Schiit Modius Balanced DAC Review

[TabCam]

Can anyone seriously hear the difference between the top 10-20 DACs on ASR? Sure the M400 is measurably a bit superior and a hell lot more expensive but can anyone seriously hear the difference in a blind test?

Anyway, I think this is priced very reasonably. Any comments or pictures of the guts would be welcome.

Compared an S.M.S.L. M500 with an Topping D90 and RME Adi-2 FS and somehow the other two were quite equal and the M500 inferior. As the M500 had multiple other problems, plops, clicks when turning off, incorrect volumeunde MacOS, unsecure spdif connections, it went back and I did not investigate the issue further.

 

[ShiZo]

I didnt think it was possible but i felt like the m400 was and upgrade over my rme, but maybe my mind is playing games with me. I swear i can hear a difference.

 

[polmuaddib]

No DSD, though, if you care about that. Just PCM. I know it's enough and that PCM is in theory better, but I like playing files in native format... Even though I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between native DSD and DSD to PCM conversion.

 

[ShiZo]

That's always been schiits shtick.

 

[rebbiputzmaker]

Amir,

Are you able to test the AES input?

 

[Tks]

The quality Toslink supply of parts has dried up it seems lol (a bit of humor coming from the M400 review).

Man, Schiit has been killing it lately. Didn't think SONCOZ would have any competition so soon in this category.

 

[Music1969]

The quality Toslink supply of parts has dried up it seems lol (a bit of humor coming from the M400 review).

Man, Schiit has been killing it lately. Didn't think SONCOZ would have any competition so soon in this category.

Matrix Audio seem to have TOSlink input jitter rejection figured out:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-dac-streamer-review.10360/page-4#post-286192

 

[Veri]

Matrix Audio seem to have TOSlink input jitter rejection figured out:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...-dac-streamer-review.10360/page-4#post-286192

Sabre ASRC and jitter reduction is how that's achieved

 

[Music1969]

Sabre ASRC and jitter reduction is how that's achieved

Not all ESS based DACs measure like this with TOSlink input... despite all having Sabre ASRC and jitter reduction...

 

[amirm]

Amir,

Are you able to test the AES input?

Able yes. Motivated, no.

 

[Koeitje]

This is good to see, shows that a company can offer a high performance product line together with euphonic products (tubes, multibit) without issues. Smart move, because that means your brand will always show up in some positive way when people are asked for recommendations. "I like tubes/multibit". "Ok, then buy this Schiit". "I don't like tubes/multibit and just want the best measurable performance." "Well, then you buy this Schiit". Clever.

 

[mslim]

Using my Mac / PC as source, the advantage of Optical/Toslink is the absence of any pop sounds. How about the Coaxial output? Is that ever tested? I can't hear the jitter with my rig. I can't hear the difference between USB and Toslink in terms of SQ.

 

[VintageFlanker]

I didnt think it was possible but i felt like the m400 was and upgrade over my rme, but maybe my mind is playing games with me. I swear i can hear a difference.

Come ooooooon, @ShiZo, did you missed the opportunity to blind test/level matched the M400 Vs ADI-2? (using your HPA-4) Again?!

 

[ShiZo]

Yep, still planning on it. Should i match voltage and everything?

@amirm said I'd be famous if i could do it .

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Nice going Schiit! I wish you had made the Yggdrasil with these specs... :-(

There are going to be those who claim this is a nice DAC which really can't approach the Yggy's reproduction of "plankton."

 

[ShiZo]

There are going to be those who claim this is a nice DAC which really can't approach the Yggy's reproduction of "plankton."

Because multibit

 

[Veri]

Not all ESS based DACs measure like this with TOSlink input... despite all having Sabre ASRC and jitter reduction...

Implementation is always key, though

 

[Music1969]

Implementation is always key, though

This is stating the obvious... that's the whole point of me showing Matrix measurement and me writing: "Matrix Audio seem to have TOSlink input jitter rejection figured out"

i.e. (if it wasn't obvious already) the Matrix team have implemented jitter rejection well ;-)

 

[VintageFlanker]

Should i match voltage and everything?

Matched voltage and without knowing which unit is playing!
If both XLR:
-M400 output is about 5,40V at max (80 volume), according to @amirm review.
- With the ADI-2 DAC V2, lock the Ref Level at +13dBu, then -2db (So 11dBu, (+6 using XLR) = 17dBu = 5,48V!)

 

[ShiZo]

I think if i listened to both with certain songs over and over to get the sound and then went blind, id be more successful. But just jumping into listening to random songs without prior critical listening i know id have no chance.