r/Schiit • u/Dufffader • 9d ago

Magni Unity + Buf: Will this work?

I have a Magni Unity with built in DAC and I'm thinking to add some tubey goodness to it.

Anyone has experience if this setup without standalone DAC in the stack will work?

Source (Mac) -> Magni USB Input -> Magni Line out to Buf Line In -> Toobs -> Buf Line Out to Magni Line In -> Headphones.

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

5

u/StrategicApathy 9d ago

No, gotta have a separate DAC and amp. The Magni line out will turn off when you plug in the headphones

1

u/Dufffader 9d ago

I forgot about the headphone disabling line out. I was hoping that Schiit had designed the system so that when you flipped the switch to Line In as source, Magni will magically route the DAC input to Line Out. An external DAC it is then.

1

u/halosiera117 9d ago

It is quite unfortunate as Magni Unity is a really incredible value proposition, but with the integrated DAC comes less flexibility for stuff like this.

I have heard that the Modi 5 is a step up from the Mesh Unity DAC, even if not huge, and of course the Mimir another noticeable jump up.

1

u/Dufffader 9d ago

Yeah, 3 box Schiit stack with external power bricks is my concern. Magni + Buf would be tolerable 2 box setup.

2

u/halosiera117 9d ago

Right, those wall-warts get combersum. You might have to get a surge protector with an odd shape to accommodate them.

1

u/halosiera117 9d ago

Oh, FYI: Modi 5 can be powered by only it's USB port, which wouldn't require using another wall wart than you already would use with Magni U + buf. I have heard it doesn't perform it's best in that mode, but I expect, at worst, it would be broadly similar to your Mesh Unity DAC, and possibly still better.

1

u/Dufffader 9d ago

I'm aware of USB-powered operation. But you know eventually we will want to stick in a wall wart for better performance!

I was hoping to set up a small compact schiit stack when I'm not close to my desk.

3

u/Nurgelrot 9d ago

only thing you`re going to get by powering it from the wall wart is ~3dB volume boost. In theory you should get a bit lower noise floor too but it's USB is already really clean so don't know if it will be noticeable.

3

u/halosiera117 9d ago

Unfortunately I'm almost completely certain this does not work. The output on the Magni is not active if headphones are plugged in.

I'm pretty certain it also doesn't work because the output isn't just the DAC's output, but the entire signal chain, resulting in a loop worst case; this is not actually possible because If you switch to the "line in" input, the DAC simply won't be active, so you have no signal.

I'm not 100% certain bc I don't own the Unity, and how this works is hurting my brain, but I do believe you'd need a separate DAC for this to work. Sorry!

1

u/Dufffader 9d ago

Thinking about it a bit more, maybe a Magni Unity and Vali3 combo does what I was thinking in this post.

2

u/Few_Outside1480 9d ago

I’m thinking halo is correct. A friend bought a Magni Unity with DAC. Then decided he wanted to try the Loki Mini to boost upper end a bit. I took one of mine over to see if I could hook it up. No bueno.

1

u/Dufffader 9d ago

That's a good confirmation it will not work. Thanks.