Modi Multibit: Multibit for the masses.

It happened to me once, so far, in months of use. I was assuming the DSP got itself into some weird state- as it does run software, of a sort.

 

Straight from the horse's mouth:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/815368/hap...-introducing-modi-multibit/1380#post_12933242

 

I have compared the Modi2 MB and Yiggy over a 1-hour time period.

Same room.
Same tracks. (TIDAL HIFI)
Same HP amp. (Simaudio Moon 230HAD)
Same headphones. (Focal Utopia)

My conclusion (and that of others at the meet-up): pretty much zero, zilch, nada difference. The Yiggy did have more volume gain but that's it. One person noted slightly more detail on the Yiggy and slightly better bass control and nuance. We're talking a difference of say 9.5/10.0 and 9.9/10.0, Modi2 MB vs. Yiggy.

Am I alone here? Am I crazy?

 

Yep, same thing happened to me. Ringing/digital tizziness in the left channel only. A reboot fixed it right up.

 

Well, several things might be happening, but to start from the obvious...
Was the Yggdrasil fully warmed-up, and by this I mean 7 days of continuous playback since being acquired and at least several hours before the meet (though some will insist on 24h or so)? What was the source, and what was the connecting interface? Were you familiar with Yggdrasil already, or was this the first time you heard it? And what was the protocol for comparing (e.g. 20 sec A/B switcharoos*)?

@Torq on HF came up with a not so different ranking** of the two:

* I shared some of my thoughts on instantaneous A/B testing here.
** This comes with disclaimers that should be carefully read...

PS Since you haven't done this already, please introduce yourself in this thread:
http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/new-members-introduce-yourself.17/

 

As ladroni mentioned, please introduce yourself first before posting elsewhere. Especially if your intent is to make a sweeping statement like that. We have no idea where you're coming from in terms of gear and experience, so it's hard to take your statement seriously. TBH, I wouldn't expect a random person off the street (sorry but that's what you are right now) to be able to tell the difference between the Yggdrasil and Modi Multibit either.

 

Visitors to my lab who haven't experienced sound outside of smart devices and ear buds are usually so amazed by MoMB + Vali 2 and HD650 that it is very hard for them to differentiate between that and other systems in the lab.

 

Not at all. But as others have pointed out, you need to have experience in knowing what to listen for, how to listen, and how to set up the gear properly.

For my part, this ensures that I will probably never bother with anything more expensive than a Modi Multibit, if that.

 

Out of curiosity, what sort of tube are you using in the Vali?

 

Did you compare Yggdrasil and/or Modi Multibit on the one hand against Moon Simaudio built-in ESS Sabre DAC on the other.

How was 230 HAD with the Utopia. Did you compare versus Utopia on any other amps.

 

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...em-synergy-special-sound.54/page-6#post-96338

 

I do wonder if a middling solid state amp like that is the best choice for critical listening to microdetail, when comparing DACs.

 

i never tried a multi-bit dac. i plan on getting the modi soon after i make my headphone purchase in the near future. i currently run an echo audiofire 2 and plan on replacing it with the modi. the echo uses and older ak chip which a lot of people from here besides pro audio world prefers to the newer ak used in current interfaces and seems the schitt dacs as well. the firewire lately on my laptop has been acting up too is another reason i'm leaning towards the modi multi-bit so i plan on going the usb route this time around. it also basically same price point as the echo when at the time over few years ago was around 299 so the modi will be cheaper new. i just curious if any idea someone could wonder how much more improvement it'll be compared to my old soon to be retired echo audiofire?

 

I've never heard a good dac before. I've been using the ZMF Omni the past couple of weeks double amping out of a schiit magni 2 into my laptop's aux jack. I know, horror setup.
I've had the modi multibit for a couple of months too, but I couldn't use it with my laptop due to USB driver issues. Today I tried them with my dad's laptop and it works!
Since I don't have any music files on his laptop, I've been listening to craptastic YouTube music. I must say, even with that, I've never been so floored by anything in my life. I'm kind of exaggerating, but it feels like night and day difference. It's like the Omni's were dead until I plugged them into the magni 2 and Modi Multibit set up.
The highs sound cleaner and clearer but strangely less harsh/siblant. Still a little rash but quite smooth over all. The mids which sounded sucked out and recessed before came alive and took the center of everything. The bass which sounded like erectile distinction now sounds textured and firm. Oh and I'm getting goosebumps.

Hooooooooooooooooooolyyyyyyyyyyyy schiiitttttttt these sound amazing.

 

The Yggdrasil was bought around October 2015, powered off for 2 weeks in December 2015 (silently sobbed as sound took a week to return), and powered down very briefly as it was moved to the UPS (think hot potato) about 2 months before the meet. It stayed powered on continuously driving to, playing during, and driving home from the meet. Source is iPad (Tidal in HiFi) into Pure i-20. COAX was connected to the Yggdrasil. Toslink was connected to the other DAC, switched between Mojo and Modi Multibit depending on what people were listening to at the time.

 

Sheldaze found me

I have been in the 'audiophile" world for about 20 years when I got my first pair of Boston Acoustics BA635 speakers with a Gateway PC back in the mid-90s. I have a pretty nice NAIM/Dynaudio setup at home. I would also say I have a very discerning ear and I know what I want to hear.

Do I spend 5-figures on this stuff like a lot you all? No. Do I tinker a lot? Not as much as you all. I like to read, read, read, demo if possible, buy, and enjoy for a while before the next upgrade.

Did I say the Modi2 MB is better than Yiggy? No. The Yiggy has the edge on detail retrieval, bass control and nuance, and overall sublime addictiveness. This impression comes from the Focal Utopias. The next step, something I hope to do is demo Modi2 MB, Yiggy, and maybe something else at home, if possible. A black Yiggy remains my object of obsession, sometime after February 1 I hope.

 

No, I did not. Was not my objective. Though the Modi2 MB/Yiggy + 230HAD combo was sublime.

 

No, but you did say this:

A little bit misleading since you seem to be backpedaling a bit on that statement now. It's great to know you've been an audiophile for 20 years, but without introducing yourself before you dropped that bombshell on us it's a little tough to take you seriously. Worse yet if another rando reads your opinion and comes to the same conclusion without hearing both for himself.

 

I'm sure you know what an impossible/loaded question that is- I'm absolutely not going to go all HF and start screaming "night and day". When you consider the DAC, amp and transducer chain, upgrading the transducer is often the biggest bump, followed by the amp, and then DAC. The difference is more subtle, and what's more, you won't hear it properly until the rest of the chain is reasonably on-point.

However, with all of that in mind, I don't feel like it'd be exaggerating to say that it will be a very pleasant upgrade. You'll probably hear a smoother, more detailed sound, with better staging and instrument separation, plus less glare in the highs. These things will probably make you enjoy your listening more, and you'll bless the Modi Multibit for being such a nice little DAC for the money. People tend not to regret picking one up.