Modi Multibit: Multibit for the masses.

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by MrTie, Jul 25, 2016.

  1. Big D Design

    Big D Design RIP 2021

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    You may have convinced me that Modi Multibit could be a plunger in my toilet. I just hooked up a Krell KST-100 to my system. Not sure, but it seems to be asking me something. Could it be a meeting with Gungnir Multibit? Dunno. I do know that I totally respect your opinion and I have returned equipment to get a CD transport. New DAC could very well happen. I just like your comments for some reason, and I seem to carry a lot of weight with them. With the new Krell..... I may have to go the full Monty.
     
  2. Purastikku

    Purastikku New

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    Yup, enquiring minds want to know. A USB gen 3 upgrade for Bifrost Multibit would make it that much better from Modi Multibit, as USB apparently is its weakest point. That would make a lot of sense in Schiit's current lineup, putting the Bifrost Multibit ever so slightly over Modi Multibit while keeping price down vs its bigger brothers. Insider hints seem to point in that direction so fingers crossed (and ready to pull the trigger...)
     
  3. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    I think that Bifrost Multibit upgrades will be more significant than USB implementation upgrades. In fact, said company will likey fix this problem across their entire lineup with a out if the box solution (dig through the archives on sbaf for more info).

    Bifrost Multibit is upgradeable and meant to last a long time when upgrade boards come out every two years or so. Mr Moffat is his own competition, pushing his own and the industries boundaries in order to bring affordable great sound to hobbiests. Faith in him and Schiit is often rewarded.
     
  4. Lenroot77

    Lenroot77 Friend

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    I'm hopeful the next Bifrost Multibit update will put us close to an unbalanced Gungnir Multibit.
     
  5. bxh

    bxh Friend

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    I'm hoping so too, with a very good SE output stage.
     
  6. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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    I'm finally coming to the conclusion that Modi Multibit just doesn't work for me, pretty much for the reasons above. I love and DEMAND good subs punch (and bass overall) and find the Schiit quite lacking. Mid-bass boost is a huge no-no for me also... The highs are too soft for me, lacking sizzle and energy. Heavy rock-music simply doesn't kick me in the teeth like it should.

    That clarity and imaging wowed me for a while, but it isn't the most important thing for me. I need bass-slam, crackle, punch - basically some natural-enough sounding rock-instruments with goods subs. All else is a nice bonus. My old D/S Apogee Duet (1st version) DAC is the comparison that I actually like much more for almost all of my music.

    (BTW - yes, I use USB with the Modi Multibit, shoot me :) Apogee Duet uses Thunderbolt out of my late 2013 iMac.)

    Those alternatives mentioned seem very interesting . Bitfrost (D/S or Multibit?), that Emotiva too, but not easily found in Europe. That Meier seems nice also, damn... This is my next quest, the punchy rock-DAC for non-crazy money (below 1k, for sure).

    Cheers @Psalmanazar for saying out loud what I was thinking!
     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2017
  7. FlySweep

    FlySweep Friend

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    Gen1 Gungnir !
     
  8. Vanheim

    Vanheim Acquaintance

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    I am genuinely confused and want to understand this. So the multibit for the masses, the value for money king of dacs isn't recommended to be used with USB. But isn't like...USB the only thing most of the masses will only have?

    And it isn't justifiable to spend 600-700 dollars on pci solutions for the Modi Multibit (I don't even have a desktop, just a craptastic laptop with no thunderbolt).

    All new CD transports are shitty so I have to hunt for vintage ones that will get no support if they run into any problems? (I like to use eq and using this method won't allow that either).

    So it's not the (good) Modi Multibit when it's on USB. But to get the Modi Multibit good I have to get good spdif and I don't have any means for pci (too expensive anyways).

    It kinda feels like it's ... well... inconvenient.
     
  9. SSL

    SSL Friend

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    Yeah. Basically, there are no shortcuts, financial or otherwise.
     
  10. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    I think for the average (more) sane person just getting into good audio, Modi Multibit will by far get you bang for the buck, even if you're 'just' using USB on it.

    Your money is better spent on better headphones or on a better amp than going from Modi Multibit straight into a Gungnir Multibit, or spending said $700 getting a good transport chain set up if you're just using Beyer 880's or something at the very end of it. I don't want to pretend like I know anything in depth on the whole USB vs SPDIF stuff. And not to shove words in their mouth, but I think @Psalmanazar would advise the same.

    If you already have a good headphone and a good amp, you may as well just save up for something halfway decent instead of ending up in *cough* Delta-Smegma purgatory (though again, I'm not particularly familiar with the nuances in improving digital signals, refer to more experienced users in this matter).
     
  11. Huhnkopf

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    PCI versions of AES (and other outputs) cards are much much cheaper in the used market, I guess that's one of the reasons people recommend building a dedicated machine with PCI slot.
    PCI also probably has much less noise going on and older CPUs with less C/power states have a lesser "strain" on the PSU (though you can deactive them)
     
  12. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    Also you can probably just buy an end-of-lease Dell Desktop (or something similar) with a spare PCI slot for $200 and use that as a dedicated machine. Lower power draw is better, and if you're really paranoid you can just replace the PSU for another $100 or so.

    I couldn't advise slapping one of the Lnyx cards into anything described as a "High end" or "gaming rig", since machines with big power draw for rendering, computation, or gaming typically get noisy as f**k in my building experience.
     
  13. Argon

    Argon New

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    Reality check here:

    • Modi Multibit is a great DAC for the money in its price range whether you're using USB or not.
    • People need to manage their expectations about the difference they'll be able to hear if they switch from USB to another connection.
    • If you've already bought headphones, amp, and DAC within your budget (you did set a budget at the onset, right?) and you're satisfied with the sound you're getting, then stop and enjoy the music. Only upgrade when your budget allows and you have something specific in mind you'd like to improve.
     
  14. fishski13

    fishski13 Friend

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    I don't give much weight to impressions that members post here on SBAF. I don't expect anyone to take my impressions as the gospel either. It's just data points. Use your ears and choose your own adventure.

    Yes, I prefer SPDIF from a 10 yr old Toshiba craptastic DVD player spinning CDs, that cost me $50 new, vs USB into my Gungnir. Does the USB suck HiFiMan balls, no. How you interface with your HiFi is as important as the end sonic result - you're consuming and have a choice. How do you like cueing up tunes and listen? I wouldn't throw a bunch of cash at a Modi Multibit or Yggdrasil to 'optimize' whatever input. The product either works and sounds great as advertised or not. For the price of the Modi Multibit, I wouldn't sweat USB vs SPDIF. With my Gungnir, sometimes I like to cue up some FLAC via USB and SSD, or stream Spotify, but other times spin some CDs and SPDIF.
     
    Last edited: Feb 25, 2017
  15. wormcycle

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    Yes but Modi Multibit can be more like "veiled, mid-bass punchy" or less and it may depend on the interface. I found a pretty good case of it by coincidence.

    I use coax from RPi 3 Digi +, USB and toslink from my PC.
    Some time ago I put a Brainwavz lambskin pads on my Beyer T5p.2 and they were bloating the bass. It just took me some time and the right track to see it. So I went back to the stock pads and indeed it was an improvement. It was one of those tracks where Rostropvich is trying to do to his cello what Jimmy Hendricks used to do to his guitars, and finally, with the stock pads, I could hear it clearly. The same with Toslink from Asus Xonar to Modi Multibit
    Happy with result I switched to USB ASIO through JRiver and it was .. like if I put on the lambskin pads again, which I did not, the bass bloat was back with full force.
     
  16. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    I would not discount that some experience this phenomenon. With Gungnir Multibit, I noticed Toslink lacked a tad bit of lower frequency presence/heft/oomph compared to the same track playing over USB (in addition to other very subtle differences). Depending on amp/headphones (or speakers) used, that could be interpreted as more or less "bass bloat". Wouldn't be surprised if the same holds true to certain extent for Modi Multibit, considering the relevant electronics they have in common.

    I do think Schiit's USB 2 interface is a performance constraint (and am committed to BNC/coax), but not sure it's enough of a difference to drastically change an overall impression of the DAC.
     
  17. MattRG

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    Having been using Toslink on the Modi Multibit for a week now I think I could best characterize the sound as "polite" in comparison to USB. USB seems to me to sound "sharper" which has both positives and negative. On the positive side USB seems more dynamic but on the negative side it also seems harsher. Toslink smooths out the sound and seems more pleasant to me at the cost of a little bit of overall dynamic punch. Therefore, until I have a reliable and inexpensive way to go to coax (or decide to upgrade the DAC) I am going to stick with Toslink.

    And happily, my Toslink seems to be able to do 24/192 with no problem out of JRiver. I've spent the weekend ripping a whole bunch of CD's to FLAC and testing them at various bitdepths and bitrates and am fairly pleased thus far with the results.
     
  18. Xecuter

    Xecuter Brush and floss your amp twice a day

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    @MattRG are these impressions made using the th-x00??
     
  19. MattRG

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    Correct.

    Edit - Once my ZMF Eikon's arrive I plan to revisit the USB vs Toslink question with Modi Multibit. If there's a bigger difference in the sound quality than I am hearing with the TH-X00 then I would think the Eikon would be able to show that.
     
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2017
  20. alchemist007

    alchemist007 New

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