Magni 3 released

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by neogeosnk, Sep 19, 2017.

  1. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    I'm assuming this is a leave on 24/7 deal just like the Jot?
     
  2. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    in my experience 30 minutes or so of warm up seems to work just fine. I have left it on for days and really noticed no difference for me vs 30 minutes in. But I have not done a controlled test.
     
  3. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Sure, I meant for convenience more so than sonic reasons.

    Just making sure there's no obvious downside.
     
  4. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    I've got mine at work where I usually turn it off before leaving for the day. Sometimes I forget and it stays on for a couple of days. Like you, I don't notice much of a change over time. I also think it sounds fine from cold start up but maybe it does get a little better after a few minutes. I think any improvements when warm are probably subtle. I also have done no critical tests.
     
  5. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Very short impressions simply to add a data point:

    AFO:
    I far prefer the Vali 2. The AFO has a very intimate sound and is already a bit warm and smooth with some bass emphasis. The Magni took this a bit over the top for my tastes and made the AFO sound a bit congested as a result. It felt a little suffocating, to be honest. I thought the extra power might do good things for the AFO, but it simply didn't fit my tastes. The extra slam was fun on certain tracks, but not enough to counter the overall experience.

    The Vali 2 really opens up the top end and lets the headphones breathe a little, which they need. The overall sound is still warm and engaging, but the balance feels far more natural.

    HD650:
    So far so good for the Magni. I wouldn't say it's better than the Vali 2, but it's going to take more time to know for sure. The extra punch and lower end slam is welcome with the 650s and the sound feels natural from top to bottom. Everything is clean and punchy without any obvious flaws.

    Overall, the Magi is the ideal amp to have at work. Easy to toss in a bag, only costs $99, and sounds better with the 650 than it has a right to at this price. I think schiit could have marketed this as a mega-uber version and sold it for $199 pretty easily.
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2018
  6. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Alright, so I've got to walk my comments back a little bit.

    I'm not sure what was up with how I heard the AFO/Magni 3 combo earlier. Perhaps the Magni just needed some more time to bake, but I've left it on for 4 days continuously at work and decided to give it another shot.

    It's really...nice. Ample power, clean sound. Everything sounds effortless and relaxed, but with plenty of kick when needed.

    Good on you, Magni.

    Magni - 1
    Skyline - 0
     
  7. loki993

    loki993 Facebook Friend

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    Ok I got my Magni 3 and Modi Multibit last night and got it all hooked up. All I had was an optical cable so that's how I hooked it up to my computer. I let the magni sit on for about a half hour before I started listening to it. I also gave it a listen before going to work today after having both on all night and I can't say much changed. I listed to mostly stuff from internet streaming, soundcloud a lot, I know it's probably a crap source, but its free and I can search for stuff I like. I also do prime music, but I didn't try anything from there last night. So I know off the bat Im limiting myself there, but Im including it for full disclosure. As bad as it may be though I've heard audible differences from each Amp and headphone I've tried on my computer.

    I must say I'm on the fence about it. Maybe its the combo but I think it's too warm with my K7xxs and bear with me here its hard to describe stuff like this for me and I'm really realizing now that I have a ton to learn about a lot of stuff, even about what I like.

    The bass sounds nice and full, it's definitely got a good amount of hit to it too, mids are good and the stack has tons of detail but the treble, the highs are behind everything else...and it's far..it gives it a nice depth to the sound but it makes it sound weak up top and the treble gets a bit lost underneath everything else.

    Its not a fair comparison but I was A/B ing it with a fiio e10k, my work amp, and the fiio is definitely way more forward in the treble, which to me sounded better. The treble, that is...nearly everything else on the stack sounds better and I definitely heard things with the stack that I couldn't with the Fiio, so its more detailed too , but I'm missing that treble. The pop, the sparkle, the cleanness to it.

    Is this just the general sound signature of the stack? Is there something wrong with my setup? Is it my headphones?

    I know I was looking for warm but I didnt think id be giving up so much treble to get it. Basically if I could move the treble more forward and keep everything else about this amp the same it would sound mind blowingly good to me.
     
  8. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    See my impressions right above yours @loki993 . Leave it on 24/7 and, more importantly, give your ears/brain time to adjust.

    Your opinions may not change, but that's good info as well. It'll help you recognize your own preferences and make a more informed purchase the next time around.
     
  9. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    You're using motherboard SPDIF and a multibit DAC that isn't warmed-up. If you were trying to make your new purchase sound crap, that's exactly how you'd go about it.

    Motherboard SPDIF is bad, full of jitter (phase noise) which manifests as sidebands in the frequency domain, i.e. smearing. This will affect treble disproportionately. Don't do that. If it's a new Bifrost Multibit with Gen 5 USB, use the USB. If it's a used and old Bifrost Multibit without Gen 5, either get an Eitr, or get the Bifrost Multibit upgraded to Gen 5.

    Yeah, running a multibit DAC that hasn't settled into its INL spec and then feeding just about the worst source in existence (short of buying an Apple Airport) will do that.
     
  10. joeexp

    joeexp Don't ship this man FD-X1 ever

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    Just feels like Headfi all over again.
    More Signal. Less Noise!

    Let's have a new "Cheap Amp-Nervosa" thread.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2018
  11. loki993

    loki993 Facebook Friend

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    I saw your impressions and the first time you posted it should basically exactly as you described it, actually I think, your second impressions you posted pretty much right as I was posting mine. So for sure Im going to give it more time.


    I was definitely hoping, leaning towards an issue with the setup and not the amp and I was definitely suspect of the SPDIF. My initial plan was to find a used Bifrost Multibit with USB 5 but I got a pretty good deal on the stack so I thought why not try it and at least see how I like it.

    I'm going to give the USB a try to see if that makes any difference, Im hoping it will. I could try an Eitr I suppose but I think eventually at some point I'm going to end up with a Bifrost Multibit anyway...so I think I should just shoot for that unless there is some academic reason to hear the Eitr..maybe there is and its relatively low risk because I could just sell it when I don't need it anymore. Definitely something to think about.


    What is a good source to use for testing free is always good. I do have some high quality MP3 and FLAC files I can try.
     
  12. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    You're not listening. Pre-Gen5 USB will also blow dead donkeys- jitter and electrical noise. Depending on how dirty your USB VBUS is, it could even end up sounding even worse. That is also a losing proposition.

    Grab that Eitr, or get the Bifrost Multibit upgraded. Either are good bang/buck options.
     
  13. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    You're not listening, either. You keep mentioning a Bifrost Multibit, which loki doesn't own.

    Also, stop being an elitist.

    You can listen to Modi Multibit through USB and still get good sound.

    Yes, Eitr/coax is better. But, if you don't like the sound signature you're receiving, the Eitr isn't going to change this.
     
  14. loki993

    loki993 Facebook Friend

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    I mentioned wanting to get a Bifrost Multibit eventually, No I do not own one, I understand why he is saying get a Bifrost Multibit. Also I get what both of you are saying. That said I really do think that the Optical port on my board could just be crappy or there is some processing with the audio drivers that are screwing with things.

    The Desire to try USB is because Ive had other amps that sounded fine with it. If I try it and it doesn't sound good and I need an Eitr so be it

    So what I came here for was to confirm what I thought may have been issues with my setup more than what I thought may have been potential issues with that amp or its sound signature.

    I may have not been as clear about that in my original post as I could have been so I apologize for that.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2018
  15. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Yes, I kept thinking Bifrost Multibit, due to being an asshat. However, point stands. Listening to the USB on the Modi Multibit is the same bad idea. The difference isn't exactly subtle.

    It's not being elitist to stop people from wasting money, by failing to use their perfectly good DAC properly, and selling it because they think it's no good. If you actually read what he said too:

    "I definitely heard things with the stack that I couldn't with the Fiio, so its more detailed too , but I'm missing that treble. The pop, the sparkle, the cleanness to it."

    ..that is as good a layman's description of what phase noise sounds like as you're likely to see. Exactly the problem the Eitr solves.

    Also, how the f**k is it elitist to tell someone that a $179 box is going to help? Get off your high horse already.


    No, the Bifrost Multibit/Modi Multibit confusion is because I am an asshat, and going too fast. You're fine with the Modi Multibit, it's more or less as good as the Bifrost Multibit. Sorry for the confusion.

    Add an Eitr, and it will sound a load better. It's great to have a no-brainer option like that now.

    Motherboard SPDIF is often rubbish- it's not just yours with a fault, don't worry. The clocks that drive the SPDIF tend to be of poor quality, derived with clock dividers etc.- so suffering from periodic jitter which is a pretty uniform "listening through a sock" effect.

    Modi Multibit is a cracking little DAC, it just sounds a bit muddy from mobo SPDIF (and the onboard USB is terrible, and just there to tick boxes). For the money, it's hard to beat. The same applies to the Eitr. There are other options, but none that do so well with so little hassle anywhere near the price.

    Incidentally, you put your finger on what's wrong with the sound annoyingly quickly :)


    Edit: Try using WASAPI drivers from your music player, if you're worried about Windows screwing with the sound. If you let it do exclusive access too (which helps avoid sample rate conversions etc.) you should be good to go.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2018
  16. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Your above post illustrates it pretty well.

    No, a Modi Multibit running Gen 2 USB does not "blow dead donkeys". This is absurd, and yes...elitist.

    Suggesting the Eitr to offer improvements is one thing. Implying that someone with this setup has a broken system that won't sound good until you spend money on x and y is something else.

    But hey. It's nothing new in the audio world. Or any other hobby. Contentment is always right around the corner. Just one more purchase away.

    You can respond if you like. I won't be listening.
     
  17. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I think @Skyline is trying to say that the USB terribleness with the Modi Multibit is a bit overstated. That you two may disagree on.

    Anyway, I thought this was an amp thread.
     
  18. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    Interesting read.

    First orange flag is optical, especially if paying no regard to quality of optical cable ( I'm looking at you Monoprice or anything with an adapter). Been down that road with my macs an it was clearly the "smoovest, noon- fatiguing, tube likey" sound of all the interfaces I have used, especially with most .99 optical interfaces and $5 cables. As for Coax, yes it can be great but be prepared to Spend to get that signal from your computer to the dac. It can sound very good with well implemented bridge or better optical cable.

    As for dacs, I have not heard the Modi Multibit but owned the Bifrost Multibit and other Schiit dacs. There is a subtle combination of USB implementation, (driver) and their filter that does play into the sound of the treble for me. It's there and probably is hiding a bit in your setup. The Schiit non megacombo dacs on the low cost side have their own limitations.

    As for the Magni, it is a bit warm, but frankly a whole lot more balanced overall including the treble than lots of other amps. Treble has decent bite and openness overall but perhaps without the nuance of a $500 plus amp.

    If I were to offer advice, and I will, I would get a decent well made (Monoprice does well here) $4 short USB cable with no ferrites and use that into the Modi Multibit. I would also get every other usb device off the bus. And like others have said, keep that dac on 24/7. As for a bridge, why throw more $ and more connections when you could be buying a better dac and you may not even have to spend more than the Modi Multibit.

    To keep the thread more on track @loki993 pm me if you wish and maybe I can help walk through some things that worked for me in bettering the setup.
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2018
  19. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    If you can hear the driver, it's broken; that's not how it works. What you can hear is the crappy XMOS (I think) off the shelf USB receiver, which is noisy and has mediocre clocks.
     
  20. joeexp

    joeexp Don't ship this man FD-X1 ever

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    My Pile of Schiit;
    Now waiting for Massdrop to create a stylish box for all three of them.

    [​IMG]
     

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