Schiit Gungnir Multibit impressions

EDIT: Beaten...

I think I read elsewhere that Gungnir Multibit/Yggdrasil differ from the other dacs with a more sophisticated clock but also might be more finicky to lesser quality sources. Does foobar have a WDM driver that can be installed to bypass Windows sound mixer? I know JRiver does since that's how I do all of my audio. You might be the rare case where a USB DDC would be recommended.

 

Thanks for your advice. I found some threads elsewhere where people discussed similar issues, installed an alternative wasapi plugin in foobar, and that fixed one issue: the beginning of tracks is no longer being cut off and jumping around within the same track doesn't cause the relay to click. Changing songs, even on the same album, still does but without the lost 1-2 seconds at the beginning of tracks. The problem is this alternative driver audibly hiccups every 90 seconds or so. It seems like the realtek audio drivers that came with the laptop contribute some to the fuckery... but without them I don't think I can get the optical out to function. It looks like I may be stuck on USB to get the functionality I expect. Oh god... the compression kills me, I don't think I can stomach it.

@cskippy I haven't used JRiver before but it seems to be working better than foobar; I'll give this a shot over the weekend. Thanks for the help.

 

Just to follow up on the above in case anyone else has this same problem and happens to have Realtek audio drivers: uninstall them. Using the default Windows 7 drivers solved both issues, namely 1) losing 1-2 seconds of audio at the start of any clip and 2) the Gungnir Multibit relay clicking wildly every time a sound starts or stops.

But just in case that isn't an option for you and your drivers are cutting off the optical out signal, you can try SPDIF keep-alive software. Set it to silence mode and it will play a blank tone that will keep the digital output on. Not perfect, but far better than the contant click attack. Thanks to @k4rstar and @cskippy for chiming in so quickly.

 

Anybody using a Gungnir Multibit to produce/mix? Wondering if there will be significant delay in Ableton Live as that would get very annoying.

 

I never have any issues with Gungnir Multibit but I've always used either coax from my Steinberg MR816x or optical from my Soundblaster Z in Cockos Reaper. I've tried USB and don't recall having an issue if that's how you wish to connect Gungnir Multibit. Remember to play with the audio settings to balance latency with suttering and drop outs.

 

Just got mine... I didn't really believe these optical > USB claims but wow, this is the first time I've heard it make an actual difference.
Less "digitus" and fatigue for sure. Not a huge difference but it's there...
Will post some impressions tomorrow as this thing warms up (it runs surprisingly hot btw.)

 

Some first impressions:

At first when plugged in cold it sounded quite harsh but thick at the same time. Now after ~22h it's sounding very neutral but it has a certain thickness to the low-mids that is really pleasant, also the treble is quite smooth (not rolled off or warm) which has helped with listening fatigue. It seems like it's still settling in too.

The soundstage is big and is a little more out of head than I'm used to. The macro and microdynamics are crazy good.
Real acoustic kicks don't have the same kind of loud punch as electronic ones anymore. It's hard to explain for me, but there is bigger contrast of volume between everything. Better seperation.

Now, the most impressive thing about the Gungnir Multibit to me: The uniqueness of each and every sound/instrument.
Everything sounds more different from each other than they ever did with Chord Mojo or CA DAC Magic Plus.
Every sound is more lifelike, even synthesized ones. They all sound distinct and seperated. I could hear sounds that I've heard before but without being able to identify
what the sound really was. The Gungnir Multibit effortlessly made me notice these small sounds in the background and made me realize: Oh that is another vocal take behind the main vocals and it's slightly out of tempo.

Also the transparency is very, very impressive. Listening to really complex and fast music like Metal or Drum & Bass the Gungnir Multibit let's you hear through everything
to the smallest background sounds, which were buried and in some songs totally inaudible before.

I can't stop listening...

 

Glad you're enjoying it. I had the same ear-opening experience spending countless hours re-listening to my favorite music through it.

Don't see much of a reason to upgrade from here.

 

Mine took about 3-4 days to "completely" settle. I quote it because I think it kept changing but in much more subtle ways for another few days.

I also can't stop listening to it. It demands my attention in a way I thought only puppies could.

 

I've only heard the Yggdrasil, but the Gungnir Multibit shares the same fundamental tech. Should sound very similar, and exactly the same impressions. A major upgrade from the one-note veiled sound that is so typical of digital.

 

It makes sense to me not to mess with DSP after Gungnir Multibit in the signal chain (e.g. in active nearfield monitors).

What about a thing like Dirac Room Correction, for example, which is before Gungnir Multibit in the signal chain?

 

I have RoomPerfect and volume control before my Gungnir Multibit. Seems to work well but never having heard the alternative I couldn't testify to it being as good as without.

 

What kind of volume control?

 

Digital control I think as the whole thing is digital all the way through.

 

The Gungnir Multibit is the only Schiit DAC I've ever heard that I've really wanted.

If I'm considering getting one now that USB Gen 5 doesn't suck...

I guess I only have one major question: Are the single-ended outputs audibly inferior to the XLR outs? If so, is there a way to get the XLR outs converted to RCA inexpensively (e.g. with a cable, adapter, or transformer)? I've seen the Jensen PC-2XR--is that the least expensive good option?

 

See here:

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/xlr-to-rca-cables.4402/

I bought myself a pair of these cables and thought I could here a very slight improvement.

 

IMO no, the single ended outputs are just fine. They are properly summed as Jason has stated multiple times. That said, if you want the BEST sonically you can use the Jensen to do the conversion.

 

FWIW, I used a Jensen converter with mine for a while, but ended up going back to the SE outs for the SE amp. It sounds fine to me, clean, detailed and expansive. I'm sure I could convince myself that I could hear a difference, but wouldn't like to have to pick it out blind. The Gungnir Multibit's SE outputs sound plenty good enough to me.

(The Jensen still comes in handy when I want to send audio to the amp on the other side of the room, so it's all good.)

 

If you have no issues with ground loop noise or RFI/EMI/Common Mode Noise, then Gungnir Multibit's SE outputs sounds just as good as Gungnir Multibit's Balanced outputs. There is a small decrease in final volume due to different output voltages. Easy thing to test with Liquid Carbon having a simple push button switch to select SE or BAL input. If there are issues with Gungnir Multibit's SE output, it's common to all SE outputs...noise rejection on the amplifier side.

 

Honestly no, at least in my system. I bought the Jensen transformer to use the XLR out. Due to financial stuff, I had to sell it and have been happily using RCA out on my Yggdrasil (formerly had a Gungnir Multibit) with zero nervosa for several months. The improvements were not extremely noticeable and sometimes were impossible to detect in both Gungnir Multibit and Yggdrasil. The issue of which cables and what length introduces another element into the chain as well. However, the Jensen transformer is clearly of top-notch quality and does a very good job as a passive option. You won't be disappointed by its quality.

IMO I would go without at first. More important is the source feeding the DAC, which you clearly have sorted out.