Ok. Time for some good old IT101. Apologies if this has already been done or if it seems i'm insulting anyone's intelligence, I have a habit of never presuming anything as it's often the most basic of things that can be the issue.
1) Physical connectivity Check. Please refer to the following 2 guides:
Modi 3 manual:
https://www.schiit.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product/download&product_id=111&download_id=33
Magi 3 manual:
https://www.schiit.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product/download&product_id=152&download_id=31
a) Power is being supplied to both devices. Modi3 connected to USB (number4 on Modi manual) and MAGI3 via power brick (number 2 on MAGI manual)
b) RCA Is connected via 'out' on Modi3 (number 1 on Modi manual) and on 'in' on Magi3 (number 1 on Magi manual)
c) Input Selector on MODI3 (see number 2 on Modi manual) is set to 'Top' for USB
d) Power Toggle on MAGI3 (see number 4 on Magi manual)
e) Ensure Gain is set initially to 'low gain' on the MAGI3 (see number 5 on MAGI Manual). This can be changed once you have working sound.
f) Connect in the Beyerdynamic Headphones into the MAGI3 (see number 1 on the MAGI Manual)
2) Windows Check. As much as windows is supposed to install/be compatible with devices out of the box, 9/10 times in my experience that's simply untrue and you will need to manually install drivers.
a) Ensure USB cable is connected to known working USB Port on your laptop.
b) Go to 'Control Panel' and 'Sound Properties'. If the MODI DAC has been installed correctly, it should show in this list. It should have a 'Green Tick next to it if it's set to default.
i) If it's not showing in this list, Windows has bodged the Driver installation. Please download and follow the instructions for the Gen3 drivers on Shiit's website:
https://www.schiit.com/drivers. Once done please resume steps from start of step 2.
ii) If it's showing in this list without a green tick, right click on 'Modi3' and select 'set to default'. This will ensure any default sounds will now be output to the DAC.
3) App Sound configuration.
a) Youtube and your browser will rely on your windows configured 'default'.
b) ITUNES if not defaulting to 'windows default' will need to be configured within ITUNES. This can be done in 'Edit' -> 'Playback Preferences' -> 'Playback'
4) on playback, initially ensure volume on the MAGI3 is set to 0 and Playback Volume in the following is set to 100%
a) Windows Volume Control Panel
b) Youtube/ITUNES etc
Once playback starts all being well, you should just need to alter the volume control on the MAGI 3 AMP and 'Hi-Low' Gain on the back if needed.
Once you are comfortable, you can also alter the playback and bit rate frequency from within Sound Properties. Alternatively this can also be done on the Shiit MODI3 Control Panel.
@Friesiansam and
@anort3 if you can think of some obvious steps i've missed off, please say so.
Jimmy