Review and Measurements of Schiit Modi 3 DAC

[amirm]

I'm really curious about their answer.

I am starting to lose hope that they will answer. This is the only communication so far from the weekend:

Their definition of "snappy" and mine vary quite a bit.

 

[PuX]

thanks for the OL DAC update.

channel difference is SINAD is something new, usually the mismatch is in RMS levels.

 

[amirm]

channel difference is SINAD is something new, usually the mismatch is in RMS levels.

I get that frequently although the differential is usually pretty small (1 to 2 dB). For this reason I now average the two channels and divide by two for inclusion in my SINAD bar graphs.

 

[Guermantes]

Regarding the Topping D30 re-measurement:

This is a few db better than before. Not sure what explains it but as a way of comparison, is valid because everything is the same now.

Is it because the D30 power supply noise seems to have improved in this measurement? Is this with the linear power supply?

 

[amirm]

Is it because the D30 power supply noise seems to have improved in this measurement? Is this with the linear power supply?

No, it is with the supply that came with it.

There are just variations, a lot of times created due to mains leakage, etc.

 

[derp1n]

 

[Veri]

 

[andreasmaaan]

Sorry, since I don't really understand this post I have some (maybe dumb) questions: Who is baldr? What forum is he in?
What is PTSD? And what is a "sterer" (there is no translation for that word into my German language)?
This quote is sarcasm, right? Or is it a joke? I'm a little confused...

Haha Baldr is the forum name of one of the Schiit founders. PTSD is posttraumatische Belastungsstörung. And "Schiit-sterer" is (I think) a pun on "shit-stirrer", someone who takes pleasure in annoying others.

 

[Wombat]

How important is all this below 96dB for 16 bit audio? I realize it's not too important, but is there any, even if tiny, benefit of say 110dB SINAD over 100dB for redbook material?

I have for >500Hz, Altec 802 compression drivers/treated 511B horns driven by a nad 326Bee amp via a Behringer DCX2496 active crossover unit. This is a high sensitivity arrangement. When at idle and I put my ear up to the horn it is virtually silent. At 6 inches, silence. When RBCDs are playing I don't notice the noise-floor unless the recording is shite. Of course my ears are older but the high sensitivity evens things up a bit compared to the average speakers that others use re their opinions.

I am yet to be convinced that humans can detect better than RBCD.

 

[Eric Auer]

Going pretty low there on the PTSD. Pretty shameful calling PTSD in any form irrelevant even as a bad joke.

Some people don't care what type of attention they get as long as they get it I guess.

Eric

 

[snip3r77]

User title checks out

 

[andreasmaaan]

I see it the same way. And scientists, too. The human auditory system very probably cannot nearly compete with an audio analyzer. At least not consciously.

I agree. Careful with this line of thought regarding the possibility of a stimulus having an unconscious effect though.

Yes, it's certainly conceivable, at least in theory, that a sound that the auditory system is capable of transmitting to the brain could, while not being consciously detected, nevertheless playing an unconscious role in perception. I've not seen any good evidence that this is the case when it comes to audio reproduction, but it's plausible.

However, a sound that the auditory system is not capable of transmitting to the brain (say a 30KHz tone) can't have an unconscious effect. It does not get to the brain in the first place, so the brain can't process it, consciously or otherwise.*

This is my take on it, anyway.

*There's no evidence it gets to the brain in the first place.

 

[RayDunzl]

*There's no evidence it gets to the brain in the first place.

Maybe this is no evidence. It's deemed controversial, at any rate.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4005747/

---

Other hits:

https://www.google.com/search?q=ultrasonic+frequency+effect+on+brain

 

[andreasmaaan]

Maybe this is no evidence. It's deemed controversial, at any rate.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4005747/

---

Other hits:

https://www.google.com/search?q=ultrasonic+frequency+effect+on+brain

Yes, I've seen those ones. Completely unimpressed with the "science" involved personally

 

[gvl]

OK, thanks. But what has Amir got to do with PTSD?
I still can't believe what this person writes. If a founding member of Schiit writes stuff like that I don't understand why people buy products from that company (pardon Amir, I do not want to offend you).
At least I know now that I will never ever buy anything from Schiit (never had the intention anyway).

Schiit papa playing with his children, never mind.

 

[JJB70]

Going pretty low there on the PTSD. Pretty shameful calling PTSD in any form irrelevant even as a bad joke.

Some people don't care what type of attention they get as long as they get it I guess.

Eric

I find it a completely unacceptable comment from a person closely associated with a company, on multiple levels. I won't go into all of the reasons it is unacceptable as I don't think I need to (though I will happily oblige if anyone thinks I should back up my words).
This is however no surprise and it is consistent with what I would expect from them. Which is why even if they do figure out how to design and manufacture good equipment which is safe to use I won't be buying any of it (well, unless someone else buys them, maybe an occasion I'd be happy to see Harman /Samsung swallow another company). There are enough companies making good gear without their baggage and whose products are unlikely to kill me by electrocution or inflict deep wounds from all the sharp edges.

 

[amirm]

Maybe you should have sent them a direct link to this thread? Otherwise they may not take you serious enough.

You were right so I did that yesterday after getting their answer:

At least they are confirming that there are no ASIO drivers.

 

[gvl]

They say the drivers they provide should work on Windows 10. Perhaps it'll work if ASIO4ALL uses their driver instead of Windows' UAC2 driver?

 

[Liberal Democracy]

You were right so I did that yesterday after getting their answer:

View attachment 16208

At least they are confirming that there are no ASIO drivers.

I ran this response through google translate and the following came back..,

“ piss off amir “

Not sure if that helps , bloody google.

 

[amirm]

They say the drivers they provide should work on Windows 10. Perhaps it'll work if ASIO4ALL uses their driver instead of Windows' UAC2 driver?

You were right on the money. Installing those drivers allows ASIO4ALL to run in 24 bit mode:

Not sure what is up with CH 2 but the other clearly shows it is responding to 24 bits (I played with grounding to get this number).

EDIT: Forgot to say that Schiit said the same thing (i.e. needing to install their drivers to get ASIO4ALL to work right) as I was posting this!