This is a review and detailed measurements of the original Schiit Modi DAC. It was sent to me by a member who was anxious to have it measured. I said not but that I would be open to a bribe to think otherwise. And the bribe came so here we are. If you are not interested in tests of these older products, please move along. I need money and will do anything to get some!
The original Modi DAC came out in 2013 I think at the same US $99 price that today's products come in as. At that time though, $99 was more of an amazing price for DAC than it is today. The enclosure of the unit looks just like today's DACs:
Schiit has over the years changed the color/texture of the enclosure so it may not match your modern Schiit gear. I think there are still variations even among the new gear. Not sure.
The back of Modi 1 has the bare minimum of connections:
This is all the functionality I need in a low cost DAC so I am fine with it.
USB DAC Audio Measurements
Here is our usual dashboard:
Output is quite anemic at 1.4 volts versus 2 volts we like to see and get in modern DACs. Elevated noise in lower frequencies is similar to second generation Modi 2 I have measured. Combined with distortion products, it pushes the SINAD way low:
There are some 190 DACs today that are better than it!
Dynamic range is decent though:
Intermodulation distortion versus level shows serious non-linearities:
Jitter performance once again is bad as second generation Modi 2:
32-tone signal resembling "music" shows the noise and distortion problems at once:
Linearity was surprisingly good given the rest of the measures:
It is actually much better than the Schiit Yggdrasil that I tested a while back!
Conclusions
The distortion and low frequency noise in Schiit Modi 1 is well above that of 16 bit audio/CD-quality. I don't recommend buying it even if it is used and at lower price. Spend a few more dollars and purchase the Schiit Modi 3 at $99.
--------
As always, questions, comments, corrections, etc. are welcome.
Let's cut to the chase: it is holiday season and I expect a generous monitory gift from all of you. Please donate as much as you can using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
The original Modi DAC came out in 2013 I think at the same US $99 price that today's products come in as. At that time though, $99 was more of an amazing price for DAC than it is today. The enclosure of the unit looks just like today's DACs:
Schiit has over the years changed the color/texture of the enclosure so it may not match your modern Schiit gear. I think there are still variations even among the new gear. Not sure.
The back of Modi 1 has the bare minimum of connections:
USB DAC Audio Measurements
Here is our usual dashboard:
Output is quite anemic at 1.4 volts versus 2 volts we like to see and get in modern DACs. Elevated noise in lower frequencies is similar to second generation Modi 2 I have measured. Combined with distortion products, it pushes the SINAD way low:
There are some 190 DACs today that are better than it!
Dynamic range is decent though:
Intermodulation distortion versus level shows serious non-linearities:
Jitter performance once again is bad as second generation Modi 2:
32-tone signal resembling "music" shows the noise and distortion problems at once:
Linearity was surprisingly good given the rest of the measures:
It is actually much better than the Schiit Yggdrasil that I tested a while back!
Conclusions
The distortion and low frequency noise in Schiit Modi 1 is well above that of 16 bit audio/CD-quality. I don't recommend buying it even if it is used and at lower price. Spend a few more dollars and purchase the Schiit Modi 3 at $99.
--------
As always, questions, comments, corrections, etc. are welcome.
Let's cut to the chase: it is holiday season and I expect a generous monitory gift from all of you. Please donate as much as you can using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
I hope you can revisit that one as well 
