Modi Multibit: Multibit for the masses.

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

  1. Noodlz

    Noodlz Almost "Made"

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    quick 23 hour update: (TDLR wow. just buy this thing already lol)

    - Everything has improved again. Looks like im keeping the GOV2 strictly as a mobile unit.
    - Dynamics and microdetails have improved past the GOV2
    - Starting to hear some plankton!
    - Sharpness has smoothed / rounded out significantly now. Not buttery / creamy smooth like the theta progeny, but totally listenable for longer sessions now.
    - still slightly on the brighter side, but crystal clear with out being sharp
    - the mix has opened up and improved (better separation, mids shining through more. more vocal nuances can be heard now
    - soundstage is now equal or better than the GOV2, catching up to the progeny (really close now)

    Basically now the only thing for the Modi Multibit that's missing vs the Theta progeny is the smooth / naturalness & the staging/separation + the lovely microcomplexities in the plankton /nuances of sounds. But now the Modi Multibit is a bit more clear / defined, also a more "forward" presentation.

    at this point the staging is like:

    Theta progeny = at the front row of the stage at a 200 people concert stage
    Modi Multibit = you might be on stage with the artist at a 50 people concert stage

    Right now i feel like the progeny is better for acoustic, classical, vocals, jazz, anything with more natural sounds / nuances you want to hear
    the Modi Multibit is a no brainer though if you listen to modern music (EDM, Hip Hop) with its clarity and bottom end rumble.
     
  2. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    How would you compare imaging across these? Specifically, The Modi Multibit is said to have some of that precise 3d holographic imaging of the other Schiit multibit DACs - do you notice this, and how well do the others compare in this respect?
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2016
  3. Noodlz

    Noodlz Almost "Made"

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    Ah, yeah the Modi Multibit is very precise in its image positioning. I definitely notice it, the individual sounds are very distinctively defined in its shape / outline and location.

    The theta has a large stage, but the locations & and shapes are not super sharp. The GOV2 is like the Modi Multibit but not as well defined and definitely not as well positioned.

    If comparing to watching movies its like:

    - Theta progeny = watching a film-recorded film on 55 inch plasma TV (i.e. Dark Knight returns)

    - Modi Multibit = watching a digitally record movie on a curved-screen 42 inch 4K tv (i.e. Transformers)

    - GOV2 = watching digital movie on a 32 inch 4K tv

    Basically the Modi Multibit has better positioning and clarity / distinction over both GOV2 and theta progeny, but doesnt have the stage and the "inbetween sounds / atmosphere" like the the theta progeny
     
  4. Madra

    Madra Acquaintance

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    @Noodlz , your impressions are highly appreciated.
    A couple of months ago, I installed on a whim the GOV2 in my main (speaker) system. The end result is that my Benchmark DAC1 (admittedly an obsolete DAC) is now collecting dust on a shelf.
    The Gov2 was, for my tastes, a much better DAC; more natural timbres, textured lows, extended and less homogeneous highs... more musical and real sounding.
    I hope the Modi Multibit gets me one step further up the SQ chain.
     
  5. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    um, upgrading your GOV2 for the GO2A could also get you one step up the SQ chain. alas, that offer may have expired?
    it did for my HE400S (balanced) with and without the Vali2 as an amp.
     
  6. Scott Kramer

    Scott Kramer Friend

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    @Noodlz

    So I wonder if the 24hrs was the initial break in. What if you turn it off for an hour (let it get cold), then back on (until it feels warm like normal) if you are back to full performance.

    It does seem to warm up (to the touch) quick at least since it's in such a small enclosure.

    Awesome reviews--
     
  7. Noodlz

    Noodlz Almost "Made"

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    @Scott Kramer Thank! If i have time tonight i'll try that out and report my findings =)
     
  8. Madra

    Madra Acquaintance

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    I felt this upgrade is worth it, for the looks and built let alone SQ.
    However, I do not live in the US and frankly, I do not want the hassle of sending my unit back and following up on any unforeseen delays.
     
  9. Noodlz

    Noodlz Almost "Made"

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    Ok so quick impressions at approx 30 hrs:

    The first / most noticeble thing is that the bass has improved~ hits and flexes even harder than before. this thing has that fat SLAM~~ Soundstage hasnt changed much, but the nuances for everything have improved and more and more nuances of the instrumentations & vocals are now heard. All the sounds (across the board) is more full sounding too. (the theta still has more plankton but just a bit more now, unlike before where the Modi Multibit didnt have any)

    It is VERY VERY nice now. Definitely more musicality, but still not organic / warm. makes me think "so fresh so clean clean~" Comparing to the theta now they're just different flavors (tighter clean and slam vs warm and textured bloom). Sound quality between the two is now just about even.


    Will turn off now and see how it sounds in an hour or so~
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2016
  10. FlySweep

    FlySweep Friend

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    Modibit's been cookin' for the better part of 30 hrs. Definite improvement. @Noodlz nailed a lot of what I'm hearing at this point. Generally speaking, I sense better focus. Everything sounds cleaner and better delineated. Tighter bass (still midbass-y and on the thick side, though).. I'd prefer a little more speed and sub bass presence. The midrange is straight up CRACK COCAINE. Beautiful tone, depth, clarity, micro/macro dynamics, layering, blah blah blah. Again, attack is on the softer side.. but the dynamics and sheer resolution here more than makes up for it. So far, the ModiBit's treble feels more of a perfectly tuned accentuation to complete the midrange rather than a separate, show stealing aspect this DAC. I hear no "sins of commission" in the upper frequencies. personally, I'd like a little more crispness/extension/sparkle. Center-treble hardness seems to have worked its way out. I think it's perfectly fine considering how impressive everything else is, so I'm probably being anal.

    One interesting phenomenon I seem to observe is that I'm hearing aspects of instruments in the treble that I didn't hear with (good) DS DACs.. but I also seem to remember hearing things in the treble from DS DACs that I'm not hearing with the MM. I dunno.. I'll have to dig some more. Maybe It's too late and I drank too much ginger ale tonight. More thoughts coming tomorrow night. Anyone run this thing via the coax input? I'm keen on those impressions vs the USB. Not interested tossing a muuuuutek at this or anything.. but it would look cute as a button next to the RaspyFi.

    Gave it a spin tonight..

    [​IMG]

    Wasn't feelin' it. Sound was noticeably flatter (dynamically compressed) and well, just plain weird vs the Magic Mike deluxe Mexican filter.
     
  11. Noodlz

    Noodlz Almost "Made"

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    @FlySweep its always nice to hear that i'm not a completely crazy person lol. Here's my impressions from the turn-off-for-an-hour test:


    straight off of boot / cold

    - bass is weak

    - sounds are thin and nowhere as thick as they were an hour ago

    - micro details in general are present but faint / not clear

    - no plankton at all

    - treble is ok, not sharp or hot

    - definition is not as refined

    - sounds cold / flat / stale and non-musical compared to before



    - However, soundstage & imaging / positioning its just as good as before (outline and definition is not as crisp though right out the cold



    As it warms up (5-10 min in) - just kinda warm

    - bass starts thickening fairly quickly. the fatness is back after like 2 songs.

    - other elements seems to take longer to come back.

    - midrange / vocal details are the next to come back (after about 4 songs)



    30 min - nice and warm now~

    - Bassi is nearly back to what it was before

    - sounds thickening but not quite what it was before yet

    - micro details and definition is close to what it was before

    - still no plankton

    - no longer stale, but not quite as exciting as before yet

    - overall it’s pretty decent now. just not as nice as before (at this point sound quality wise is just a hair below the GOV2 (not quite clear /crisp / exciting / thick enough yet), but with plenty more bass slam



    1 hour mark - nice and toasty again

    - VERY close to what it was before (from memory / comparison between it and the theta progeny). I can only be so accurate from memory but the micro details, definition is all back. some of the plankton is starting to surface again. I think it basically sounds like what it did around the 24 hour mark. I assume at this rate within the next hour it should be what had it sounding before.



    In summary, it seems like this thing will warm back up to its previous state within a few hours (after turning off for an hour), which is very very nice to know =) Now im just gonna enjoy this thing for the next week, with any luck this thing just might improve a bit more. Supremely impressed with this little thing. being to get a DAC of this level off sound at its price is just NUTS. Well done Schiit~
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2016
  12. Aplle

    Aplle New

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    If y'all are connecting by USB on Windows, pay attention to what it says on Schiit's driver page. The Win 10 driver they had wouldn't install for me, so I went with the Win 7/8 driver. Not a good idea.

    I was having some problems, so I uninstalled it and let Windows install whatever driver automatically, and for some reason it sounds noticeably better. I should have just let Windows handle it in the first place.
     
  13. Huxleigh

    Huxleigh Almost "Made"

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    At last, I managed to get some quality time in with the Moby. How about some quick impressions? :)
    • M4490 doesn't stack up terribly well, I'm afraid. Do take that with an extra grain of salt, as I'm going off memory.
    • BF4490 provides close competition. Rather different presentation, but similarly good balance. Hard to call a winner. Again, memory, albeit more recent. Moby is clearly the better value, however.
    • Moby improves quite noticeably with warm up.
    • No insight to offer regarding sonic changes on an hourly basis. Moby's been plugged in since Monday, as I wanted to mitigate the possibility of a negative first impression. I don't altogether discount burn in, but neither do I pay special attention to it.
    • Midrange clarity is just outstanding. There's a pleasing smoothness, also.
    • Detail retrieval in the treble is thorough, yet not clinical. An intriguing quality.
    • Bass is tight and controlled. Aligns with my taste, but might not be to everyone's liking. Doesn't slam as hard as BF4490, but compensates with refinement.
    And that's what I've got so far. Happy to elaborate on anything that may be of interest. Haven't even listened to the Bifrost Multibit yet! It's on my agenda for this weekend, though.

    Edit: D'oh, forgot to mention my gear. :oops: I'm listening through an unmodded HD 600 driven by a DNA Sonett. Moby is connected via USB to rMBP. USB de-fuckification is provided by a W4S Recovery. The Recovery was not in the chain with the M4490, for what that's worth.
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2016
  14. batriq

    batriq Probably has made you smarter

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    Looking forward to your impressions vs the Bifrost Multibit!
     
  15. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    How hard does the bass hit vs Bifrost Multibit? I thought the Bifrost 4490 was warmer than Bifrost Multibit in the lower mids and hit much harder than neutral in the bass while Bifrost Multibit was better in the lower mids with "time correct bass" but hit like a pillow covered in maple syprup, way softer than neutral. The Modi 2U AK4396 was in between and had much closer to the "proper amount" of slam that didn't bleed everywhere but without the texture of something like the Yggdrasil.
     
  16. FredM

    FredM New

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    If anyone has the opportunity to compare the Modi MB with a Chord Mojo, please share your thoughts!! |\/|
    I'm very interested in the Modi MB, I wonder if it's on a similar level..!? The Modi MB would sure be a very nice introduction to the Schitt family

    Cheers, Fred
     
  17. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
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    Based on what's in it, the Modi MB is just better. Chord Mojo is thick, warm, and honky.
     
  18. bixby

    bixby Friend

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    So you are making a rec to a rando based on what is in the Modi MB?

    Have you heard the Modi MB, and have you actually heard the Mojo?
     
  19. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
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    I haven't heard the Mumby yet but I've heard the other Modis, the Bifrost Multibit, and the Chord Mojo. The Chord Mojo sucks; it sounds like trash and looks like a Tiger Electronics toy from 1996. There's a zero % chance the Mumby isn't better.
     
  20. shotgunshane

    shotgunshane Floridian Falcon

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    Tell us how you really feel.

    I quite like the mojo and I would never characterize it as thick. Slightly warm, yes. I think it looks great in person too. I like things a little sleazy but never trashy.
     

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