Schiit Modius Balanced DAC Review

[EchoChamber]

Odd that it would report 32-bit support to the UAC2 driver, if that's the case.

Sounds like product and marketing at Schiit are not talking...

 

[Theriverlethe]

Sounds like product and marketing at Schiit are not talking...

I thought they were mostly the same people.

 

[EchoChamber]

I thought they were mostly the same people.

They probably have an agency working for them to come up with the Schiit blow your mind our stuff doesn’t sound like anything and we won’t talk about it but yet it is awesome and if you want to be cooler than you already are buy some more. That’s the work of a professional ad agency. And that’s why they probably got the numbers wrong because they don’t realy understand the technology or what the specs mean and they probably copy and pasted the specs from another DAC they had in front of them and never fact checked it. I do find their web site entertaining but it’s all irrelevant to audio.

 

[MichaelP]

Odd that it would report 32-bit support to the UAC2 driver, if that's the case.

I heard back from their support team. The Modius does support 32-bit input.

 

[Raimei Templar]

I set 32 bit, 192,000hz in windows and it works just fine. I dont use it as many games and such dont work correctly with 32 bit audio (not Modius fault) but if you want to for some reason rock on!

 

[Theriverlethe]

They probably have an agency working for them to come up with the Schiit blow your mind our stuff doesn’t sound like anything and we won’t talk about it but yet it is awesome and if you want to be cooler than you already are buy some more. That’s the work of a professional ad agency. And that’s why they probably got the numbers wrong because they don’t realy understand the technology or what the specs mean and they probably copy and pasted the specs from another DAC they had in front of them and never fact checked it. I do find their web site entertaining but it’s all irrelevant to audio.

Jason Stoddard's LinkedIn says he founded an ad agency and worked there for twenty years.

 

[EchoChamber]

Jason Stoddard's LinkedIn says he founded an ad agency and worked there for twenty years.

It’s good in house creative work.

 

[bboris77]

How come Schiit's own AP report indicates that Balanced Out has a much higher noise floor? Am I missing something here?

Balanced Out:
THD+N Ratio (5/21/2020 2:00:26.278 PM) Ch1 0.009952 % Ch2 0.003431 %
THD Ratio (5/21/2020 2:00:26.278 PM) Ch1 0.000275 % Ch2 0.000235 %
Noise Ratio (5/21/2020 2:00:26.278 PM) Ch1 0.000160 % Ch2 0.000206 %


Single Ended Out:
THD+N Ratio (5/21/2020 2:05:15.761 PM) Ch1 0.000313 % Ch2 0.000282 %
THD Ratio (5/21/2020 2:05:15.761 PM) Ch1 0.000280 % Ch2 0.000246 %
Noise Ratio (5/21/2020 2:05:15.761 PM) Ch1 0.000138 % Ch2 0.000135 %

 

[Theriverlethe]

How come Schiit's own AP report indicates that Balanced Out has a much higher noise floor? Am I missing something here?

Balanced Out:
THD+N Ratio (5/21/2020 2:00:26.278 PM) Ch1 0.009952 % Ch2 0.003431 %
THD Ratio (5/21/2020 2:00:26.278 PM) Ch1 0.000275 % Ch2 0.000235 %
Noise Ratio (5/21/2020 2:00:26.278 PM) Ch1 0.000160 % Ch2 0.000206 %


Single Ended Out:
THD+N Ratio (5/21/2020 2:05:15.761 PM) Ch1 0.000313 % Ch2 0.000282 %
THD Ratio (5/21/2020 2:05:15.761 PM) Ch1 0.000280 % Ch2 0.000246 %
Noise Ratio (5/21/2020 2:05:15.761 PM) Ch1 0.000138 % Ch2 0.000135 %

Given that balanced has twice the voltage output, it makes sense. 0.0002% is about -114dB, so really not a problem.

 

[bgtip]

So what happens if I play DSD files through the Modius?

 

[elchupahueso]

So what happens if I play DSD files through the Modius?

It's unclear, but i believe it creates a tear in the space time continuum that ends up growing and enveloping the earth ending all life as we know it. But you know, your mileage may vary.
Seriously though, AFAIK the modius doesn't do DSD decoding, so nothing would happen. I feed mine a steady stream of PCM so I can't say for certain.

 

[Theriverlethe]

So what happens if I play DSD files through the Modius?

If you manage to force it, you’ll probably hear very quiet music and very loud static.

 

[EchoChamber]

I once accidentally turned on DSD upsampling in Roon and the result is no sound. Nothing dramatic.

 

[EchoChamber]

It's unclear, but i believe it creates a tear in the space time continuum that ends up growing and enveloping the earth ending all life as we know it. But you know, your mileage may vary.

Have you been watching Dark? ;-)

 

[elchupahueso]

Have you been watching Dark? ;-)

Can't say that I have. Although it's either the tear, or the singularity and then we have Skynet to deal with.

 

[Antônio Souza]

Hello,
Has someone tested it with an external Linear Power Suply? Any improvements?
How it compares with Su-8?
Thanks

 

[VintageFlanker]

Has someone tested it with an external Linear Power Suply? Any improvements?

What should it improves with external LPS?...

How it compares with Su-8?

You have the data to compare: The Modius measures better.

 

[Antônio Souza]

What should it improves with external LPS?...

You have the data to compare: The Modius measures better.

Every Dac improves with LPs. For what I see it has a wallwart Smps. I will use it with Usb out from a Pi streamer.
Thanks

 

[VintageFlanker]

Every Dac improves with LPs.

Meaning: every DACs are badly designed at first...?

I should say "welcome". You clearly have no clue where you just registered, tho...

Why every DACs improves with LPS? Just saying it doesn't make it real.

 

[Jimbob54]

Every Dac improves with LPs. For what I see it has a wallwart Smps. I will use it with Usb out from a Pi streamer.
Thanks

No. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...o-you-need-linear-power-supply-for-dacs.7021/

But I would love to know why you think that. Where is this being touted as a "thing" ?