• Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz, +/-0.02dB
• THD+N: 0.0003%, with or without external power
• IMD: 0.0004%, CCIR, with or without external power
• S/N: > 118dB, referenced to full output, with or without external power
• Crosstalk: -125dB, 20-20kHz

Holy crap, a do-all balanced DAC, designed and built in Texas, for $229? What’s the catch?
None, really. It’s a great DAC that is super-versatile and very high-performance. It happily runs on a single USB connection from your computer (and many streamers), but you can also use the external power supply for devices that need low power draw from the USB port.

And it comes with Unison USB?
Correct. Modius E includes our own, proprietary USB interface (that is, not based on XMOS, it was developed by us with about 2 person-years of R&D).

What’s so special about Unison USB?
It’s a very good USB interface designed to do a single thing well: to interface seamlessly with modern UAC2-compliant devices. There’s no stuff in it for DSD or MQA. It doesn’t have drivers for now-obsolete Windows platforms. It’s really just for getting PCM audio (still over 99% of all files) from your streamer or computer to this DAC.

That’s it?
Yes. Well, some people think Unison USB sounds very good, too.

But how can a USB interface sound different?
Yeah, we hear you. No pun intended.

Okay, moving on. How’d you deliver so much value in this package?
There’s no real magic–we just keep doing the same things we’ve always done—designing things for ease of production, and making a lot of them.

So, you’re saying you plug Modius E in and you’re ready to go?
Pretty much. Modius can be used with virtually any computer with no drivers: Windows, Mac, or Linux distros that support UAC 2.0. It also makes using phones and tablets easier, though, because if you use the provided wall-wart and USB cable into its external power port, it will avoid the dreaded “draws too much power” error. But Modius can also be used with a wide variety of digital sources, not just USB. Feel free to connect an optical, coaxial, and AES input as well.

What’s the difference between Modius E and Modi 3E?
Lots. Let’s break it down:

• D/A Converter: Modi 3E uses the ES9018 DAC, Modius uses the ES9028.
• Analog Section: Modi 3E uses the OPA1656 as an output stage, Modius E uses two separate output stages, one based on the LME49724 balanced op-amp for the balanced output, and one based on the OPA1656.
• USB Input: Both have Unison USB.
• SPDIF Inputs: Modi 3E offers coax and optical inputs, Modius E adds AES as well.
• Size: Modi 3E is the perfect size for stacking with our Magni and Vali amps, and Modius E is the perfect size for stacking with Asgard, Jotunheim, Lyr, and Valhalla.

Wait a sec, you have two totally separate output stages on this DAC, one for single-ended and one for balanced?
Yes. We chose to optimize for each use. The balanced output stage uses an inherently balanced, differential op-amp, whereas the SE stages use a single-ended op-amp. Both are very high performance, and both are designed specifically for their use.

So I can use both at the same time?
Yes. They are totally separate.

Hey, wait, your "universal" wall adapter for Modius has a US plug on it. What if I need a Europlug/UK Plug/Australian Plug/Martian/Borg/Uninsulated Victorian/Alternate Timeline Edison DC Plug?
The wall adapter is universal in the sense that you can plug it into pretty much any common AC wall voltage--100V to 240V--and it will (a) not self-immolate, and (b) provide 5V out of a USB connector. It does have a US/Japan style plug, but you can use a plug adapter and plug it in pretty much anywhere. Or you can use any 5V-out USB wall adapter you have handy. Or a battery pack. Or a computer.

I thought you hated switching power supplies!
We’ve said we would never use one where we didn’t need to. In this case, to hit the performance and price we were looking for, it needed a switcher. Don’t worry. It’s a very nice switcher.

Well, I’m gonna get me a fancy-shmantzy linear power supply, what do you think about that?
We think you’re a little strange, because the output of that fancy power supply is going into a switcher, anyway. But if it makes you happy, we’re not going to stop you. Nor will we try to sell you such a power supply.

So what platforms does your Unison USB input support?
Actually, the question should be “What platforms support your USB input?” since our USB input is 100% UAC2 compliant (that is, USB Audio Class 2, the accepted standard for USB audio transmission.) So, here you go:

• Linux. As in, most popular streamers, from the Sonore MicroRendu to the Salk Streamer. Note “most.” Also most Linux distros that support UAC2 natively will be plug and play. Please note that we cannot provide detailed technical support for Linux.
• Windows. From Windows 10 up, you’re set. Sorry, don’t provide UAC2 drivers for earlier versions of Windows.
• Mac OS. From 10.10 on up, Macs are good to go.
• iOS. From iOS7 on up, you’re set with a USB Camera Connection Kit, Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, a Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter, or directly with the new USB-C models.
• Android. Most Android devices that shipped with Android M or above will work using a USB OTG cable. Some may require separate player software, like USB Audio Player Pro.
• Roon. Roon works great with our DACs.

I want a combined DAC/amp! Why didn’t you put an amp in here?
We did. They’re just in different chassis and costs another $199-499. They’re called “Magnius,” “Asgard,” “Jotunheim,” and “Lyr.” You can also pair it up with the Valhalla. It has the same footprint as all of those amps. Now you have many options for a desktop stack, instead of a single soon-to-be-obsolete combo box.

What is “Modius?” That doesn’t sound Norse.
Modius doesn’t sound Norse because we are silly. When we were developing this product, we started calling it “Modius Maximus,” because, well, it’s a bigger Modi. And yes, we know, that’s a Roman naming convention, and yes, we know, that doesn’t make a lot of sense with Norse mythology. But hey, we’re just having a bit of fun. Roll with it.

Modius E Manual