EmiG310
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2016
- Posts
- 26
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- 26
Hello Head Fi I read the boards often but am new to posting. I have both the Bifrost 4490 and Modi Multibit and would like to contribute my opinion on how they compare. I posted this in the 4490 Bifrost thread but feel it is appropriate here as well.
I prefer the sound of the 4490 Bifrost. The Bifrost sounds cleaner, more expansive, wider, smoother. But even if the Modi Multibit is grainier and more closed in, it does best the Bifrost in one area: the bass feels growlier, the treble attacks harder, the sound has more "impact." But, the 4490 Bifrost is so smooth, so wide, so easy to listen to that even if the edges of the music can sound a touch glossed over when compared to the Modi Multibit, I would still consider it the better DAC.
However, to the people reading this seeking guidance on which to buy, here is my advice to you: the Modi Multibit is a phenomenal DAC that will leave you wanting for nothing. I think, if your budget will not allow for a bifrost/asgard (or valhalla or lyr) combo, buy a Modi Multibit with a Magni or Vali and don't think twice.
Interesting thoughts. I have both the 4490 and the Mimby and I listened to both on my near-field studio monitor speakers, going through just a passive volume control (JBL Nano Patch). I found that the sound stage has a big hole in the center with the 4490. It's a very 2 dimensional sound stage compared to the Mimby. The other thing I noticed is that instruments sound more whole and full, instead of lacking filling with the 4490. I've also found that the cymbals and brushes sound more grainy on the 4490 than the Mimby, and this could be because the 4490 has higher "resolution" of the audio, but to me the Mimby sounds way more realistic like I'm sitting across from real instruments not digital audio. That's the best way I can summarize it is that the multibit sounds more realistic. I don't know how much of this is due to the pure multibit because my hunch is that this has a lot to do with Schiit's advanced time-domain burrito filter. Either way, to me the Mimby was a clear winner and I ended up scheduling to upgrade my 4490 to multibit which I've already shipped in. Crazy Schiit!
Btw - for me the difference is much more perceivable on speakers than headphones.