Schiit Gungnir Multibit impressions

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Bill-P, Oct 7, 2015.

  1. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Don't underestimate the transport.

    I'd take Rednet + Gungnir Multibit over Yggdrasil USB any day.
     
  2. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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    On the other hand if you get an Yggdrasil can always upgrade the transport later. I've had the Gungnir Multibit and while I thought that it was very good I wasn't overwhelmed by it. It's a very good $1250 DAC, probably my recommendation in that price range. But it's not the end of the road, there are levels above the Gungnir Multibit.
     
  3. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    You can also sell the Gungnir Multibit later and recover most of the money.

    USB really sucks.

    Or one can wait for better USB/AES converters. Maybe from Schiit? One day...
     
  4. perkele

    perkele Acquaintance

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    The thing is that the transport layer did not cost me a dime, I got rid of my Ether C in exchange of gigabit Cisco switch and RN3. Ether just wasn't for me.

    Top notch SQ and solid co-existence with RN3 is in my great interest. Gungnir Multibit tickles me in the right places, I'm only concerned about the compatibility and dropouts. Should Yggdrasil/aes provide the most stabile option I will do it. Both Schiits should serve me for many years to come no. Lynx Hilo -dnt is also interesting DAC but price climbs too high (near 3k€).

    I will also add Dante ready active monitors to my network when the funding comes together.
     
  5. perkele

    perkele Acquaintance

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    Rednet is product line of Dante ready devices provided by Focusrite. You could for example use RN3 straight with Mac through Dante Virtual Soundcard or plant it in normal ethernet LAN. In the latter case one should consider segmenting, QoS settings etc.

    I will write some sort diary with network diagrams, switch configs etc which could be useful to some one with similar goals than myself.
     
  6. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    My Gungnir Multibit works just fine with the S/PDIF output of the Rednet 3.
     
  7. Wfojas

    Wfojas Friend

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    I'm struck by this. I am warming up an Yggdrasil and am finding system synergies everywhere. Because the bass control is better, I now understand @zerodeefex advice to buy an Yggdrasil first.

    I am running AES to it from a microendu/SPDIF converter chain, maybe that's it also, but good bass always balances out the mids in my emotional system. Depending on how your system skews Gungnir Multibit isn't 90% of an Yggdrasil. In this case it was maybe 65% or 70%. And vinyl is 140%.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2016
  8. gepardcv

    gepardcv Almost "Made"

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    Random question: what is the exact height of the Gungnir? I just picked up a Gungnir Multibit, and while I wait for it to arrive, I started thinking about how to place it. It might need a special shelf. The Schiit site says it's 2.25", but I have a feeling that doesn't account for the feet.
     
  9. Xen

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    About 2.625" from top of desk to top of Gungnir Multibit.
     
  10. WNovizar

    WNovizar Facebook Friend

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    Anybody has problems where Gungnir Multibit suddenly stopped playing music very briefly while playing music off of my laptop?
     
  11. Neal

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    I've had my Gungnir Multibit for about a week now - figured I'd share my impressions/comparison with the Bifrost 4490.

    TLDR - This thing is awesome.

    Chain is HT Omega Fenix coax -> Gungnir Multibit (bal) -> Joti -> HD650m. First thing I was surprised by is that the Gungnir Multibit runs significantly hotter than the Bifrost. Gungnir Multibit feels about the same temperature as my Joti, whereas the Bifrost feels barely above room temp. Asked Schiit and apparently this is normal.

    The Gungnir Multibit makes the Bifrost sound v-shaped to me. Biforst has more (and more glarey) treble, and more (slightly bloated) bass. Bifrost is also more forward in it's staging, with less separation the Gungnir Multibit.

    The best analogy I can think of is that the Gungnir Multibit is like a 13% red burgundy, and the Bifrost is like a 15+% oaky cali cab. On the first sip, the Bifrost jumps out and says "Look how big and great I am!", whereas the Gungnir Multibit is more reserved. But after the 2nd or 3rd glass, you really start to notice the subtle complexities of the Gungnir Multibit, how natural it is, how it just seems 'right'. The Bifrost feels a bit like a one trick pony in comparison, and gets corked and thrown in the fridge.

    Now for 1/3 the price I still think the Bifrost is a pretty great DAC, and I would not discourage anyone from buying one who can't afford a Gungnir Multibit (although maybe the Modi Multibit is better value, but I haven't heard it). The Gungnir Multibit is just on the another level though.

    I'm very happy with this upgrade. Thanks for all the impressions/recommendations.
     
  12. Malabargold

    Malabargold Flipper

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    I went from a Bifrost 4490 to Gungnir Multibit as well and my impressions were pretty much the same. Out of all the dacs I've heard Gungnir Multibit has been the only one which really stood out as a significant step up in resolution, tone and timbre. (I have yet to hear Yggdrasil)

    While the 4490 is good I'm not sure I could pick it out easily from other entry level dacs in a blind test. I don't think I would have that problem with Gungnir Multibit.

    Gungnir Multibit is where I discovered what bass detail and instrument separation really were.
     
  13. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    I feel fortunate that at the time, I could splurge and just get Gungnir Multibit rather than Bifrost Multibit and be one-and-done. For some reason I still enjoy reading comparisons, probably just for silly validation after having dropped the coin.

    It has been an ear-opening experience with Gungnir Multibit, and I'm enjoying rediscovering much of my CD collection.
     
  14. Xen

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    How brief? Was there a click? If it was very brief and there was a click, then that is Gungnir Multibit switching bit depth or sample rate.

    If no click, then potentially an issue with sending the bits to Gungnir Multibit (TOSLINK, Digital Coax, USB, etc). Computer maybe lagged or media I/O lagged, etc. Can't really say more without much more info.
     
  15. WNovizar

    WNovizar Facebook Friend

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    There was a click so does that mean Gungnir Multibit suddenly switching bit depth and sample rate in the middle of playing music? How do I turn it off? It is annoying that Gungnir Multibit suddenly dropped out in the middle of playing music...
     
  16. Xen

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    Its is your song files. Either move those files to another folder so they don't play or re-encode them to the same bit depth and sample rate. There are other ways, but then you are at the mercy of the Windows sound stack.
     
  17. WNovizar

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    I will try to pay attention later. It feels like its happening randomly. But if what you say is true, then there will be some pattern, i.e the dropout only happens when I play music A etc, and I need to look for on how to reencode them. Thanks

    EDIT: Nope, it happens randomly, I even swap out players, from foobar2000 -> musicbee -> JRiver, and it happens on all of them randomly. Then I swap out Gungnir with Modi 2 Uber, and voila! it never happens, even after 6 hours of continuous music playback. It seems my Gungnir is defective after all.......
     
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2016
  18. Rozenberg

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    Sorry if this has been asked before but I'm wondering if it's safe to keep the Gungnir (both DS & Multibit) on all time.
    I'm waiting on the shipment of my Gungnir and while I really wanted it, I don't like rear power switch because it's a pain in the ass to reach the back of the DAC everytime I want to turn it on. It'll be a different story if I can just let it on all the time though.
     
  19. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    Is safe. Mine has been continuously on for about 6-7 months now.
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Yes, but only with from this ancient E series Dell laptop.

    I usually leave it on continuously. Sometimes I'll turn it off and forget to turn it back on when I am switching components around.
     

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