Schiit Modius DAC Review and Measurements

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by purr1n, Jun 3, 2020.

  1. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    Adding additional impression as it's deserving of comment.

    Modius (SE) + Valhalla 2 (EH 6922+stock power tubes) + HD6XX (SE)
    Honestly, really damn good. The Modius blackground comes front and center with excellent separation and I'd give higher marks for engagement than Jotunheim 2 + Modius. Bass, while not detailed, has good volume while the DAC gives some extra oomph to go along with the OTL's extra control of the 300 ohm HD6XX's. Treble, still dry, but not overpresent or at all bad with the darker HD6XX's which still sound wider than usual. The EH 6922 tubes give some inner warmth to the Valhalla 2 and also roll the treble a little which prevents Valhalla 2 dryness + Modius treble fuckery from developing negative synergy.

    Versus the DarkVoice (running CV-181), Valhalla 2 was way better. The Chinese OTL's rolled treble, greyness, and borderline warmpoo obscures the exceptional Modius blackground. Again, DV+Modius wasn't a bad combo, but it's not very good either.

    For an available complete system of amp+dac+headphones under $800, the Valhalla 2 combo is a great recommendation. Playing the setup for several people at the shop, they commented on the separation and thought it was really good sounding. That included my younger coworker, older friend, and our multi-decade experienced audio engineer. I'll dare say I think this was special sounding. Maybe I'm overblowing it, but for a starter system I thought it was pretty amazeballs.

    The one caveat is this might be a fragile synergy. Switching in more neutral HD600's didn't sound right and things became congested and the system's otherwise good cohesion blew up in a big way. The stock tubes that came with Valhalla 2 were also clinical, thin, and took away the engagement factor vs. the warmer and softer toned EH's. As commented, switching in the DarkVoice instead of Valhalla 2 ended with at least 1.5 to 2 tiers lower in technical performance. So, I think that's a consideration.
     
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    Last edited: Jan 24, 2022
  2. TinEaredOne

    TinEaredOne New

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    Just upgraded from Modi 2 Uber to Modius. Fairly large difference in resolution and far more tolerable higher frequencies. Glad all of the reviews I read on the Modius were spot on.

    Running it through a pair of old Hafler separates (SE100 and SE120) and Energy RC-10 speakers. Now begins the debate about whether or not I'd benefit from upgrading to balanced amplification, but I don't know that I could find anything that sounds quite like the Haflers I have.
     
  3. Sonofsin

    Sonofsin Acquaintance

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    I can only speak for single ended - which may be not the Modius' hottest end. And being a tonality/timbre person my opinion is this: when in doubt, I like velvet sound. But generally I prefer Multibit sound. So from my point of view and taste I would argue:

    - buy a Modi and save money or
    - buy a Modi Multibit and get Multibit Timbre

    I understand that other people dislike several shortcomings of the above. But for me, the only reason to keep Modius is the additional input. My feeling is, that the Modius has been designed to be somewhat of a complementary/opposed product to what I like or have. Which is fine. You cannot please everyone with everything.

    What came as a surprise to me, was that I even preferred the Modi Multibit with Yello and Scandinavian Electro. I would have thought the Modius' known strong points to matter more to me - well they did not.
     
  4. Degru

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    Does anybody know if the Modius XLR out can be connected to an RCA input by only connecting pin 1 and 2? Should I connect pin 3 to ground as well? I'm thinking of re-buying one but I don't have balanced gear.
     
  5. Armaegis

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    Asking the obvious... but why not use the Modius RCA output instead?
     
  6. Degru

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    I don't like how it sounds. It has all of the same issues as a Modi, which I am trying to upgrade from. The opamp and analog stage used for the XLR out is much better.

    When I had the Modius before, I was using it with an Archel2 Pro as an active preamp stage, but I've since sold that setup and don't want to add unnecessary components to my chain at this time.
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2022
  7. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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  8. roshambo123

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    My coworker brought in his Modius E today and we compared it to my AKM Modius briefly on Valhalla 2.

    We both preferred the ESS version and thought it seemed more neutral.

    The largest difference we both agreed was the much boomier bass on the AKM.

    Vocals were pretty much the same on both.

    Treble I thought still had roughly equal amount of fuckery, although maybe not the same kind of fuckery on each.

    The ESS felt perhaps a bit wider, perhaps less distortion, maybe slightly less colored.

    If I was starting from scratch I'd buy the E version but differences definitely not enough to sell an AKM for the ESS.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2022
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Modius AKM via SE outs is phat sounding for sure.
     
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  10. shambles

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    Putting aside the differences in DAC chip, would the switch to the OPA1656 for the SE outs on the Modius E be going some way to addressing this issue? I got the impression from early discussion in this thread (and inferring indirectly from the hacking Schiit thread re MM opamp modding) that the OPA1662 used in the AKM Modius was a big part of this issue.
     
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I actually tried the OPA1656 on the Modius AKM SE outputs. Horrible. The 4493 is a tough cookie. More resolving, more expansive, more expressive. However it comes at the cost of brighter sound and phatter bass. The OPA1656 took care of the phatter bass, but made the highs unbearable.

    As it stands, I prefer the Modius AKM as it is and from the balanced outputs. The Modi AKM however took to the OPA1656 quite well.

    I have a Modius E in the house right now. No idea which direction Schiit went. Last I knew, it was between the OPA1656 and the venerable LM4562. Will review soon.
     
  12. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    I have found the 1656 kind of lean and not a magic bullet op amp. I tried it in a Little Bear B4, and it sounded lame - limp. Not any better than a 5532. Only the OPA1612 could make that thing sing. It seems the 1656 is good at voltage amplification and not so much buffering capacitive loads like headphones. The AKM4493 is voltage output, so I am wondering if this is part of things. And it does not make sense since the OPA1656 is specked out at 100mA output, vs 55 mA for the 1612, and 40 mA for the 1662 (AKM Modius unbalanced outs).

    Either way, the 1656 took the Modi MB and Bifrost more neutral, and that is quite a feat. So I trust you about the brighter sound. I do know that CMOS op amps were kept away from audio for quite a while due to high offset and low power, and power was kept down due to heat concerns. Lots of offset and drift basically. I think many had low input voltages as well. Until the 1652 came out...then the 1656 and 2156. They do also have to have high source impedances - beyond 1k.

    Website says: "Based on LME49724 for balanced output, OPA1656 for SE output, both independent..."
     
  13. PacoTaco

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    I'm most likely ordering this and Jot this week so I'll be able to f**k with it soon I hope.
     
  14. JayNYC

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    Can anyone do a comparison of Modius AKM SE vs Modius E SE?
     
  15. ColdsnapBry

    ColdsnapBry Almost "Made"

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    Picked up the Modius E as a add on to a larger Schiit order. Actually surprised with how easy it’s gelling with my chain and headphones. Only problem is I’m getting my usual PC noise through USB and RCA out. Im wondering if nows the time where I just finally get a streamer and disconnect from my PC - I’d use the AES balanced in this case, anyone try it yet?

    Or I can het something like an Eitr and have it fixed through galvanic isolation.. Not sure..
     

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