As a self proclaimed audiophile, i like eq's. Sometimes great music was recorded poorly and its nice being able to adjust the bass and the highs... and sometimes i'm drunk and just want all the bass.
1) How do you guys all explain to the Mrs....Honey, look, i bought some expensive sh**t. They could rebrand themselves as Aroma or something, ya know? But, Shiit is what they wanted to call themselves. 2) You could keep your shiit on your mantle. An extra "i" could fall off and all your friends might think you're just a fkin shit head after they stop by. Alright, peace, shiitheads
You may simply like more bass for one genre, more highs for another, etc. there are a lot of people out there who have multiple headphones to swap out for this reason because the headphones themselves are balanced differently, so an eq can loosely take the place of multiple high end headphones.
schiit audio as a company has bridged the gap IMO between everyday joe and super expensive audio guy - they have found the sweet spot between, design, cost and quality. Nice real world review btw.
I'm a sole believer of EQ being a part of an audio chain. Coming from a workscope of live sound and studio, eq is there to tune the speakers to match the room to as flat as possible. Yeah maybe we do want to hear the true tone of certain equipments but if a room is untreated then there's gonna be peaks. Treated room may cost a lot but even full recording studios need a small hint of eq to fix what treatment can't do. In other words, now I really want that loki equalizer.
I think Schiit did a great job with the Loki. I have other graphic EQ's that feel cheap and have a higher noise floor. I don't use them. I'm looking at you Behringer.
I would love to be considered an audiophile, but being a military veteran who has some hearing loss (war is very load) I find that an equalizer helps to adjust my music to how I imagine the artist intended it to sound. Listening is very subjective to individuals and not everyone is a premiere sound engineer. Great job on this review.
I just found out the Schitt showroom is only about 20 minutes from me so looks like my home office is getting some new goodies. Thanks for the great vid!
I have had my bifrost for 5 years now, Upgrading it again soon. It has been on almost continually except when it got the last USB upgrade. Good Schiit!
Sweet review! I just got the Loki equalizer and I love it. It made an immediate difference in getting the best sound that works best for my speakers, room set up, and fixing certain recordings. I have it connected between between my Schiit Mani and my amp. Glad I got this over a DAC; but I am looking to get a Multibit DAC in the future.
DACs do sound different, but its not a very obvious difference. Most differences are minor unless you come from onboard computer audio which has alot of electrical noise/interference.
Bought the Mani a month or so ago. These guys know what the hell their doing. I have tried several preamps that cost alot more and, they fail when matched to the Schiit Mani! Schiit Audio is where its at!!
FYI...even though your phone and the Schitt DAC ....share....the same DAC chip...it does not mean they sound equal. Usually...a dedicated DAC device has a cleaner circuitry, better electrical components (capacitors, resistors, etc...) and overall layout/design on the circuit board...that tends to lend itself to a cleaner (less noise/interference) if not better sound. I am not even close to being an elec engineer, but on a phone...that CPU and circuit board is multi tasking DAC and opamp are vying for resources....a dedicated DAC has less responsibilities and a wall wart power supply, but this DAC u chose is a winner !
I wouldn't doubt what you're saying is true. I think more importantly, the amplifier section on a phone is at a serious disadvantage compared to a dedicated unit.
Joe N Tell definitely agree !! Another couple good points: 1. iPhones need adapters w no true audio ports. The more adapters in the audio signal path sometimes slightly degrade sound 2. Lack of BALANCED outputs on smartphones. DAPS still have an advantage 3. Smartphones , I think?...still cannot play true hi Rez files or stream hi Rez. They say DAPs are going the way of the dinosaur until smartphones are audiophile quality FAPs r the way to go!
Hi Joe, this was a nice, non-techie review, I own their Bifrost dac and Valhalla II headphone amp-preamp and I must say their products are great. I have had my stuff about 5 years now and couldn't be happier. Good info.
EQ is a must for all of my systems to compensate for speaker and room acoustics. As for Schiit Audio products, I really have no need for them, but they are cool and do remind me of the HiFi racks of the past as you have mentioned. I use 2 Homepods for my computer sound, they sound great and work seamlessly with my iMac, iPhone or iPad.
This exact trio of Schiit stack is what I am ordering for my birthday tomorrow. Im am brand new to anything audiophile related. Schiit seems like a good intro to audiophile territory. Should I also get a real crappy DAC, so I can compare it to the Modi 3? Im afraid Ill set up my new gear, and wont truely appreciate the Schiit sound if I am not familiar with crap DAC's.
Noob question: I'm looking into this stack to improve my desktop sound system, to use with both, Headphones and Speakers. About the speakers, currently, I use Active Speakers plugged into the Macbook and switch between them, and DT770 Pro, also plugged in the MCP. My plan: MCP > USB > Magni (DAC) > Magni/Vali (Headphone Amp/Pre Amp) > DT770 The headphone setup is pretty straight forward, but with the Active speakers I'm not sure, should I plug them in the DAC, since they are active I believe they don't need amplification, or could I plug them into the Magni/Vali Pre amp, that would be nice to have the physical volume nob available.
Oh man I was just like you, I didn't think DACs made a difference until I heard my headphones/speakers on another system. I then bypassed my AK4399 DAC which had alot of bells and whistles to a whole different R2R latter design DAC. The difference was night and day. My old dac made majority of my headphones sound bright while the R2R dac was very detailed without being harsh at all. System synergy is real and finding out what works for your really does add on to the experience. If you ever had a different experience from someone online with the same product chances are you're both right, it's just that you had different dac/amps/systems overall/rooms/hearing. Just some food for thought.
Nice review TY! I’m about to try the modi 3. But trying to figure out if I should get the modi 3 or upgrade to the modi multibit...my budget is there, do you recommend one over the other?
I just ordered a Modi + Vali can't wait to listen to my FLAC collection with this!!! Thanks for the throw back with the "stereo racks" I actually remember those days as a kid :)
Good video man ... Most audiophiles are super-pretentious , you give us viewers refreshing down-to-earth opinions , stressing that this kind of stuff really isn't necessary & it's really all about personal preference ... Thank you so much .
Loved this review. I know it's dated but I just got the headphone amp bug and ordered the Vali 3. I am already falling into a slippery slope of building my own Schiit Stack after watching this. Oh no!!!!!
Is this setup driving your DINA speakers? How does it sound? Powerful enough? I have a MacBook Pro (2017) connected to Kanto YU4. Looking to add some 'personality' to the sound with some 'umph' on the bass side. Thanks Joe.
Question. Is it possible to hook up a schiit magni 3 to a modi 2 Uber. I haven’t bought yet but was wondering if they would stack? And was confused on how the switch for the modi would work if I connect it via usb to my computer. Thanks if you do reach out. I know it’s an old video lol but appreciate you.
I have two Loki and I but one of them developed a low frequency buzz that comes in and out when 1st powered up then stays on permanently, by having two of them I was able swap location and PS and the buzz followed the Loki. Please let me know if any of you had this issue and how you solved it.
What does a headphone amplifier mean exactly, does it amplifies the headphones only or also my monitors? If i get this right it's only to power higher ohm headphones right?
Hi Joe! Do you think that installing a Schiit Modi 3 between my iMac and my Marantz 2270 would make a big difference? Right now, I have a Jack to RCA adapter cable that's going straight from one to another and the receiver is powering some B&W DM602 S2 speakers. Thanks in advance for your help and your knowledge!
I am buying this based on your review. Is it possible to have this unit 12 feet away from my Marantz SR7015 AVR it will be connected to with long RCA cables to control tone from my listening position? Thanks for this video
All units should have digital in/out to interconnect units between in any configuration you want. But I get it. The proce will grow. Just saying. My old Technics tower had simple tape like cable between units for that. Like you use in PC to connect hard drives.
does the dac hijack you audio controls on mac? like does it let you control the volume in mac with the keys or do you have to adjust the volume on the devices
Hi Joe I like your channel. I use an iMac headphone out and iTunes for playback, for my home stereo with Klipsch forte' ll. Would it it worth buying the DAC and use USb? Or is the Macs output just as good? Thank You!
I would say to stick with the Mac's output. The only downside is having to unplug and replug the speakers when changing back and forth from headphones. That's extra wear on the jack.
@@dollardbuchanan8687 I was using a Carver preamp, a CT-6 that died and was not worth repair, and power amp, m-500t, but now I'm using a Yamaha A-S801 to drive my Forte's. I use a very short USB cable between my Mac and the 801 and I mostly bypass the tone controls. My old speakers sound a lot better now.
One small poont about DACs: the chip is not all that matters, the preamplification and power supply method is just as important so you will find that even dacs witgbthe same chip can sound better or worse, inthis case you may want to plug that secondary power usb so the modi won't be getting dirty power from the pc and this should give you a lower noise floor.
My question is - do you see any difference between Loki and a Software EQ? I'm not sure if I should spend the money on it - because I really like the stack!
Hey Joe! Great videos as usual. I have a quick question though. Do I gain anything by getting the Modi 3 if I am already using Optical to Optical on my receiver? In my case, I assume I am bypassing the receiver's DAC, since it's all connected digitally anyhow.
I wouldn't buy it just for that. I personally haven't heard a difference between dacs. Headphone amps yes, but not dacs. I know there are measurable differences, but I'm not sure how big the audible difference is. There are other places where I would rather put my money to improve sound quality.
@@joentell Thanks, in my other room (living room setup) my speakers just have analog RCA, only so no optical connection, so do you think instead of coming out of the avantree bluetooth receiver with its analog output connection, I would be better using the optical port from the avantree blueooth receiver into the DAC before going into my powered speakers since it only has analog connections). I assume this would sound better than using the analog connection (DAC) built into the speaker? Same thing with my MAC's headphone out..
You can always try it. I am not currently a huge proponent of spending money on more expensive dacs. If I had to choose between a MiniDSP 2x4 HD to apply DSP correction vs a DAC, I would go MiniDSP all day.
I think you are right, Joe, about reading the graph doesn't necessarily improve the sound. It the width, depth, and soundstage that some audio engineers put the "stuff" in our ears. Do you need it or want it? I think the budget music lovers want to know about the entry-level or next level Schiit products. At least, that is me. I'm a computer listening to Amazon HD Music with a DAC and Fluance active speakers. And I going to get big fat, the lardaceous tone from that Schiit Stack?
Bought a set of powered speakers and connected them to my laptop at work and they sounded terrible. After that I bought a Modi3, connected it via the USB input and the sound greatly improved.
The Loki is an analog equalizer, correct? The reason that many of us don't "like" equalizers, is that they affect the phase, and other things about what we hear. For some recordings, that are really lacking is their tonal balance, then sure an equalizer can help; but it can never make a bad recording great. And with good recordings, they don't need an equalizer, and would only be harmed by having something extra in the signal path.
@@joentell One thing I have learned about recording music, and playing it back, is that the simpler the signal path, the better. The original event - the music performance - is everything; and the more things in the series of stuff in the entire process before we listen to the recording, the worse the sound is. If the mic is colored and not true to the sound - it is really difficult to ever "fix" it. And each step along the way only makes it progressively worse and worse.
@@joentell Sure, I understand. For some of us, inserting another device in the signal path has a downside, and if something is not enjoyable without adjustment, then it is not improved by changing it. I like Schiit equipment - I have a Vidar. My preamp of choice (Audible Illusions Modulus 2C) doesn't even have a balance control - it has separate volume controls on each channel. It doesn't have any negative feedback, even - let alone tone controls. The music shines through - or it doesn't.
Yeah, add a little, miniature sticky note over those too bright Schiit lights; works like a charm! Too, I found a color that makes the lights look like a warm tube glow- gotta love it!
Joe: Great video as always. For a desk its certainly cool stack. However, how would that Compare to the integrated amps from SMSL, (the Q5 or the AD18) and others where the signal does not travel 3 components. I also like an Eq in my setup.
That's a good question. I'm not sure if I can necessarily hear a big difference. The Loki makes the most obvious difference! Thank you for the continued support! 🙏
I dont have any schitt but the Q5 pro is beastly, no exaggeration. For neutral sounds I prefer my Lepai, but the Q5 pro on eq8 + bass turned to max will make my energy c6 sound like a 12" sub. Again I'm not exaggerating.
I think the Schiit stack would enhance those speakers, especially with the Loki and and Vali. Honestly, they would enhance for the better any two channel rig. All three will make a noticeable difference. Once you hear a tuvbe amp and what they do to the music, and then add in tone control with the Loki, it will open up an entirely new world in regards to sound and recordings, at least it did for me.
How do you connect the equalizer to these modern receivers.I have the Sony Str Dh 750 receiver with Martin Logan motion 40 for the front and the slim xl for the rear.
I love my Schiit! I have the same stack, except I have the Freya instead of the Vali... I already had the Loki and Freya in my two channel rig which shares the same space as my HT. I was using my Denon X4400H as a DAC along with feeding the video to the TV, I like music videos, so I guess I will never be accused of being an audiophile, lol. I will tell you this, the DAC in that Denon sucks. I just added the Modi 3, and totally eliminated the Denon out of my two channel setup. The NEW setup, I stream from a Roku Ultra, into the Modi 3, then into the Loki and off to the Freya which feeds the Emotiva XPA2 amp via XLR cables, then out to the SVS Ultra bookshelf speakers and two SVS SB3000 subs, yes the Freya will run the subs. I don't know if it was eliminating the Denon or adding the Modi 3, but this setup sounds like night and day. Even my 73yo mother stated it sounded much better! Seriously? Now I am wondering if my systems sucked prior to the Modi 3? Oh man... Did I need the Modi 3? Apparently I DID! I am beginning to become less and less of a Denon fan boy, I think this is the last piece of Denon gear I am going to own, so much better Schiit out there. They are not making their gear like they used to, like when it was made in Japan. It is really becoming a disappointing experience. I am almost to the point of ditching the entire HT and going strictly two channel. Now, the Loki, I own two, one for the streaming and one for the TT, which also uses the Schiit Mani phono amp. I don't care what anyone says about an EQ, I love the fact that I can take a recording and make it sound better to MY ears or fix up a bad recording, and God knows there are many of those out there. Even in my truck, truck driver, I have an EQ installed in the dash below the HU. If I can install an EQ into a system, it is getting an EQ, I love these things. I miss the old school gear, like that beautiful old Marantz you own, with the tone knobs right on the front. The Lokis are staying, you will have to pry them out of my... ;-) Now, the tube amp! Oh my God what a difference in sound they make, at least to my ears, in a fantastic way. Music can sound so sterile in SS mode, I love the warmth and the expansiveness the Schiit Freya creates when playing good solid recordings. I have this recording of the old Rat Pack from Las Vegas, Dean Martin in particular, along with Frank Sinatra, live at the Sands. Their live recording over the Freya is just incredible, the Freya gives you the sensation of being right there at the Sands in the showroom. And yes, I have been to the Sands and enjoyed more than a few shows there back in the day. The Freya really opens up the recording, and when you hear the clinking of glasses and other sounds from the audience, it just puts you in the room. With a little tweaking of the Loki, I am back in time. And isn't that how music or recordings should make you feel? For the money, just a thought... $99 for the Modi 3, $149 for the Loki, $149 for the Vali 2, add two Emotiva BasX A-100 amps at $229 ea, a pair of Emotiva Airmotive speakers for $229 and two of the Emo 8 inch subs for $299 ea., and you can have one hell of a setup and not break the bank. All of the above is roughly $1700 all in, less cables. I think that would be a killer starter rig for someone. And it does not take up much space, you could stack it all on a desk with ease, and I believe the sound would compare with rigs at 4x the price if setup properly. Just a thought... ;-)
Hey Joe, I generally don't believe DACs (I mean in the "audiophile" way), but having said that I had the opportunity to listen to a Chord mojo, I'm not sure if it was the dac part (i know that it's not a conventional chip) or the amp part, but it sounded different to my setup, I'd say better. Would I pay 500$ for that dac/amp, I'm not sure...
Ordered the Loki recently, can't wait to get it and be able to EQ for my room and have it through my whole system. I did treat my corners and the highs/mids sound clearer but now I have even more bass in the lower frequencies. Got the Kanto TUK. Haha
Nice review man. I've been eyeing some different dacs, and amps for use with headphones, but Schit is definitely on the list. As if I need another audio "vice". Oh, and your intro song is on point. I'm always sad when it's over lol
@@mclement052164 Thanks man, I'm leaning that way, and it's always good to hear some actual reviews. I see Schiit just lowered the price on them and added the Magni3+, and the Magni Heresy at the 99.99 price. I haven't seen any reviews on them yet but I'd expect more of the same, or better. The Heresy looks sweet dressed in red nd black
I have that exact same setup for my Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pros, sounds Incredible. I like having the Loki in the mix to make the DT 1990s a little more bassy.
Great review Joe! I have two modi 3s in use with my setup, along with a sys and my jds atom. Great gear. I'm adding a loki very soon. To answer your question early on in the vid, no, in most cases those graphs don't indicate any difference in sound, just engineering.
hi joe, i saw you at THE Show this year but i doubt you'll remember me, even with my nickname--hifitommy. i had run out of my "business" cards with my name and email address plus phone #. i like your low key approach to this and don't feel the need to compare you to others in the yt audio community. when i have suggestions, i will address them directly. about eq. i have had the ten band soundcraftsmen pe2218 eq/preamp with phono from the 70s which was respected in the press and still by some. on my regular preamp, arc sp3a1, a highly regarded tube preamp from 1979 when it was considered to be s.o.t.a., has tone controls that are very well thought out and the whole preamp is a revelation, especially the line section which is what i consider to be the heart of any audio system. i do like tone controls and whereas the ten band unit worked wonderfully, audiofools tend to go nuts with one and can do more damage to the sound than improvements. i live relatively close to the Schiitr out in Canyon Country. i went there once so far but intend to return and make unwelcome. well, not really. i have an interest in the prototype turntable and speakers. i have some good headphones and have tried some other good ones. it's entirely possible that i will buy more of them. headphones i own" grado sr60s bought when corey greenberg gave them a rave review and i paid only $60 for them. grado ps1000s that i won at the LAOCAS gala one year. hifiman 4XX from massdrop. i have audiotioned my friend's monolith 1060s open back with REAL bass like you get from great speakers. he also lent me the jotunheim dac/amp which performed nicely. i have given some thought to getting the koss ES headphones from massdrop. if you are interested in the rest of my system, go to the audioasylum inmate systems under hifitommy's stuff. i update it periodically. i can usually be found lurking in the vinylasylum and am responsible for the music asylum-jazz. it was included in just the musicasylum and i made the suggestion to separate out the jazz and they tried it and kept it. keep up the good work and see you here and there. ...hifitommy
Hey Joe, you should visit Upscale audio for a better tube than the stock tube. Just a suggestion. I have the exact same set up and didn't care for stock tube. [Cheap].
I ended up running equalzierAPO instead of a hardware equalizer. Any negative to this? There IS some processing time, but I don't believe anyone could ever notice this.
I wouldn't know. That program is only available on PC. On Mac there are software options, but I didn't want the extra overhead and minimal latency it introduced. Also, it's an extra step when changing between headphones and speakers since they had two different EQ's.
I think equalizing is like condimenting food. You should not get influenced by what other people (with other senses and other ideas about what is good for them) say. You just do the dish/music good for you and enjoy life on your own terms.
Got the ESS Sabre reference DAC embedded in my integrated amplifier (parasound Hint - for 'Halo Integrated'). When comparing the sound of both, fed with the same source (Squeezebox duet) through optical for one and coaxial for the second, and switching the source with the Hint remote control from my couch, I can tell you two things: there's a (huge) sound difference, and the one sounding like shit isn't the one you'd expect (from its name)!!! That Modi 3 is the best buy I've done in years (well since I went the Parasound/Dynaudio route)...
@@joentell it was almost muddy with the integrated DAC, gross, lacked delicacy and instrument separation as far as I recall. I shall test it again tomorrow if I find the time... Good night!
Can't wait for my Nobsound 100w amp to come so I can have bass again, but the Modi looks like a good addition. I think I'll enjoy having Schiit on my Nob.
Can anyone help me out here. I'm a complete rookie when it comes to these stuff with sound tech but I've done fair enough research thus far. I've bought my Audio Technica 120 and my speakers. I wish to hear my records through my pair of headphones too so now here's what im curious about. What should i be purchasing; the Schiit or a Yamaha 202 receiver? I only mentioned the receiver because i also saw that it had a headphone jack in it and both of these come around the same price. Does the audio have a vast change if i were to listen to my records through the schiit headphone jack? In the Yamaha i believe its possible to tweak the audio when wearing headphones because it's got the Tremble/Bass buttons on it. Please if anyone has info on this I'd really appreciate it.
Great video. Especially the part where you mention the graphs. Just like in video games graphics, in the end it's in the eyes and in the ears that we should check for differences.
Thanks for the video! I have the original MODI DAC. It is nice, but I need to upgrade. I also use their Valhalla 2 tube amp, which is AWESOME. I may buy that whole stack though for my work desk... It looks nice, and sounds like it sounds great!
Ohhhh. Tough one. I can't hear the difference personally. BUT, I can say the Schiit stuff matches very well with regards to looks and sound. I think they've designed them to play well together. The SMSL is the outsider in this scenario. Does that make sense? If I had all SMSL gear, might be a different story. I made this video a while back so I don't remember if I mentioned this. When I hooked up the SK10 to the stack, I could get digital clipping if I turned the SMSL up too much. The Modi 3 doesn't have volume control so it sent the perfect voltage signal to the Loki and the Loki sent the right voltage to the Vali 2.
Hi Joe, Can you do a review about the Behringer mini series. They are old models but still available brandnew at very reasonable price Thanks from a fan in the Philippines!
I think I'd be like you:. Not really hearing a difference with DACs. I got a cheap FiiO headphone amp with usb DAC, I did notice a small difference: I thought it made my headphones brighter but not really better. I never preferred using the DAC. I'm sure more expensive DACs may be a help but usually things like this just color the signal; just more things in the line.
Schiit only gives a 15 day return period and charge 15% restock if you return. That makes them not very competitive return policy. I think that'll steer me away. I'll probably stick with smsl, denafrips or topping if I want a DAC. Even you said it took a few months to get a real impression.
I believe in eq. Too many headphones/speakers come with great technical abilities but godawful tuning. However, a 4-band eq is almost never going to get you the exact tuning you want for your audio output. That’s why I only use digital eq with infinite nodes.
Great take on this Schiit. I run the Vali 2, Modi 3, and Mani phono pre in a nice Schiit spread across my desk. I've rolled a few various tube types, 6922, ecc88, 6cg7, and the bigger 6sn7 with an adapter. Changes things just a little bit, but is good fun nonetheless if you can snag some at a reasonable price
I personally own the Modi 3 and Loki to go with my Atom Amp. This I know for sure, I love the fact that I can manipulate my music with the EQ and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I have the Modi Multibit and the Valhalla 2. I enjoy the Modi Multibit, though also have limited exposure to other DACs so I do not want to wade into the multibit vs delta sigma debate. The Valhalla 2 is wonderful though. At work I use a Fulla 2 which functions well, but the IEMs I use are really sensitive so I do not have much room to work with the volume. Sounds very clear and a drastic improvement over the very noisy headphone jack of the computer.
You can pick up differences between dac's and such; but it really does depend on the ear. Even in youtube comment sections of speaker tests, or other audio tests; many people with good headphones will say they can't hear any difference at all. While many other people listening to the exact same audio will hear a drastic difference, and are baffled that others can't hear it. Heck you could even test this somewhat with family; get one of those phone apps that simply emit a buzz at different frequencies. Eventually there will be certain frequencies, especially on the high and low ends that some of your family can hear, and some can not.
As a self proclaimed audiophile, i like eq's. Sometimes great music was recorded poorly and its nice being able to adjust the bass and the highs... and sometimes i'm drunk and just want all the bass.
Lol at the "sometimes I'm drunk" comment.
1) How do you guys all explain to the Mrs....Honey, look, i bought some expensive sh**t. They could rebrand themselves as Aroma or something, ya know? But, Shiit is what they wanted to call themselves. 2) You could keep your shiit on your mantle. An extra "i" could fall off and all your friends might think you're just a fkin shit head after they stop by. Alright, peace, shiitheads
Hey, the audio could be recorded perfectly, and you just might like the way it sounds with more bass and treble.
You may simply like more bass for one genre, more highs for another, etc. there are a lot of people out there who have multiple headphones to swap out for this reason because the headphones themselves are balanced differently, so an eq can loosely take the place of multiple high end headphones.
🤣😂👍
schiit audio as a company has bridged the gap IMO between everyday joe and super expensive audio guy - they have found the sweet spot between, design, cost and quality. Nice real world review btw.
Thank you. Agree!
or you could just buy secondhand...
I'm a sole believer of EQ being a part of an audio chain. Coming from a workscope of live sound and studio, eq is there to tune the speakers to match the room to as flat as possible. Yeah maybe we do want to hear the true tone of certain equipments but if a room is untreated then there's gonna be peaks.
Treated room may cost a lot but even full recording studios need a small hint of eq to fix what treatment can't do.
In other words, now I really want that loki equalizer.
I think Schiit did a great job with the Loki. I have other graphic EQ's that feel cheap and have a higher noise floor. I don't use them. I'm looking at you Behringer.
I really don't like it being non parametric
Also, ears differ so yes, it is a needed unit
I would love to be considered an audiophile, but being a military veteran who has some hearing loss (war is very load) I find that an equalizer helps to adjust my music to how I imagine the artist intended it to sound. Listening is very subjective to individuals and not everyone is a premiere sound engineer. Great job on this review.
"Back in the day, people used to have stereo racks"
For some people that hasn't gone out of fashion..!!
lol
I would love one
@@joentell I have two, one for stereo & one for A/V gear..!! (both are filling up rather nicely)
Aesthetics are very important to me.
Old Skool,
Yamahas Aluminums
✌️😎
I just found out the Schitt showroom is only about 20 minutes from me so looks like my home office is getting some new goodies. Thanks for the great vid!
I have had my bifrost for 5 years now,
Upgrading it again soon.
It has been on almost continually except when it got the last USB upgrade.
Good Schiit!
Sweet review!
I just got the Loki equalizer and I love it. It made an immediate difference in getting the best sound that works best for my speakers, room set up, and fixing certain recordings.
I have it connected between between my Schiit Mani and my amp. Glad I got this over a DAC; but I am looking to get a Multibit DAC in the future.
What is the use of multi EQ ?
DACs do sound different, but its not a very obvious difference. Most differences are minor unless you come from onboard computer audio which has alot of electrical noise/interference.
Bought the Mani a month or so ago. These guys know what the hell their doing. I have tried several preamps that cost alot more and, they fail when matched to the Schiit Mani! Schiit Audio is where its at!!
Audiophiles that dislike EQ but like tube amps amuse me greatly. Then I slap them and point out that a tube is a analog broadband EQ.
Nope.
Lol!! You like that knob feel eh??? Great video man! I think they should bring back full sized EQs. I’ve had lots of people ask about them.
FYI...even though your phone and the Schitt DAC ....share....the same DAC chip...it does not mean they sound equal. Usually...a dedicated DAC device has a cleaner circuitry, better electrical components (capacitors, resistors, etc...) and overall layout/design on the circuit board...that tends to lend itself to a cleaner (less noise/interference) if not better sound. I am not even close to being an elec engineer, but on a phone...that CPU and circuit board is multi tasking DAC and opamp are vying for resources....a dedicated DAC has less responsibilities and a wall wart power supply, but this DAC u chose is a winner !
I wouldn't doubt what you're saying is true. I think more importantly, the amplifier section on a phone is at a serious disadvantage compared to a dedicated unit.
Joe N Tell definitely agree !! Another couple good points: 1. iPhones need adapters w no true audio ports. The more adapters in the audio signal path sometimes slightly degrade sound 2. Lack of BALANCED outputs on smartphones. DAPS still have an advantage 3. Smartphones ,
I think?...still cannot play true hi Rez files or stream hi Rez. They say DAPs are going the way of the dinosaur until smartphones are audiophile quality FAPs r the way to go!
How it sound is the
End Game 👌🏽😎📻🎛
Equalizers do help..btw
Can you hook up
a turntable to it? 🎚
Hi Joe, this was a nice, non-techie review, I own their Bifrost dac and Valhalla II headphone amp-preamp and I must say their products are great. I have had my stuff about 5 years now and couldn't be happier. Good info.
Thank you. I wish I could get more technical but it's tough with these types of products without some serious test equipment and know-how.
EQ is a must for all of my systems to compensate for speaker and room acoustics. As for Schiit Audio products, I really have no need for them, but they are cool and do remind me of the HiFi racks of the past as you have mentioned. I use 2 Homepods for my computer sound, they sound great and work seamlessly with my iMac, iPhone or iPad.
This exact trio of Schiit stack is what I am ordering for my birthday tomorrow. Im am brand new to anything audiophile related. Schiit seems like a good intro to audiophile territory. Should I also get a real crappy DAC, so I can compare it to the Modi 3? Im afraid Ill set up my new gear, and wont truely appreciate the Schiit sound if I am not familiar with crap DAC's.
The Schiitstack is a fantastic value and is an excellent starting point, you can pay a lot more, but idk if it's really necessary. I'm good with mine.
Noob question:
I'm looking into this stack to improve my desktop sound system, to use with both, Headphones and Speakers.
About the speakers, currently, I use Active Speakers plugged into the Macbook and switch between them, and DT770 Pro, also plugged in the MCP.
My plan:
MCP > USB > Magni (DAC) > Magni/Vali (Headphone Amp/Pre Amp) > DT770
The headphone setup is pretty straight forward, but with the Active speakers I'm not sure, should I plug them in the DAC, since they are active I believe they don't need amplification, or could I plug them into the Magni/Vali Pre amp, that would be nice to have the physical volume nob available.
Like large tube amps does the tube need to be replaced often?
Thanks for this review! Nice watch. What kind of speakers are the 3way wooden ones? With the separate tweeter on top?
Oh man I was just like you, I didn't think DACs made a difference until I heard my headphones/speakers on another system. I then bypassed my AK4399 DAC which had alot of bells and whistles to a whole different R2R latter design DAC. The difference was night and day. My old dac made majority of my headphones sound bright while the R2R dac was very detailed without being harsh at all. System synergy is real and finding out what works for your really does add on to the experience. If you ever had a different experience from someone online with the same product chances are you're both right, it's just that you had different dac/amps/systems overall/rooms/hearing. Just some food for thought.
Nice review TY! I’m about to try the modi 3. But trying to figure out if I should get the modi 3 or upgrade to the modi multibit...my budget is there, do you recommend one over the other?
I just ordered a Modi + Vali can't wait to listen to my FLAC collection with this!!! Thanks for the throw back with the "stereo racks" I actually remember those days as a kid :)
Good video man ... Most audiophiles are super-pretentious , you give us viewers refreshing down-to-earth opinions , stressing that this kind of stuff really isn't necessary & it's really all about personal preference ... Thank you so much .
Loved this review. I know it's dated but I just got the headphone amp bug and ordered the Vali 3. I am already falling into a slippery slope of building my own Schiit Stack after watching this. Oh no!!!!!
Is this setup driving your DINA speakers? How does it sound? Powerful enough? I have a MacBook Pro (2017) connected to Kanto YU4. Looking to add some 'personality' to the sound with some 'umph' on the bass side. Thanks Joe.
I did have it connected to the DINAS. The Oomph mostly came from the DINAS
Question. Is it possible to hook up a schiit magni 3 to a modi 2 Uber. I haven’t bought yet but was wondering if they would stack? And was confused on how the switch for the modi would work if I connect it via usb to my computer. Thanks if you do reach out. I know it’s an old video lol but appreciate you.
I have two Loki and I but one of them developed a low frequency buzz that comes in and out when 1st powered up then stays on permanently, by having two of them I was able swap location and PS and the buzz followed the Loki. Please let me know if any of you had this issue and how you solved it.
So....I just bought an Adcom gfa 5500....do you think this trio would be adequate to use with the Adcom? ....streaming spotify or youtube music....
What does a headphone amplifier mean exactly, does it amplifies the headphones only or also my monitors? If i get this right it's only to power higher ohm headphones right?
Does your Dynas doesn't have tweeter anymore? or it's just the angle of the camera? Different model or upgrade? thanks
They still do. I'm using a different speaker at my desk right now.
I run this exact stack and 3 months ago (with an Apple OS update?) my Modi has stopped being recognized by my Mac. Bummer.
Hi. Where did you get the RCA cables from?
Hi Joe! Do you think that installing a Schiit Modi 3 between my iMac and my Marantz 2270 would make a big difference? Right now, I have a Jack to RCA adapter cable that's going straight from one to another and the receiver is powering some B&W DM602 S2 speakers. Thanks in advance for your help and your knowledge!
I would guess not. The Mac's have pretty decent DAC's.
@@joentell Thanks for your answer!
So the Vali, which is a headphone amplifier, is powerfull enough to drive the monitors ?
I am buying this based on your review. Is it possible to have this unit 12 feet away from my Marantz SR7015 AVR it will
be connected to with long RCA cables to control tone from my listening position? Thanks for this video
Is modi 3 just for headphone or it is also good for regular speakers? Thanks
All units should have digital in/out to interconnect units between in any configuration you want. But I get it. The proce will grow. Just saying. My old Technics tower had simple tape like cable between units for that. Like you use in PC to connect hard drives.
does the dac hijack you audio controls on mac? like does it let you control the volume in mac with the keys or do you have to adjust the volume on the devices
Hi Joe I like your channel. I use an iMac headphone out and iTunes for playback, for my home stereo with Klipsch forte' ll.
Would it it worth buying the DAC and use USb? Or is the Macs output just as good? Thank You!
I would say to stick with the Mac's output. The only downside is having to unplug and replug the speakers when changing back and forth from headphones. That's extra wear on the jack.
Joe N Tell Forgive my newbie ignorance but what amp is driving your speakers?
@@dollardbuchanan8687 I was using a Carver preamp, a CT-6 that died and was not worth repair, and power amp, m-500t, but now I'm using a Yamaha A-S801 to drive my Forte's. I use a very short USB cable between my Mac and the 801 and I mostly bypass the tone controls. My old speakers sound a lot better now.
One small poont about DACs: the chip is not all that matters, the preamplification and power supply method is just as important so you will find that even dacs witgbthe same chip can sound better or worse, inthis case you may want to plug that secondary power usb so the modi won't be getting dirty power from the pc and this should give you a lower noise floor.
What length cables are in the video?
My question is - do you see any difference between Loki and a Software EQ?
I'm not sure if I should spend the money on it - because I really like the stack!
I can be more precise with software. Get the stack if you like the look and want something to mess with.
Hey Joe! Great videos as usual. I have a quick question though. Do I gain anything by getting the Modi 3 if I am already using Optical to Optical on my receiver? In my case, I assume I am bypassing the receiver's DAC, since it's all connected digitally anyhow.
I wouldn't buy it just for that. I personally haven't heard a difference between dacs. Headphone amps yes, but not dacs. I know there are measurable differences, but I'm not sure how big the audible difference is. There are other places where I would rather put my money to improve sound quality.
@@joentell Thanks, in my other room (living room setup) my speakers just have analog RCA, only so no optical connection, so do you think instead of coming out of the avantree bluetooth receiver with its analog output connection, I would be better using the optical port from the avantree blueooth receiver into the DAC before going into my powered speakers since it only has analog connections). I assume this would sound better than using the analog connection (DAC) built into the speaker? Same thing with my MAC's headphone out..
You can always try it. I am not currently a huge proponent of spending money on more expensive dacs. If I had to choose between a MiniDSP 2x4 HD to apply DSP correction vs a DAC, I would go MiniDSP all day.
@@joentell I thought the Mini DSP 2x4 HD was just a DSP, not a DAC combined?
It does
I have the Magni in this setup. I like the High/Low switch on the Magni it makes a big difference with my Sennheiser HD 6XX Headphones.
What are those speakers that he's using?
I think you are right, Joe, about reading the graph doesn't necessarily improve the sound. It the width, depth, and soundstage that some audio engineers put the "stuff" in our ears. Do you need it or want it? I think the budget music lovers want to know about the entry-level or next level Schiit products. At least, that is me. I'm a computer listening to Amazon HD Music with a DAC and Fluance active speakers. And I going to get big fat, the lardaceous tone from that Schiit Stack?
Bought a set of powered speakers and connected them to my laptop at work and they sounded terrible. After that I bought a Modi3, connected it via the USB input and the sound greatly improved.
Thanks for making a video that shows the exact setup I have minus the Loki. Great find while looking if a Loki would benefit me.
I love the Loki. I use it to tweak the settings for various IEM's and headphones I have.
The Loki is an analog equalizer, correct? The reason that many of us don't "like" equalizers, is that they affect the phase, and other things about what we hear. For some recordings, that are really lacking is their tonal balance, then sure an equalizer can help; but it can never make a bad recording great. And with good recordings, they don't need an equalizer, and would only be harmed by having something extra in the signal path.
These are wide band EQ changes. If anything, it's useful to adjust to taste. Everyone likes hearing things a bit differently. That's ok.
@@joentell One thing I have learned about recording music, and playing it back, is that the simpler the signal path, the better. The original event - the music performance - is everything; and the more things in the series of stuff in the entire process before we listen to the recording, the worse the sound is. If the mic is colored and not true to the sound - it is really difficult to ever "fix" it. And each step along the way only makes it progressively worse and worse.
@@NeilBlanchard I also do mic reviews. Nearly everything is colored. Tone controls for personal taste is fine.
@@joentell Sure, I understand. For some of us, inserting another device in the signal path has a downside, and if something is not enjoyable without adjustment, then it is not improved by changing it.
I like Schiit equipment - I have a Vidar. My preamp of choice (Audible Illusions Modulus 2C) doesn't even have a balance control - it has separate volume controls on each channel. It doesn't have any negative feedback, even - let alone tone controls. The music shines through - or it doesn't.
Great review. I have a Loki and don't know how I listened without it previously.
The Vali 2 is a very tempting little device...
Yeah, add a little, miniature sticky note over those too bright Schiit lights; works like a charm! Too, I found a color that makes the lights look like a warm tube glow- gotta love it!
What color is that?
how to you connect the Vali 2 to your speakers? is there an amp in between?
There is an amp. I have it connected to active speakers.
I use an Audiosource One Equalizer I've had since the early 90s and I use it whenever my headphones or speakers lack something ....
YOU are just the guy l want to talk to! zuri669@yahoo.com
I want a pair of beyer dt990's (80ohm) for my pc (mobo is asus Maximus x code) and I need a dac.. Will the Modi3 be enough?
Would these be good to use for the Beyerdynamic DT 990pros? Sorry I’m kinda new to all this audio stuff!
Joe: Great video as always. For a desk its certainly cool stack. However, how would that Compare to the integrated amps from SMSL, (the Q5 or the AD18) and others where the signal does not travel 3 components. I also like an Eq in my setup.
That's a good question. I'm not sure if I can necessarily hear a big difference. The Loki makes the most obvious difference!
Thank you for the continued support! 🙏
I dont have any schitt but the Q5 pro is beastly, no exaggeration. For neutral sounds I prefer my Lepai, but the Q5 pro on eq8 + bass turned to max will make my energy c6 sound like a 12" sub. Again I'm not exaggerating.
Would this Schiit stack match well with a pair of Presonus Eris 3.5 monitors?
I think the Schiit stack would enhance those speakers, especially with the Loki and and Vali. Honestly, they would enhance for the better any two channel rig. All three will make a noticeable difference. Once you hear a tuvbe amp and what they do to the music, and then add in tone control with the Loki, it will open up an entirely new world in regards to sound and recordings, at least it did for me.
I believe in EQ. Not all recordings are created "Equal". It's better to have and not need than to need and not have. Great review.
How do you connect the equalizer to these modern receivers.I have the Sony Str Dh 750 receiver with Martin Logan motion 40 for the front and the slim xl for the rear.
No good option without the tape monitor out. I've tried. There are hack ways to use the Zone 2 options, but it isn't ideal.
Thank you very much Joe.What kind of good receivers out there that could work with schiit equalizer?
I love my Schiit! I have the same stack, except I have the Freya instead of the Vali... I already had the Loki and Freya in my two channel rig which shares the same space as my HT. I was using my Denon X4400H as a DAC along with feeding the video to the TV, I like music videos, so I guess I will never be accused of being an audiophile, lol.
I will tell you this, the DAC in that Denon sucks. I just added the Modi 3, and totally eliminated the Denon out of my two channel setup. The NEW setup, I stream from a Roku Ultra, into the Modi 3, then into the Loki and off to the Freya which feeds the Emotiva XPA2 amp via XLR cables, then out to the SVS Ultra bookshelf speakers and two SVS SB3000 subs, yes the Freya will run the subs. I don't know if it was eliminating the Denon or adding the Modi 3, but this setup sounds like night and day. Even my 73yo mother stated it sounded much better! Seriously? Now I am wondering if my systems sucked prior to the Modi 3? Oh man... Did I need the Modi 3? Apparently I DID!
I am beginning to become less and less of a Denon fan boy, I think this is the last piece of Denon gear I am going to own, so much better Schiit out there. They are not making their gear like they used to, like when it was made in Japan. It is really becoming a disappointing experience. I am almost to the point of ditching the entire HT and going strictly two channel.
Now, the Loki, I own two, one for the streaming and one for the TT, which also uses the Schiit Mani phono amp. I don't care what anyone says about an EQ, I love the fact that I can take a recording and make it sound better to MY ears or fix up a bad recording, and God knows there are many of those out there. Even in my truck, truck driver, I have an EQ installed in the dash below the HU. If I can install an EQ into a system, it is getting an EQ, I love these things. I miss the old school gear, like that beautiful old Marantz you own, with the tone knobs right on the front. The Lokis are staying, you will have to pry them out of my... ;-)
Now, the tube amp! Oh my God what a difference in sound they make, at least to my ears, in a fantastic way. Music can sound so sterile in SS mode, I love the warmth and the expansiveness the Schiit Freya creates when playing good solid recordings. I have this recording of the old Rat Pack from Las Vegas, Dean Martin in particular, along with Frank Sinatra, live at the Sands. Their live recording over the Freya is just incredible, the Freya gives you the sensation of being right there at the Sands in the showroom. And yes, I have been to the Sands and enjoyed more than a few shows there back in the day. The Freya really opens up the recording, and when you hear the clinking of glasses and other sounds from the audience, it just puts you in the room. With a little tweaking of the Loki, I am back in time. And isn't that how music or recordings should make you feel?
For the money, just a thought... $99 for the Modi 3, $149 for the Loki, $149 for the Vali 2, add two Emotiva BasX A-100 amps at $229 ea, a pair of Emotiva Airmotive speakers for $229 and two of the Emo 8 inch subs for $299 ea., and you can have one hell of a setup and not break the bank. All of the above is roughly $1700 all in, less cables. I think that would be a killer starter rig for someone. And it does not take up much space, you could stack it all on a desk with ease, and I believe the sound would compare with rigs at 4x the price if setup properly. Just a thought... ;-)
Hey Joe, I generally don't believe DACs (I mean in the "audiophile" way), but having said that I had the opportunity to listen to a Chord mojo, I'm not sure if it was the dac part (i know that it's not a conventional chip) or the amp part, but it sounded different to my setup, I'd say better. Would I pay 500$ for that dac/amp, I'm not sure...
Ordered the Loki recently, can't wait to get it and be able to EQ for my room and have it through my whole system. I did treat my corners and the highs/mids sound clearer but now I have even more bass in the lower frequencies. Got the Kanto TUK. Haha
Nice review man. I've been eyeing some different dacs, and amps for use with headphones, but Schit is definitely on the list. As if I need another audio "vice". Oh, and your intro song is on point. I'm always sad when it's over lol
I use the Magni3 to drive Sennheiser HD6XX & Audeze LCD2& Hifiman HE4XX. Sounds great on all of them.
@@mclement052164 Thanks man, I'm leaning that way, and it's always good to hear some actual reviews. I see Schiit just lowered the price on them and added the Magni3+, and the Magni Heresy at the 99.99 price. I haven't seen any reviews on them yet but I'd expect more of the same, or better. The Heresy looks sweet dressed in red nd black
Now I want a tiny Schiit-sized equipment rack.
Hey Joe. Nice setup. Nice video. Are you using an amp to drive those bookshelves? If yes, which one? Cheers. Keep the videos coming
The bookshelf speakers are powered with a plate amp on the back of each speaker. Check out my review of the DINAS.
Love my PrimaLuna tube integrated amp. My current phono pre is a piece of Schitt and does a great job!
I have that exact same setup for my Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pros, sounds Incredible. I like having the Loki in the mix to make the DT 1990s a little more bassy.
Great review Joe!
I have two modi 3s in use with my setup, along with a sys and my jds atom. Great gear. I'm adding a loki very soon.
To answer your question early on in the vid, no, in most cases those graphs don't indicate any difference in sound, just engineering.
hi joe, i saw you at THE Show this year but i doubt you'll remember me, even with my nickname--hifitommy. i had run out of my "business" cards with my name and email address plus phone #. i like your low key approach to this and don't feel the need to compare you to others in the yt audio community. when i have suggestions, i will address them directly.
about eq. i have had the ten band soundcraftsmen pe2218 eq/preamp with phono from the 70s which was respected in the press and still by some. on my regular preamp, arc sp3a1, a highly regarded tube preamp from 1979 when it was considered to be s.o.t.a., has tone controls that are very well thought out and the whole preamp is a revelation, especially the line section which is what i consider to be the heart of any audio system. i do like tone controls and whereas the ten band unit worked wonderfully, audiofools tend to go nuts with one and can do more damage to the sound than improvements.
i live relatively close to the Schiitr out in Canyon Country. i went there once so far but intend to return and make unwelcome. well, not really. i have an interest in the prototype turntable and speakers. i have some good headphones and have tried some other good ones. it's entirely possible that i will buy more of them.
headphones i own"
grado sr60s bought when corey greenberg gave them a rave review and i paid only $60 for them.
grado ps1000s that i won at the LAOCAS gala one year.
hifiman 4XX from massdrop.
i have audiotioned my friend's monolith 1060s open back with REAL bass like you get from great speakers. he also lent me the jotunheim dac/amp which performed nicely.
i have given some thought to getting the koss ES headphones from massdrop. if you are interested in the rest of my system, go to the audioasylum inmate systems under hifitommy's stuff. i update it periodically. i can usually be found lurking in the vinylasylum and am responsible for the music asylum-jazz. it was included in just the musicasylum and i made the suggestion to separate out the jazz and they tried it and kept it.
keep up the good work and see you here and there.
...hifitommy
I do remember speaking with you!
Thanks for the feedback and comment!
Hey Joe, you should visit Upscale audio for a better tube than the stock tube. Just a suggestion. I have the exact same set up and didn't care for stock tube. [Cheap].
Which one did you go with? This one is a bit sterile for my taste. I like a bit of color.
@@joentell Im very interested on knowing Greg Miller's response, cuz Im just looking to replace the tube too
@@joentell electro-harmonix 6922 gold'
I ended up running equalzierAPO instead of a hardware equalizer.
Any negative to this? There IS some processing time, but I don't believe anyone could ever notice this.
I wouldn't know. That program is only available on PC. On Mac there are software options, but I didn't want the extra overhead and minimal latency it introduced. Also, it's an extra step when changing between headphones and speakers since they had two different EQ's.
I think equalizing is like condimenting food. You should not get influenced by what other people (with other senses and other ideas about what is good for them) say. You just do the dish/music good for you and enjoy life on your own terms.
Great video and love your practical view and review; want vs need! Keep up the great work!
Great video! I love the sound of tubes. As you mentioned, I have no problem sacrificing a little accuracy for the coloration that they add.
Got the ESS Sabre reference DAC embedded in my integrated amplifier (parasound Hint - for 'Halo Integrated'). When comparing the sound of both, fed with the same source (Squeezebox duet) through optical for one and coaxial for the second, and switching the source with the Hint remote control from my couch, I can tell you two things: there's a (huge) sound difference, and the one sounding like shit isn't the one you'd expect (from its name)!!! That Modi 3 is the best buy I've done in years (well since I went the Parasound/Dynaudio route)...
I'd bet dollars to donuts that you would not be able to pick one from the other in a blindfold test.
@@sebastiannai4381 I did that test... the wife holding the remote control; obvious differences.
What differences did you notice?
@@joentell it was almost muddy with the integrated DAC, gross, lacked delicacy and instrument separation as far as I recall. I shall test it again tomorrow if I find the time... Good night!
Can't wait for my Nobsound 100w amp to come so I can have bass again, but the Modi looks like a good addition. I think I'll enjoy having Schiit on my Nob.
Can anyone help me out here. I'm a complete rookie when it comes to these stuff with sound tech but I've done fair enough research thus far. I've bought my Audio Technica 120 and my speakers. I wish to hear my records through my pair of headphones too so now here's what im curious about. What should i be purchasing; the Schiit or a Yamaha 202 receiver? I only mentioned the receiver because i also saw that it had a headphone jack in it and both of these come around the same price. Does the audio have a vast change if i were to listen to my records through the schiit headphone jack? In the Yamaha i believe its possible to tweak the audio when wearing headphones because it's got the Tremble/Bass buttons on it. Please if anyone has info on this I'd really appreciate it.
Great video. Especially the part where you mention the graphs. Just like in video games graphics, in the end it's in the eyes and in the ears that we should check for differences.
Mac has optical output through the headphone jack. Should check it out.
whats the advantage of the schiit EQ vs a software EQ? just asking :)
convenience?
Who would be against an equalizer? Specially with a bypass. Maybe a 3 band I can see, 5+ would be better.
Thanks for the video! I have the original MODI DAC. It is nice, but I need to upgrade. I also use their Valhalla 2 tube amp, which is AWESOME. I may buy that whole stack though for my work desk... It looks nice, and sounds like it sounds great!
They would rather spend 10,000 more dollars to get that exact sound that they want instead of 100 for the Loki.
Lol
which is better between smsl sk10 and modi 3
Ohhhh. Tough one. I can't hear the difference personally. BUT, I can say the Schiit stuff matches very well with regards to looks and sound. I think they've designed them to play well together. The SMSL is the outsider in this scenario. Does that make sense? If I had all SMSL gear, might be a different story.
I made this video a while back so I don't remember if I mentioned this. When I hooked up the SK10 to the stack, I could get digital clipping if I turned the SMSL up too much. The Modi 3 doesn't have volume control so it sent the perfect voltage signal to the Loki and the Loki sent the right voltage to the Vali 2.
Hi Joe,
Can you do a review about the Behringer mini series. They are old models but still available brandnew at very reasonable price
Thanks from a fan in the Philippines!
Love the title Joe and bleeping during the name! 🤣🤣🤣
😂
I think I'd be like you:. Not really hearing a difference with DACs. I got a cheap FiiO headphone amp with usb DAC, I did notice a small difference: I thought it made my headphones brighter but not really better.
I never preferred using the DAC. I'm sure more expensive DACs may be a help but usually things like this just color the signal; just more things in the line.
What headphones do you run with this schiit ? Great video as usual man!
Loki does the job in my late evening (highend) audiosystem. It's a little gem! First knob on one/two o' clock and there is the magic..
Schiit only gives a 15 day return period and charge 15% restock if you return. That makes them not very competitive return policy. I think that'll steer me away.
I'll probably stick with smsl, denafrips or topping if I want a DAC. Even you said it took a few months to get a real impression.
What the tube in your video? I like it.
The one that comes with the Schiit Audio Vali 2
Thanks Joe!
I had Modi3 and Vali 2. I used tube come with vali 2, but I saw it different with tube in your video in 8:46.
Long live tone control!
I run the loki.
I like it.
Also swap a 90's vintage mil-spec DOD graphic eq. in the rig.
Really dig the DOD.
I believe in eq. Too many headphones/speakers come with great technical abilities but godawful tuning. However, a 4-band eq is almost never going to get you the exact tuning you want for your audio output. That’s why I only use digital eq with infinite nodes.
Great video, I'm waiting for Modi and Vali 2 to come into stock. I don't have any interest in an EQ module.
Great channel ! Really enjoy your videos. Nice work!
Great take on this Schiit. I run the Vali 2, Modi 3, and Mani phono pre in a nice Schiit spread across my desk. I've rolled a few various tube types, 6922, ecc88, 6cg7, and the bigger 6sn7 with an adapter. Changes things just a little bit, but is good fun nonetheless if you can snag some at a reasonable price
I personally own the Modi 3 and Loki to go with my Atom Amp. This I know for sure, I love the fact that I can manipulate my music with the EQ and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I have the Modi Multibit and the Valhalla 2. I enjoy the Modi Multibit, though also have limited exposure to other DACs so I do not want to wade into the multibit vs delta sigma debate. The Valhalla 2 is wonderful though. At work I use a Fulla 2 which functions well, but the IEMs I use are really sensitive so I do not have much room to work with the volume. Sounds very clear and a drastic improvement over the very noisy headphone jack of the computer.
You can pick up differences between dac's and such; but it really does depend on the ear. Even in youtube comment sections of speaker tests, or other audio tests; many people with good headphones will say they can't hear any difference at all. While many other people listening to the exact same audio will hear a drastic difference, and are baffled that others can't hear it.
Heck you could even test this somewhat with family; get one of those phone apps that simply emit a buzz at different frequencies. Eventually there will be certain frequencies, especially on the high and low ends that some of your family can hear, and some can not.