Review and Measurements of Schiit Modi 3 DAC

[amirm]

Amir, could you please test DNR like you did in the apple pie and katana measurements?

Sure.

Here is USB:

And S/PDIF:

 

[flipflop]

The tested SPDIF input of this device had great SINAD results and excellent linearity.

And horrible jitter and frequency response.

 

[bunkbail]

And horrible jitter and frequency response.

I think you don't know what the meaning of "horrible".

 

[flipflop]

I think you don't know what the meaning of "horrible".

Not within +-0.1 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

 

[bunkbail]

Not within +-0.1 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

I think you're confused between Amir's +-0.1 dB linearity criterion with freq response.

 

[amirm]

Switched form my desktop to laptop for USB measurements and the results are the same:

So the source of 100 Hz square wave is internal to the DAC USB implementation. Using decrapifiers, etc. would not help then.

I am still at a loss how Schiit didn't get this in their measurements.

 

[flipflop]

I think you're confused between Amir's +-0.1 dB linearity criterion with freq response.

I'm not. Even dirt cheap DACs like the Speaka measure better than this.
I think you just have low standards

 

[Tortie]

A strong case for moving more Eitrs!

What a coinkidink

 

[amirm]

Major progress on USB issue.

I fed it a -90 dB signal and it reproduced stepped response which meant it was converting 24 bit samples to 16 bits! Worrying this was caused by the ASIO4ALL wrapper I am using, I tried it in Roon. At first, saw the same problem but all of a sudden, it snapped to 24 bit and it is staying there!

Going back to using ASIO4ALL, I see the problem again.

This is a rare incompatibility with ASIO4ALL. I still can't figure out how Schiit didn't see it unless they have an internal ASIO driver they don't release.

 

[amirm]

Updated the review to reflect the latest findings.

 

[bunkbail]

Major progress on USB issue.

I fed it a -90 dB signal and it reproduced stepped response which meant it was converting 24 bit samples to 16 bits! Worrying this was caused by the ASIO4ALL wrapper I am using, I tried it in Roon. At first, saw the same problem but all of a sudden, it snapped to 24 bit and it is staying there!

View attachment 15989

Going back to using ASIO4ALL, I see the problem again.

This is a rare incompatibility with ASIO4ALL. I still can't figure out how Schiit didn't see it unless they have an internal ASIO driver they don't release.

I'm impressed that it actually beats Topping D50 in SINAD by 1 dB.

 

[gvl]

This is a rare incompatibility with ASIO4ALL. I still can't figure out how Schiit didn't see it unless they have an internal ASIO driver they don't release.

Did you try installing their drivers? If memory serves (which it may well not) Modi Multibit drivers were a PITA to install but included an ASIO driver.

 

[amirm]

Did you try installing their drivers? If memory serves (which it may well not) Modi Multibit drivers were a PITA to install but included an ASIO driver.

They have deprecated them. Last time I tried it would not install on my machine or it installed but didn't work. I looked when I found the issue and there are no modi 3 drivers.

 

[gvl]

They have deprecated them. Last time I tried it would not install on my machine or it installed but didn't work. I looked when I found the issue and there are no modi 3 drivers.

Are Modi 2/3 using the same CMEDIA chipset? If so older drivers may just work.

 

[gvl]

If I'm reading it right, the wallwart isn't needed for USB only operation. Question, do SPDIF inputs still work with only a USB to computer connection (no wallwart)?

 

[amirm]

If I'm reading it right, the wallwart isn't needed for USB only operation. Question, do SPDIF inputs still work with only a USB to computer connection (no wallwart)?

That is what they say although I did have it plugged in during USB testing:

 

[amirm]

Are Modi 2/3 using the same CMEDIA chipset? If so older drivers may just work.

They do use CMEDIA:

As I said, I formerly tried to install them with no success in getting an ASIO interface out of them.

 

[gvl]

That is what they say although I did have it plugged in during USB testing:

View attachment 15991

Gotcha and thanks. Sounds like their Wyrd may make sense for Modi 3 given it is a linear PSU and a sort of USB cleaner. Not that you should buy one, but if you have one laying around (for some strange reason I have 2!) it may have been waiting for this moment.

All in all this is great news, I no longer have to send my money to China to get a sub-$100 well measuring DAC with all sorts of inputs. Mr. Trump can retire now.

 

[gvl]

They do use CMEDIA:

View attachment 15992

As I said, I formerly tried to install them with no success in getting an ASIO interface out of them.

This is a bit disconcerting btw. What about Windows 7 users? Or you mean the driver works but no ASIO?

And again, if my memory isn't playing tricks on me, the ASIO interface had some weird name, I could have never guessed it was for CMEDIA/Modi.

 

[amirm]

This is a bit disconcerting btw. What about Windows 7 users? Or you mean the driver works but no ASIO?

No Asio. My analyzer only understands ASIO. That is how Schiit tested it too.