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Cheap DACs: Schiit Modi (current version) or JDS Labs Atom DAC 2?

The SMSL DO100 PRO arrived today. It was priced at $131.40 instead of $219 because it was open box in "good" condition. Well, if what I got isn't a brand new unit in a factory-sealed box I sure can't tell.

Also, it looks better in person and feels more substantial than I expected. Pretty happy with this purchase so far :)
 
Of course if the OP or others are contemplating between these 2 DACs, DSD playability should be taken into consideration ie if one needs DSD, then JDS DAC is the one that should be chosen.
 
I have a Modi3 and it is unremarkable compared to a wide variety of dacs/dac implementations in other gear I have. If it fits your needs, great, but I certainly wouldn't expect anything extraordinary from it.
 
True. Had I done any research instead of going by past reputation, I would have realized that the Modi 3's specs are outdated, that it does not support DSD, and that I should not have mentioned it.

In the end I got a SMSL DO100 PRO, so all is well. Thanks everyone for your feedback! :)
 
Well, if what I got isn't a brand new unit in a factory-sealed box I sure can't tell.
Maybe I shouldn't say this, but sometimes manufacturers will list new inventory as used. The reason for this is that discounting new units is undesirable for multiple reasons: (sets a precedent with consumers, who now view that as the 'real' price, sets unwanted low price history with Amazon or other marketplaces, could impact minimum-advertised-price deals with other retailers, etc.)

By listing new units as "used", you sidestep these issues but still get to discount your product and stimulate sales.
 
The choices were JDS vs Schitt. If you're going out of the box, look hard at the Topping D10s
I have a Topping D10s and since the only input it has is usb and it is usb powered, all of the nasty, dirty, stinky, electronic noise in my computer goes through usb in and out of the Topping D10s, in and out of my SMSL SP200 headphone amp, right into my headphones. My graphics card has a little bit of coil whine and I hear it in my headphones. I'm wondering if the JDS Labs or Schiit DACs will stop this noise since they are externally powered?
 
Ok, so the D10s has filtering that should clean up that noise, so I'm not sure the DAC is the problem. That DAC is state of the art. As to your question, I'm going to defer to our membership. @staticV3 you have any thoughts on this?
 
Such issues are hard to give an answer about. The two devices in this review might help or not depending upon the particulars. They do pass re-generated USB power on though one is limited to 100 milli amps and the other 400 milli amps.

 
Ok, so the D10s has filtering that should clean up that noise, so I'm not sure the DAC is the problem. That DAC is state of the art. As to your question, I'm going to defer to our membership. @staticV3 you have any thoughts on this?
The cheapest solution is to feed your DAC via Optical.

If there is no Optical input, one can use USB isolators like the ones linked above.
 
They do pass re-generated USB power on though one is limited to 100 milli amps and the other 400 milli amps.
The JDS Neutron is discontinued. The Synapse's 100 mA power rating is a mere one fifth of the Topping's .5A requirement. Oh and it caps sampling rate at 480 Mbps


The cheapest solution is to feed your DAC via Optical.
Sure, use the optical input of the $109 DAC that doesn't have a discrete power port. Power over Toslink?

@mstone Getting a decent entry-level DAC and putting your D10s on craigslist might be something to consider. Adding little boxes and cables to cure a problem that shouldn't exist in the first place is just throwing good money after bad.

The SMSL DO100 PRO I got on Amazon for $138 sounds great, has a built-in quality SMPS and is dead quiet. If you can live with the butt-ugly display, it's a good choice.

Meanwhile, the D10s tested extremely well relative to its price range and had great SINAD if I recall correctly.
 
I resemble this thread in that I recently bought a discounted Modi 3E for my desktop system and an SMSL D-6s for my main rig.. Both are performing splendidly in their respective roles.
 
Oh and it caps sampling rate at 480 Mbps
All reasonably priced USB isolators cap bandwidth to 480Mbps, including the Topping HS01/HS02.

This is in no way an issue though as virtually every dedicated DAC uses a 480Mbps USB 2.0 port.
 
So last night I finally made a breakthrough on this. I noticed that Schiit wall warts for their headphone amps are two pronged with no grounding pin. I also noticed that JDS Labs wall warts for their dacs and amps are 2 pronged with no grounding pin. My SMSL SP200 has a 3 pronged power cord with a grounding pin. I decided to plug my SP200's 3 pronged power cable into a 2 prong adapter to eliminate the grounding pin and get rid of the ground connection between my headphone amp and my computer which is what would be the case if I used a Schiit or JDS Labs headphone amp. Now all of the usb noise and coil whine from my graphics card is gone from my headphones when using the Topping D10s as my dac with the SP200.

Another interesting thing is when I connected my Topping D10s using rca outputs to an old Integra DTR-6 receiver(which has a grounding pin in the power cable), that there was no usb noise or coil whine in the speaker or headphone output of the receiver. I can only assume that the Integra has a way to filter out these noises, but the SP200 does not.

I should also note that my outlets are the old 2 pronged outlets so none of my equipment is grounded. If I had modern grounded outlets that may have prevented the issue to begin with.
 
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