Modi Multibit: Multibit for the masses.

Bit the bullet and ordered a Moby. Yes, I'm bitter and still calling it that. Should be interesting to compare with my forthcoming Bifrost Multibit.

 

When you say forthcoming, you mean you ordered a Bifrost Multibit, and now waiting for delivery?

 

Moby4lyfe

 

Just saw this, and damn, since I might be looking to get a motorcycle for my birthday, I'll have to keep my eye out for a black Modibit to see if I really need teh Gungnir Multibit or not.

You snide bastards did it, congradulations Schiit, even with the double sided boards like I thought a multibit Modi might need.

 

Had some time to do some more listening tonight.

Used both the Rag --> HD600 and Rag Pre-out --> Carver m4.0t --> Stax SRD-7(thanks OJ!) -->Stax 009

I setup JRiver to output to both the Gungnir Multibit and Modi Multibit(or Moby?) at the same time via WASAPI.

The differences are fairly noticeable now that I've had a little more time to compare. Again, comparing a $249 Schiit DAC to a $1249 Schiit DAC is not really a fair fight, but that's what I have...

So, to me, the most noticeable difference is that the Gungnir Multibit has more bass, more bass extension, and more detail and texture. It's pretty apparent to me using both headphones listed above.

In the treble, again, the Modi Multibit is darker. It doesn't have as much microdetail as the Gungnir Multibit. The Gungnir Multibit just has more detail throughout the spectrum.

The mids sound very similar. But since the Modi Multibit has less bass and treble, the mids might sound more forward.

However, while I am pretty sure I could tell which is which in blind test, I don't think I could do it 100% of the time.
I am guessing a lot of people who buy the Modi Multibit as their first DAC will be blown away by the sound. It's really amazing.
They both have a similar smoothness. Maybe that's the multibit and filter at work.

Just for kicks, I also compared them to my PONO player. I always keep my PONO on and warmed up. It sounds much worse "cold". After about 3 days, it sounds really good.

I have to say, I really like the PONO via the balanced output. Honestly it sounds closer to the Gungnir Multibit than the Modi Multibit to me. It's bass is similar to the Gungnir Multibit. More highs than the Gungnir Multibit but can be a little more harsh at times. I think I prefer the PONO over the Modi Multibit just because the PONO has more bass and more treble. It does lack that multibit sound, though. I just wish I could use the PONO as a DAC and avoid the UI and it's quirks. But for the $200 I paid for the PONO, it's pretty impressive too.

 

I think Modibit vs Bifrost would be a more fair fight. If the Modibit easily outperforms the stock Bifrost at a lesser price, there is no reason for Schiit to continue its production and simply offer Bifrost as Bifrost Multibit only.

 

Maybe she insisted on going back home straight away so she could do the kitchen test?



<Crossposted (several pages)>

Hats off to you both. Wonderful, balanced relationship there

 

@Thad E Ginathom , what is the kitchen test?

 

Moffat said call it whatever you want over on head fi. Be as goofy as you want so long as we know what you're referring to

 

I ended up "liking" this... but, man, there was some serious hesitation! Though I've actually been waiting for someone to go there, ha ha.

@Shutterbox: That's correct. Upgrading my BF4490.

 

Must expunge this disturbing image from my mind...

 

This all jibes with what I'm hearing. And yeah - I'm not confident I could ABX this against the Gungnir Multibit consistently.

I spent last night and part of this morning comparing the AMB Gamma2 (filter 2) to the Modi Multibit. Modi Multibit is more resolving, absurdly more resolving when compared via USB and still substantially more resolving even when the Gamma2 is run through coax/optical. Modi Multibit has more realistic note decay, is clearer sounding, and has deeper stage depth. It isn't lacking air like the y2 is with filter 2. (Filter 3 brings the air back and is a little bit more resolving but it fucks up everything else - so I don't use it). The Modi and y2, early treble roll off aside, are pretty close in terms of tonal density and overall tonal balance.

Gamma2 does do better than the Modi Multibit in one place: low bass extension and bass/lower mid impact. These come at the cost of bass resolution and microdynamics. The y2 hits hard and goes low but it doesn't have the same ability to represent small differences in volume level or detail.

For quite a while, I've considered the y2 the best DAC at its price point. The Gamma2's full ++'s parts cost is (I believe) a little over $200. Prebuilt Gamma2s could be purchased from MisterX for $325. The y2 is still a great sounding DAC and if someone is inclined to DIY for the enjoyment (or gets one cheap used), it's still an excellent choice. It just isn't my value performance benchmark anymore.

Next set of observations will be comparing the Modi Multibit via USB vs Mutec 1.2 transport. I feel a bit rediculous using a far larger, more expensive interface box with the Modi Multibit but the comparison really should be done.

 

So, kind of a rhythmic, squishy sound?

 

I like big knobs. There, I said it.

 

Yeah, "from a thread somewhere"! Link or screenshot, or it never happened! j/k We trust you implicitly. Still, that linky would be nice...

 

Thanks.
Let us know how Bifrost Multibit vs modiby turns out

 

Here you go: http://www.head-fi.org/t/815368/happy-as-a-pig-in-schiit-introducing-modi-multibit/60#post_12747615