The BUDGET DAC AMP to beat! - Schiit Fulla 4 Review

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[@mmjackk]

I love this channel. Pure honesty and great "to the point" reviews.

[@Wingedmagician]

I really loved that 4 second “it’s raining” segment 10/10

[@briangurnett]

Beautiful video. Nice color grading on your BM footage. Nice sound quantity and editing. And great information. Thank you.

[@mrgone1315]

woah the beginning cinematic was really nice!

[@carminedesanto6746]

Great review and good morning ☕️ Schitt finds a market niche again. Btw, loving the Arias..and l hope you’re doing better.

[@scottnieradka6836]

I love my fulla 3 for my work laptop, it has a mic input so I can plug in my beyer headset for zoom calls, and it sounds good for listening to music on those beyers at my desk. The 3 has a usb micro and after a year of being thrown in a messenger bag on my commute the jack is a bit wonky, and cuts out power if not positioned right, which is disappointing, but 100$. If it dies the usb-c is attractive on this.

[@h3h3umm]

I been using the qudelix for dac/amp. Such a great device

[@smoloms]

Earliest I've ever been here. I have no intentions of going to a Fulla but I still love the video. Loving my Element II

[@dragonstone6594]

Wow you're literally the only KZbinr I've seen who uploads in the correct aspect ratio for ultrawide. lol well done. But the Fulla 4 looks to have the exact same functionallity as the Soundblaster G6 that I'm runnning on my computer. So I'd say it's competing with that. You should review the G6 also and compare them.

[@fran2911]

You're not the targeted audience, youtubers upload for phones

[@samafshar3056]

Great review!

[@mulciberus]

Thanks, as always, for the great presentation. Curious what the Fulla does for mic/voice quality, if anything.

[@networkn]

Thanks for the video. As others have mentioned, it's very high quality production. I'd like to clarify a point you made at 3 minutes, about needing either more colouration or transparency, are those not opposites of each other?

[@dapperbrick7516]

As far as I know, they are - but saying it needs EITHER of those would imply to me it's neither coloured nor transparent, and it would be improved if it actually sat in one of the camps rather than straddling the fence

[@danielthakorlal9425]

Great vid. Keep 'em comin'. Think you might review the Hel?

[@parkersperstad485]

I bought an Atom stack based on your recommendation and I really enjoy it. The only issue I have had is how hot the DAC will get. If you do pick one up I would say make sure it gets plenty of space/moving air.

[@RashidTak]

water cool it

[@rijinx6516]

Heating issues? Which headphone are you using right now?

[@adamnasrallah3231]

@@RashidTak is this an actual thing or just a joke?

[@semick4729]

Some amp's will always get got. That's how some of them are just built

[@RashidTak]

@@adamnasrallah3231 nah it's real, trust me bro

[@ToysForTheGods]

I have a shiit fulla 2 and a fulla 4, as well as the Hel. The one thing this thing does is give you a mic in. It isn't the absolute best mic in to be fair but it is better than what I was getting on my laptop. The Hel has an amazing Mic in and can make even some of the crappiest "gaming" headphones sound better. I only use this as a portable solution, though my wifes PC has the Hel and it is great. Yeah there are better solutions for just dedicated DAC amps now for sure, but if you just want a simple solution for gaming as well as some music listening this thing is great.

[@SomeLittleShoe]

Can you make a video talking about this and the Element? I'm not meaning a "verses" video. But just telling about the pluses and minuses between them, the give and take, in buying the lower priced one and what you'd get, and what you'd get from paying more for the higher pried one?

[@fenwaymark]

i’ve had the Onyx for a little over a month. Sounds better (louder) on my iPhone than my m1 macbook air using DT1990’s. I haven’t cared enough to play with settings, but if anybody has any ideas and wants to share, please let me know. Thanks

[@krucacing]

abyss at the back for credibility. i dig that.

[@DarrellDucharme]

For the Hifiman 4xx would this Fulla 4 do the job or is the Magni 3+ the better option?

[@cu2983]

Does this DAC work with an iPhone? I am looking for a set up to have my work desk (for when I return back to the office). Speaking of which--what set up would you use at an assigned cubical in the office (gear won't be stolen but nothing you would cry over if it went missing) with your phone as a source?

[@nathanyt]

I ordered this and was wondering if I can use this to output Hi-Res Lossless audio from my iPhone (Apple Music). I asked because when I try to enable Hi-Res on Apple Music, a notification pops up saying it's recommended to use an external DAC for full resolution.

[@Dan-vv5kl]

DMS' videos are arts

[@kcmichaelm]

Just a comment on build quality. I’ve had 3 failures on this from the USB micro connection desoldering from the board. I did not even have downward weight on the connection. After 3 repairs, I gave up and bought a Mayflower ARC Mk2. It’s not as pretty but at least it functions.

[@drunkenfarmerjohn42]

The 4 is USB-C, not Micro. Are you talking about the 2 or 3?

[@kcmichaelm]

@@drunkenfarmerjohn42 fair point, thank you. I’m referring to the 3.

[@migueltorcuator2152]

@@kcmichaelmdumbass

[@biggusd534]

For gaming, nothing beats the Sound BlasterX G6 for me.

[@mickael486]

I'm a noob here. I just bought the 6xx and I've got some Sundara's coming soon. I just have a Sony STR-DH-790 receiver and I'm guessing I should be getting something else to power my headphones. Since I don't use a PC. I only game on consoles, and listen to music to relax. Considering the 2 headphones I'm purchasing, (and I was thinking about the Sennheiser PC38x for gaming but again, only on console) What's a cheap DAC amp that I...would... hook up to my Sony receiver? Sorry for the confusion.

[@MashaT22]

On a similar subject, can you suggest an inexpensive interface that has nice audio quality to plug a guitar into my iPhone XS Max so I can take advantage of apps that allow for recording, pedal effects, etc. A second line in for a mic would be a bonus, but it’s nothing required. There’s gotta be more out there than iRig’s products that are compatible with iPhone with a much smaller price tag, right? I am hoping for something similar with similar quality/feature to iRig Pro I/O or Pro Duo I/O, but even something like the iRig HD 2 would be great. Can you (or anyone else here) help me find such an interface? I don’t understand why every interface isn’t made compatible for both computers and mobile phones as a standard thing. What’s the deal with that? Ty in advance!

[@OfficialEthern1ty]

DMS you should also consider some other mainstream dac like the wave XLR. What to recommend with it.

[@Feemy]

For desktop, Atom stack and ifi Zen Dac v2 are both solid choices. However I prefer the Zen Dac because it's a dac/amp so no need for separate dac+amp (JDS Atom). I also prefer the warmer sound of the Zen Dac (if you want more neutral sound go for the Atom stack)

[@DanteMetaphor]

Too bad I cant get one as they are all backordered, i instead got a drop O2 and an apple usb to 3.5mm dongle as a placeholder, planning to get the grace DAC or an interface. Hopefully i made a good call.

[@MadMaxx1977]

Nice review, mate! I have the Fulla 3 and use it along with a pair of iLoud Micro Monitors for my laptop's audio.

[@MidmaCM]

I don't really understand the real difference between something like the schiit fulla vs the heresy. I know the heresy is JUST an amp, and I guess the Fulla is both a dac and amp. That's about all I understand, is the heresy just a way better amp than the fulla on its own? I have a pair for 560's that I have plugged into a blue yeti X, so I need an amp that will work with my specific setup. I was recommended the heresy because it has the specifications I need to get it to work, but seeing the fulla makes me think maybe I should just get this instead, but again, hoping some one could explain the differences really are and if they would matter for a pair for 560s.

[@donnyutivich8196]

I use the steel series artics pro, beyerdynamic MMX 300, and massdropxsennheiser HD58x for gaming on my pc desktop. Any recommendations for a dac/amp for these headsets. would the SCHiit stack be overkill for this or just fine? or maybe even a schiit fulla 4 or x3 soundbblaster

[@dutch_martyr]

Hey guys I am quickly falling into the audiophile rabbithole! I have a quick question I would GREATLY appreciate ANY solid advice on. So, I'm totally new to DACs/AMPs; I just bought the Sennheiser PC38x headset and I find them too quiet. Would an amp like this boost the sound significantly?

[@aodhanmorrissey]

Yoo could we get a Zen Dac V2 review? There's loads of opinions out there on it and would love to hear yours!

[@stanislavvrsansky394]

Hi, how about a review on audio technica ATH-AWAS ? I would very much like to know your opinion.

[@flackenstien]

I was gonna jump on this since I just ordered Sundara to replace my Astro A40s, but I can't seem to find anywhere to purchase it? The website says "ships in 6 to 8 weeks" which is an absolute no from me. It's not on Amazon or Best Buy either.. I need something to plug my headphones into.

[@sedraniM]

Will you reviwe the Fiio K5 pro at some point? A lot of Reviews state that its the best value AMP/DAC

[@lukenycz7967]

What specs does one look at to determine if a dac/amp is going to be powerfull enough and give clean enough transpancy for a headphone?

[@rite2ace]

Which Amp/dac would you recommend for pc38x? (Gaming/music)

[@ximhe4dhunt3r74]

thanks for the review i got my hd 6xx and i just wanted a budget dac & amp combo saving up for the magni & modi stack thanks again

[@hellbendert35]

so how well would it drive the sundara? also sundara has a 2021 revision what?

[@iamnotverybright2509]

I think, the disconnecting issue is due to the overcurrent protection on the USB-C port kicking in. As far as I am aware, you could maybe get around 10W before the USB port cuts you out, so I think plugging it into a smartphone fast charger or a USB-PD powerbank may be a good choice, since those beasts can output up to 30W ( Powerbank can be up to 18W ) nowadays. Not entirely sure on how clean the output would be, or if it would support it at all, but the grunt would certainly be there. Coming to think of it, yeah, it would defeat the purpose of it being portable, so yeah.

[@NekoOkto]

What's the point in plugging it into a power bank when you can't send data/audio to it?

[@iamnotverybright2509]

@@NekoOkto, there are two usb-C ports on the back, for data & power, and the one for "extra" power. I assume, that you could just use the powerbank to power the product through the "extra" power output, and data from your phone through the other one.

[@NekoOkto]

@@iamnotverybright2509 Ah, though, it was stated in the video that it doesn't matter whether external power is used or not. Either way the unit passes out at the same spot. I wouldn't think a power bank would make much of a difference unless just a PC was being used for power? hmm not sure

[@iamnotverybright2509]

@@NekoOkto, sure, yeah. I mean, if I were only in the shoes of other people using this, I would only be using this with a laptop and a USB-C cable. A powerbank would only be a hinderance, if not a redundant, total waste of space. However, since I have the option, I might use the powerbank as a "buffer" so I can give more oomph, whenever I need it. Yeah, different use cases. I get that. People are weird. 😂

[@Amp1tude]

does this support dolby atmos headphone or any multi channel audio passthrough? what is a good desktop amp/dac that does and doesn't compromise on music

[@tilakpawar979]

Hey there! :) Great review!! How do these compare to the Magni heresy?

[@ALnMO]

@5:48 Sundara 2021? Is there a newer revision out there from the 2020 version that I just ordered?

[@AgnisRoz]

I have FiiO K3. I wonder how does this compare to it power and detail wise.

[@arslanmalik151]

The amp I would get Mass Drop amp the 120 volt cost 100 but haven't been getting in since the the holiday and they have 240 . but just need a good one for around 140

[@MrBOBOCHOCHO]

How's it stack up against something the same price from 5 years ago like the origen+. Like how far has the cheap amp game come?

[@sharpblad3]

i wonder...how is this compared to iFi nano iDSD BL ? anyone knows? or a guess?

[@esbenrasmussen4289]

where can I listen to the outro? It sounds so good in my DT990's

[@altair4123]

If I have a Sennheiser 560s with Fiio BTR5, would buying this improve anything?

[@PrSunflower]

Hello DMS, I discovered you with your LTT collab a while ago but I'm only watching your videos now. Thanks a lot for the precious info 🙂 I would definitely like a review of the THX Onyx. It looks surprising that you're praising a small rectangle stick.

[@tipsaybonez]

Can I use this with digital optical cable from t.v to this device and listen via headphones hd6xx?

[@alouisschafer7212]

Hmmm im torn between a FiiO K3 or Q1 Mark 2 and now you upload this haha... I love the mobile aspect of the Q1 but it will spend 90% of its time connected to my Desktop and it only has Micro USB... and by god I hate that connector! The K3 has USB C but its desktop only while the Q1 is a stationary and mobile solution. The Fulla 4 is also worth considering.

[@bryo4321]

k5 pro is in a similar pricerange. Its desktop only but it got tons of power to run darn near anything.

[@spamcan9208]

Type C is more than capable of providing enough power so I'm assuming it's to save money on the components required to manage high power.

[@Leon-nr1mu]

Is it still bright as hell as all Shiit cheaper stuff?

[@CardinalsFanever]

Can you review your holes in your ears? Changes of sound after/before?

[@Cslteo]

Since Schiit gear is so difficult in Europe I went with a FiiO K5 Pro instead. I can for sure recommend that piece of kit.

[@loiywer1292]

Hah! Exactly the same here. The K5 Pro is also rlly good

[@EnormeEkoH]

True but aint schiit from germany?

[@loiywer1292]

@@EnormeEkoH no, Schiit is from USA

[@EnormeEkoH]

@@loiywer1292 sound like german

[@rklmbd2934]

One of the USB ports is for additional power. I wonder if that was connected it would still blink out like you're saying.

[@DMS3TV]

Yep. That’s what I said.

[@DDHDTV]

When you got that THX Onyx, I was wondering about your opinion on the Apple USB C dongle. It is probably the number one super budget recommendation, atleast on Reddit

[@WizardManFilms]

Would this dac amp be good and compatible with the audio technica m50x???

[@jonaslenz6353]

Do you think it has enough power for a 250 ohms beydynamic dt 770 pro?

[@SeriouslyManagable]

Would be great to have a USB dongle dac/amp shootout once the THX Onyx review is out!

[@pc_decisions8764]

I want a comparison with zorloo stella and Qudelix 5K since it supports mic too

[@keyboard_mouse]

Hi DMS. I am looking for headphones to impress some musicians and sell paired with high end adobe premiere pro computers. Any suggestions?

[@fromdirector1313]

What do you think of your best amp/dac solutions for laptop thats great for mobility?

[@jasper5945]

Fiio btr5

[@Tssukiii]

Is it possible to use it with a Laptop & headphones or do I need another device, f.e. a pre-amp or speakers or whatever? Sorry, I’m new to this, probably a stupid question 😅

[@corgistaniel1150]

How would this compare to something like a Fiio Q3?

[@Wh1terider]

Seriously considering this. Not sure if it's worth it over my soundcard. I primarily game and looking for the best image and soundstage for competitive fps. I'm using a creative AE-7. Thanks. Btw. I'm using the Massdrop DT177X Go, with a quadcast mic.

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

Isn't the AE-7 a really good soundcard?

[@Wh1terider]

@@imnotusingmyrealname4566 sure is. Just needs to have the horsepower to drive what you're using. Also I wanted something that lives and breathes in stereo, not simulation surround. Also a better DAC converter imo. Keep in mind. Humans hear in stereo, not surround sound.

[@chunkylover5367]

I just can't game without some EQ though. On my PC... Not a problem. I have my Shiit Lokius EQ, but on a console... I'm stuck with Bluetooth headphones with EQ software. The worst part is the PS5 got rid of spdif!

[@jarnotest17]

Look at the creative G3, X3 (bt app) or G6 and there's your EQ for console.The budget friendly G3 handles hd560 120ohm decently, when you need something more demanding take X3 of G6.

[@aldrintolentino9460]

can you review the Qudelix 5k?

[@-iIIiiiiiIiiiiIIIiiIi-]

He missed a great opportunity with the title "Is this device Fulla Shiit?"

[@GiLLyMGL]

Can I use this with my Sennheiser HD 560S? What should I use with the HD560s anyways?

[@TheHunReaper]

He mentioned it works good with the hd6xx, so I would comfortably say yes, you can use it with the 560s. (I rock those too, most headphone amps will comfortably drive it)

[@vortox7292]

Would you recommend them for the Sennheiser IE600?

[@thepylonperspective]

This Schitt looks great…

[@Merkava76]

Mate I saw your comment on twitter about being in pain. Mate are you okay and I feel you as I have crps and the shit sucks ass.

[@DMS3TV]

There’s just some things I never knew how rough they could be till it happens. Working with my doctors though. Hoping for good news soon. Trying to keep it together in the meantime. Thanks for the support

[@a2raya772]

What amp would you recommend for 470 ohms headphones?

[@ryanblack1251]

i think FIIO BTR5 is still really hard to beat for portable option.

[@handlemonium]

Actually.......Fiio has yet to beat the next-gen Sabre DAC chip in the $120 Hidizs S9 Pro. The S9 Pro is basically a Dragonfly Cobalt without built-in noise filtering.

[@adamgreenhill110]

I have a BTR5 but sadly it's not great for the DT 1990. I'm sure the balanced out is powerful, but the 3.5mm isn't the best for 250 ohms

[@souravms]

I think qudelix 5k beats btr5.

[@chunkycheesemonkey99]

@@souravms same here. Ive also heard numerous people complain about the btr5 usb. Bought a btr5 for my friend and usb stopped working in a few months

[@jeremyhuntington1]

I’ve had many cheaper that beat it hands down.

[@TheSweatyYeti]

Just placed an order for this as my first ever step into the audio field. I’m looking at getting the HD 6xx’s to pair with it. Mostly for PC gaming and music listening

[@bobdlcruz58]

welcome to the audiophile world! This dac/amp with the HD 6XX will be a great combo, hope you enjoy them both :) -from a random person on the internet

[@r3conwoo]

did you see the 12-16 week wait on the product page of the website? Did they give you an estimated ship date?

[@TheSweatyYeti]

@@r3conwoo yeah I did. Not a big deal. It’ll be a Christmas present for myself 😂 I haven’t seen a different ship date show up yet

[@TheSweatyYeti]

@@bobdlcruz58 What do you think about the Fulla 4 combined with the Sundaras? I noticed he said “you can get away with that.” I had a change of heart on the headphones after using the 6xx and Sundaras. I’ve been debating between pairing them with - Fulla 4 - Hel 2 - Magni / Modi

[@bobdlcruz58]

@@TheSweatyYeti Both are great headphones. I haven't used the Hel 2, so I can't say much about that. The Fulla 4 would be okay with Sundaras, but I feel it would leave you wanting more. I'd say the Fulla 4 with the 6XX, but if you want Sundaras, get the Magni3+/Modi

[@euphoreonz]

Gotta say, I love my Grace m9xx combo. I've tried the 789 and DX7 Pro but the Grace m9xx off just one USB cable in low power mode has plenty of power and sounds as good to me.

[@fran9420]

fulla 4 vs topping mx3?

[@kimo4419]

worthy upgrade for fulla 2?

[@jamesalexander813]

Currently using a FiiO btr5 for my k712s; would this be a worthwhile upgrade?

[@pc_decisions8764]

No, I'm using my qudelix 5k aso with k712, maybe you get more power, but I won't see any difference

[@liam4184]

is this better than just having a Schiit Mangi 3 plugged into a pc?

[@navinbabji]

Oh shit, This is some nice Schiit... 😁😁😁

[@Kaelan94]

I've got a schiit fulla 4 that worked great for months until Windows 10 suddenly decided it wouldn't be detected. It's since been problematic in that it shows up, but gets severe audio stuttering.

[@haroonahmed1994]

Same issue for me

[@AwarSurrect]

Would be good for beyerdynamic dt770 pro 250ohm?

[@SICKOx]

Are these strong enough to power 990 Pro 250 Ohms?

[@marley720]

5:45 I was going to get the sundara 2020. Does anyone know if this just a mistake for the 2020 revision or is there a 2021 revision?

[@FlamencoOz]

Only one revision exists. Slight pad change.

[@sancarlos1044]

I have a question. My first time with DAC/AMPS. Do these units make game lag or something like that?

[@DMS3TV]

Nope 😄

[@gingi_swagg9304]

Does anyone know if this will power the HE400SE?

[@liam4184]

are these powerful enought for DT990 pro's?

[@Hector-zk5gg]

what about with Beyrdynamic headphones with fulla 4 DAC amp

[@bhavneetsaini7941]

How would this pair with the sennheiser hd560s

[@inscythe]

I'd buy Schiit's stuff if they have better supply lines. Their waiting lines even before the pandemic was already extremely long.

[@Nonamguys]

That is an Interesting experience. I purchased from them In mid 2020 and it still shipped extremely quickly, maybe one or 2 days. It is worth it though, since this supports products made outside of China.

[@OTNaugrim]

their schiit-europe.com arm has been pretty much dysfunct since March 2020, and you're right even before it wasn't great...In Europe their stuff goes for higher than MSRP due to this, the demand is clearly there, hopefully they realize that

[@fix0the0spade]

@@Nonamguys On the Schiit website now, 'ships in 12-16 weeks,' the Hel is 6-8 weeks. The EU and UK websites are dead, no stock, no updates. It sucks but Schiit are basically unavailable in Europe at the moment. Which is a shame because I wanted a Hel, but it looks like I'll be buying a Fiio and doing something else for the mic.

[@FiniteCS]

I wish I knew about this before I waited 3 months to get my Jotunheim + Modius stack... I honestly thought they forgot about me and I wasted my $700.

[@abrahamruiz8473]

Can confirm since I ordered a Hel about 2 months ago now, just about to hit week 8 of their 6-8 week timeframe that was on the site when I ordered

[@ACE112ACE112]

how does this compare to the fiio k3?

[@alilbitstriaght]

Thats some real Schiit right there

[@lith8128]

I got a scarlet solo. Should I upgrade to this? Would there be a difference in gaming/music?

[@ee1yd]

probably not

[@mrantonelski]

Can I use Fulla 4 with xbox series x via optical audio port on my tv? Would the mic work as well?

[@whollymindless]

The optical solution should work, but there might be unacceptable delay in the tv passthrough. Mic would definitely not work as optical is one way.

[@masterxyr]

I'd love to see you make a music video of some band one day

[@DMS3TV]

That's how I used to pay my bills haha. Making music videos and commercials.

[@Bloogly89]

Anyone know if Schiit does Black Friday sales?