dinoking said:

Oh another thing, so how do i switch between headphones and speakers from my magni 2 uber? Do i just plug in my headphones and that mutes my speakers? And in order to listen to my speakes again i just unplug my headphones from the magni?

Click to expand...

Yes, that's how it works.

I have a question, why would someone not opt for the Uber versions of the Magni and Modi?
 
I really have no use for any other input besides USB. Amp wise I don't have an ortho or anything high end. Is the difference really that great with an Uber amp to justify the extra 50 dollars?

I'm interested in getting a dac/amp and I was wondering how this sounds as compared to a portable dac/amp like the Oppo HA-2. What are the advantages to using a non-portable dac/amp? 
 
I will be using this with: Westone 4R, Oppo PM-3
 
Thanks!

Biggest thing is going to be the amount of power you can get from an amp that plugged into the wall.  The modi will also be quieter with your IEMs
 
Schiit Modi2U
 
Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 2.1W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 1.5W RMS per channel

Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 1.2W RMS per channel

Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 320mW RMS per channel

Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 160mW RMS per channel

Output Impedance: Less than 0.2 ohms

 
HA-2
 
 
But you also get flexibility of choosing different components

rmullins08 said:

  Biggest thing is going to be the amount of power you can get from an amp that plugged into the wall.  The modi will also be quieter with your IEMs
 
Schiit Modi2U
 
Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 2.1W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 1.5W RMS per channel

Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 1.2W RMS per channel

Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 320mW RMS per channel

Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 160mW RMS per channel

Output Impedance: Less than 0.2 ohms

 
HA-2
 

Recommended Headphone Impedance	16 Ohm - 300 Ohm
Maximum Headphone Output Power	300 mW into 16 Ohm 220 mW into 32 Ohm 30 mW into 300 Ohm
Headphone Amplifier Output Impedance	0.5 Ohm

 
But you also get flexibility of choosing different components

Click to expand...

Schiit Modi2U is a DAC not an amp

jimmers said:

  Schiit Modi2U is a DAC not an amp

Click to expand...

 
Whoops.  Was working on no sleep so wasn't thinking straight.

Great thread! Got a few questions... I'm re-building my PC setup and was thinking PC -> Fiio E10K -> Rokit 5 G3.

However the Modi/Magni combo just seems so... appealing

Would I be able to:
1) Gain in sound quality? (expecting 'duh' type answers, but I listen to MP3s in V2 VBR or 320kbps, no lossless, so it may be losses if all I hear extra is compression)
2) Mute the speakers through plugging the headphones? (guess that was answered just above)
3) From what I gather, to power active monitors + a headphone I would just need a Modi2 (non-Uber) and a Magni2 Uber, correct? I.e. PC -> USB -> Modi2 -> RCA -> Magni2 -> RCA -> powered speakers
4) Does it mean I would double-amp if I used the RCA-out to go to my powered monitors?

If it matters:
* Currently using W7, do plan to switch to W10
* I would use headphones only for late movies and gaming. Mostly Audio Technica M50s or Sennheiser Momentums
* Listening to MP3s in LameV2 VBR quality, some in 320kbps from back in the days, and for the occasional movies and game
* Speakers will be Rokit 5 G3s

Thanks!

pott said:

2) Mute the speakers through plugging the headphones? (guess that was answered just above)
3) From what I gather, to power active monitors + a headphone I would just need a Modi2 (non-Uber) and a Magni2 Uber, correct? I.e. PC -> USB -> Modi2 -> RCA -> Magni2 -> RCA -> powered speakers
4) Does it mean I would double-amp if I used the RCA-out to go to my powered monitors?

 

Click to expand...

 
Going to skip the first question as that is very subjective.
 
2- Correct, the pre-amp will be disabled when you plug in headphones
3- Correct
4- The Magni isn't acting as an amplifier for the powered monitors.  You would put their volume at max, and use the Magni volume knob to control the volume.

Then... sold! Thank you!

Just got my Modi 2 Uber and Magni 2 Uber stack a few days ago (very nice, and made a bigger difference than I thought) and had a few questions for you guys, if you don't mind. My setup is as follows...
 
Soundblaster Z -> Stereo mix to digital out -> Optical cable -> Modi 2 Uber -> Magni 2 Uber -> Headphones
(Windows is set to 5.1, SBZ control panel to headphones, SBX processing and stuff works as planned)
 
1) Is it ok to leave the devices "on" and toggle them via a power strip? Would this bypass that safety relay during the normal Magni power-on and potentially pop my headphones or is it ok to do it that way? (also, does the order in which I turn on the Modi/Magni matter?)
 
 
Quote:

2- Correct, the pre-amp will be disabled when you plug in headphones

Click to expand...

 
2) Is there any way to have it NOT do that? To have audio on both the headphone AND the pre-amp outputs working simultaneously? I'm guessing not, but the reason why is that...
 
3) Anyone have an idea on how I can insert an external subwoofer (specifically a shaker for my chair) into my audio chain? I don't really want to split the RCA cables between the Modi and Magni as it seems that would add noise or degrade quality. Windows "What u hear" lets me pass the audio to my otherwise unused onboard Realtek and it works but has a short but annoying delay. Perhaps I could split the optical signal cable between my PC and the Modi and get some cheap receiver or something? Would any of the higher-end Schiit products allow me to do this more easily? I'm still within the window to return and upgrade

brocksamson said:

 
1) Is it ok to leave the devices "on" and toggle them via a power strip? Would this bypass that safety relay during the normal Magni power-on and potentially pop my headphones or is it ok to do it that way? (also, does the order in which I turn on the Modi/Magni matter?)
 
 
Quote:

2- Correct, the pre-amp will be disabled when you plug in headphones

Click to expand...

 
2) Is there any way to have it NOT do that? To have audio on both the headphone AND the pre-amp outputs working simultaneously? I'm guessing not, but the reason why is that...
 
3) Anyone have an idea on how I can insert an external subwoofer (specifically a shaker for my chair) into my audio chain? I don't really want to split the RCA cables between the Modi and Magni as it seems that would add noise or degrade quality. Windows "What u hear" lets me pass the audio to my otherwise unused onboard Realtek and it works but has a short but annoying delay. Perhaps I could split the optical signal cable between my PC and the Modi and get some cheap receiver or something? Would any of the higher-end Schiit products allow me to do this more easily? I'm still within the window to return and upgrade

Click to expand...

 

• Muting relay works whenever the Magni gains or loses power, regardless of the method, so this should be fine. Turn-on order doesn't matter. Personally I unplug my headphones before turning things off and plug them in after everything's powered on, but that's just me being paranoid; you should be able to leave them plugged in all the time just fine.
• No, at least not without modding your Magni (which I haven't seen anyone attempt)
• Split the output signal from the Modi and run it to both the Magni and your sub. I know others have emailed Schiit and they've confirmed that it won't degrade sound quality. I've also personally done the same when comparing amps and even with really cheap splitters as long as they were connected properly everything sounded fine.

defiant00 said:

   

• Muting relay works whenever the Magni gains or loses power, regardless of the method, so this should be fine. Turn-on order doesn't matter. Personally I unplug my headphones before turning things off and plug them in after everything's powered on, but that's just me being paranoid; you should be able to leave them plugged in all the time just fine.
• No, at least not without modding your Magni (which I haven't seen anyone attempt)
• Split the output signal from the Modi and run it to both the Magni and your sub. I know others have emailed Schiit and they've confirmed that it won't degrade sound quality. I've also personally done the same when comparing amps and even with really cheap splitters as long as they were connected properly everything sounded fine.

Click to expand...

 
Cool thanks. I'll just use the powerstrip to cycle them and to be safe keep the volume down all the way when they are off.
 
Figured as much a about the outputs but it was worth a shot
 
-Edit-
 
Discovered that I can indeed use a secondary output from my soundcard to accomplish my goal. I was trying analog center/subwoofer jack which is disabled when headphone mode is selected but what I didn't check, and have now confirmed, is that the analog headphone is still functional even when using the optical output for headphone mix. Amazing audio quality AND chair shaker. Cool stuff

I have Sound Blaster Z...will I hear the different sound (better) with Magni 2 Uber on Presonus HD7 Headphones?

defiant00 said:

   

• Muting relay works whenever the Magni gains or loses power, regardless of the method, so this should be fine. Turn-on order doesn't matter. Personally I unplug my headphones before turning things off and plug them in after everything's powered on, but that's just me being paranoid; you should be able to leave them plugged in all the time just fine.
• No, at least not without modding your Magni (which I haven't seen anyone attempt)
• Split the output signal from the Modi and run it to both the Magni and your sub. I know others have emailed Schiit and they've confirmed that it won't degrade sound quality. I've also personally done the same when comparing amps and even with really cheap splitters as long as they were connected properly everything sounded fine.

Click to expand...

On Number 3 Split the Signal After the Magni 2 U. If you split at the Modi (while it will work) you will not have volume control of the Sub.
I use the M/M U  Combo with a Sub in this manner.

kzhlin said:

  I'm interested in getting a dac/amp and I was wondering how this sounds as compared to a portable dac/amp like the Oppo HA-2. What are the advantages to using a non-portable dac/amp? 
 
I will be using this with: Westone 4R, Oppo PM-3
 
Thanks!

Click to expand...

This was a while ago but I have the two to compare.  One main advantage is that I don't have to worry about running out of juice.  You can't hook up the HA-2 to the computer and have it charge fully since it doesn't draw enough power.  And sometimes forgetting to turn it off is a pain the next day at work.  I use the magni/modi 2u combo at work and it's preferable to having to plug in the portable one.  It also resolves better, can push IEMs/headphones with more authority despite it's small size.  It's easily better in SQ than the portable DAC/AMPs that I have.