By offering a true R2R ladder DAC for $249, Schiit has once again raised the bar. Those who argue that all DACs sound alike have probably only heard the nearly universal delta-sigmas, since multibit DACs pretty much disappeared after the mid-1990s. The Modi Multibit sounded quite different right of the box, much more lively, harmonically full, and rhythmically precise than any reasonably priced delta-sigma. I heard these traits even more clearly through my Schiit Vali 2 and Meze Neo 11 IEMs, which I acquired shortly after the Mimby this past December 2016.
My FLAC files helped make such a good first impression. MP3s and other compressed digital sound very much that way by comparison, but the Mimby does not add more grain or harshness than what already exists. Higher sampling rates provide a slight benefit, but keep in mind the R2R ladder offers only 16-bit resolution. If you already own a lot of 24/96 PCM files then multibit might not be your best choice. Listening to 24/96 files through the $399 Pro-Ject Head Box DS, I heard more fine detail and decay than the Mimby, but otherwise still preferred the Mimby's livelier presentation. Listening to 16/44 PCM and MP3, the Mimby won hands down, especially with compressed digital sources, minimizing listening fatigue without maximizing boredom.
As the Mimby broke in, textures from good sources became even more fine-grained and vivid but not harsher. Its transient response rivals a good moving-magnet or moving-iron cartridge, but of course it can't match a good low-output moving-coil. The classic Denon DL-103 provides an apt comparison, combining a robust, vivid midrange with transient speed. But for less than the cost of even a rebuilt DL-103, let alone the turntable, tonearm, and phono preamp, the Mimby offers a good glimpse of sonic heaven.
My FLAC files helped make such a good first impression. MP3s and other compressed digital sound very much that way by comparison, but the Mimby does not add more grain or harshness than what already exists. Higher sampling rates provide a slight benefit, but keep in mind the R2R ladder offers only 16-bit resolution. If you already own a lot of 24/96 PCM files then multibit might not be your best choice. Listening to 24/96 files through the $399 Pro-Ject Head Box DS, I heard more fine detail and decay than the Mimby, but otherwise still preferred the Mimby's livelier presentation. Listening to 16/44 PCM and MP3, the Mimby won hands down, especially with compressed digital sources, minimizing listening fatigue without maximizing boredom.
As the Mimby broke in, textures from good sources became even more fine-grained and vivid but not harsher. Its transient response rivals a good moving-magnet or moving-iron cartridge, but of course it can't match a good low-output moving-coil. The classic Denon DL-103 provides an apt comparison, combining a robust, vivid midrange with transient speed. But for less than the cost of even a rebuilt DL-103, let alone the turntable, tonearm, and phono preamp, the Mimby offers a good glimpse of sonic heaven.
Every sad friday now and then, I bring myself over to Fry's Electronics to try the latest Klipsch IEMs.
Hoping to find one that doesn't disappoint.
The S4 and S3 were mediocre. The X10 broke within a week, and I gifted 4 pairs away from the $99 sale. None of them are currently functional. Bought the R6, XR8i and promptly returned them. Even went with a X20i based on the reviews that it had good clarity. Let down once again.
Every Klipsch IEM has the same dreadful bass bloom and muddy upper midrange.
I don't want to know what Klipsch were thinking with their "house" signature.
This isn't to bash Klipsch, generally speaking. They have good bookshelf speakers such as the R14M and R15M. Those ironically lack mid-bass emphasis.