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Author Topic: Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2  (Read 8349 times)

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x838nwy

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Re: Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2
« Reply #30 on: January 21, 2015, 11:24:18 AM »
Quick comparison: M2U vs OG Modi. Fed from iTunes+BitPerfect via MacBook Pro -> Wyrd -> Vali -> K702 Annies.

Firstly, I already find the OG Modi a little on the fatiguing side. Okay for an hour or less. It's a nice DAC and a great little toy. To these ears the M2U has a smoother treble. Not rolled off, but less artificial-sounding and glaring. The bass has more texture, a drum beat sounds like a drum rather than just a thump. As a result of both I guess, there's more detail and the background seems darker. The bass is nicer on the 2U. Not in a Sony Mega-X-Bass sort of way but it's there, giving more weight to things. To my inexperienced ears, the M2U sounds more sophisticated. May be that's just my brain playing tricks (I never trust dacs that take its power from the usb port, much like how I don't trust vegetarians).

For $149 it will replace my M2USB and M2Optical and SYS which is great value, really were it not for the fact that I've already paid for the older 3. And it's a little disappointing cos I had a 5-tall Schitt stack going. Now I'm down to 3. Probably have to get a turntable and a Mani now but that'll only get me 4...

And yes, the finish looks awesome - more like a baby gungnir than a baby bifrost. The button is about the same fit as the gungnir. For those who complain, it ain't ip65 but it works fine. My complaint is only that it doesn't match my other mini-schitt boxes, but in a good way.

Now may be they'll do a Vali2????
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x838nwy

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Re: Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2
« Reply #31 on: January 21, 2015, 11:26:00 AM »
Oh, and the LED seems a little tamer. But it might be something to do with the brighter finish on the casing making it seem a wee bit dimmer.
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Puma Cat

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Re: Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2
« Reply #32 on: January 21, 2015, 09:07:26 PM »
Quote from: Skyline on January 12, 2015, 04:54:24 PM
Quick impressions...copied from my Head-Fi post where everyone is complaining about the input button:

I just upgraded from the HRT MSII to the Modi 2 U.

Here are my quick and dirty impressions:

1)  The biggest and most immediately noticeable difference is that the bass is more present and the music hits harder than it did previously.  This can be a good or bad thing depending on your headphone and your listening preference.  The difference was not subtle listening with the 400i. 

2)  The background is slightly blacker.  This is unmistakable in extended listening sessions, but still rather subtle.  Not night and day. Instruments pop a little more as a result.

It's going to take some more listening to really get a better feel for the rest of the differences, which feel very subtle to me. 


I was disappointed that it didn't come in Schiit's usual foam packaging.  It was supported inside the box only by cardboard, and I could feel the unit moving around inside the box when I got it.  Still, it was undamaged and in good working order, so it got the job done.

Complaints about the loose button are overblown.  Yes, it's a little loose.  I don't tend to shake my DAC while listening, so it works out.  The button has a nice tactile feel when you click it and shuffles through the inputs properly. 


Give Modi 2 some time to burn in; my Bifrost took a good 400 hours to fully burn in, and it really changed over that time. By 100 hours it was a starting to show it's true self (much smoother and sweeter than just out of the box). My Gungnir took a month of solid play to burn in (I would leave it running all day with music being streamed to it while I was at work).
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Skyline

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Re: Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2
« Reply #33 on: January 22, 2015, 01:38:29 AM »
Quote from: Puma Cat on January 21, 2015, 09:07:26 PM

Give Modi 2 some time to burn in; my Bifrost took a good 400 hours to fully burn in, and it really changed over that time. By 100 hours it was a starting to show it's true self (much smoother and sweeter than just out of the box). My Gungnir took a month of solid play to burn in (I would leave it running all day with music being streamed to it while I was at work).
I probably only have 20 or so hours on my Modi 2, but will agree that it's gained some smoothness.  It sounded a bit grainy and etched straight out of the box.  Could just be ear burn-in, but I've noticed it all the same.
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smithj

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Re: Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2
« Reply #34 on: January 30, 2015, 07:46:52 AM »
How does the Magni 2 / Magni 2 Uber compared to the original Asgard?  If both were the same price, which one would theoretically be a better pair with the HD600s?  The reports on the original Asgard are pretty darn conflicting.  It seems the general sentiment here is that the original Asgard is "fuzzy and warm" while others elsewhere think its clear and neutral. 
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Skyline

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Re: Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2
« Reply #35 on: January 30, 2015, 01:58:45 PM »
Quote from: smithj on January 30, 2015, 07:46:52 AM
How does the Magni 2 / Magni 2 Uber compared to the original Asgard?  If both were the same price, which one would theoretically be a better pair with the HD600s?  The reports on the original Asgard are pretty darn conflicting.  It seems the general sentiment here is that the original Asgard is "fuzzy and warm" while others elsewhere think its clear and neutral. 
I can only half-way answer your question. 

I had the original Asgard and enjoyed it.  Then, I tried the Vali, which with the 400i at least was an immediate and obvious improvement.

I now run the Modi 2 Uber/Vali combo and am very pleased.

I think the original Asgard may be somewhat obsolete at this point.  Go for the Magni 2 if you want solid state.
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Claritas

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Re: Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2
« Reply #36 on: January 30, 2015, 02:14:09 PM »
I'm more curious about Magni 2U vs Asgard 2. Any impressions yet?
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Karl

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Re: Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2
« Reply #37 on: February 03, 2015, 07:46:20 PM »
Iam going to buy a new amp/dac for my HD800. What would be best Modi 2 Uber/Magni 2 Uber, Modi 2 Uber/Vali or Matrix M-stage HPA2 (with dac).

Thanks!
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AustinValentine

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Re: Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2
« Reply #38 on: February 03, 2015, 10:21:57 PM »
Quote from: Claritas on January 30, 2015, 02:14:09 PM
I'm more curious about Magni 2U vs Asgard 2. Any impressions yet?

I should have more on that pretty soon. I just picked up an Asgard 2 for an unreasonably low price. I'm hoping it'll be here by the weekend, horrible snowy weather permitting. (Edit: I had to get up at 6:30 am yesterday to dig my car out in order to avoid Oak Park's monstrous parking brigade. In Detroit, I had to avoid gunshots and people trying to bust in my back door with a claw hammer...but at least I could park outside my house without getting ticketed or towed.)

If I end up liking it with my Gamma2, then the Wyrd > Gamma2 + Sigma11 > Asgard 2 will likely be what I bring out to Axpona (with HD600 and Paradox).
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zerodeefex

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Re: Schiit Magni 2 and Modi 2
« Reply #39 on: February 04, 2015, 12:20:16 AM »
CEE TEE is getting a regular ol Magni 2. We're going to have to do a M2 vs M2U showdown one night.
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