Happy as a Pig in Schiit: Introducing Modi Multibit

[Noldir]

Unless you use ASIO or WASAPI Exclusive, directsound allows digital volume control

As far as I'm concerned DirectSound is the tool of the devil. Short story: DirectSound always goes through a mixer and it will probably mess with your data in not so good ways (https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php/topic,94411.0.html and https://hardforum.com/threads/directsound-vs-wasapi-vs-asio.1823604/#post-1040912501)

 

[dwaleke]

You can control volume even in wasapi exclusive mode (well at least with foobar and jriver).

But I agree it's best to use an analog volume control post dac before amplification.

 

[theveterans]

As far as I'm concerned DirectSound is the tool of the devil. Short story: DirectSound always goes through a mixer and it will probably mess with your data in not so good ways (https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php/topic,94411.0.html and https://hardforum.com/threads/directsound-vs-wasapi-vs-asio.1823604/#post-1040912501)

IMO, directsound isn't as bad on Windows 10 as it was prior. I hear amazing sound quality on some videos despite the multiple conversions and directsound to boot.

 

[thesebastian]

Just to understand the impact of this: The potential "quality mess up" caused by using the digital volume control (Windows 10 volume level) is so noticeable? Or we're just discussing a good "final touch" to the, already impressive sound quality this dac gives? 
 
I'm planning an upgrade from a udac-2 (ESS Sabre 9022 DAC chip) to the Modi Multibit. Now I'm using USB input and digital volume level control (udac-2's volume knob sucks btw, so I leave it at 80% always).
And I'll be using Realtek's Optical and, still using Digital volume level control with the Multibit

 

[franzdom]

I find the issue to be theoretical, not noticeable.

 

[Noldir]

You can control volume even in wasapi exclusive mode (well at least with foobar and jriver).

But I agree it's best to use an analog volume control post dac before amplification.

Can you control volume from Foobar as well as Windows? I understand that Foobar has it's own volume control implementation.
 
As a side note: this is why I run Volumio with a HifiBerry (or IQaudio) DAC

 

[Noldir]

  I find the issue to be theoretical, not noticeable.

Agreed, although there is loss of resolution I haven't noticed it before. I also couldn't be bothered with a side-by-side comparison because I didn't perceive anything different.

IMO, directsound isn't as bad on Windows 10 as it was prior. I hear amazing sound quality on some videos despite the multiple conversions and directsound to boot.

 
Good to hear!
 
In Windows 7 and prior though it's *very* noticeable if you use directsound and I would really recommend against it.
 
Having said that, I really like my signal-path to stay intact as long as possible so I only use Wasapi as a rule when on Windows.

 

[franzdom]

Apparently directsound hasn't been seen on windows for a very long time.

 

[Letmebefrank]

The modi multibit has a 32-bit filter. You can send 32-bit signals to it. so theoretically if you have a 32-bit volume control, you can (theoretically) reduce the volume by 48db (8-bits) without losing any data on your high res tracks. I don't notice any difference between 100% system volume and lower amp volume VS 18% system volume (-15db / 2.5-bits) and higher amp volume. 

 

[MothAudio]

  I need some advice on choosing between the Modi 2 Uber and the Modi Multibit.
I own a chromecast audio, which sounds rather unpleasant using the analog output. I was planning on just using the cca with a dac, but apparently the digital out of the cca is affected by loads of jitter. My budget allows for either
 
a) The Modi 2 Uber and a cheap spdif reclocker like the new ifi ipurifier spdif
 
or
 
b) The Modi Multibit.
 
What do you recommend? Thanks a lot for your help.

Kind regards,
David

​The 15 day trial period just ended for my Modi 2 Uber when the Multibit was released. So I never was able to A/B the two. That said, I'm very happy with my Multibit. I just ordered the iFi spdif iPurifier to demo with the Chromecast Audio puck.   

 

[droopy1592]

What's the model number of the the turtle Beach?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036VO4X4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
If mods delete it for some reason cuz its a thing 
Turtle beach micro advantage II
TBS-1150-01

 

[droopy1592]

 
​The 15 day trial period just ended for my Modi 2 Uber when the Multibit was released. So I never was able to A/B the two. That said, I'm very happy with my Multibit. I just ordered the iFi spdif iPurifier to demo with the Chromecast Audio puck.   

I a/bed and the MB is considerably more natural sounding and less plastic/artificial. It's not so much that it's better it's just a more natural sound. It's hard to make sense of until you hear both. i feel the high end on the d/s is where you hear most of the difference. 

 

[thesebastian]

Is anyone using 24/192Khz via Optical?

I'm looking for a 1 meter optical cable to try to output 24/192, so far I'm buying this one:
 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/IBRA%C2%AE-1M-Muzil-Digital-Optical/dp/B002U3P50U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481125253&sr=8-1&keywords=B002U3P50U
 
(The multibit will come later this month, no stock at the moment in €'s reseller. But I'm 100% convinced I'll get this DAC over the Uber or the SMSL M8). 

 

[droopy1592]

  Is anyone using 24/192Khz via Optical?

I'm looking for a 1 meter optical cable to try to output 24/192, so far I'm buying this one:
 
https://www.amazon.co.uk/IBRA%C2%AE-1M-Muzil-Digital-Optical/dp/B002U3P50U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481125253&sr=8-1&keywords=B002U3P50U
 
(The multibit will come later this month, no stock at the moment in €'s reseller. But I'm 100% convinced I'll get this DAC over the Uber or the SMSL M8). 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001D1A8KM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 get one with glass

 

[fjrabon]

Been A/Bing optical directly into ModiMultibit vs. USB run through Wyrd.  Both are out of my macbook pro.  I have it setup so I can quickly just tap the selection button on mimby to change between inputs (no coaxial for now).  Not the gigantic difference a few made it out to be, but optical did seem to have a touch blacker background.  It overall felt maybe a bit crisper, like the start of a musical event was a tiny bit clearer and better defined.  However while I could hear this difference in comparison, I am also confident that if you just put headphones on me and asked me to identify if it was the USB/Wyrd or optical without being able to go back and forth, I couldn't really tell you which was which.  Essentially optical was a differentiable improvement, but not significant by any means.  
 
I'll probably be shifting the Wyrd over to my secondary setup (iDAC6 -> EF2C) and going optical for the modimultibit -> TorpedoIII.  Optical vs Wyrd made no discernable difference for the iDAC6.