Schiit Modi 3

I won’t be talking about the Modi 3 too much, since for the most part it sounds the same as a Modi 2U that I recently moved to my office setup. To be honest, that’s the only reason why I wanted the Modi 3, so I can move the Modi 2U to my office. On my Modi 2U I always used the USB to my computer directly (no USB to Coax box that Schiit sales).

Read up Marv’s impressions, since that’s pretty much what it sounded like to me. I thought the resolution was better, maybe better details here and there. It’s not a big upgrade if that’s what anyone was thinking. Sounds like a 5%-10% upgrade here. If you have an older Modi, it might be wise to upgrade it to this. If you currently have a Modi 2U, only upgrade if you have a plan to use the Modi U2 for something else.

Modi 3 only comes with the unit, Micro USB Cable, and USB to Power Switcher Power Supply thingy. Micro USB Cable is too short if you want to hook up the Modi to a wall outlet. Micro USB input in the box was a little tight for my taste. Luckily, I had a long-ass Micro USB Cable, so the power out of the Modi 3 went to that cable to the wall. Took the default cable that came with the box and hook it up to my laptop. I do use my CAL Icon Mk II as a CD Transport on my desk, so coax out from the CD player to the Modi 3 it goes. If planning to use Toslink/Coax on the Modi 3, you will need to use the Micro USB to the USB to Power Switcher Power Supply thingy. For USB audio you can use one cable, but I prefer two cables.

Did work fine on my phone when using the correct OTG cable to the Modi. Sounds like a better AKM-based DAC. Still warm sounding, still musical, the White LED Light is still annoying, the unit is always on, doesn’t sound offensive, and doesn’t sound like a DAC that cost $99. It sounds like a DAC that just happens to cost $99 with its own limitations.

To me this is the cheap DAC to get for any person who just want a better sound from their computer or digital source. I was recommended Modi 2Us to my friend’s circle just so they can get better sound from their Xbox/Playstation consoles. One did the Magni 3/Modi 2U with HD 598s for video games with animu music. One other guy used his Modi 2U just for better sounded TV/Audio in a 2-speaker setup with no BPC (Black Plastic Crap) receiver. One wanted to use the Modi 2U just to improve the sound on his Blu-Ray player.

While most of us will be using the Modi 3 just as a DAC for audio, who is stopping anyone to recommend the Modi 3 for any application that requires a digital input (USB/Coax/Toslink). As long as you are aware of the quirk of the Micro USB setup Schiit is using here, you will be fine. I won’t judge if you want to put the Modi 3 to feed a pair of $20 speakers.

Highly recommend for budget folks for audio, or those who want a cheap but good DAC for other things besides audio. It's almost like a Modi 2U, but with better improvements/quirks, and sells for $50 less than the Modi 2U.

 

I have a MacBook Pro 2018 15”. I have heard many people say that Apple’s output is clean. Will I notice any difference if I get a Modi 3? Or is my Apple device sufficient?

 

For which headphones?

 

HD 600.

 

You are going to need an amp for that. The Apple will not drive it well at all. Consider the Modi 3 and Magni 3 stack for cheapest solution, which I confirm will drive the HD 600 just fine.

 

Wall of text incoming. Skip to the bottom if you want the TL;DR version.

The HeadRoom Micro DAC I’ve had for years finally gave up the ghost, and since that was the only dedicated DAC I had to hook up to my Bottlehead S.E.X. I was in need of a replacement to hold me over until I can afford something better. I’ve always been curious about Schiit’s DACs, so given the nice feature set, positive reviews from people I trust and price of the Modi 3 I figured I’d jump on it.

My initial evaluation of this DAC was done with my HeadRoom Desktop Amp since the built in DAC on that amp is, for all intents and purposes, almost exactly the same as the Micro DAC. Once I got a feel for any differences this setup revealed, I moved on to the S.E.X. for the rest of my listening. My source is a Raspberry Pi using a Digi+ Pro as the SPDIF output. 90% of what I listen to is metal, and I’m a bit of a basshead, just to give some perspective of my preferences.

I had a hard time discerning differences between the Modi and the internal DAC of the Desktop Amp. The only thing I feel confident I heard differently on this setup was a little more smoothness to the mids and top end of the Modi. It seemed that the trebel wasn’t quite as sharp and some of the more compressed songs I listened to were just a little less fatiguing with extended listening.

Moving on to the Modi with the S.E.X. it seems that some songs have a little more warmth in the mid-bass through the mids than I remember with the deceased Micro Amp. The smoothing of the mids and trebel is present here as well. The extra warmth and smoothing I detect must be the “Velvet Sound” tuning of the Modi. The S.E.X. seems to make the warmth more apparent compared to the Desktop Amp for some reason.

While I usually prefer a little extra kick in the upper mids, the smoothing going on here really doesn’t bother me. For reference, the LCD-2 is just too polite for me, while the HD650 is much more to my liking. The Modi synergizes pretty well with the S.E.X. and it’s pleasant to just enjoy the music with this combo. What strikes me most about this is that even though there is some smoothing going on, the Modi doesn’t sound boring to me at all.

The first song that really stood out to me as having a noticeable difference was Black Wedding by In This Moment. There was always a sharpness to that song that bothered me a little. Seemed like it was a little hashy or just a little bit too compressed. Maria’s vocals can sometimes be a little shouty as well, which doesn’t help. I would get fatigued by this song before, but on the Modi it is mitigated. Definitely made the song more enjoyable for me.

Another song that benefited from this tuning was Eight of Swords by Huntress. Jill’s vocals are among my favorite female vocals in metal, but she can get a little screechy/shouty at times, and this song is an example of that. As with Black Wedding, the Modi keeps me from getting fatigued with this song, yet the emotional delivery is still there.

The only realy quibble I have with the Modi 3 is the optical input. Maybe I’m just used to firm optical ports, but the one on this Modi seems a little loose fitting. There isn’t a particularly reassuring “click” when the cable engages and when fully inserted there is still some play between the port and connector. I’ve not been able to discern much of a difference in the past between coax and optical, but switching between the two on the Modi there are very real differences. Optical collapses the stage a little and makes micro details harder to discern. Perfect example is Pices by JINJER. Through coax, the plucking of the guitar and tapping of the cymbals during the verses extends out to both sides and I’m easily able to separate the two—through optical the two get smushed together and the whole stage seems to compress horizontally as well as vertically. During the chorus, Tatiana’s growls have a nice reverberating effect that completely disappears through optical. Not exactly sure if this is normal or not, but I can live with it since I’ve got good isolation over coax.

The Micro DAC cost me about $250 when I bought it new in 2011 and I’ve been running it (and the Desktop Amp) out of a fancy-pants linear power supply from HeadRoom that cost nearly $500 back then. The Modi 3 uses an inexpensive switching power supply, doesn’t use silver solder or any other “audiophile” gimmicks and meets my HeadRoom gear head-on. For 99 bucks I’m much more than impressed with the Modi 3. To be sure, the HeadRoom gear doesn’t cut costs on components or assembly, but the cost to performance ratio here is embarrassing. Kudos to Schiit for making decent gear affordable.

TL;DR: All-in-all, I’m really pleased with the Modi 3. It fills the gap for me right now, and actually does a really good job as a DAC. On some of the songs I listen to the “Velvet” tuning adds just a little too much warmth and smoothing, but on other songs I find it preferable. As long as the recording is good it doesn’t bother me at all. I could see myself being happy with this thing if it was the only DAC I could ever own. At $99, this thing is a fantastic value. If you don’t want to or can’t spend much more than 100 bucks on a DAC, just buy the Modi 3 and enjoy the music.

 

The modi3 is pretty nice. Compared to my ifi black label nano (via line out using GTO filter), it has less top end extension and maybe less bass extension as well but the ifi has a congestion in the upper mids that bother me a little while the modi although less airy with some cutoff on cymbal decay has a more analog less glary midrange approach where everything is just there without too much drama.

 

I'm not sure how it has been improved since the previous generation, but the Modi 3's USB input is quite good. I also have the wall wart plugged in for power, it seems to sound better that way.

 

Just grabbed a B stock to see how good it is. Very nice - crazy what $100 will get you nowadays. Compared to my Modi Multibit, has a bit tighter bass, more treble clarity/energy, and slightly wider soundstage. But the Modi Multibit has this natural depth to it. Detail is a little hard, as with the treble for the 3, it seems more detailed, but because the Multibit does layers better, the overall picture is more realistic. For video games, I find the 3 a little better for localization. Large space classical as well. But anything with more acoustic cues or fewer instruments sounds better to me via the Multibit. It would be nice to blend the pros of each into a single DAC. I suppose maybe going up the chain would do that.

 

I always thought the Modi 3 was a perfect DAC for two-channel video games. Even with the B stock, it's cheap for how well it is for the price.

 

Am I right thinking that if it is good for games it should be good for movies as well?

 

Indeed, it'll be more than enough just for simple two channel stuff. Including TV shows and movies being fed the Modi.

 

I received my B-stock Modi 3 and I think that it is performing way above the $99. I bought it to hook up to TV with Toslink and to RPi 3 with Digi Plus Pro as a Roon endpoint.
There is one minor glitch that made me think that I would rather have Modi 2U. The USB AC adapter made by Xing Yuan electronics supplied with Modi 3 is a piece of junk. Using SPDIF I was hearing cracks and static in my speakers, it was not happening using Toslink. So I changed SPDIF cable, no effect, USB cable, no effect. Then I replaced the adapter with old 5.1V 2A adapter for Nook reader and everything is good.
Not a major thing but disappointment and will made me think twice next time before I buy B-stock. It was not for it I would probably exchange it for Modi 2U. But all is good now and I am really pleased with the SQ. I compared it to the Xonar Essence STX internal DAC and it is more natural, more quiet, and has slightlybetter resolution.

But the problems with AC adapter made me think that Modi 3 could be performing better with different PSU. Has anyone tried it with 5V iPower?

 

This little thing is miraculous.

After selling my Gungnir Multibit to fund another purchase, I needed a temporary DAC for my Torpedo 3 until I could get it back later this summer.

I didn't expect much, certainly not for $99, being used the TOTL Gungnir Multibit. And intially I was disappointed. Modi sounded strident, sterile and crunchy in the highs, lacking engagement. But after being on for a few hours it totally changed.

Not as extended as Gungnir Multibit. Not as spacious or super resolving. Not quite as organic, doesn't slam as hard. But for $99 its scary how close it gets. How Schiit gets away with stuff like this continues to baffle me.

Modi actually makes me not totally miss my Gungnir Multibit, which is something I never expected to say. It's lively, engaging as all hell, quite resolving and like all great pieces of gear, just sucks you into the music and makes you forget technicalities. And it really doesn't sound like a Delta sigma DAC.

If one wasn't chasing those last few percentages of performance, I don't see any reason to buy another DAC, and just be content to save a shit load of money in the process.

Extremely impressed.

 

It is very nice. Modi 3 is like the only under hyped Schiit product.

 

Yep. After realising I had become a gear spaz, I scaled back to Modi3 and Vali2 with HD600, which provides 91.3% the enjoyment of my previous uber setup. I spent the leftover money on my wife and kids.

If @schiit could somehow shoehorn Unison into Modi it would be quite a thing.

 

Agreed: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...g-better-impressions.7152/page-11#post-246674 (Expand the Modi Spoiler)

 

In non-isolated form, yes. Hopefully Unison will be on everything eventually, but we probably need to wait for Windows 7 to be taken off of life support for widespread adoption.