Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2013 19:54:20 GMT
I just received the Schiit "Modi" asynchronous 24/96 USB DAC yesterday. It's been running in with a new Audio Quest Forest USB-B 5 meter cable. The "Modi" costs $99 + Shipping from California and is the latest DAC offering from Schiit Audio here in the States. I don't know if there is a U.K. distributor now. I don't have pics set up to send, maybe later, if I can figure it all out, but the Schiit website has pics of it and the accompanying $99 "Magni" headphone amp.
Although it's small stature is perfect for the computer desk, I've got it fronting a Croft Micro 25 linestage and a pair of Roksan Caspian stereo amps that are bi-amping a pair of ATC-SCM12SL speakers. The computer music feed is via Foobar 2000 v. 1.1.11 from MS WAV files on an outboard WD USB HD running at 7200rpm and also a 16Gb flash drive with the same WAV file type.
Initial impressions, so far, are, in this system, a really definitive sound with a good depth of field presentation. Initial set up of the accompanying equipment revealed a bit of brightness and sheen to the music, which could partly be because of the early use of the unit or the new USB wire or both. But, also swapping out the Telefunken ECC-83 tube in the line stage for a G.E. 12BH7 calmed things down a bit and now, today, am enjoying a very detailed sound with a really expanded soundstage, both side to side and front to back, without so much of the sheen and brightness heard previously. Bass is also prodigious and is giving a really deep and tight bass response to this electronic music played through the great Super Linear Woofer/Mid driver of the ATC's. Previous digital reference player in this particular system.....an NAD T-585 Universal disc player....no slouch to presenting a detailed musical event. I swapped in some DNM interconnects, also. I may do some more system matching as time moves on...the fun part of this hobby...
So, with 24+ hours in the books and some tweaking to this system....I can say...excellent little USB DAC...and a great value at around $100. j
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mrarroyo
Been here a while!
Our man in Miami!
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Post by mrarroyo on Apr 18, 2013 9:54:59 GMT
Glad you are enjoying it, though of picking up the pair but … I do not need another …
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2013 13:43:09 GMT
Glad you are enjoying it, though of picking up the pair but … I do not need another … I've been living with old technology as far as outboard DAC's are concerned....Audio Alchemy DAC in the Box, Creative Labs Live 24, and a Cobalt (Theta) 307. The only one that is upgraded is my Audio Note Kits 1.1 upgrade. So, besides having a couple of cd/sacd/dvd-a spinners....I needed a bit more resolution...I thought. The Cobalt is still a wonderful dac and the Audio Note...is just an Audio Note...the best, imho. But, again for $99...the Schiit Modi is showing itself to be fantastic. Even in a big rig and not just on the computer desktop. And a nice, Scandinavian type minimalist design, to boot. j
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XTRProf
Fully Modded
Pssst ! Got any spare capacitors ?
Posts: 5,689
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Post by XTRProf on Apr 22, 2013 1:35:38 GMT
Good morning J,
Time you try some DIY for a variant. Buffalo Sabre 3 will be nice if you have the time.
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Post by donunus on Sept 6, 2013 15:43:51 GMT
Glad you are enjoying it, though of picking up the pair but … I do not need another … I've been living with old technology as far as outboard DAC's are concerned....Audio Alchemy DAC in the Box, I remember the dac in the box. I loved those! I used to pair them up with that radio shack player that got all the raves on stereophile during the 90s. I think it was the cd-3400 or something like that. Oh yah I remembered the model number www.stereophile.com/content/radio-shack-optimus-cd-3400-portable-cd-player-tellig-again
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Post by outdoorguy on Nov 29, 2013 18:12:48 GMT
Glad you are enjoying it, though of picking up the pair but … I do not need another … I've been living with old technology as far as outboard DAC's are concerned....Audio Alchemy DAC in the Box, Creative Labs Live 24, and a Cobalt (Theta) 307. The only one that is upgraded is my Audio Note Kits 1.1 upgrade. So, besides having a couple of cd/sacd/dvd-a spinners....I needed a bit more resolution...I thought. The Cobalt is still a wonderful dac and the Audio Note...is just an Audio Note...the best, imho. But, again for $99...the Schiit Modi is showing itself to be fantastic. Even in a big rig and not just on the computer desktop. And a nice, Scandinavian type minimalist design, to boot. j Interesting, Jason Stoddard from Sumo and Mike Moffat, from Theta are the cofounders of Shiit. <That just doesn't sound right does it??? Just received the modi, time to make a trip into town and grab a usb cable. Supposed to be a Christmas present but... That cd-3400 might have sounded better than some but I had a lot of trouble out of mine. Mainly the volume control, headphone jack and line out jack were troublesome. Not to mention the slightest vibration and it would skip. Really did suck for a portable player.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2013 6:46:02 GMT
To donunus: I read that link to Sam Tellig...thanks. It's like looking into my old box of audio stuff and seeing all the Audio Alchemy gear. I still use some of them, but the DAC in the Box has to sit idle as two of my Audio Alchemy Power Station One's are not working. Both went bye bye when I had them powering the digital Transceiver interface. Maybe all that power wasn't compatible with the interface?? So, it's the Cobalt 307 DAC with an Audio Alchemy DTi 32 in front of it all hooked up to a TV's toslink out that's fed from hdmi from an NVidia GTx-650 card.
I also still have the Radio Shack Walkman style portable cd player CD-3904 that I use as a battery powered transport, sometimes. Very quiet, it is.
For some reason, I can't figure out how to "quote" another reply in my reply. Old age has got me by the keyboard.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2013 6:57:02 GMT
Outdoorguy: I emailed back and forth with Jason about the Cobalt 307...didn't with Mike, though. The 307 is built like a tank and does still sound very solid, even at the supposed lower res capabilities of it.
I also will slot in an Acoustic Research TDS-202 sound enhancer for streaming radio...much appreciated dynamics increases to 128 and 192 kbps signals. And for $40, it's an inexpensive tweak.
And, for $99 U.S., the Modi works great with computer audio files sent to headphone amps and/or a preamp that allows switching between all the inputs.
Good value product!
J
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2013 7:04:02 GMT
Johnsan You can quote the lot directly by using "QUOTE" at the far right of that post, or copy and paste the section you wish to quote, using "Quote" which is the 2nd from the far right when using REPLY, as distinct from "Quick Reply" where you don't have those other options. I can relate to your problem. Regards Alex
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2013 7:07:34 GMT
Johnsan You can quote the lot directly by using "QUOTE" at the far right of that post, or copy and paste the section you wish to quote, using "Quote" which is the 2nd from the far right when using REPLY, as distinct from "Quick Reply" where you don't have those other options. I can relate to your problem. Regards Alex Like this Alex? j
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2013 7:08:35 GMT
Wow! I'm going to frame that quote post....hehe Thanks, Alex!
j
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