![]() The processing inside the Modi 3 is smooth and clean, with tight treble reproduction and bass that isn’t thick or muddy. Those clean lines from the outside are backed up by clean audio processing inside. So, how do these two products stack up? Image: Joe Rice-Jones / KnowTechie At low gain, it barely has any distortion, and only just a touch more at high gain when you’re boosting the signal by 15dB. This little box puts out some serious power, 2.8W RMS per channel into 16 ohms, 2.4W RMS into 32 ohms, 410mW RMS into 300 ohms or even could just about manage 600 ohm headphones with 215mW RMS per channel. Note that Schiit uses an AC adapter for its headphone amps, so you want to label this one when it arrives so you don’t accidentally put a DC adapter into the Magni or the AC adapter into one of your DC devices. The back has two RCA inputs from your source device, two RCA outputs to go to a pair of powered speakers, a HI/LO switch for gain, a toggle switch for ON/OFF, and the power input. The front has only two things marring that smooth face, a smooth-feeling volume knob, and a 6.35mm headphone jack. Now we get onto the Magni Heresy, the headphone amp that can also be used as a pre-amp for speakers. That makes it even better, as it’s the USB connector found on their more expensive DACs. ![]() Since it was sent over, Schiit has upgraded the USB connection to its Unison USB input. The reviewed model is actually the last version, the Modi 3. Just a side point on the Modi 3 before we move on. That’s it, a simple set of simple specs for a very simple device. Oh, and you’ll know if it’s powered on because the white LED is super bright. That switch on the front is for switching between your source options, no auto-switching magic here. The only output option is a pair of RCA plugs, which are situated to line up with Schiit’s headphone amps of this size.Īll three inputs support PCM, in varying bit-depths and sample rates from the CD-standard of 16-bit/44.1kHz all the way up to 24-bit/192kHz if you’ve got Hi-Res audio sources. The micro-USB port you see for power is for if you’re using either the TOSLINK or S/PDIF connectors, as optical inputs won’t power the DAC, or if you’re using a zero-power input like your phone. That’s it, it’ll get its power from the PC USB port. It’s got a host of inputs to do just that, but for your PC you only need to really use the micro-USB port with the rectangle above it. Your onboard audio chip already does this, but moving it outside of the EM-noisy inside of your computer brings a host of benefits, like less chance of interference on the signal. If you aren’t familiar with DACs, it stands for Digital-to- Analog Converter, and its job is to turn the digital signal your PC puts out into an analog signal to pass to an amp. The first part of the stack is the Modi 3, that unassuming black box on the bottom. So, what’s up with this Schiit? Image: Joe Rice-Jones / KnowTechie A bad AMP could add distortion, crosstalk (where one stereo channel bleeds into the other), or not have enough power to drive your favorite headphones. If you have a bad DAC, the AMP will amplify every imperfection, from hissing sounds or other noise. The AMP then amplifies that signal, making it powerful enough to drive your headphones. A good DAC should supply the cleanest audio possible, turning the digital 0’s and 1’s fed by your digital source into a clean analog signal. This entry-level audiophile stack consists of the Schiit Magni Heresy amp, and the Schiit Modi 3 DAC, each priced at $99, and the Schiit Pyst interconnects, which are $20 shortened RCA cables so you don’t have a mess of cables on your desk.Įssentially, a DAC/AMP stack replaces your onboard sound card, bringing the audio signal out of the PC to remove the potential for any electrical interference. Well, we must have done some good Schiit, because our desk has been graced by even more Schiit, in the form of the Schiit Stack. About a year ago we reviewed the amusingly named Schiit Hel, a gaming-focused combo DAC/AMP with a microphone input.
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