Schiit Modius DAC announced

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by JohnCarter17, Jun 2, 2020.

  1. Melvillian

    Melvillian Friend

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    I have an extra iPad charger lying around so I’ve been using that.

    You're not wrong though. See post above me..

    I'd worry more about the source. It's going to make more of a difference than a charger or battery bank. Especially if you're using USB
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2020
  2. Jay

    Jay Facebook Friend

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    The product page FAQ says there's no benefit to boutique power supplies. Amir's test figures were conducted using the supplied external power adapter and they looked clean. I'll use the wallwart Schiit gives because they're basically all the same unless something is horribly wrong with them. My power strip doesn't have the wide spaces rotated 90 degrees to accommodate transformers, hence my original question about the form factor.
     
  3. murray

    murray Friend

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    Why would you expect that to be an improvement? They are not just a battery and may have just as much noise as a mains adapter.
     
  4. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    Power banks can be extremely noisy, they're typically switching inside already.

    Ugh, OK, late to the party. :rolleyes:
     
  5. Ti_Leo

    Ti_Leo Almost "Made"

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    I was thinking that power banks were just batteries only... Thanks for your answers!
     
  6. androxylo

    androxylo Acquaintance

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    Hi! Does it have any volume control? I have Aegir power amp and would like to plug directly.
     
  7. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Had to dig deep and analyze the images and text but I can confirm a distinct lack of volume knob.

    https://www.schiit.com/products/modius
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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  9. haywood

    haywood Friend

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    Speaking of source, maybe it’s the nervosa talking but unlike with their multibit dacs I think the modius does benefit from upsampling (e.g. from 16/44.1khz to 24/176.4kbps).
     
  10. androxylo

    androxylo Acquaintance

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    True but well, Khadas tone board also doesn't have any volume knob but its software volume control works very well from the computer. That's was my question, to clarify - can volume be changed from the computer, through USB interface?
     
  11. scblock

    scblock Friend

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    If your player software supports it, or if you run through the Windows mixer, then yes you can control volume through software. Since this works by changing the music data itself I would personally go with an external volume control or preamplifier over digital attenuation. There's no way to control the gain or output level of the Modius DAC itself.
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Yes, it can work that way too.

    upload_2020-6-15_11-21-42.png

    You would still be a good idea to pad down whatever the DAC feeds in case you have the virtual volume slider shoved up to 100.
     
  13. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    I'm very curious on Modius SE > SW51+ if anything impressions exist.

    Thinking about having a dual setup on my computer desk.
     
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Magic eight ball says good synergy. The SW51 is far away from warmpoo and could use some phat bass from Modius SE.
     
  15. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Thanks dad. Thinking about go full retard and have two DACs on my computer desk for two difference flavors: THX with Airist RDAC and Modius SE with SW51+.

    Living room gets the best setup.
     
  16. anotheralexNYC

    anotheralexNYC New

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    I have a similar setup with RME ADI-2 and an Airist DAC, along with THX, ZDT Jr, etc. Using this switch, you can route any DAC to any amp (2 XLR, 1 RCA input/output): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OY0TBMA/
     
  17. HotRatSalad

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    When I get some more time I'll post some thoughts. Right now modi multibit is paired happily with sw51+ and HD6xx so can compare at least that.
     
  18. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    Spent 2 hours with Modius: Modius --> Asgard 3 --> Verite

    Quick thoughts
    • Without secondary (external) usb power connected, the device seems quite sensitive to noise entering with signal
    • Very squared transient. Is this really an AKM dac?
    • ^ combined with relatively bright (to me) tonality makes this dac occasionally sound a little edged and tad shouty, which actually work quite well with Verite.
    WIll test BAL later this week, too.
     
  19. Melvillian

    Melvillian Friend

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    @Vtory thats probably your source. Might be Unison USB, but it’s a different implementation of it. You’re not getting the electrical isolation you get with the more expensive dacs. I noticed it’s a lot more source sensitive compared to the Bifrost 2
     
  20. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

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    It's definitely quieter than modi multibit USB for me on Asgard 3. I get just a tiny bit of noise with volume all the way up, with modius Asgard 3 was perfectly silent.

    Forgot to add I have it powered up all the time with USB power and still quieter than modi multibit.
     
    Last edited: Jun 15, 2020

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