New Schiit Modi Multibit???

Was talking to @zerodeefex and a few others about the possibility of there being a new Modi Multibit (Modi Multibit) out in the wild. I have no confirmation whether this is true or not, or a running change, but I have some measurements here that do indicate the possibility. I don't have the my early production Modi Multibit (it's out on the loaner program) to compare directly, but I've listened to these DACs enough to know that subjectively, there does seem to be some improvements:

1. More overall clarity and black background
2. Less congestion and thickness in the bass
3. More extended in the highs (slight)
4. More resolving (slight)
5. Early production Modi Multibit tended to sound thick in the bass with a touch of upper mid emphasis. This one still maintains a darkish slope, but without the bumps, smoother and more extended

Will post some measurements soon.

 

For reference see @atomicbob's measurements of an early production Modi Multibit: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/schiit-modi-mb-technical-measurements.2603/

Schiit Modi Multibit (latest production ~ June 2018)
-90.33db 1kHz


Now this is interesting.

1. It looks like some dither. I fed the Modi Multibit via ARTA using a 16-bit signal with dither-off.
2. No glitch during the 11111111 to 00000000 transition.
3. Significantly better measurement compared to @atomicbob's early production Modi Multibit which couldn't really make this out.

 

I haven't opened it up and probably won't have time until next weekend. Leaving for NYC tonight. Yes, in many ways it's comparable to the older Gungnir Multibit. It's not quite as powerful, focused, and resolving; but the clarity is better, and tone more suited to my tastes.

Schiit Modi Multibit (latest production ~ June 2018)
-70db 1kHz


Just checking this. No glitch. Also the -70db sine wave is a bit smoother, less ragged looking from before.

 

Wait, what's that? Some idiot bought a new Modi MB off the website and a Cthulu floor wart so he could compare it against his old one while making sure they're both powered on for exactly a week to compare them?



Now if only @jexby would return my Eitr so that I can compare them side by side next weekend.

Did it lose the "TransDAC of the future" thing?

 

Still has that TransDAC thing, just incrementally better from before.

 

I've heard anecdotal reports of Bifrost Multibit not sucking anymore and being in another class. But I am not even sure if there even is a new Bifrost Multibit out in the wild.

 

Quite a few of us dislike the DAC. Here's hoping to improvements .

 

Probably. @atomicbob appears to have received a firmware upgrade via a chip which might have been put into place a along with the glitch corrections on Gungnir Multibit and Yggdrasil 1. From what I am aware, the glitch fixes were implemented a long time ago.

Now, I have no idea whether the Modi Multibit I have is the result of firmware or firmware / new PCB. Maybe others here who have ordered a new unit can crack them open and find out. I don't have my original Modi Multibit anymore, it's out on the loaner.

I would suggest unit to tell the differences.

P.S. The early revisions did not have dithering. I don't think there is any subjective difference with only dithering. But dithering does make certain measurements look a lot better at the expense of higher noise floor. Dithering is kind of like cheating. Moral of the story is that chasing measurements doesn't always been better sound.

 

I got one in late April, if we need that for comparison as well.