Overall review and thoughts on these 2 great Dacs. Links Below: Modi 3 www.schiit.com/products/modi-1 Amazon US amzn.to/2UuHhTr Topping E30 Canada amzn.to/3TbJaOl USA amzn.to/3BlmfqY UK amzn.to/2OS4Q5V
I have owned an E30 for 5 months now and am very happy with it. This unit is absolutely ideal for connecting a desktop computer to a pair of powered speakers and it does that job superbly. It is set in DAC mode only which means no messing with any buttons or settings. Set and forget suits me fine. In DAC mode the volume can be controlled from the keyboard. To get a better DAC than this be prepared to pay $500 and up.
I could pay only $300 for geshelli labs j2 AKM chip to get much better quality than this harsh sounding topping DAC. I have an E50 and not very happy with its harshness on its top end, bass is kinda ok though.
@@kato2395 Harshness in high notes comes from speakers not DACs. The speakers are receiving more musical detail from the Topping DAC and your speakers and ears are not used to it. Time for a little speaker tuning.
@@sav7568 I use professional studio headphone Austrian Audio Hi-X65. Problem is everything sound harsh on the E50. I don't think "receiving more musical detail" is a valid argument when every music sounds harsh on the top end with the topping E50. If it truly brings out more musical detail then some music would sound ok and some others with a mixing that boost the top end would sound harsh. That is what I could accept as bringing out more musical details. Topping seems to be trying to hard to bring out that artificial clarity by boosting the top end.
In case anyone was wondering-It looks like shiit may not be making the modi multibit anymore, which more people seem to prefer over the topping 30. I just ordered the topping because it was a little less expensive.
I have the E30 in a 2.2 audio system. I use it in DAC mode. I agree the difference over a CD player DAC is noticeable but subtle. I do like the versatility of the E30 in being able to use it as a budget pre amp for a simple audio system, although that's not how I use mine. Cannot beat Schiit Audio for quality, value and of course they're Made in the USA! I run a Schiit Audio phono amp for my record player, works great!
Thank you Sir for a great review. I would go for the E30 now after watching this video.So thank you very much for your time and effort. I am in the UK.
I also do the speaker listening. My Maggie's are great and the Sundara's were a major disappointment. I can't hear any differences in the filters. I do like having the remote to control the pre's volume when the TV is connected to the e30. For music it's set to the DAC. I power mine with a 10,000ma power bank.
Hi Sid, thank you for the detailed review. One thing since the Schiit DAC is made in the USA and you live in Canada, there should not be any duty or excise on it. With the USMCA, all one should pay to import into Canada is sales taxes and possibly brokerage fees the courier may charge to clear Canada Customs.
Nice review. I really liked the combos that you tried it with and explained. Good luck with your channel. One recommendation Id make, when you talk of the setups, could you show the cabling involved. Question about using PC speakers , would you connect DAC > AMP > PC speakers, or connect DAC > PC SPEAKERS
Hi Mick. Yes you’re right, I should show the different cabling options involved. For a desktop setup this is my recommendation. Music source > dac > amp> speakers. If your speakers are powered speakers then you eliminate the amp because it’s already built in to the speakers. Cheers.
I bought the Topping E30 nearly 2 years ago for an older but well evolved old school vacuum tube stereo system with very high end speakers. It's a great sounding, highly resolving system. The E30 made in immediate audible improvement to my old Denon CD player, and the remote is a God send. It's been flawless, and I can now play other digital sources from my PC. How can be it in that price range?
I got an E30, and I decided this will be MY DAC until it fails. It is purpose-built for one job, and does it extremely well. As an unbalanced DAC it more than holds up against anything up to 500$ and even more.
@@rft2001 I got the E50 now, and I agree with what you say. For the money at the time the E30 was a sort of revelation, but the E50 is simply more refined.
@@Bob.martens So would you say that the E50 has a more balanced, warmer sound? I'll have to look into that one as it is on sale at Apos. I have also considered the Schiit modi or multibit models. Right now, I'm back to my old D30 which is warm but a little unrefined.
@@rft2001 The E50 is not a giant killer, but there is very little it won't handle with grace. I sold the E30 very quickly after buying the E50:) The E50 is invisible in my system, which is what a good DAC should be. Not an instrument that needs constant adjustment, it should be set-and-forget. I mainly listen to CD-quality music from a HDD, and that's good enogh for me. I settled on a Yamaha AS-1100 and Wharfedale Lintons. I'll sooner get another amp than another DAC. I have no experience with Schiit. I've heard a D30 on a frien's system, and although hard to judge, I like my E50 better.
Thanks Sid, appreciate the Canadian dollar conversion with the Schiit having duty etc. makes the Topping an easier purchase up here although Schiit seems to be getting rave reviews.
As of today 2023-03-15, Amazon Canada lists those: Topping E30 II @199.00$CAD free prime one-day shipping; the Schiit Modi 3+ @472.50$CAD free shipping. The latter is an enhanced model but the only one I found (with D/A Converter in a Delta-Sigma DAC).
l just came across your channel very nice on how you explain things for the laymen like myself l to am a novice when it comes to DACs l would like to know as an experiment in sound quality if l were to take an old cd player that has no optical or sdif connection only rca do l need a digital to analog converter or analog to digital converter how do l hook it up l do own a very good cd transport cyrus cdi in need of a dac but l want to start small before l go supersize in cost
Thanks for the comment. If your old cd player only has analog out, you can't use an external DAC, only the DAC in the CD player will be used. There may be a way to wire it Analog to digital then back to analog but I've never tried that.
The ultimate BS-test for reviewers is what they say about the filters on the Topping. Quite a number of YT reviewers to me have lost a lot of their credibility due to claims made about therm:) You did excellent!
@@sidsreviews1110 I have a little audio-engineering backgroud, and digital filters certainly have a use, but in domestic hifi-settings their effect is in effect inaudible. If you own a well-installed +10.000$ high end system they can make a difference, but then you won't have a Topping inserted in the chain anyway...
@@sidsreviews1110 err oh boy this is going to be rough, I on my e30 I noticed a difference in the lower treble and could not work out why, after reread ing the info sheet I did a reset and noticed my treble was back, subtle but noticeable, I can hear a difference in the ee0 between 1 and 5, it's subtle but it's there but I wouldn't say I prefer one over other. Now this is confusing as I thought filters only effected the airspace?
Very nice explanation. Interestingly, I reviewed a lot of tests that were created only on technical data, and what little I found was actually an auditory test and how DAC equipment behaves with music material. As someone whose almost all his life has been connected to music and equipment and the production of High End equipment from amplification to speakers I can add the following: the human ear is so imperfect that it has no ability to distinguish anything below 1% distortion. Why am I writing this ?. Many tests that are placed on a wide audience are actually a very subjective opinion. Comparing two DAC chips, either Burr Brown, Saber or Velvet Sound and claiming that this human ear can distinguish it is notorious nonsense. The only difference is only noticeable with very precise measurements. For many years I have been modifying DAC converters only by changing the operational amplifiers and there is a difference that the human ear can detect. I got the best results with Burr Brown operational amplifiers and the original ones. Another modification was the ultra stable differential power supply for operational amplifiers. Of course, I did all the testing on the High End components and not on the headphones because it is a frivolous test. I wouldn't convince anyone about putting lamps in sound processing because that's where HiFi ends. Lamps have never been Hifi, but just nostalgia for times past. I really appreciate your explanation. I tested both models. Final conclusion: Schiit is better for jazz, jazz rock and classical rock. Topping is better for lower quality music (techno and the like). After putting the same operational amplifiers in both models, the sound is identical. The error with both models is a strong output signal outside the RIAA standard.
@@sidsreviews1110 I would not want you to take my comment as a critique of your presentation. The presentation is a perfect explanation of the difference between the two devices. I also wanted to add this: an improvement is also obtained by replacing electrolytic capacitors. I often put the best Panasonic audio capacitors. I think that some companies are unreasonably saving and putting NoName elements. Honestly, Topping is much worse for me, because the components are of lower quality. Try it yourself, replace only the operational amplifiers and put in the original BurrBrown. Remember that the Chinese make copies and they do not have their own operational amplifiers. If you have experience with soldering, try to replace them, but pay attention to the PCB because it is not particularly high quality. I use hot air and work fast. When testing with more OA, I put on sockets so I can replace the OA more easily. I like to do tuning on cheaper devices. With a budget of a few dollars, I get significant improvements. That is why I do not understand that savings. I know that the world is ruled by the economy, but there are limits to "decency" ..... greetings from Croatia
Great review. I’m in the process of deciding on a DAC and somewhat leaning towards the SHIIT. Are you familiar with the Echo link at all? I’m trying to run optical audio from my Samsung TV through the Link out to my amp/speakers. Would the correct wiring sequence be: Optical out from TV to DAC, RCA out from DAC to Echo Link, RCA out from Echo Link to amplifier, then to speakers? Or Optical out from TV to Echo Link, optical out from Echo Link to DAC, RCA out from DAC to amplifier, then to speakers?
Either of those connections will work. It depends on if you want to use the DAC already built into the Echo, or use another DAC like the Schiit. If you use the Schiit DAC, then it needs to be the final connection before the amp. So optical out from TV to Echo, then Optical out from Echo to Schiit DAC then RCA to Amp.
@@sidsreviews1110 Thanks for your answer. I was planning on just using the DAC in the Echo Link, but my amplifier doesn’t have an optical input. I was hoping I could do optical out from TV into Link then go out through RCA from the Link to amplifier, but it doesn’t work that way(I’m assuming).
I heard how schiit multibit and topping e30 sounds. The sound on multibit is very lively and thick compared to it the topping was boring. Haven't heard this one on the 4490 chip but I think it sounds the same as the topping e30. .now I know how multibit can sound, I only want this sound.
hello. great video. will the Topping E 30 work with my IMAC. I have connected a pair of SWANS 1080 to the IMAC in the headphone jack.Will the speakers play?
I was interested in the Schiit Modi but it seems they have discontinued the unit. I chose the Topping E30 and so far I'm very happy with it. I've played around with the filters but I can't hear any differences, which is a shame.
Personally the only DAC that appeals to me is the Geshelli Labs but they don’t seem available in Australia so now I’m stuck looking at these but I really dislike the look of them. Does anyone know of a DAC with a retro look to them? I might just need to hide the damn thing away somewhere.
Maaaan, I love what Schiit stands for as a company but as I live on the other side of the world I can't get them. So for me, the choice is clear. The price of just a Modi or Magni individually is the same as a L30/E30 stack where I live. Schiit's whole thing is quality budget audio so this is especially ironic.
Does Windows even recognize these things as audio output in audio settings anymore. My Modi 2 stopped being recognized a few months ago. It was powered through the USB. Microsoft and Schiit didn't help. Good luck
I'm more into headphones and listen to a lot of dac and amp reviews etc. Apparently DAC'S have different soundstages, lows, mids, highs they completely change your sound etc. IT'S A DAC 😂
Apart from quality and transparency a DAC takes analogue I to digital hopefully with as little N the way of changes as possible as you change the sound later in the amp and the devices you choose connected to the amp.
@@pietossing yes I did 2 months on and after experiencing various dacs and amps withdraw those earlier comments, why do reviewers say these things that there is no audible difference is their hearing severely damaged or are they just being controversial.
I’m looking a amp/dac for listening to music and editing videos, I also plan on getting an xlr mic in the future, do you think the magni and modi 3+ is right for me? Or should I invest in an audio interface like the motu m2? I am using the dt 990 pro 250ohm headphones.
Well that M2 sure sounds like a do it all option but I would be wary of the headphone output. Not sure if it would drive your DT 990 pro very well. But again , I've never tried to Motu. For pure headphone listening, the magni, modi 3 should be a good option.
@@sidsreviews1110 I also want to use an xlr mic in the future, the magni and modi 3 doesn’t have a plug-in for xlr mics do they? I also heard that I need two small wires to connect the modi and magni, is that true?
I haven’t tried any of those items that you mentioned so I can’t say either way. I only know the modi dac. The Motu does everything you want so if you can try it out do it. But make sure you can return it if you’re not happy.
