[Phorkz]

Hi,
 
I have a set of HD650 headphones which are brand new(getting them for my birthday shortly).
 
Anyway i planned on getting the Schiit Magni/Modi stack for the phones, but i plan on getting a decent set of monitors(in the future) for music playback while not using headphones.
 
Now, my question is, will the Modi/Magni (uber) stack be ok to do that with? I see it has an RCA output, so looks ok to me, but i am not sure.
 
Just wanting to know if i i will be able to do what i want with the stack.
 
Source is PC, playing FLAC's.
 
Cheers.

 

[PurpleAngel]

Monoprice 5" studio monitors, on sale for $116, normally $170.
They are based on the M-Audio BX5, which sell for over $250.
http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=605500
 
This Hosa CPR-201 (RCA to Mono1/4") cable ($6.79) will connect the Magni's RCA jacks to the input on the Monoprice 5".
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CPR201

 

[rids57]

The Magni Uber has pre-out RCA so you will be able to control the volume from the magni and when you want to use headphones it will automatically switch outputs when you insert them.

 

[RonaldDumsfeld]

If you are going to get a set of pro audio active monitors you might as well get a matching audio interface right from the off. Then you can use balanced cabling.
 
Schitt Modi and Magni comes to $200 for the most basic versions. Since they are not galvanically isolated and only have single ended RCA connectors you might end up having to get the Wyrd as well. So what are the options for less than $300 max.
 
Focusrite 2i2, 2i4 and Native Instruments Audio 2 are very inexpensive. 6i6, Audio 6 are better and still  well within your budget. Although in your position I'd push the boat out just a little bit and get either a fully featured monitor controller like the Audient iD14 or a MOTU microbook for the fantastic Cuemix software it comes bundled with. All the above (except the Audio 2 $90) come with very useful additional analogue and digital inputs and can function in multi channel mode. Exceptional value compared to the hi-fi grade alternatives. All offer 100% transparent conversion.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

 
I have a set of HD650 headphones which are brand new(getting them for my birthday shortly).
 
Anyway i planned on getting the Schiit Magni/Modi stack for the phones, but i plan on getting a decent set of monitors(in the future) for music playback while not using headphones.

 

If you're only going to use high impedance headphones like the HD650, any audio interface will do, but of course safer to get the more premium units. At least they come with XLR outputs for not a lot of money.

 

However, the reason why I'd say skip low impedance headphones is because many of these interfaces have a high output impedance - the lowest I've seen that are explicitly stated is 10ohms on the more realistically priced units (it's likely that above $300 it would be easier to find one with a lower output impedance). That already means there might still be problems with the AKG K7-- series, HiFiMans, and of course, Grados. If you plan on getting any of these in the future you might as well save up for a really good interface or just get a DAC-HPamp. Even a relatively more affordable one will do with not a lot of downsides to the preamp output design. Between a low-cost interface and DAC-HPamp you're more likely to hear audible differences when using a low impedance headphone on both than when comparing their preamp outputs to active monitors.

 

Also note you don't necessarily need 1ohm output impedance - anything with 4ohms or 5ohms should be OK down to 32ohm headphones.

 

[Billheiser]

  Hi,
 
I have a set of HD650 headphones which are brand new(getting them for my birthday shortly).
 
Anyway i planned on getting the Schiit Magni/Modi stack for the phones, but i plan on getting a decent set of monitors(in the future) for music playback while not using headphones.
 
Now, my question is, will the Modi/Magni (uber) stack be ok to do that with? I see it has an RCA output, so looks ok to me, but i am not sure.
 
Just wanting to know if i i will be able to do what i want with the stack.
 
Source is PC, playing FLAC's.
 
Cheers.

Yes, the Modi and the Magni uber will be perfect for that.

 

[Phorkz]

  If you are going to get a set of pro audio active monitors you might as well get a matching audio interface right from the off. Then you can use balanced cabling.
 
Schitt Modi and Magni comes to $200 for the most basic versions. Since they are not galvanically isolated and only have single ended RCA connectors you might end up having to get the Wyrd as well. So what are the options for less than $300 max.
 
Focusrite 2i2, 2i4 and Native Instruments Audio 2 are very inexpensive. 6i6, Audio 6 are better and still  well within your budget. Although in your position I'd push the boat out just a little bit and get either a fully featured monitor controller like the Audient iD14 or a MOTU microbook for the fantastic Cuemix software it comes bundled with. All the above (except the Audio 2 $90) come with very useful additional analogue and digital inputs and can function in multi channel mode. Exceptional value compared to the hi-fi grade alternatives. All offer 100% transparent conversion.

Would i still the the Wyrd with the Uber Modi 2 DAC? it has its own power supply and is not USB powered.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  Would i still the the Wyrd with the Uber Modi 2 DAC? it has its own power supply and is not USB powered.

 
The Wyrd is only really recommended, if at all, when you have really obvious USB power issues. As it is the Modi2Uber won't since it has its own PSU.

 

[Phorkz]

   
The Wyrd is only really recommended, if at all, when you have really obvious USB power issues. As it is the Modi2Uber won't since it has its own PSU.

Ok thanks.
 
I must admit, some of the replies here are over my head, i would just like an amp/dac combo that will run my HD650 headphones "well", and will allow me to later on purchase a set of decent monitors (was thinking M-Audio BX8 carbon's).
 
I understand if i go the Modi/Magni route, i cannot connect with balanced cables, will this make much difference? i will not be recording or mixing, all items will be used for playback only.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phorkz /img/forum/go_quote.gif

 

I understand if i go the Modi/Magni route, i cannot conent with balanced cables, will this make much difference? i will not be recording or mixing, all items will be used for playback only.

 

As long as your speakers can take unbalanced connections you should be fine. In any case the main consideration for me is still the headphone since the amplifier driving if there's a mismatch (ie headphone impedance too low for the amp output impedance, amp has too high THD even at low output levels at 32ohms/not enough voltage, etc), vs how much an unbalanced preamp will work with a monitor, active pro model or not. Still, just make sure your monitors can take unbalanced connections.

 

[Billheiser]

  Ok thanks.
 
I must admit, some of the replies here are over my head, i would just like an amp/dac combo that will run my HD650 headphones "well", and will allow me to later on purchase a set of decent monitors (was thinking M-Audio BX8 carbon's).
 
I understand if i go the Modi/Magni route, i cannot conent with balanced cables, will this make much difference? i will not be recording or mixing, all items will be used for playback only.

For normal/consumer/music enjoyment purposes, don't worry about balanced.  99% (well, maybe 97%) of normal person audio is NOT balanced.  
The above responses about pro audio interfaces, for recording etc purposes, are accurate but it sounds like for your purposes, that stuff is not relevant.

 

[Phorkz]

 

 

As long as your speakers can take unbalanced connections you should be fine. In any case the main consideration for me is still the headphone since the amplifier driving if there's a mismatch (ie headphone impedance too low for the amp output impedance, amp has too high THD even at low output levels at 32ohms/not enough voltage, etc), vs how much an unbalanced preamp will work with a monitor, active pro model or not. Still, just make sure your monitors can take unbalanced connections.

http://www.m-audio.com/products/view/bx8-carbon#.Ve0HvNKeDRY
 
They are the monitors i am thinking about, they mention unbalanced TRS input.
 
May also one day grab the sub:
 
http://www.m-audio.com/products/view/bx-subwoofer#.Ve0IbdKeDRY
 
If i get the sub, seems i can go Modi 2 Uber > Magni 2 Uber VIA RCA > Sub via RCA > Monitors VIA TRS?
 
Please correct me if i am wrong

 

[PurpleAngel]

  http://www.m-audio.com/products/view/bx8-carbon#.Ve0HvNKeDRY
 
They are the monitors i am thinking about, they mention unbalanced TRS input.
 
May also one day grab the sub:
 
http://www.m-audio.com/products/view/bx-subwoofer#.Ve0IbdKeDRY
 
If i get the sub, seems i can go Modi 2 Uber > Magni 2 Uber VIA RCA > Sub via RCA > Monitors VIA TRS?
 
Please correct me if i am wrong

 
Monoprice 8" studio monitors, normally $255, on sale for $170 (pair).
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=115&cp_id=11504&cs_id=1150401&p_id=605800&seq=1&format=2.
 
Monoprice 10" sub-woofer,normally $220, on sale for $152.
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=115&cp_id=11504&cs_id=1150401&p_id=605999&seq=1&format=2
 
So around $322 (+ tax/shipping) for a 2.1 setup
 
 
I believe the Monoprice 8" studio monitors come out of the same factory as the M-Audio BX8 ($500 for the pair, 2.0).

 

[Phorkz]

   
Monoprice 8" studio monitors, normally $255, on sale for $170 (pair).
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=115&cp_id=11504&cs_id=1150401&p_id=605800&seq=1&format=2.
 
Monoprice 10" sub-woofer,normally $220, on sale for $152.
http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=115&cp_id=11504&cs_id=1150401&p_id=605999&seq=1&format=2
 
So around $322 (+ tax/shipping) for a 2.1 setup
 
 
I believe the Monoprice 8" studio monitors come out of the same factory as the M-Audio BX8 ($500 for the pair, 2.0).

Thanks for that, i will take a look, i am in Australia, so if buying from overseas am limited by which companies deliver here. The M audio's can be purchased somewhat locally, but for a much higher price(always the way for us). I will certainly try Mono to see if they deliver though.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  http://www.m-audio.com/products/view/bx8-carbon#.Ve0HvNKeDRY
 
They are the monitors i am thinking about, they mention unbalanced TRS input.
 
May also one day grab the sub:
 
http://www.m-audio.com/products/view/bx-subwoofer#.Ve0IbdKeDRY
 
If i get the sub, seems i can go Modi 2 Uber > Magni 2 Uber VIA RCA > Sub via RCA > Monitors VIA TRS?

 
Yes you can hook them up that way. Depending on the price including shipping you might want to look into the Monoprice products posted by PurpleAngel - the most important feature in an active sub is present in both. Line level input and output can make everything easier to set-up.