[TMRaven]

There won't be any appreciable difference in bass levels or extension if that's what you're wondering.

 

[compoopers]

I'm looking into the Magni/Modi but I'm using the Sony MDR Z1000s which are known to have slightly anemic bass. Personally I find them okay, but I'm worried that Magni/Modi will exacerbate the problem and make it more noticeable. Thoughts?

 

[KamijoIsMyHero]

I am using the shure 1840 which also had light bass and the M/M combo doesn't do anything that alters what I hear when I first heard the bass response...NOTHING. As for the reviews on the differences, if the magni/modified is your first amp/dac, then you really shouldn't take the said differences as night and day differences since the they are already proven to be in the same quality as O2/Odac. They are just minor differences

 

[adydula]

I have (2) O2's and ODACS...that said I wouldnt hesitate to try the Schiit stuff....they really look like a nice stack to have and play with....the O2 and ODAC may be better, more transparent etc but I would guess that most of us would be hard pressed to really tell the difference.
 
Alex

 

[wes008]

Thanks TMRaven. You're made this a great thread

 

[USAudio]

... is the bass on the Magni less than satisfactory ...?

The Magni has tons of power, a flat FR and an output impedance less than 0.01 ... Unless there's something I am missing, the Magni's bass should be as good as any other properly designed amp?

 

[DangerToast]

I've heard that there's a significant hiss when using the Magni+Modi and the HE-400's, potentially because the headphones are low impedance, the amp is relatively powerful, and there's no gain options. Has anyone using the schiit stack with the HE-400 (or other low impedance headphones) experienced this?
 
As far as I know, nobody's ever complained about hiss coming from the o2/odac.

 

[TMRaven]

There's zero hiss issues.  I frequent the HE-400 topics.  The only hiss related post I came across was a guy possibly complaining about the he-400 and the magni/modi bringing out tape hiss too much in certain recordings.  That's not the same as having a hiss because of an amp.

 

[adydula]

There are a buch more specs other that output impedance...although this is an important one for sure.
 
Alex

 

[xnor]

The biggest problem seems to be the fixed 5x gain with the magni.
 
The modi outputs 1.5V * 5 = 7.5V, yet most ~30 ohm headphones only need below 0.01V to below 0.1V for 85 dB SPL. That's already loud with the volume control turned down to -58 to -38 dB.
But most pots already have channel balance problems at -40 dB... and things don't get better if you use a proper 2Vrms source.
 
A guy in the magni thread posted he's usually listening with the volume control at 8 o'clock! But with the right gain the usable volume control range should be 9 to 2 o'clock.

 

[TMRaven]

It's definitely not an amp for sensitive headphones.  With the HE-400, I average around 9 o'clock.  With high dynamic recordings I can get up to around 11 o'clock.  With reducitve EQ and high dynamic range recordings I can get up to around 1-2 o'clock.  That's enough play for me. 
 
Admittedly there's a little more channel imbalance at the lowest of volume pot positions on the Magni compared to the O2, so I guess if people were wanting to power sensitive headphones and listen at lower levels, the O2 might be a better choice.

 

[dustinsterk]

Thank you for this review!

 

[adydula]

I would definitely recommend the O2 for sensitive cans...for sure.....and its "hiss-proof" as well.....
 
The ability to change the gain with the O2 also is a good idea....
 
Alex

 

[MrMateoHead]

Seems like the Magni has some pretty obvious design issues then.
 
I think the sound quality checks out, from others descriptions but otherwise, Magni=fail. The gain issues and volume pot should be adjusted. I don't "get" a 5X gain anyway. For the power it puts out, I would think it could get by well on no gain - 2X, like the O2.

 

[wcgryphon]

Quote:

I've heard that there's a significant hiss when using the Magni+Modi and the HE-400's, potentially because the headphones are low impedance, the amp is relatively powerful, and there's no gain options. Has anyone using the schiit stack with the HE-400 (or other low impedance headphones) experienced this?
 
As far as I know, nobody's ever complained about hiss coming from the o2/odac.

Absolutely no hiss from my HE-400 and M&M. The high gain isn't bothering me either once I drop the PC volume or furbar2000+WASAPI to about 75-80%. Can probably drop it lower, but I'm comfortable with the Magni volume pot around 10-11 o'clock.