Learn How I Improved Computer Audio with My Schiit Stack Connections Diagram
My computer audio was weak, so I decided to upgrade. After looking into numerous options, I decided on using components from Schiit. It’s an American company which produces a large range of audio equipment, including budget friendly hardware.
In the graphic below you will see the products I already own. You’ll also see the products I purchased to upgrade my computer audio. Later I’ve added the back side view of the Schiit components, and finally the Schiit stack connections diagram. The diagram includes notes on the other items on the back, not just the cable ports.
The Items I Already Had
Prior to this audio upgrade, I already had LG monitors, an Apple MacBook Pro, Yamaha HS8 studio monitors (speakers), keyboard, mouse, and relevant cables.
No Referrals
The links below are not referrals and are listed here to identify what I purchased. There are alternatives to everything I own. Consequently, you don’t have to purchase any of these items to have great computer-based audio.
The Schiit Products I Purchased
Schiit makes lots of products within various categories, but I stayed with the least expensive options in each case.
Schiit Modi+ ($129 at https://www.schiit.com/products/modi-plus): This DAC, or Digital-to-Analog Converter, converts digital signals in a computer to analog signals. This includes a USB-A to USB-C cable that’s used to power the device. It also comes with a power adapter that accepts the USB-A end of the cable. That’s in case you want to power your Modi+ externally. If so, you’ll have to use another method of sending your digital signal from your computer to the Modi+ DAC. I tried this option first, which was a total failure (see below).
Schiit Loki Mini+ (149 at https://www.schiit.com/products/loki-mini-3): This is a 4-band tone control device, also called an equalizer. It’s a very simple budget-friendly option that fits within the stack. I use it to improve bass and alter the midrange, since I don’t have a subwoofer. This includes a power cable.
Schiit Magni+ ($109 at https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-plus): This is a headphone amp and preamp. I use it to control the overall volume to my Yamaha HS8 studio monitors (my “speakers”). This includes a power cable.
The Additional Products I Purchased
RCA Cables ($10.69 at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082VJQBZ2/): I needed short RCA cables to connect the Modi+ DAC “out” ports (bottom of my stack) to the Loki Mini+ equalizer “in” ports (middle of my stack). I needed the same RCA cables to connect the Loki Mini+ “out” ports (middle of my stack) to the Magni+ headphone amp and preamp “in” ports (top of my stack). I selected two pairs of CESS-075-6i RCA cables (6″ each, male-to-male).
RCA-to-XLR Cables ($56.95 at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07627PNG6/): The Schiit Magni+ has RCA “out” ports (outputs), while my Yamaha HS8 studio monitors (speakers) have a couple of input options, including female XLR. So I selected Canare Hi-Fi RCA-to-Balanced-XLR cables, each of which is 12 feet long to ensure I have enough space to move those large speakers far enough away from where I set at my desk to be effective.
Dayton Audio Speaker Stands ($79.98 at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C7D31CG4/): I chose the 20-inch high black stands so my Yamaha HS8 powered studio monitors would be roughly ear level when I set at my desk. The pair comes with two flat top options per stand, one pair larger than the other. I used the larger stand tops, which worked perfectly for my Yamaha HS8s. One side of each stand has a large Dayton Audio logo in white, which I didn’t want to show. To hide it, I turned them around so they face away from me. They’re quite nice for the money. If I had a do-over, I would go with the 28″ option to place the HS8 monitors a bit higher.
Apple Multiport Adapter ($69 at https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MUF82AM/A/usb-c-digital-av-multiport-adapter): This adapter is probably optional for many people, but I had the problem of having all of my MacBook Pro ports in use. My solution was this USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, which allows me to power the MacBook Pro through the USB-C port on the left and power the Schiit Modi+ from the USB-A port on the right. The HDMI port is unused.
The Schiit Stack
The image below is the back side view of my Schiit stack connections diagram without the connections in place (shown later). I placed the Modi+ on the bottom, the Loki Mini+ in the middle, and the Magni+ on top.
Schiit Stack Connections Diagram
The Schiit stack connections diagram below shows how the three Schiit hardware audio components are ordered in the stack, how they are connected to each other with RCA cables, and how other ports/inputs/outputs are used. Each item has a note attached. Some have arrows and icons for elements that I used and those that I didn’t use.
One Failure to Avoid
Look at the graphic titled My Schiit Stack Connections. Then check the bottom component—the Modi+.
Originally I attempted to use the Modi+ power input as the power source for the device and the USB-C input to the left of it for transferring the audio signal from my MacBook Pro. In order to do this, I purchased a 3.5mm-to-USB-C cable. I connected the 3.5mm plug into my MacBook Pro microphone port and the other end into the Schiit Modi+ USB-C input, which is located to the left of the power input.
After I connected everything and ensured all items in the entire setup had power… nothing. There was no sound at all. I spent a couple of hours in an attempt to understand the problem. Was the Modi+ broken? No. Was my MacBook Pro port failing? No. Was the cable failing to transfer data from my MacBook Pro to the Modi+? Unknown. Was a setting in my computer causing the audio to go mute? No, or at least I never found that to be the case. It was incredibly frustrating, and I never knew why this setup failed to work.
Finally, I found a page on the Schiit website that mentioned power output issues on some computers and that users should probably try using the USB cable provided with the Modi+ as a single source of (1) data and (2) power. So I pulled the 3.5mm-to-USB-C cable out of the computer and Modi+, unhooked the Modi+ power port cable, and plugged the USB cable Schiit provided in the Modi+ box into my MacBook Pro and the Modi+ USB-C input. What happened? Success! It worked immediately.
Initial Results
I’ve only had my Schiit stack in place for a couple of days. That’s not long enough to have a strong opinion about the quality of the hardware or the clarity of the audio it produces. However, I played a few songs that I know from years of listening to them. They come from a variety of genres, but I know all of them well. I immediately discovered two things.
First, I can hear elements of those songs that I haven’t heard before, which was surprising. Guitar strings seem slightly more vibrant, deep synths are less muddled or hidden, and there’s an overall crispness to some voices. It’s very nice to experience music this way. I realized that I hadn’t really heard those songs before, only less clear versions of them on weak audio systems.
Audiophiles are likely nodding their heads and thinking, “Duh.” But I’m new to this sort of thing. It makes me wonder what even higher quality hi-fi systems can produce.
Second, it’s loud. Even without clicking the Magni +15dB gain switch, it’s way too loud to play at high volumes – let’s say the highest 25% of the available volume. I live in a neighborhood with houses within fifty feet of mine, and I know they could hear the bass this produces if I cranked it up. I don’t even have a subwoofer, but the 8″ drivers in the HS8 studio monitors are powerful enough to produce quite a bit of bass on their own. It’s just loud, but in a good way.
Is this a result of having the Yamaha HS8s instead of other speakers? Possible – I don’t know. The HS8s are awesome monitors. It’s unlikely I’ll be able to turn the volume knob all the way to the right except on rare occasions, but I like having the capability to do so if I want to. Still, the mid-level volume is fantastic.
Conclusions: What I Think About My Schiit Stack
- Build: The build quality of the their products seems good. The power and USB-C inputs on the Modi+ wiggle a little bit to the left and right, which I found strange. But I didn’t think they were going to break.
- Colors: The cases look good together. Schiit makes alternatives like silver, but not for all products. They also have some items that have red sides. I avoided that stuff, because I wanted these three items to look like they go together. If Schiit ever produced these budget products in the same silver/red combo, I think it would look great. I fact, I would have preferred having something more bold than basic black, but I like the appearance of what I have.
- Audio Output: I mentioned it above, but I’m quite happy with the audio these three audio components put out from my MacBook Pro. It’s clear. It’s rich. It’s loud. I don’t think I could expect much more at this budget.
- Ease-of-Use: I think this is where things go south, though it’s more of an observation than a complaint. When you’re an audio engineer or expert or audiophile, all of these cables and ports and switches and sources seem so easy to deal with. But I’m not any of those things, so it would have been helpful if Schiit produced setup suggestions for reference by customers. For example, they have source materials like photos and illustrations that would be relatively easy to edit to turn into useful diagrams like the one in this blog post. If I could look at something like that prior to making purchases AND during my setup process, it would make the entire experience much less time consuming and less frustrating. If I had to do this again, it would probably be incredibly easy and would only take a few minutes. But the first time was more difficult than it should have been.
- On the Whole: I’m happy with the purchases and the outcomes. Schiit responded quickly and thoroughly to an email of mine that I sent prior to my purchases. They shipped the products quickly after I placed my orders. The products were properly boxed for shipment. The items work as expected. I think those are the hallmarks of good products sold by a good company. If my experience was otherwise, I would write as much.
Update After 1 Month+ of Ownership
It’s the middle of October in 2023. I’ve had my Schiit products in place for more than a month, so I thought I’d do a brief update.
All three of the hardware products continue to perform as expected. They are sturdy and produce loud, relatively clear audio. I really like them. The only negative at this point is the inconsistent lighting. The Magni+ has no front light, the Loki Mini+ has a single bright light, and the Modi+ has three faint lights, one of which is slightly brighter to show its active state. The only way you know the Magni+ is on is if you look into it from the holes in the top of it and/or turn up the volume to ensure something is playing. Those are minor issues that are barely worth mentioning.
Yes, I’d buy these again in a heartbeat if I had to make the choices all over again.
Contact the Author
Please feel free to contact me. If you have a useful question or comment, I’ll add it here with my thoughts as appropriate, though I will never post your name or email address.
Bill Adams
[email protected]
If you would like to speak to someone at Streamline about a project, please contact us any time.
