Modi Multibit: Multibit for the masses.

Well, I finally decided to buy a dac... And went with the Modi Multibit, seems like that's the best bang for your buck. Thank you all for the rec, @zerodeefex you pushed me over the top last week. Should go nice on my desk at work, right on top of the Valhalla 2.

 

It came today. Tiny little thing. It's warming up now. Hooked up to the Valhalla 2. Ready to rock at work!!

 

Let us know what you think. Note that it is recommended to leave the Schiit Multibit DACs on 24/7, even when not in use, to avoid the multi-hour warmup period. This will not damage it.

 

I've been using mine with the Valhalla 2 as a bedroom rig. I'm using the HEM4 which is like an HD650 that's been castrated and smothered under a pillow. But the magic of the multibit still comes through! I'm hearing so much more detail and realism even in just casual music listening or Netflix streams. I also love the tube glow in a dark room.

 

I took a quick listen, but it wasn't warm yet... I'll reserve judgement for now. I did like it, so if it gets better from here I'll be happy

 

Anyone compare the Bifrost Multibit or Modi Multibit to the Emotiva Stealth DC-1? I have a Modi Multibit currently but the Emotiva has so many added/useful features for my future speaker setup that it is a very tempting buy.

 

Just looking at the features and inputs/outputs, there's a lot going on with the DC-1. You're sacrificing quality for quantity, so do you want all of those features or do you want a quality DAC that's R2R and add a preamp when you need it. Modi Multibit plus Saga is hard to beat for the price. If you also want a headphone amp with pre outs get a Vali 2 or Jot depending on preferences.

 

I want to find out if I'm actually sacrificing quality though. I recall Psalm saying that he preferred the DC1 to the Bifrost Multibit. I asked the same question on Headfi and the guy who responded said he demo'd both and the two were near identical (who knows, maybe he can't hear DAC differences). The main draw for the DC1 for me is the XLR out which is not possible with my Modi.

 

Gotcha. I don't have any personal experience with the DC-1 and @Psalmanazar is trustworthy so it might be good. Was it the Stealth version or the regular as there is quite a price difference? Also if you can buy both, compare and return the one you don't like, that's always the best option.

 

Seems most people around here prefer Modi Multibit overall to Bifrost Multibit.

 

It's slightly warm and slightly offtimbre but not as warm as emotiva's other stuff. I don't like the AD1955 that much anymore after hearing an Apogee MiniDAC that works again but check it out yourself. Emotiva has a good return policy.

 

Schiit needs to make a Stealth DC-1 with the Modi Multibit's R2R chip. At that point, I think most people would give up chasing an an endgame DAC.

If I can find a used DC-1 at a decent price, I might jump on it for the added functionality and keep my Modi Multibit as well. Schiit, please make a sub $800 balanced Bifrost Multibit, I'm begging you.

 

Since you already have the Modi Multibit why not just get the Jot? Jot will take single ended in and convert it to balanced. You have a preamp for your speakers and a kickin headphone amp to boot!

 

I had one for a week, loved the power and clarity but was not a fan of the flat soundstage and I thought it was too bright with some of my headphones. I really wanted to like it but something wasn't grooving with my other gear. I did keep the Modi Multibit though, it was a noticeable improvement over my previous two DACs.

 

Just man up and buy the Gungnir Multibit. The Modi Multibit is veiled throughout the spectrum (you have to use gear like the Jot to bring it to life), the DC-1 uses the off-timbre AD1955 (not the best delta-sigma DAC chipset), and the Bifrost Multibit is weird in the low end but has clear highs. The DS pro DACs I would recommend to you are the same price or higher than the Gungnir Multibit and the more colored ones are just as warm.

 

Makes me wonder what would win in a comparsions test using the Jot, balanced Geek Out (Using TRRS to XLR), or Modi Multibit (Using SE).

 

I have the stuff on hand to test that ...

Whether I have the will/energy is another matter!

 

I'll make you one dank meme of your requesting. No guarantee on the quality though.

 

I would get the Gungnir Multibit, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Schiit is going to shake things up again this year with a muiltibit DAC that undercuts the Gungnir Multibit, similar to how the Modi Multibit made the Bifrost Multibit almost a poor purchase. I'm keeping the Modi Multibit for now for my headphone rig in my office but I was looking at the DC-1 for a speaker setup (possibly Emotiva powered monitors) for my living room, for which its extra features would be much more useful. The Modi Multibit probably has a slight edge in detail compared to the Emotiva Stealth so it will be my headphone DAC until Schiit updates the Bifrost in some way.

 

@schiit somewhere (forget where) basically hinted big time a Bifrost Multibit update is gonna happen... really need to hold off myself. Almost rage ordered a Yggdrasil after the stereophile thing -- luckily out of stock.