Schiit Magni Headphone Amplifier - Page 66

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninjames 

When my fiancee' gets back from work, I will have her assist me with some blind a/b testing.

If you're going to do this for real, I'd suggest measuring the output with and without the attenuator to determine if it's exactly 12 dB or whatever the real value is.  When doing the comparison, with attenuator out, compensate with -12 dB (actually, the exact value you measure) in software.  Doing the normalization by rotating the volume knob is difficult and would require redoing measurements every time; also, doing -12 dB in software simulates the alternative solution.

To be honest, -12 dB in software is not such a huge deal at all, particularly for a 24-bit DAC (though Modi's effective number of bits is unknown).  Technically using the attenuator could result in better SNR, but it depends on the DAC and probably wouldn't be noticed anyway.  Sure, 5x gain may be overkill for some people, but that's just 14 dB over no gain and is probably no issue to reduce in software unless maybe you're using very sensitive IEMs.

If anyone wants to buy (or make) attenuators, they could easily also buy (or make) new RCA cables as well that aren't so unwieldy.  Don't need to use the thickest things in the world for something like line-level audio interconnects at minimal distance.

Just got my M&M stack in the mail and it replaced my PC DAC + E11 which was powering my HE-400's. Let me just say that there is a worlds difference in sound quantity and quality. All the frequencies seem to have just 'come to life' when they felt flat and dare I say, boring before. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeaj 

 

If you're going to do this for real, I'd suggest measuring the output with and without the attenuator to determine if it's exactly 12 dB or whatever the real value is.  When doing the comparison, with attenuator out, compensate with -12 dB (actually, the exact value you measure) in software.  Doing the normalization by rotating the volume knob is difficult and would require redoing measurements every time; also, doing -12 dB in software simulates the alternative solution.

 

 

To be honest, -12 dB in software is not such a huge deal at all, particularly for a 24-bit DAC (though Modi's effective number of bits is unknown).  Technically using the attenuator could result in better SNR, but it depends on the DAC and probably wouldn't be noticed anyway.  Sure, 5x gain may be overkill for some people, but that's just 14 dB over no gain and is probably no issue to reduce in software unless maybe you're using very sensitive IEMs.

 

 

If anyone wants to buy (or make) attenuators, they could easily also buy (or make) new RCA cables as well that aren't so unwieldy.  Don't need to use the thickest things in the world for something like line-level audio interconnects at minimal distance.

I just know that the attenuators, in theory, are better than going -12 dB on the software side, adjusting the software volume, etc. In short, I bought these, plugged 'em in, and they work very well. No messing with anything on the software side, which is perfect for me.

I'll let you guys know how I decide to go about the A/B testing.

So I'm looking at the Magni/Modi combo as well, and would like to make something happen in the next few days.

Current headphones are the Grado SR80i, which are getting a Mogami Mini-Quad recable just like in this thread: http://www.head-fi.org/t/461915/a-pic-by-pic-grado-sr80-recable-thread

and Koss PortaPros. 

What I'd like to know is:

1) Given the DACs built into my Macbook Pro (fall 2009 model) and work Macbook Air, should I just skip the DAC and get the headphone amp only, or will this be significantly better?

2) What else should I look at in the price range before making my decision that would also sound good with the aforementioned headphones?

My other question is this: Could I use an iPad 4 as my source somehow, rather than my laptop, for this rig? Concerned because the DAC runs off USB power, and would therefore need to somehow plug in the iPad to a power source (via the lightning connection) while simultaneously getting the line-out signal from it (also via the lightning connection). 

I don't know why or how this is possible, but my Fiio E9 and Micro Amp seem to have better imaging than the Magni.

I thought my ears were playing tricks on me. When switching it's very obvious. Not a huge difference, but my ears are kind of confused when I'm using the Magni.

Both of those amps sounds smoother in the upper mids and treble. I know the E9 has some very minor treble roll-off.

The Micro should be ruler flat..

Maybe imaging worsens when you have more treble (or an impression of it) and a larger soundstage. I've noticed this a lot with mods and the difference between the Q701 and K702 and switching to flat pads. The Magni doesn't seem to have a bigger soundstage than my other amps right now. Just very very slightly thinner sounding overall and that might explain some things.

This is all with the ODAC as a source. It could be that the Magni is more revealing of the actual recording, but highly unlikely.

I said the Magni wasn't bright, but it still seems to have some slight forwardness somewhere. I mean probably not measurable.

This is one of those days where the HD-650 with the Magni isn't as good as I remember. I need to give my ears a rest I think.

Despite the Magni being "probably" technically better than the E9 (says who?) it's not really that much better. Just different.

I mean the Magni is very good, but it doesn't "blow away" the E9 or anything. Of course none of my headphones are bothered by the E9's 10 ohm output impedance.

The E9 to my ears sounds good with everything I have, but it's not that transparent of course. It has some of it's own coloration, but not too bad.

I'll get the O2 and compare it to the Magni. I still think them sounding the same is a bit of nonsense, but maybe i'll eat my words!

Another thing..sometimes the Magni sounds less clear than my other amp. I know not to be fooled by this, because it can often just be that it's more revealing of the source file and it's not so much the amps fault. Generally the Magni sounds crystal clear with the right music. Some recordings sound muffled and not clear and it's easy to be fooled and blame the headphone or equipment.

Strangely enough, Youtube music videos (higher quality ones) sound much worse on my HD-650 than my Q701. I won't try to explain that one. I do think the HD-650 can be quite revealing with the ODAC though.

I would say the Magni I like about as much as the E9. I know a lot of people love to hate the E9 for whatever reason. The Micro still sounds better than both and not because it's more colored etc. It's really not.I guess comparing a $350 amp to something that's $100 is a bit stupid. Not that price matters much anymore these days!!

NOTE: I like the Magni and these things are just me nit-picking. I always liking picking apart my amps/dacs and headphones. Even after 2 years I still found out stuff about my amps I never realized! I do believe the Magni is pretty transparent, but I still need an O2!

I don't know whether this has been asked before here, can I use the O2 PSU to power the Magni as well?

Hope this is not too silly of a question :-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by g0ldeng0pher 

My other question is this: Could I use an iPad 4 as my source somehow, rather than my laptop, for this rig? Concerned because the DAC runs off USB power, and would therefore need to somehow plug in the iPad to a power source (via the lightning connection) while simultaneously getting the line-out signal from it (also via the lightning connection). 

I believe the few people who have tried it with the camera connection kit had it work, but I would do some searching on this and other Schiit threads first to make sure. If anything it'll just drain your batteries faster.

Quote:

Originally Posted by willmax 

I don't know whether this has been asked before here, can I use the O2 PSU to power the Magni as well?

Hope this is not too silly of a question :-)

Depends on if the specs of the O2's wall wart match what the Magni needs. Feel free to post what the O2's PSU outputs and we'll find out 

I currently use a 13~14VAC 1.2A with my O2 and it works like a charm.

The Magni's outputs: 16VAC 500mA 8.0W

I've only had a chance to use my setup with the Magni a few times since receiving it (darn life!), but last night I had the displeasure of running clearly into the channel imbalance.  Earlier, I thought I only noticed it up to about 8 o'clock on the volume pot, maybe 8:30.  But while watching a movie last night I kept feeling the sound was a bit left heavy.  I glanced at the pot and noticed I was at about 9:15.  It wasn't until I got around 10 that I got even balance.

So, that got me thinking about the attenuators ninjames picked up, which sound promising.  I'm wondering, though, if they wouldn't be beneficial due to my current setup?  I don't have a DAC; I'm just using a Mixamp with the Magni for games and movies.  My question is, doesn't using my Mixamp's volume knob kinda act as an attenuator?  If I turn it down a bit to help the Magni push higher on it's pot, am I compromising the quality any?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vader2k 

I've only had a chance to use my setup with the Magni a few times since receiving it (darn life!), but last night I had the displeasure of running clearly into the channel imbalance.  Earlier, I thought I only noticed it up to about 8 o'clock on the volume pot, maybe 8:30.  But while watching a movie last night I kept feeling the sound was a bit left heavy.  I glanced at the pot and noticed I was at about 9:15.  It wasn't until I got around 10 that I got even balance.

 

So, that got me thinking about the attenuators ninjames picked up, which sound promising.  I'm wondering, though, if they wouldn't be beneficial due to my current setup?  I don't have a DAC; I'm just using a Mixamp with the Magni for games and movies.  My question is, doesn't using my Mixamp's volume knob kinda act as an attenuator?  If I turn it down a bit to help the Magni push higher on it's pot, am I compromising the quality any?

In theory the Mixamp's volume knob is doing exactly the same thing as the attenuators. It might technically do something to the sound quality, but for any reasonable levels (aka, don't turn the Mixamp down to something like 5% then turn the Magni all the way up) you shouldn't be able to tell any difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by g0ldeng0pher 

 

1) Given the DACs built into my Macbook Pro (fall 2009 model) and work Macbook Air, should I just skip the DAC and get the headphone amp only, or will this be significantly better?

 

I definitely recommend a DAC to go along with the Magni, especially given that you'll be using fairly sensitive headphones. Now, you don't HAVE to get the Modi, I'm using a Stoner Acoustics UD100 as a DAC, and I'd imagine a Fiio E10 would work well, too. The M/M do look fantastic as a stack, though.  And my little DAC can't do 24/96k audio, so there's an advantage if you have audiophile quality tracks. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by g0ldeng0pher 

My other question is this: Could I use an iPad 4 as my source somehow, rather than my laptop, for this rig? Concerned because the DAC runs off USB power, and would therefore need to somehow plug in the iPad to a power source (via the lightning connection) while simultaneously getting the line-out signal from it (also via the lightning connection). 

 

Someone would have to verify this, but if you were cool with using the iPad 4's internal DAC, you could then (theoretically, I don't have a lighting-touting device) use the Lighting to 30-Pin adapter, and use a 30-Pin LOD to feed the Magni... oh, just had a thought, Lightning might not have an analog stage, foiling that idea 

Cool, glad to hear it! Thanks Defiant00!