gets better.  

Also…not sure what USB cable you are running but when I jumped into a really good cable, it was very noticeable.  I run the double smoked BBQ USB cable and it truly opened up the sound compared to a “Just a decent “ USB.  

I’ve never tried my RB Pi 3B+ as a stand alone DAC….I use  it ad a transport bridge in Roon running Ropiee to go into my Bifrost and the sound is VERY GOOD.  I don’t have a LPS for the Pi, but I run it into my Monster Power center which has digital filtering…which does help.

I run the Decware ZSB switch box and have done A/B testing with my AQ Red Dragonfly and while I the sound is really good…there is no comparison to the RBPi and Bifrost combo through Roon. Hope this helps.

Dom

I guess I have one more thing to add.

When you ask if the HiFi Berry is that good, I have to ask if the Schiit is that bad??

If you can hear the difference in Qobuz and Spotify it's probably not your ears or your system!  The MHDT Orchid  DAC was a big step up from the Allo piano DAC and it was top of the line DAC for the PI when I purchased it.
Good luck with your search

I just purchased a 5670 to 6922 adapter for my Orchid.  I replaced a WE D getter tube (that was pretty old) with a much less expensive 6922 tube.  

Wow is all I can say.  It's a worthwhile update and can now use the 6922s in both my SE84UFO and my DAC which makes sense to me.