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Schiit Gungnir Multibit impressions

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Bill-P, Oct 7, 2015.

Page 7 of 64
  1. Thujone

    Thujone Friend

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    I basically use iTunes and Google Music the most, so I suppose setting 32/44.1 is probably my best bet. Even if I stream video, I'm rarely using headphones so I doubt I'll notice much if the video is 48.

    Thanks, everyone!
     
    Thujone, Jan 19, 2016
    #121
  2. Boops

    Boops Friend

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    Thanks for the input.
     
    Boops, Jan 19, 2016
    #122
  3. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    This is all very helpful. Is there a way to change the bit depth from 16 to 24 or 32 within the audio midi on macs (As you would toggle between 44.1, 48, etc), or do you do this some other way?
     
    brencho, Jan 19, 2016
    #123
  4. Thujone

    Thujone Friend

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    Shoot, I just realized something. Considering a lot of what I listen to is "high quality" lossy (i.e. 320 kbit/s), how does the bit depth and sample rate from my sound settings come into play? Or do lossy source files make the Windows settings irrelevant?

    I realize this may be getting a bit complex...
     
    Thujone, Jan 19, 2016
    #124
  5. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    The compressed audio (mp3 or whatever) is decompressed into normal pcm, and then sent to whatever audio API your player is configured for. So, the main thing is that you are starting with slightly lower quality than the original lossless file. The farther down you go in quality, the less these settings (Windows mixer vs WASAPI) matter, since at some point you're just shining a penny, but I would say that at 320kbps, you're probably so high in quality that using WASAPI would still make sense.
     
    lm4der, Jan 19, 2016
    #125
  6. cooperpwc

    cooperpwc Friend

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    Yah, Gungnir Multibit is pretty close to plug and play. I installed the Schiit driver. Then in Foobar, I selected "WASAPI (Event) Speakers (Schiit USB Adio Device)" as my Output. That locks in the Gungnir Multibit goodness, bypassing Windows kernel mixer.

    And I have not thought about it since. It just works.

    I too have nothing but my ripped CDs. High res is too highfalutin.
     
    cooperpwc, Jan 19, 2016
    #126
  7. Mshenay

    Mshenay Barred from loaner program. DON'T SEND ME GEAR.

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    aaaack $1200 for Gungnir Multibit, well it get's a lot of positive feed back, here I am starting to hear all this awesomness about Gungnir Multibit an Yggdrasil, starting to get the Dac Upgraditis... an suddenly the Master 11 is starting to look like a REAL winner at $2000, well really only about $1500 as I would just sell my NFB10ES2 [I dunno what I'd do till the M11 arrives, maybe just use my laptop for everything or my Berhinger but anyways

    nice to see Schiits really bring some good stuff. I'm going to hear the Yggdrasil in March :D hopefully I'll have amased $2000 by then xD
     
    Mshenay, Jan 22, 2016
    #127
  8. germe

    germe New

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    hi guys
    which tracks do you use to burn in the Gungnir Multibit?
     
    germe, Feb 2, 2016
    #128
  9. SSL

    SSL Friend

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    Imagine if you could just listen to your music library over the device.
     
    SSL, Feb 2, 2016
    #129
  10. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Keeping in mind I do not have a USB defuckifier currently on hand and could not use that in the comparison, I found using the CIAudio Transient MK2's BNC output to feed the Gungnir Multibit made a very noticeable, positive improvement over feeding it USB directly. Again, a defuckifier may change the game, but it seems there is room to really bring out the best in the Gungnir Multibit with a dedicated, TOTL USB->SPDIF converter OR a high quality source that doesn't use USB altogether. I wrote about it in my recent Gungnir Multibit vs. Bifrost Multibit thread. I was lucky enough to find a used Transient Mk2 for under $400, and these improvements are even without the LPSU you can buy for it...full price will get you closer to Yggdrasil territory, so might be less worth it, given A) it's a Yggdrasil and B) it has Gen 3 USB. OTOH I have heard reports that even the Yggdrasil benefits from a high quality SPDIF source over USB.
     
    Hands, Feb 2, 2016
    #130
  11. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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    LOL... This hobby...
     
    spoony, Feb 2, 2016
    #131
  12. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Seriously, the guy was selling it half off the new price. It was a steal and is worth every penny at that price. I don't think there are many units floating around, nor do I think anyone would sell it for a price like that in a long, long while.
     
    Hands, Feb 2, 2016
    #132
  13. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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    Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you got yourself a 'bargain' there, and I'm pretty sure everyone here appreciates your impressions that this thing makes an improvement. It's just the prospect of needing a second, $400 hunk of metal besides a $1,300 'bang-for-your-buck' DAC that plays somehow like a bad joke and makes me want to re-evaluate my priorities.
     
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2016
    spoony, Feb 2, 2016
    #133
  14. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Buy a shelving unit and dedicate it to your audio boxes. :) C'mon, what's one more tiny metal box when you have the Gungnir Multibit sitting around besides a few hundred bucks?

    Just don't go crazy like I did and you'll be OK. I remember thinking Marv was crazy when he talked about what the Off Ramp 5 did to his setup. And here I am now with my own special collection of expensive, metal boxes.

    (My audio area would probably give you a heart attack with all the boxes and cables.)
     
    Hands, Feb 2, 2016
    #134
  15. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Part of me feels like I'm crazy for considering the Wyrd to add to my DAC, let alone a $400-$800 additional expense.
     
    Merrick, Feb 2, 2016
    #135
  16. PoochZag

    PoochZag The Shadow knows - Friend

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    I struggled with this too. I added a Wyrd to my Gungnir Multibit upgrade order for an extra dollar in shipping, seemed logical. It sits on the floor behind my computer, out of sight and mind, where I don't have to look at it or wonder if it was worth it or not. It just is
     
    PoochZag, Feb 2, 2016
    #136
  17. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I might have something else coming in down the road...maybe will put the Transient on loaner for you all to try. ;)
     
    Hands, Feb 2, 2016
    #137
  18. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    I'd want in on a loaner of that baby.
     
    Luckbad, Feb 2, 2016
    #138
  19. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    To me it just demonstrates that DAC USB implementations have a ways to go yet, they still seem to be "optimized" for SPDIF.
     
    rott, Feb 3, 2016
    #139
  20. hifi01170

    hifi01170 Acquaintance

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    might be a stupid question but if I want to use the gungnir multibit with my active speakers, what is the best way to make it work? (volume control, no additional processing, etc.). Gungnir outputs a balanced signal and my active speakers do take balanced signals only as input... but I'm missing something in between those 2 piece of gear.... anybody uses the Gungnir Multibit with active speakers? if so what is your setup?
     
    hifi01170, Feb 9, 2016
    #140
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