Modi Multibit: Multibit for the masses.

Yeah, it's on all inputs... I bet if Adapticlock/VCXO/VCO lived on the DSP, and it had room... they'd quietly slip it in

 

It's simply a generic assumption that Gen3 would somehow transform Bifrost Multibit/Gungnir Multibit to another class.. I doubt people owning them use poor toslink sources anyway. Perhaps it would raise costs, so I'm fine with it. Even Yggdrasil users try to use AES...

 

I got mine this morning. I was skeptic. It sounded ok out of the box if not a bit stale, but after coming back 20 mins later and played the same songs it sounded noticeably better. Over about three hours with the hot magni 2u up top it sounded pretty damn great. If music sounds better than this don't tell me. It saved my oppo pm3 which I was not fond of. They sound amazing after it warms up. They say the pm3 sounds great with a phone or MacBook but planars like juice and they sound noticeably better when a/b with the MacBook. More warm, better soundstage, great detail.

 

The gen 3 is a new interface that is not just an evolution from the existing gen 2.
There are unknowns, like OS compatibility/driver support and whatnot.
Putting this advanced technology in a Yggdrasil - which has a much lower sales volume than the modi or bifrost - minimizes the risks in the sense that if something goes wrong, they only need to provide support for a small number of units.
Worse case, if the gen 3 turned out to have many drivers or hardware compatibility issues, the USB board could have been replaced.
Can't do that with 10,000 Modi... Would be very expensive even in the Bifrost, given the price point.

Maybe when Schiit is confident that the gen3 is rock solid and would works with not so great USB sources (which are less likely to be used with an Yggdrasil), we might eventually see it in the other DACs.

Until then, let's just enjoy the rock solid gen 2 USB!

 

How so?

 

did anyone compare the Modi 2 multiubit with the GOV2 (used as a dac)?

 

Is this Modi multibit sound better than Bifrost 4490 ? just for sound quality .

 

Yeah, where are the reviews yo

 

Here you go, folks. I strongly suspect that each of you will find loads of useful information over there. Good luck!

Anyway, both Moby and Bifrost Multibit are in the house. Keen to compare/contrast them, both against each other and my prior experience with their delta-sigma counterparts. Now to find the time to listen...

Edit: Damnit, @zonto, you beat me to the punch.

 

My first taste of multibit. Cans are a (modded) HD650. I've had it running for about 15 minutes.

Way too early impressions:

-Tonal density is on the slightly thicker side vs DS DACs I've owned (mainly 9018s).. but not muddy or bloated at all.
-Subtle warmth is exquisite, delicate. Decay is natural. Note weight is excellent.
-Background is black.. but not totally black like some good DS DACs.
-Bass has nice punch, depth, texture.. Slightly midbass-focused. Not as fast and tight as good 9018 DS DACs. Midrange tone is just gorgeous. Treble is mostly smooth.. I sense a little hardness in the center treble area. It feels slightly rolled off at the upper most registers.
-Staging is very realistic to the recording. Layering and imaging is superb.
-Not as 'fast' or 'crisp' as most of the 9018 DS dacs (done right) that I've owned (but those have their own issues).
-Resolves in an effortless manner.
-Dynamics are excellent.
-Not clinical, harsh, or grainy at all.

So far.. I like it a lot. I need to let my ears adjust to the MB sound. Modded HD650 is a really nice match for it.

Again.. I've been running it for 15-30 mins.. so I'm quite certain some of these thoughts will change with extended listening/use.

 

Ordered a multibit so I can check it myself.
thanks for the punch guys

 

Just got mine today! Listened through its first 2 hours and compared it to my Theta progeny, my primary DAC right now which is an old school R2R (both fed from iPhone > wyrd > mxu8 spdif out > DAC > Laconic NBM amp. Tested on both the modified HD580s and on some speakers (powered with a cheapo T-amp). FYI I'm a very visual synesthetic person so i may speak kinda on the crazy side with colors textures and flavors

Out the gate it's very nice and detailed. Dynamics and micro details are great. Soundstage is pretty decent as well. Micro details like adlibs and atmospheric sounds are very clear and distinctive, the bass is tout and punchy. It's definitely got that Schiit clean, crisp, and focused sound. (in my weird synesthesia-speak, its like a nice glossy liquid silver stream, almost glistening. Like a very nice chilled stoli vodka martini. Depending on the track though the treble can get a bit shouty / clangy / hot, which for me since im very sensitive to that can be a bit uncomfortable (but not too bad, i just can't imaging doing long sessions with it). Overall though this thing definitely has that) Overall a very nice DAC especially for the price.

When compared to the Theta Progeny the sound isn't as full (not as thick), there's less bloom & in general a bit more clinical / colder (the theta is definitely slightly on the warmer / darker side of things), so one could interpret the Modi Multibit to be more neutral. Also the Modi Multibit doesn't do the plankton details like the theta, with the progenty you could almost feel the details from the vibrations of the snare hits, whereas for the Modi Multibit you hear the snare clearly, but you dont really hear / feel the micro resonances.

I tried my best to volume match as well since the line out of the progeny is kinda louder than usual (so the Modi Multibit had to be turned up comparatively). At around the same volume level, the theta in genera was warmer, darker, more organic / musical, and slightly more mid-centric with a slightly bigger but less defined soundstage. The Modi Multibit is cleaner / more analytical, with a more enclosed but sharply defined soundstage, and the mix is more neutral where you can hear the little details of everything. The separation doesnt seem to be as good though comparatively because of the staging so everything is closer to each other, even though the spatial definition of the individual sound source is crisper.

If i were to compare them two like paintings, the theta progeny would be a slightly larger oil painting with broader strokes and spaces, clean lines but you can see a bit of gradation on the edges & surfaces of the paint, whereas the Modi Multibit would be slightly smaller, with the lines painted with clear cut ruler precision. you see see the texture on the paint but its much more structural and less grain.

All in all its very very clean and nice, but my preference leans towards a warmer / organic / creamier sound, and so far I think i still prefer my theta over the Modi Multibit. I figure 2 hours is a pretty good amount of time for it to warm up, though when i get back tonight i may take another listen to see if the sound has changed and how they compare.

 

I seem to remember reading Schiit recommends 24 hours for their MB DACs.

 

ahh~ In that case I guess I will probably post some impressions tomorrow lol. Maybe if i get around to it i can compare it to the GOV2 as well

 

Oh cool, people downvoted my comment... then posted impressions. Thanks.

 

Ok update: (TDLR it has DEFINITELY gotten better)

Came back home and listened again at around the 8-9 hour mark: Definitely a marked change from earlier. There is a drastic improvment in terms of the separation of the sound sources & the general size of the soundstage. And probably the biggest notable change is the mass and presence of bass. The lows are now flowing out in a really nice rumble as opposed to the tout punches I was hearing earlier today. (its the type of sound that when you listen to some hip hop tracks it makes you go "whoooo~ cotdayem son!", aka dat uglyface when a siik dr. dre beat comes on if u know what i mean lol) . It doesnt mean its loose though, its still tight and you can hear the flexing points of the bassline distinctively, its just that the mass and rumble (presence) of the bass is much more intense now.

The treble has also tamed itself very nicely~ The sharpness hasn't completely disappeared but its been smoothed out quite a bit. The mids have also improved in terms of the vocal texture, more finely defined now)

Still not as much micro plankton / organicness / warmth compared to the theta progeny, but everything else has kinda caught up (starting to hear / some plankton & organicness now). The Theta still wins on soundstage, fullness of sound, musicality & quality of mids, but it's much closer than earlier.



Side note: GOV2 comparison. (iphone > Y cable with usb power cable connected to a power adapter > Single End Output to RCA > Laconic NBM. warmed up for about 30 min before listening:

Just listening to it i'm like wow i really should listen to this more as a dac. Great soundstage (a little worse than the theta progeny but beter than the Modi Multibit) Awesome microdetails and has distinct and clean texture / plankton. Punchy and present bass. great mass. a cleaner, more neutral sound than the theta progeny, in comparison the Modi Multibit (still burning in) is on the bright side. Some tracks though it seems like the stage is bigger than than the Modi Multibit and has more separating, but the sounds are a bit thinner if that makes any sense.

That being said the GOV2 is definitely slightly on the sharper cleaner sider of things so as far as the flavor goes i'm still leaning towards the progeny. The details are VERY nice with this though (like when you listen to the bassline you can very clearly hear the shifts between the notes, better than both the progeny and Modi Multibit(for now). Fullness of the sound seems to be slightly worse than both the Modi Multibit and the progeny.



in synesthesia coffee-flavor speak:

- Theta progeny = a really nice cup of latte with a hint of mocha + a nice swirl of cream coffee art on top. Not too heavy but has just enough body and cream to smooth things out. tons of flavor and depth without being overpowering.

- GOV2 = looks like a small espresso cup, but the flavor is like a nice big strong cup of drip coffee. plenty of aroma & flavor. No cream to smooth anything out but all the complex flavors are there. Drinking too much / too long might feel just a tad acidic /tangy though. also its like drinking it in small sips with the sound being not as full as the other two.

- Modi Multibit @9hrs = A crisp cup of refreshing cold brew coffee. Nice flavors but on the lighter crisper side of things, missing a bit of the complex flavors, but its all still there. Has lots of ice still but some have melted so drink is a lil smoother now (and maybe the ice is infused with a bit of vodka, now its giving a bit of kick)



This thing is turning into a pretty amzing unit. Will try and find time to report again tomorrow after the 24hr mark.

 

I like reading these impressions but maybe some > 2 week after follow ups would be beneficial. I think things could only get better. Just make sure to never shut your DAC off...

I already own 3 Schiit DACs but I could see one of these making it's way to my office rig. A Modi 2MB + Magni or Vali is still cheaper than a Mojo, and I don't really need portability.

 

Ordered today! I need small unit for my work desk so this will go nicely with my Valhalla2!