Please help me make a choice on a dac/amp between Schiit and JDS Labs

[RedPanda42]

I'm stuck in analysis paralysis, maybe someone can help me make a choice. My choice for dac/amp needs to be an AIO no stack don't have the space or plugs. I've narrowed it down to a Schiit Magni+mesh dac which I would get new directly from the company. Or an alternative is trying to get an Element III from Ebay (the seller claims it's new but has been sitting unused for 5 months and doesn't have warranty info not sure why so no chance to transfer it). I really love the customer service aspect of jds labs, I've had multiple questions answered within minutes and I can't find a negative thing said about them anywhere online. But buying second hand feels very risky, I would have no warranty and will always be a second class citizen I doubt any of the extra miles I see them going for people would apply to me.

On the other hand I don't see a lot good said about Schiit customer service and a few questions about their quality. People still seem to like the brand and it seems like they are still mostly alright but the pull of jds quality keeps me from being able to make a choice. If I go with Schiit I would have a 3 year warranty and a new product vs taking a risk with the element. I can't justify buying a new element IV sadly so my choices really are just these two. If you were in my shoes what would you do?

 

[Joe Smith]

The Element is a beautiful unit, but if you have any concerns about the seller, the new Magni + Dac card is also a fine choice. You’d have a warranty and I have found Schiit to be very responsive to questions, I’ve never had anything that needed servicing. JDS customer service is superb, Schiit only pales in comparison to them… Does the eBay seller take returns?

 

[RedPanda42]

The Element is a beautiful unit, but if you have any concerns about the seller, the new Magni + Dac card is also a fine choice. You’d have a warranty and I have found Schiit to be very responsive to questions, I’ve never had anything that needed servicing. JDS customer service is superb, Schiit only pales in comparison to them… Does the eBay seller take returns?

No I think it says they don't do returns. Honestly this is my first time ever using ebay, a friend of mine told me it might be a useful place to find stuff. I've been watching it for a few weeks and this is the only one that seemed decent. What do you think, does it look legit? https://www.ebay.com/itm/187929023051

 

[Joe Smith]

He's got 111 sales, 100% positive, has an explanation as to why he has but did not used (misplaced in holiday box?)...seems OK to me for that price. I use eBay a lot, just always pay attention to a seller's number of sales and feedback comments... It's all a question of your own personal risk tolerance.

If you like the aesthetics of the Element, try a bid and see if you can snag it for under $160?

You are of course getting close to the price of the new Magni + DAC from Schiit...($199 in black finish plus shipping).

 

[RedPanda42]

He's got 111 sales, 100% positive, has an explanation as to why he has but did not used (misplaced in holiday box?)...seems OK to me for that price. I use eBay a lot, just always pay attention to a seller's number of sales and feedback comments... It's all a question of your own personal risk tolerance.

If you like the aesthetics of the Element, try a bid and see if you can snag it for under $160?

You are of course getting close to the price of the new Magni + DAC from Schiit...($199 in black finish plus shipping).

Thanks, one last question. How much do you think I should pay for it maximum? I was thinking 250-300 since it's used and one generation old but still in good condition. Or do you think that is too much? It's hard to tell how much it's worth since it's hardly ever sold used and not on any official places. I saw an Element IV go yesterday for 450.

 

[Joe Smith]

Given that it’s a generation back, I would say a good rule of thumb is not to pay more than 75-80% of the original list price, even if new. And how much you want to pay beyond what the loaded Magni would cost…

 

[early rejecter]

It's hard to tell how much it's worth since it's hardly ever sold used and not on any official places. I saw an Element IV go yesterday for 450.

Quite a few used model III mk2 have sold on eBay over the last couple of months, for between $260-$330. The one you’re looking at appears to be open box, not used.

 

[RedPanda42]

Quite a few used model III mk2 have sold on eBay over the last couple of months, for between $260-$330. The one you’re looking at appears to be open box, not used.

This morning he replied, it's not a mk2 it's the older version and it's already almost at 300 with a couple hours to go and a bunch of bidders now. I'm thinking it's not worth it I doubt I could get it under 300 and I didn't want to spend more than that.

 

[Joe Smith]

Yeah, agree. I sense you are still a bit concerned about Schiit, but I don't think you have anything to worry about re warranty, service responsiveness etc. The Magni is a mainstay for them and they just keep refining it and improving it... My quite old Magni 2 headphone amp is still working fine, when I pull it into rotation, and it's about 10 years old now.

The JDS Element line is extremely attractive, no question.

You said you want an all-in-one, but keep in mind also that the Atom 2's do stack quite nicely on top of each other, now improved by the metal casings. They'd be a bit more expensive than the Magni/DAC but still well under $300. You can use short flex cables that allow for the easy stacking. They are great units, I have an Atom+ DAC in the plastic housing, and I've been very pleased with it.

 

[RedPanda42]

Yeah, agree. I sense you are still a bit concerned about Schiit, but I don't think you have anything to worry about re warranty, service responsiveness etc. The Magni is a mainstay for them and they just keep refining it and improving it... My quite old Magni 2 headphone amp is still working fine, when I pull it into rotation, and it's about 10 years old now.

The JDS Element line is extremely attractive, no question.

You said you want an all-in-one, but keep in mind also that the Atom 2's do stack quite nicely on top of each other, now improved by the metal casings. They'd be a bit more expensive than the Magni/DAC but still well under $300. You can use short flex cables that allow for the easy stacking. They are great units, I have an Atom+ DAC in the plastic housing, and I've been very pleased with it.

I think you must have read my mind. I've been researching the Atom 2 stack all morning. That Element ended up going for 330 so no regrets I don't think it would have been worth it. Yes I would like an all in one because of the limited amount of space I have but I did some measurements and the current amp/dac I have now Fosi ZH3 is actually about an inch bigger and I'm making it work. The height wouldn't be that much more. The main annoyance would be plugging two big wall warts into one power strip because I don't have access to an outlet but I think it should be alright.
Just can't get that JDS customer service out of my head, I've messaged them a few times asking questions and got replies in a couple of minutes and they weren't stock replies it felt like I was talking to a real person. I saw in another thread here the owner replied to another poster who had a problem with his and offered to help even though it was well past his warranty. Service like that these days is almost unheard of. I'm going to do a bit more research just to assure myself but right now I'm leaning heavily into getting the Atom 2 stack. As far as holding it together it will be sitting on a small table next to me without a lot of extra room so I want to do something to try to keep it in place. My two considerations were just wrapping some duct tape around it and to the table. The other I found a 3d printed stand thing that's supposed to keep them together but doesn't do anything to keep it connected to the thing it's sitting on so still not sure what the best method would be to secure it. It's plastic so drilling holes isn't ideal. This is the stand I was thinking of getting if I do go with it, do you think something like this would be helpful? https://ebay.us/m/IaPf37

 

[Joe Smith]

I think you must have read my mind. I've been researching the Atom 2 stack all morning. That Element ended up going for 330 so no regrets I don't think it would have been worth it. Yes I would like an all in one because of the limited amount of space I have but I did some measurements and the current amp/dac I have now Fosi ZH3 is actually about an inch bigger and I'm making it work. The height wouldn't be that much more. The main annoyance would be plugging two big wall warts into one power strip because I don't have access to an outlet but I think it should be alright.
Just can't get that JDS customer service out of my head, I've messaged them a few times asking questions and got replies in a couple of minutes and they weren't stock replies it felt like I was talking to a real person. I saw in another thread here the owner replied to another poster who had a problem with his and offered to help even though it was well past his warranty. Service like that these days is almost unheard of. I'm going to do a bit more research just to assure myself but right now I'm leaning heavily into getting the Atom 2 stack. As far as holding it together it will be sitting on a small table next to me without a lot of extra room so I want to do something to try to keep it in place. My two considerations were just wrapping some duct tape around it and to the table. The other I found a 3d printed stand thing that's supposed to keep them together but doesn't do anything to keep it connected to the thing it's sitting on so still not sure what the best method would be to secure it. It's plastic so drilling holes isn't ideal. This is the stand I was thinking of getting if I do go with it, do you think something like this would be helpful? https://ebay.us/m/IaPf37

The new cases are much heavier than the old plastic ones, I believe, so you may not even need the stacker thing. Depending on cord weight etc. it might be useful. I would advise: get the JDS units in in and then order the stacker/connector later if you need it. Ahhh, and don't do duct tape, not for your nice new units. I generally keep my DAC at the top edge of my desk, so the USB cable (to computer) and toslink cable (to a CD transport) hang cleanly and with minimal travel. If you put the amp on top of the dac, as long as nothing's pulling at the cables from side to side, I think everything will stay in place OK.