🔷 Schiit Modius

[lrjshabaz]

Wait until that Lokius finally drops.

[WaveTheory]

Check this out:

Is Balanced Better? Pros & Cons of Balanced vs. Single-Ended

To Balance or Not to Balance? That is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler to buy a balanced amp or DAC or an unbalanced (or single-ended, aka SE, the two terms are interchangeable) amp or DAC is the focus of this post. There have been lots of questions around this forum about whether a balanced amp or DAC is better than a SE amp or DAC. Should you explore balanced? Is balanced better? It’s understandably confusing. After all, in the English language, ‘balance’ is often used in the context of desc…

[IcemanTVx]

Hi. I just ordered the Asgard 3 and Modius to drive my new dt880 600 ohm headphones. Is the Unison USB better to use to connect to my pc than s/pdif optical? I want to use whatever is the best quality audio. Thanks!

[WaveTheory]

Congrats! Those are excellent pieces.

@IcemanTVx

Is the Unison USB better to use to connect to my pc than s/pdif optical?

I can’t tell much of a difference between USB and SPDIF on the Modius, TBH. Try both and pick the one you like. On Schiit’s higher-level DACs, like BF2, Gungnir, Yggy, the Unison USB comes with galvanic isolation, and that makes a difference. IMO the BF2 sounds much better from USB than SPDIF. But Modius doesn’t have galvanic isolation to save some cost, so it’s whatevs on that one.

[IcemanTVx]

@WaveTheory

Congrats! Those are excellent pieces.

I can’t tell much of a difference between USB and SPDIF on the Modius, TBH. Try both and pick the one you like. On Schiit’s higher-level DACs, like BF2, Gungnir, Yggy, the Unison USB comes with galvanic isolation, and that makes a difference. IMO the BF2 sounds much better from USB than SPDIF. But Modius doesn’t have galvanic isolation to save some cost, so it’s whatevs on that one.

Thanks! I think I will try the USB for it. That cable comes with the modius right?

[WaveTheory]

I don’t remember. Also I got my Modius second-hand and I don’t think there was a cable in it. I think the stock packaging comes with a small power brick and 3 foot micro usb cable, though. But don’t quote me…

[lrjshabaz]

Do USB. Reviews have remarked that it is the superior input on these. Jitter measure on SPDIF was the culprit.

[IcemanTVx]

Does the type or brand of micro usb cable matter to connect the DAC to the PC? 2.0 or 3.0 cable thickness etc.? I plan to use one to power it and a different one to run to the PC. Thanks!

[Blackscreen]

You only need a micro USB 2.0, Micro 3.0 is actually a wider connector (Schiit does provide one). Also, you only need to use one USB cable if you’re connecting the DAC to a PC, that’s specifically how Schiit designed it. The USB power port is only meant to be used if the source is something other than USB.

[Frazzled]

I just bought some regular braided cables. Works fine for me. I’m sure some “snake oil” cable might make one feel better so It’s up to you.

[IcemanTVx]

Thanks. I do not want to power it from my PC. I would rather power it from the wall. it has both a power usb input and a data input on the back of the modi 3+. Is there any disadvantage to using both?

[Blackscreen]

There’s nothing in their manual that mentions anything wrong with doing so, though their manual is fairly sparse. I don’t know if they have anything in place to stop power from flowing in from both ports simultaneously:

[Blackscreen]

There’s only one acceptable Snake Oil “cable” for a Modius…

Balanced XLR Hardwood Mini-Link Interconnect for Schiit Modius/Magnius

[Frazzled]

Ha! Nice name

[Ans246]

Did anyone ever try to take the balanced out of this DAC into SE in of an amp via adapter cable?

[bruh.wav]

If I’m not mistaken, people in SBAF had done that and they noticed that there’s a difference between the SE and Balanced output.

@Ans246

via adapter cable

BTW, I don’t recommend anyone to do this. If you want to plug the balanced out to a SE amp, you should use a proper converter. You can do it by buying these two things:

• https://www.amazon.com/Radial-Passive-Line-Level-Isolator-Standard/dp/B0010CV3SA
• https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Female-Amplifier-Microphone-JOLGOO/dp/B082F18FQL/

Or SBAF also has a balanced to SE converter box project which uses transformer

Or I think @MazeFrame also has a recommendation for which converter to buy.

[Ans246]

Yeah thats the other thing I was considering. If there are any problems coming up with the voltage etc.

[MazeFrame]

@Ans246

take the balanced out of this DAC into SE

For that, you need a “level converter” (or run a passive DI-box in reverse).

Something like the ART CLEANBoxPro makes Balanced to Single Ended (or vice versa) very straight forward (since it has level adjust knobs).

[Ans246]

Ah yes that makes sence.

[jaro911]

Hello. Can anyone tell me if there is a more pronounced sound difference between the Topping E30 and Modius?