Modi Multibit: Multibit for the masses.

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

  1. Grahad

    Grahad Guest

    Unfortunately your motherboard doesn't have the SPDIF header on the board to allow the cheap digital coax out. Optical would be your best bet unless you want to spend on converters.
     
  2. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    I suggest the following procedure to determine if your optical out is better than your USB out. This is rather complicated, multi-step process that only the most intelligent can try. If you are an idiot, do not attempt this.

    Listen to something using USB.
    Listen to the same something using Optical.

    Now comes the hard part. If you think there is a difference, you are probably wrong as there probably isn't. But if you think there is a difference, use the one you think sounds better.

    If you think they sound the same, you are probably right, but that should not stop you from spending hundreds of dollars on de-crapifiers or converters or better cables. Always spend gobs on cables as that makes you appear to be an true audiophile, but unfortunately adds very little value / dollar spent. The more you spend the more respect you will get from those that have also spent gobs of money under the non-scientific impression there is a difference.

    If you clearly hear clicking or humming with the USB, a decrapifier might help.
     
  3. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Well, the idea was that the Mobi's SPDIF input is better than its USB, but I hear what you're saying.

    Found the SPDIF output on my motherboard (it's filthy, I know), but there's no header so I'll have to solder one on to try out. I don't have a Mobi (yet), but I can follow @AllanMarcus multi-step process with my iDSD (without the spending hundreds of dollars on de-crapifiers or converters or better cables).

    [​IMG]
     
  4. Grahad

    Grahad Guest

    Oh wow, time for a new market segment.

    Audiophile compressed air
     
  5. MoatsArt

    MoatsArt Friend

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    Call me sentimental, but this reminds me of a poem I learned in my youth:

    There once was a man from Sparta
    Who was a magnificent farter
    On the strength of one bean
    He'd fart "God Save the Queen"
    And Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata
     
  6. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    [​IMG]
     
  7. gamerstudent

    gamerstudent Acquaintance

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    Thank you for your insightful post :p

    The only reason i've asked what I've asked is due to this post:

     
  8. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Yes. That's what I was referring to.
     
  9. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    While these impressions are preliminary, my Modi Multibit and Jotunheim showed up in the mail today. Initially, the resolution and detail of the Modi Multibit blows me away. This is my main takeaway amongst the two.

    I have a Yamaha A-S801 that I use quite often for movies and sometimes for music. The Bifrost Uber w/ Gen 2 USB was pretty on par with the integrated DAC in the A-S801. I actually sold the the Bifrost because of this. However, fresh out of the box, the Modi Multibit stomps all over the A-S801's DAC. I'm looking forward to spending more time with this DAC and providing feedback as I go forward.
     
  10. gamerstudent

    gamerstudent Acquaintance

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    Nice to hear your impressions, are you using USB or SPDIF for your input into the Modi Multibit?
     
  11. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    @gamerstudent I've been using both USB and SPDIF inputs, but have not been doing A/B comparisons, and I may not. I've been using USB on my PC and SPDIF from an OG PS3. Both sound great, and the USB is probably the best USB implementation I've heard in a sane environment, but I haven't spent a whole lot of time with various DACs at home.

    My PC has an SPDIF header on the motherboard. If I can get my hands on a low profile digital out bracket, it might be fun to compare coax out to the USB, but I'm really loving it over USB.

    Edit: "best" is used here in context with respect to the price of Modi Multibit.
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2016
  12. alchemist007

    alchemist007 New

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    So some people are saying it's "not the best USB implementation" and @Vansen says it's respectable. Hard to know what to think as a potential buyer. Another Schiit product, the Jotunheim's usb DAC has given me its share of issues as I mentioned in that impressions thread.
     
  13. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

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    @alchemist007 Everything needs to be put in perspective. At $250, it's a great implementation in my eyes.
     
  14. Grahad

    Grahad Guest

    It can be not the best and still be respectable. Sort of like Eddie the Eagle.
     
  15. landroni

    landroni Friend

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    Unless you're particularly nervous (think 'nervosa'), it's perfectly fine. Using myself via USB and not much there to complain about. But if you are nervous, then you better get something like a $1.5K USB purifier and a 700$ cryo'ed USB cable to correct any USB issues that there might be on this excellent 250 bucks DAC... Well, that, or just grab an RPi + Digi+ Pro for some 60 bucks and feed Modi Multibit via optical or coax inputs and be done with it.
     
  16. ak2angel

    ak2angel Acquaintance

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    Another viable option is to seek for an used RME 9652 / Lynx L22 / AES16 (around $150-200 with cables, adapters) if your motherboard has legacy PCI. IMHO these interfaces can easily best many sub $500 usb-spdif converters in pure sonic quality, but then you are stuck with a legacy port with little upgrade paths.
     
  17. alchemist007

    alchemist007 New

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    Only if by cryo you mean cryogenically frozen in time to capture the music the moment it was mastered :p.
     
  18. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    The LH Lightspeed Revive seems to be receiving very positive comments for decrapifying USB signals. $300 though.
     
  19. Poleepkwa

    Poleepkwa Friend

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    I have been been using my second hand Xonar sound card with good results - basically any known sound card with SPDIF will probably do. Bonus is that I can use the Dolby surround for gaming then, if that is your thing.
     
  20. parity

    parity New

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    I'm new to computer audio. R pi is raspberry pi, but what is digi and pro?

    Is there any difference in the optical out of this 60 dollar solution versus buying the RME or lynx 22 pci cards? The cost of the lynx card in my country is around 5x the price of a wyrd.

    "The RME, Lynx, or CD transport is a way to get huge gains on the Modi MB since its USB implementation seems to lag Gungnir Multibit Gen 2 and Yggdrasil Gen 3 by quite a bit."
     

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