Audioquest Jitterbug

[jt01]

I recently purchased an Audioquest Jitterbug after seeing generally positive reviews and being curious what it would do in my system. I replaced my home theater PC with a Liva X mini PC and now only have USB outputs to go into my Emotiva XDA-2 Dac. Gave it a try and it didn't seem to make much difference, which I guess means the XDA-2 is pretty good by itself.

However, I then tried it in my basement system with a Schiit Modi (original). I had been having intermittent problems with a sort of scratchiness in the output, which I thought was probably a loose connection somewhere along the line. But when I plugged in the Jitterbug and listened for over an hour - no scratchiness and greater clarity and soundstage. So I thiink the problem must have been noise in the USB output from the computer.

I am surprised in a good way that it made as big a difference, which brought the following question to mind. If a USB noise filter will make that much difference why don't more Dac manufacturers build similiar circuitry into the Dac? It would increase manufacturing costs, but would seem to be a decent selling point. I would have been willing to pay more for the Modi if I knew how much a USB noise filter would improve the sound.

Just my $.02.

 

[Poinzy]

If Audioquest said flat-out that the Jitterbug defeats USB ground-loop issues, I'd get a Jitterbug in a second. But they don't say that. The benefits of the Jitterbug seem, overall, pretty vague to me. Everyone who uses a Jitterbug makes different claims about what it does.

 

[Alobar]

My Jitterbug seemed to take out a little harshness as well that I would notice to have intermittently. I now (as of yesterday) have the Schitt Wyrd, which really does eliminate noise from the USB by providing essentially a new squeaky clean USB with its own power supply. Now that is proving night and day difference in USB noise although I have not played with it to make any claims as to improved SQ.. The Jitterbug's improvements are much less definable. Still it stays in the digital path for the time being.

 

[Condorsat]

IMHO ... DAC manufactures don't build this type of circuitry because there is no real benefit in the selling process .... a limited number of people will actually notice or even care that there is a difference.

Many people don't believe these type of gadgets work anyway ... those that do (small percentage) will buy aftermarket.

Last December I bought a Schiit Modi 2 Uber for my mains rig ... then an AudioQuest Jitterbug for the USB port on my entry level HP Laptop ($300 Black Friday special). Did it make a difference? Yes ... right out of the box.
Would I have been surprised if it did not make a difference? ... no ... IMHO ... it was dependent on quality of the USB Laptop output ... entry level ... I was not expecting much.

 

[bacobits]

In all of these cases it depends on being the DAC used these devices may or may not work (well).
When l was using a Chord Qute HD a Regen w/external LP PS improved things. But not night and day differences but it improved things. I switched to a Schiit Yggdrasil and there was no difference. Sold it, the Chord and the Regen/PS. Tried a Jitterbug on the Schiit and it did nothing! Nothing! Tried it alone and with an Itona. I picked up the Itona/ Industrial version after reading there was a difference on the Yiggy and there is an improvement. The Itona is a Galvanically Isolated device the others are not.

These devices all do something different and are equipment dependent. I also wanted to get away from all these attachments and boxes. Bottom line is you have to try these in your system to be sure or take the advice of anyone using the "exact" same setup.That's why there are so many FS now.

I am using a Curious liink ($130) from the Itona ( bought used $279) to the DAC. Using a Supra 3m USB from the computer. The $$ do mount up and need to be compared to the cost of the DAC.
Again also wanted to get away from all this USB cable differences BS. There are a lot more boxes out there to try too. People chain sometimes 2-3 together, which I think is ridiculous.

This as described works here and I've stopped playing around now. Hope this helps a bit.

 

[jt01]

Thanks to all for your replies. As several have said, how well a given USB filter works depends on what DAC you're using, how good the circuitry is in the computer, and maybe the USB cable. I guess the bottom line is you don't really know until you try it. I'm continuing to use the Audioquest Jitterbug with my Schiit Modi - it does clean up a lot of noise from my computer.

 

[Alobar]

Thanks to all for your replies. As several have said, how well a given USB filter works depends on what DAC you're using, how good the circuitry is in the computer, and maybe the USB cable. I guess the bottom line is you don't really know until you try it. I'm continuing to use the Audioquest Jitterbug with my Schiit Modi - it does clean up a lot of noise from my computer.

My results were the same for my Modi (first generation). The Jitterbug helped remove some harshness. Recently I upgraded the DAC to the Modi Multibit. About that same time I started noticing some mild buzzing when the computers power management was set to high performance that is unlikely to be related to the new DAC as I noticed it then with the old Modi as well. So I then bought the Schitt Wyrd, which not only filters the USB, but also provides its own squeaky clean power source, and all for around double the Jitterbug price. I don't pretend to know how exactly it works, but it has made a big difference, not only by eliminating the noise but seems to also enhance the SQ of the Modi Multibit although that could be from extended burn in time too. I have since removed the Jitterbug from the digital path and did not notice any difference in SQ. The sound I am now getting has really taken my system to the next level. Very pleased with these Schitt products!