Schiit Mimir Mesh and Forkbeard DAC Preview

Video showing DAC/preamp/EQ is up:



All videos are here:

https://www.schiit.com/guides/using-forkbeard

 

At the end of the day…

“Analog reality” for the win… Ever and always

I’ll be getting it and (at first, whilst racing) using it for Qobuz/iPad source, versus transport/Yggdrasil for physical CD… Must admit, lusting for the PEQ/Loudness capabilities. Overall volume wil still be via Kara. Just a few more PayPal $$ to increment and then it shall be…

 

For anyone who wishes to try Marv's EQ, here's what you need to paste into a text file to import into APO:

 

I have a couple Surface dials I would love to use for something like this.

 

I wonder if Mimir still exhibit the kind of grain or choppiness mentioned in the Modius thread that plagues most delta sigma dacs, or does the combo burrito/Mesh filters reduces that with its closed form nature?

 

Question: is the Mimir’s XLR out better than the RCA like the Modius?

 

Output chain for Mimir is the same as it is for Modius E, so XLR is probably similar to RCA. It's the AKM version of Modius that had significant differences between SE and XLR out.

 

I ordered one the second I saw the email in my inbox. Marv’s description of the headstage of ESS DACs is exactly what put me off of Modius, and if Mimir fixes that it really solidifies my intuition that stage and imaging have more to do with the filter, and possibly the analog reconstruction filter, than the choice of converter itself. Looking forward to testing synergy with Pietus among others, both with and without transformers. However, in the event that USB volume control is added as a firmware update, I’ll pick up a Gjallarhorn and swap it into my desk setup - or buy a second Mimir if I like it a lot!

 

Gung-ho. f'ing love it.

 

@purr1n I don't believe in tropes of delta-sigma anymore. I'm sure my delta-sigma dongle can out layer/stage/outresolve and do dynamics better than any schiit r2r/multibit product with no softness. (I know it doesn't seem possible, but it is, which makes me question all dac tropes). r2r tonality is a different matter, but I look for neutrality, without sterility. If you have doubts, I'm happy for you to test it.

 

Thanks, then I think Mimir is not for me. I think that’s also why I’ve been sticking to chord and schiit multibit DACs for so long, and am super excited for schiit’s Singular.

 

What dongle are you referring to?

 

You'd still need Forkbeard to mediate the BT remote to Mimir coupling. Mimir doesn't have a BT button

 

Mimir is intriguing to me, but I'm not sure I want to get it over the ES9028 card I was thinking about getting for my Lyr 3. The additional functionality is really nice and I'm impressed they were able to squeeze it into the product like that. Just not sure the inclusion of the filter, more extensive usb functionality, and additional controls are worth three times the price and another box on my desk right now. With the OAE1 I can absolutely hear the difference between staging between the ESS card in my Pietus and the Bifrost 2 OG over RCA, the ESS card does push the stage back noticeably.

On the topic of the OAE1, it really is a very flawed headphone with the crazy soundstaging ability. Also, because of how far forward the drivers are placed, where it sits on your head impacts the sound a lot. With the default tuning I had to push the cups towards the back of my head to bring the drivers towards my ears to try to make the bass sound less bloated, which also lessened the soundstage. With purr1n's EQ curve applied in Roon I'm able to bring the drivers about 50-70% back in the cups away from my ears while sounding balanced and enhancing the soundstaging effect. I tried Listener's (referenced headphones.com review) proposed EQ profile on the OAE1. It is really complex and has like eleven bands, so it won't work in the Mimir. It does make the OAE1 sound more "normal" in the sense that the soundstage collapses and it sounds like my old AKG K7xx with less width and much worse comfort. Certainly a good point in favor of less-is-more for EQ often times.

 

I’m guessing it’s either the DC07 Pro or DC Elite, which use Cirrus and Rohm ICs respectively. Honestly, I think generalizing about consumer sigma-delta DACs is impossible. They’re as different from each other as the R2R/Multibit DACs I’ve heard, and that’s without getting into the custom sigma-delta stuff I have on hand like the Chord Mojo 2 and Marantz SACD 30n.

 

@MLegend DC07pro with JDS synpase+Ifi power Elite(had x before)+Iancanada UCConditioner+WY1 split cable. Playing through Roon with Ibasso ASIO Driver(yes wasapi sounds worse Don't know why).

I think that's the maximum I will go. I could post some old @rhythmdevils impressions, before with just a JDS and Ipower X, but I need his blessing(I also want him to hear the latest iteration). I should do a loaner for some trusted ears, so I don't look like a fanatic ricing out a dongle.

 

@schiit , Is there any difference in measurements when using different ASIO drivers? I just saw that your balanced measurements are done using ASIOforallv2 and for the single-ended measurements its Asio2Wasapi .

 

No. We probably just forgot to switch the program on the AP.

 

Yeah, I meant assuming whatever gear you've got is running F-beard.