Schiit Gungnir Multibit Bifrost Multibit with tube amp

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Dusty, May 11, 2018.

  1. Dusty

    Dusty New

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    Can anyone chime in on their thoughts of either of these with a tube amp? I did a search and could not find a lot of reviews into tube amps a Lot of headphone listening...

    My dad came over with his new Bifrost Multibit GEN 5 and it sounded really really nice. I found the depth and soundstage to be really close to my vinyl rig (VPI Scout with Ortofon Bronze). I did think some of the highs were either all there or a tad too bright.

    So I was wondering if a Gungnir Multibit would help everything out for the better or perhaps just get me the same sound. I am on the hunt for either of these and no chance to hear a Gungnir Multibit without taking the plunge for a 15 day trial :)

    I run into a Modded Jolida 502A with Cardas cables into Merlin speakers.

    db
     
  2. klyrish

    klyrish Facebook Friend

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    I can't provide any information on this yet, but I did just receive the email that my order of a Modi Multibit + Vali 2 has shipped about 20 minutes ago. Hopefully I have that by Thursday or Friday this week and can let you know how it sounds! Modi Multibit has the same multibit unit as the Bifrost Multibit so it should be reasonably similar/close.
     
  3. Dusty

    Dusty New

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    Thanks! Give us an update when your ready :)

    db
     
  4. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Not sure what you’re really asking. A tube amp is, after all, just an amp. Amps go with DACs. So of course a tube amp could go with a DAC, multibit or not. Amps are more headphone specific than DAC specific if you ask me. I use a Mjolnir 2 (hybrid tube amp) with a Gungnir Multibit and it’s great. Solid state or tube is more about your headphones and your listening preferences. You are probably focusing on the wrong factors.
     
  5. Dusty

    Dusty New

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    Your right tube or solid state it doesnt matter ( use tube so thats why I posed it that way).... a lot of the reviews I see give results with headphone use. I dont use headphones so just questioning those who might use amps with speakers instead of headphones on the differences between.

    db
     
  6. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    Just get the Gungnir Multibit and be done with it.

    Never heard Bifrost Multibit but I did own Modi Multibit for a while and Gungnir Multibit was a huge step up. From what I've heard, Modi Multibit is similar to Bifrost Multibit, so there's nothing that leads me to believe Gungnir Multibit wouldn't be a similar step up.

    To repeat.... get Gungnir Multibit and be done with it.
     
  7. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    I own, or have owned, all three. Get the Gungnir Multibit.
     
  8. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Speaker amps and headphone amps are different. You will likely destroy your headphones if you use them with a speaker amp. There are some exceptions to this rule like the HE-6, I believe, but you should be using headphone amps exclusively until you know what you’re doing. (If you use a receiver that has a headphone jack, that has its own headphone amp and that’s obviously okay to use.)

    But you may also not strictly *need* an amp. I have used line out from DACs before as a temporary measure and it works fine depending on how much volume you need.
     
  9. MellowVelo

    MellowVelo Friend

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    This. If you have the money to make it happen, the Gungnir Multibit is worth every additional penny over the Bifrost Multibit. Get it, and don’t look back. You’re likely to make less DAC purchases in the long run if you just buy the Gungnir Multibit now.
     
  10. Dusty

    Dusty New

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    Thanks! Saving for one now :)

    Thanks, good to hear!


    I like that train of thought. It seems to be where I am headed.

    Thanks all!

    db
     
  11. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    This X2. I have no desire to upgrade from Gungnir Multibit, even though I know Yggdrasil 2 is technically "better". I just don't really care because Gungnir Multibit is so f'ing good.
     
  12. klyrish

    klyrish Facebook Friend

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    Damn. I just got a Modi Multibit yesterday along with Vali 2 and while it hasn't been a full 24 hours yet, the Modi Multibit sounds incredible--and definitely sounds better than it did yesterday. This is a repost of my comment from the Modi Multibit-specific thread:

    And if this sounds this good and you're saying the Gungnir Multibit is even better...I can't quite wrap my head around that. I don't understand how music could sound better than it does currently through the Modi Multibit + Vali 2 combo. It sounds equally phenomenal through my Edifier S1000DB speakers and FLC 8S IEMs.

    I dropped the Chord Mojo I also bought at the UPS store to head back to Amazon. While the Mojo had excellent sound as well, it just couldn't compare to the Modi Multibit + Vali 2. The amount of detail, clarity, and for lack of a better word--lushness of the sound from Modi Multibit + Vali 2 is completely out of the Mojo's league. I wish I'd gotten an account here to be set straight about the Audio Science Review forum and that Amir guy BEFORE I bought the Mojo since I read his article about the measurements of the Schiit multibit units and, along with a bunch of other members there, shit all over Schiit.

    But oh well. I made the right choice in the long run and that's what's important. :) I guess now I can look forward to a Gungnir Multibit someday...
     
  13. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    New toy syndrome. You'll get over it. Everything sounds good until you hear something better.

    Gungnir Multibit is undeniably better in every aspect.
     
  14. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    Modi Multibit plus vali2 is really good. If you are using USB, an Eitr is an audible improvement. Music does get better sounding. I have a Gungnir Multibit and a Liquid Crimson that sounds noticeably better to me. But not nearly as better as the price difference would indicate. A decent tube in the Vali2 helps. You don’t need to go overboard either. I’ve tested up to a Siemens Cca in it. The sweet spot for me is the Genalex gold lion current production, or a Tungsram PCC88 NOS that I got from Upscale audio for about $60. Don’t spend more on a tube for the Vali2, you don’t need to. I use the Vali2 regularly, and it sits right next to the Crimson. It’s a great amp.
     
  15. klyrish

    klyrish Facebook Friend

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    Thanks for the tips!

    I'm actually feeding the Modi Multibit optical via the SPDIF-out on a Behringer U-Control UCA202. I figured there was no point in using USB when so many people here and elsewhere have stated that USB can be a crapshoot and SPDIF sounds noticeably better, so I went straight to it. I doubt the Eitr would sound any better and I'm not willing to spend another $175 to find out if it's marginally better than this $30 adapter.
     
  16. Dan Rooney

    Dan Rooney New

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    Inspired by your heroics I hunted around nad found a toslink SPIDF cable. Even my wife heard the improvement in my modi-multibit + Vahalla 2 playing through Emotiva Airmotiva 5's
     
  17. klyrish

    klyrish Facebook Friend

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    Nice! I don't think I'll ever bother feeding it directly through USB given the nightmares some here and elsewhere have had with sound quality and other aspects of it. If you've got the means to feed via TOSLINK, do it!
     

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