New Schiit Modi Multibit???

Discussion in 'Audio Science' started by purr1n, Jul 7, 2018.

  1. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,495
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    42°S
    What is the general consensus on warm up with Modi MB? I just got one in to compare with Modi 3 and day one it’s all over the place. One track, sublime. The next, a splashy mess. I experienced warm up with Yggdrasil but it seemed way more consistent than this.
     
  2. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    Nowhere near as long as for it's bigger brethren, but the sound should stabilize after a few hours at most I would think. Mine is on all the time. Maybe it's a bit of burn-in as well? What input are you using?
     
  3. JustAnotherRando

    JustAnotherRando My other bike is a Ferrari

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,373
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Hong Kong
    It's sometimes comforting to be reminded that my hearing is very... unrefined, so I don't have to worry about stuff like this. My MM sounds the same to me regardless of whether it's been on for 10 minutes or 10 days. Both before and after the recent chip swap.
     
  4. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,226
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    48 hours. But I heard even subtle improvements after that.
     
  5. Ti_Leo

    Ti_Leo Almost "Made"

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2016
    Likes Received:
    355
    Trophy Points:
    53
    I've been naughty. I put my Modi MB on top of my Liquid Platinum, while LP can generate some heat, it can be used by Modi MB theoratically? The case of my Modi MB can be warmed up in less than a hour. About the sound... I don't know... can't hear much difference...
     
  6. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,226
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    From what I understand it's not the heat but the chips stabilizing or something after being on for a while.

    Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
     
  7. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    Yes, chips reaching thermal equilibrium so that all the resistances are at their optimum values. Or something like that.
     
  8. Tacit

    Tacit New

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Kyiv, Ukraine
    Schiit Modi Multibit is total failure, I just wasted money. Lacks dynamics, micro detail, sounds overly warm and indistinct with narrow stage. I was tempted to buy it because of great quality of their other products I own, Magni and Vali amps. May be I got flawed item, I could not believe that Schiit could be such a ...
     
  9. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Likes Received:
    7,738
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Canada
    Thanks for that. However, you’ve given no info about the gear you listened to it on, how it’s connected (what transport used, what input you used) or any context as to where you’re coming from as far as the DACs that you DO like and why. Instead, you post a sensationalist, emotionally negative upchuck that it’s a “total failure”. Failure to meet your expectations maybe, but that’s about it.

    If you don’t want the ban hammer to come crashing down quickly, or actually want help trying to get the best out of your new gear, I would suggest improving the quality of your posts and providing more context about your setup and preferences to see if there’s something there that doesn’t match what Modi Multibit is throwing down.

    I’m not saying Modi Multibit is for everyone, or that it’s flat out amazing, that would be foolish. Lots of people are not fans. But its sound attributes have been pretty well documented and described on this thread (and others) to the point that it shouldn’t be a surprise if you find it to be a bit warm, darker or softer sounding (less edgy) than say, many low cost delta sigma options. It also tends to require a a bit of of break in and warm up time compared to delta sigma (although nothing near the bigger Schiit DACs).
     
  10. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    Likes Received:
    10,961
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Philippines, The
    Well if you believe that sorta thing Schiit's older MB stuff needs to hit... not thermal I know M. Moffat or J. Stoddart said it was something else but my brain isn't entirely registering it, but some sort of equilibrium before it sounds not-horrible. My own Bifrost MB is similar in that it sounds like a congested mess for a few minutes after switching on, takes maybe 8hours to reach peak. The power draw is largely negligible so I just leave it on all the time.

    Would also be interested in hearing what other gear you've got on hand right now, and what other DACs you're coming off so people might get a handle for your preferences. Some people like the multibit sound, others don't seem to care very much for it.

    EDIT: Basically what @rlow said, haha.
     
  11. TristanL

    TristanL New

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2019
    Likes Received:
    40
    Trophy Points:
    13
    Location:
    Europe
    Would a Modi multibit pair well with a tube amp? I'm running a WA6se (2ng gen) and use a beyerdynamic DT 1990 pro (heavily EQ'd).

    I'm running my wa6se into a ODAC (rev b) but I'm not amazed with the sound, I'm also not amazed with the sound from my o2/odac. It's not bad, but I've always felt I'm missing something.

    It was pointed out by another member to try a Modi 3 or multibit for example and I'm certainly getting one of those, after reading I think I prefer a multibit, but wondered if anyone has paired it with a tube amp or the wa6se in particular.

    While I'm at it, the o2 is my only solid state amp, should I throw in a Magni while I'm at it? I'd like to have a high end SS amp one day, but currently the budget Magni seems a terrific deal and what I hear a good improvement over the O2.

    Any feedback greatly appreciated, thanks!
     
  12. klyrish

    klyrish Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    May 4, 2018
    Likes Received:
    167
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Nowhere
    My first stack was a Modi Multibit with a Vali 2 and I purchased an EH 6CG7 tube to use in it which I thought added a bit more sparkle to the treble and a little additional heft to the bass over the stock tube. Using the HD6XX, I absolutely LOVED how it sounded--especially with live (bootleg) music.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    You should have read the impressions before buying.

    Dark/warm/syrupy: check
    Not final word in plankton: check
    Lacks slam: check
    Compact soundstage: check

    Modi MB is liked for other reasons. One of which is that it's closer to classic R2R DAC sound of yesteryear. From technicalities standpoint, it falls behind modern S-D DACs. In terms of dynamics and slam, I've never heard a sub $1000 DAC have it, with the exception of the AMB Gamma 2.
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2019
  14. Tacit

    Tacit New

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Kyiv, Ukraine
    Friends, thank you very much for bearing with my frustration, I spent a lot of time to try to make it work for me because I love their Magni and Vali very much! My other DACs are Chord Mojo, iFi xDSD and Centrance DACportable, also dragonfly red and Centrance DACport. Definitely I tried to warm up Modi MB first as was recommended (I red and liked this forum a lot). I tried it first with PC and PreSonus Eris E4.5, it did not work, sound was dull and lifeless. I tried it with Mogni and Vali and phones Beyerdynamic dt 1990 pro, Senh 600 and 6XX, Grado RS2 - same result dull, lacking dynamic and resolution. Now I hooked it up with DALI Zensor 3 through Onkyo TX-8030 and it seems to be at least acceptable. For digital stream I used FiiO X5ii, Shanling M0 and M1, xDuoo X10T II as transports through coaxial, optical and USB connection - multiple combinations. Thank you very much again for your patience. My question is what is the problem here and could you recommend desktop DAC which would be similar in sound signature to iFi xDSD or Mojo and would not break a bank?
     
  15. Tacit

    Tacit New

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Kyiv, Ukraine
    Actually I red impressions, from other sites also, they felt contradictory, I still bought it (mia culpa) because, as I said, i liked Magni and Vali. One thing I did not try warming it up for 8 hours (!) before listening but it seems not practical as I do not like to leave equipment on when I am our of my place.
     
  16. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,462
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    Almost all multi-bit; NOS; & R2R dacs need time on to stabilize before sounding decent (ie., Schiit, Holo, Metrum, etc). I just moved my Metrum Amethyst and it sounded like ass until it had been on for about 24 hrs... reading here, many of the high-end DACs need multiple days.

    If you need to power down a dac between listening sessions, then that needs to be part of your decision making process... this "warm-up" is a pretty common and well-known issue that is not limited to Schiit.

    Good luck with your search
     
  17. Tacit

    Tacit New

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Kyiv, Ukraine
    I am computer engineer and still clueless why in the world it needs so much time to warm up, is there some explanations article somewhere? Why Chord Mojo with all its schematics does not need to warm up. I pretty much understand why phones need warm up but DACs...
     
  18. LetMeBeFrank

    LetMeBeFrank Won't tell anyone my name is actually Francis

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,758
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Jackson, Mi
    Mike Moffat (the designer of Schiit DACs) has said that the INL spec needs to stabilize, that's why it takes a while to "warm up". The more bits of resolution the dac has, the longer it takes to stabilize. This seems to have been remedied somewhat with the Bifrost 2, but Modi Multibit, Bifrost Multibit, Gungnir Multibit and Yggdrasil all take a while to warm up.
     
  19. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,426
    Trophy Points:
    113
    There are papers out there for whatever they're worth.

    But, why not just try it for yourself and see if the sound improves? Leave it on for a few days and see what happens. Even if it's placebo, it doesn't really matter if you find yourself enjoying the sound.
     
  20. Elmer Danilovich

    Elmer Danilovich MOT:Earmen, HeadAmp, Bricasti; AKA:MShenay

    Contributor
    Joined:
    May 8, 2018
    Likes Received:
    346
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    In the Oak Forest
    Not to beat the dead horse but yea, I've been using Modi 3 [Coax only tho VIA Etir] in my editing/refferance system for a few days now and I'm really impressed with it actually.

    An yea it does sound better after it's sat for a day or so. Even when I take Modi 3 to a meet I usually turn it on first or leave it on over night if I can get to the venue the day before,

    I will say compared to Topping D10 and oDAC I don't find the sound stage all that compact I mean yea compared directly again'st my RME ADI 2 which I've been listening to for months on end now in this same editing/reference system Modi 3 sounds quite compact, but not offensively so imo

    Back to the sub $100 zone, D10 in particular sounds overly focused to my ears an while there is more "air" or "space" between instruments/musicians the stage as a whole is kinda disconnected sometimes. Modi 3 while not as "airy" or "spacious" sounds far more coherent to my ears

    Personally I find oDac to be a little congested too and kinda rolled off...

    All that to say, I perceive the cleaner and more realistic coherence from Modi 3 as the "better" presentation vs something that's wider but not always as coherent [like D10]

    My question is if you own and enjoy BOTH Mojo and xDSD which are both portables why aren't you using at least one exclusively on the go and one at home? You can't listen to both at the same time and you clearly don't like leaving things powered on. So your already turning on and off what ever gear you have plugging your desktop system up to the portables wouldn't add much more time to what it would seem your already doing

    Plus there are also desktops products that exist to give you a easily accessible Coax input into both xDSD and Mojo or alternatively have a USB ready to be plugged in when your at home [again I've gotten xDSD an Mojo to work nicely with my Cell phones & my M2S dap via USB C to USB Female adapters]

    I also have had great success hooking DAPs into Modi via Coaxial. The Etir I have at home works nicely with both cell phones [if I'm so inclined] and the Shanling M2/3S I have on hand, there's also at least two USB Powered USB to COAX converts that don't need separate/dedicated power [I keep my Etir on 24/7], namely Singxer F1 and Topping D10. I've used both my F1 and D10 units to feed Coax into Modi 3 and a few other DACs

    So why not just use the existing DAC/Amps you have and simply purchase a digital interface to give yourself easy input in a desktop environment?
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2019

Share This Page