Inexpensive DAC: Schiit Modi 3 or Topping D30

Buy American and avoid ChiFi when possible!

Hi Dpb,

I was lured in by the e30, particularly the measurements, but was disappointed with its sound, a bit harsh with high frequencies. Reminded me a little of the impression I had of the "cd sound" when it first came out in the 80s.

Oh and the customer service with Chinese product and their fake middleman is unbelievably atrocious.

For me, the Modi 3 was an easy decision. The AKM AK4490 DAC chip plus DC-coupled provides the sound I was looking for. Actually preferred it over others costing considerably more. There really seems to be something special about AKM's "Velvet Sound" technology.

Schiit modi 3 uses the AK4490 which is a good chip not sure how much design went into a $99 DAC . I doubt in a blind test a difference could be heard between the two DAC just get the cheaper one with the features you need, inputs etc..

I had a Topping D90 - which gets fantastic test measurements and uses the latest AK4499 chip. However I didn’t like the sound in my system so I sent it back. I suspect the Modi 3 will sound nicer than the Topping E30, whatever chip they are using, based on better implementation by Schiit.

+1 for Topping E30 - it bests D30 in measurements and costs only $30 more. It also has remote, volume control mode or DAC-only mode (fixed volume), input-sensing auto on/off. D30 uses Cirrus chip, where E30 uses AK4493 (better chipset) - as @djones51 said above.

All this makes it more usable for other purposes (computer desk, office, etc) when your units comes back from repair. 

The new Topping E30 at  $130 uses the AK4493, either one would be fine. 

I personally love the sound of the Modi 3.
There is just something very enjoyable and relaxing about it’s presentation.  I like the sound of the AKM 4490 DAC chip and this implementation just nailed it IMHO. 
Interesting quote from a Hegel engineer regarding this same chip

In their H120 integrated -

  “We have fitted an AKM AK4490 because we think this company makes the best sounding DAC chips – no more, no less. It’s true that they can be a bit more difficult to implement than ESS for example, but the ceiling of performance is so much higher…”

Of course YMMV.

both are ok.  if its just temporary who cares?  differences would be trivial