[heckofagator]

Hi all,
 
I'm still deciding between a sound card and an external dac like the Modi, but for now, I just wanted to make sure I had the amp section figured out.
 
I have desktop speakers, which are my primary listening device at my desk.  If I get the Modi, I'll have to manually switch on/off the speakers when I use headphones?  As opposed with the Asgard 2 with the pre-outs, I can have the speakers hooked up the whole time and they will mute when I plug in the headphones?
 
I guess I'm trying to figure out if that's a good $150 spent.  I assume the amp section is a bit better with the Asgard 2, too?

 

[loki993]

Do you actually have to switch them off? If I use a different sound source on my computer I just go into my sound settings and disable what I don't want to use and enable what I'm currently using. No messing no unplugging...
 
Im not sure about the muting thing

 

[rmullins08]

If you hook the speakers up to the RCA preamp outputs of the Asgard, they will be muted whenever you plug headphones into the headphone port.  The output doesn't change on the PC.
 
The Modi is a DAC, not an amp, so the outputs of the Modi need to go to some type of Amp.  If you are referring to the Magni, it doesn't have RCA outputs, so you would need to turn the volume down/unplug the headphones if you were going to use the speakers

 

[heckofagator]

So yeah, I think I understand. I'm trying to decide between and amp with pre outs and one without, and if that's worth $150.

With the magni, I think I need a y cable out of the dac or sound card, one way to the magni and the other way to the speakers? Then I would want to unplug or turn down the amp when listening to speakers and likewise, I'd need to turn off the speakers when listening to the headphones.

But with the Asgard 2, it'd be straight out from the dac or sound card into the Asgard, and then pre outs to the speakers. Then you simply plug in the head phones to listen to them and unplug them to listen to the speakers.

 

[rmullins08]

Correct.  You could also get the Sys from Schiit, and run it in reverse, so the switch determines which output is active
 
http://schiit.com/products/sys-passive-preamp
 
I'd probably lean towards the Asgard though.

 

[heckofagator]

Admittedly, and I haven't looked at the specs, but I'm guessing the Asgard is a better amp than the Magni?the rca's can't be worth 150$

Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[colinssc]

How would you run the Sys from Schiit in reverse?

 

[rmullins08]

  How would you run the Sys from Schiit in reverse?

 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/715525/avant-le-schiitstorm-a-couple-of-small-announcements/15#post_10480938 (also in the FAQ on schiit.com