Happy as a Pig in Schiit: Introducing Modi Multibit

[Andrew Rieger]

The PSU in Mimby is excellent. You will more than likely INCREASE PSU noise with an aftermarket supply.

Only suggestions I can give you is an input choke and better cables.

I'm not sure why this would be the case. How could a higher quality PSU add more noise to the Mimby? I guess a better question would be how much power quality affects the performance of a DAC vs an amp. Im guessing a DAC would be the component least likely to benefit from an upgraded power supply. Thoughts?

 

[mentt]

I'm not sure why this would be the case. How could a higher quality PSU add more noise to the Mimby? I guess a better question would be how much power quality affects the performance of a DAC vs an amp. Im guessing a DAC would be the component least likely to benefit from an upgraded power supply. Thoughts?

DACs in general hugely benefit from quality of power supply as any other component(streamer, amp ext.)

As mimby has build in linear power supply it is hard to say if there will be increase of sound quality in this case...

 

[KoshNaranek]

I'm not sure why this would be the case. How could a higher quality PSU add more noise to the Mimby? I guess a better question would be how much power quality affects the performance of a DAC vs an amp. Im guessing a DAC would be the component least likely to benefit from an upgraded power supply. Thoughts?

Regulation in the Mimby is done internally. Optimal ripple filtering is for 60Hz. If you use a DC PSU that is reasonably well regulated but introduces a ripple at a different frequency, that ripple may pass through the Mimby PSU into the DAC.

 

[jimmers]

 If you use a DC PSU that is reasonably well regulated ...

Has to be an AC supply to the Mimby, the one linked was AC - the frequency out would be the same as the frequency in 

 

[Ancipital]

 
I'm not sure why this would be the case. How could a higher quality PSU add more noise to the Mimby? I guess a better question would be how much power quality affects the performance of a DAC vs an amp. Im guessing a DAC would be the component least likely to benefit from an upgraded power supply. Thoughts?

 
Don't attempt to replace the PSU. Plug it into conditioned power, if you want, but really don't futz with third party PSUs in this case- it's a decent quality AC supply already.

 

[KoshNaranek]

Has to be an AC supply to the Mimby, the one linked was AC - the frequency out would be the same as the frequency in :confused_face_2:

Oops! Thought it was DC

 

[Andrew Rieger]

   
Don't attempt to replace the PSU. Plug it into conditioned power, if you want, but really don't futz with third party PSUs in this case- it's a decent quality AC supply already.

I have the stock PSU plugged into a Panamax MR4000 surge protector/conditioner that I'm demoing at the moment. I'm trying to make up my mind on the effect its having on the sound vs the unconditioned wall outlet. 
 
The sound is a little different, its hard to describe, bass seems a tad deeper (maybe) but the treble is rolled off a bit. The Modi doesn't sound quite as crisp as it did before. I could be crazy, maybe its the placebo effect. The jury is out on the effects of power conditioners. Are there any affordable conditioners that lack surge protection? The surge protection seems to be frequently blamed for having a negative effect on DAC's. 

 

[Ancipital]

 
I have the stock PSU plugged into a Panamax MR4000 surge protector/conditioner that I'm demoing at the moment. I'm trying to make up my mind on the effect its having on the sound vs the unconditioned wall outlet. 
 
The sound is a little different, its hard to describe, bass seems a tad deeper (maybe) but the treble is rolled off a bit. The Modi doesn't sound quite as crisp as it did before. I could be crazy, maybe its the placebo effect. The jury is out on the effects of power conditioners. Are there any affordable conditioners that lack surge protection? The surge protection seems to be frequently blamed for having a negative effect on DAC's. 

 
This is going to be an unpopular opinion with the blindly tinkering audiophools, but please bear with me..
 
I really wouldn't worry unduly about power supply nervosa. It's part of the last percent or two of quality to be eked from your system. Same basic filtering like you're trying (or the popular Furman AC210) isn't a bad idea, and surge protection is actively good if you have a few thousands worth of amp, cans and so forth plugged in. I wouldn't try to sweat any potentially imaginary details right now, though.
 
Are your headphones your "endgame" pair? Transducers are the biggest single upgrade. How about your amp(s)- are they as high as you intend to go? Amps are your second biggest upgrade. Your DAC, while brilliant value and good quality, will still be a bigger quality bottleneck than your power now, I suspect. There are easy upgrades to be had there too- Gumby or Yggy are measurably better.
 
While I'm not suggesting that you instantly spend a fortune on any of those things, I'd avoid tinkering semi-blindly with a chain that has bigger quality bottlenecks. A little light power conditioning is fine, but don't lose sleep over it. Equally, don't go nuts on boutique connects- that should be the absolute last thing you fret over, when you have run out of other things to twiddle. You won't be able to hear fine details of any actual improvements from higher-end tweaks while your chain isn't super-revealing.
 
It's better (and cheaper) to plan and be methodical, rather than just sawn-off shopping 

 

 

[Andrew Rieger]

This is going to be an unpopular opinion with the blindly tinkering audiophools, but please bear with me..

I really wouldn't worry unduly about power supply nervosa. It's part of the last percent or two of quality to be eked from your system. Same basic filtering like you're trying (or the popular Furman AC210) isn't a bad idea, and surge protection is actively good if you have a few thousands worth of amp, cans and so forth plugged in. I wouldn't try to sweat any potentially imaginary details right now, though.

Are your headphones your "endgame" pair? Transducers are the biggest single upgrade. How about your amp(s)- are they as high as you intend to go? Amps are your second biggest upgrade. Your DAC, while brilliant value and good quality, will still be a bigger quality bottleneck than your power now, I suspect. There are easy upgrades to be had there too- Gumby or Yggy are measurably better.

While I'm not suggesting that you instantly spend a fortune on any of those things, I'd avoid tinkering semi-blindly with a chain that has bigger quality bottlenecks. A little light power conditioning is fine, but don't lose sleep over it. Equally, don't go nuts on boutique connects- that should be the absolute last thing you fret over, when you have run out of other things to twiddle. You won't be able to hear fine details of any actual improvements from higher-end tweaks while your chain isn't super-revealing.

It's better (and cheaper) to plan and be methodical, rather than just sawn-off shopping   

The setup as it stands is a Tascam CD200 via coax into the Mimby which feeds a Neve RNHP amp. My best headphones currently are the new Beyer DT1990's. This is not an endgame setup by any means but it is getting pretty close to the limit of what I'm willing to spend. But I agree with you, this hobby brings out the worst of my "what if?" Tinkering tendencies. This headfirst pluge down the rabbit hole started a year and a half ago when I Googled "best headphones under $200". I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't know there was such a thing as open backed phones, hell, I didn't know they made dedicated amps for headphones. And now I'm obsessing over the power quality in my home, and learning how to make custom cables. I've gone full retard. I just wanted to listen to some tunes on my iPhone. Now I'm buying CD's for the first time in my life. Thanks for the moment of clarity.

 

[westom]

If power quality is so much a concern, then look at the only thing that matters - cleanliness of each DC voltage.  Does not matter how clean or dirty AC power is.  What only matters is those DC voltages.
 
Magic AC power cleaners (line conditioners, surge protectors) do what? Does not matter.  First thing a power supply does is make power many times 'dirtier'.  Just as 'dirty' with or without those magic boxes.
 
First power is filtered.  Then converted to well over 300 volt DC.  Then converted to high voltage radio frequency spikes.  Does not matter what 'cleaners' existed on AC.  Because power is now 'dirtiest' - irregardless of what was incoming on AC.
 
Then superior filters, regulators, and galvanic isolation 'clean' what is obviously THE 'dirtiest' power.  Dirtiest power exists no matter what magic box exists on AC mains.
 
So again, what makes best sound?  'Cleanest' DC power - not AC power.  Even 60 Hz ripple voltages are no longer relevant - as made obvious by the above paragraphs.  Legacy fears only traceable to obsolete technologies from 50 years ago.
 
Best sound is determined by 'clean' DC voltages.  Nothing on AC mains is relevant to what matters - when equipment (and power supply) is properly designed.  Want better sound?  Buy magic boxes to clean those DC voltages.  Or in some cases, spend less money for a better quality PSU.

 

[caenlenfromOCN]

Is it weird if I prefer my Modi 2 Uber over the Modi Multibit? I have both, and I just feel like the vocals are better on Modi 2 Uber.  Everything is stock, I didn't change PSU for either one or anything. 
 
Am I weird, or what? Cause a $250 DAC should sound better right?  >.>  I am so confused

 

[Guidostrunk]

Not at all. This hobby is all subjective , and boils down to preference, and synergy.

Not sure how long you've had your mimby, but from what I've read, there's a "burn time?" Of a few days or so for optimal performance. I'll let the "pros" weigh in on it.


Cheers

Is it weird if I prefer my Modi 2 Uber over the Modi Multibit? I have both, and I just feel like the vocals are better on Modi 2 Uber.  Everything is stock, I didn't change PSU for either one or anything. 

Am I weird, or what? Cause a $250 DAC should sound better right?  >.>  I am so confused

 

[jimmers]

 
First power is filtered.  Then converted to well over 300 volt DC.  Then converted to high voltage radio frequency spikes.  Does not matter what 'cleaners' existed on AC.  Because power is now 'dirtiest' - irregardless of what was incoming on AC.

I thought, in the case of Mimby especially, that we were talking about Linear power supplies - not SMPS.

 
Normal linear power supplies are "dirty" too, as rectifier diodes only conduct when their potential output voltage exceeds the voltage on the smoothing capacitors, so there will normally be current spikes at 120Hz (or 2x60Hz), [or 100Hz(or 2x50Hz) ].

 

[Andrew Rieger]

This power stuff is too confusing. I'm just stick with the stock AC PSU and the Panamax conditioner and call it a day. 

 

[lenroot77]

Is it weird if I prefer my Modi 2 Uber over the Modi Multibit? I have both, and I just feel like the vocals are better on Modi 2 Uber.  Everything is stock, I didn't change PSU for either one or anything. 

Am I weird, or what? Cause a $250 DAC should sound better right?  >.>  I am so confused

Not everyone prefers the multi bit sound. I recall reading a few people preferring the bifrost over the bimby.