Want a multibit DAC with a modern architecture, top-of-class USB input, and the flexibility to be the centerpiece of your entire system—without breaking the bank? Modi Multibit 2 delivers exactly what you need.
True Multibit for the Masses
Modi Multibit 2 takes our bespoke True Multibit™ architecture from our more expensive DACs. This includes a unique time- and frequency-domain optimized digital filter, implemented on an Analog Devices DSP, together with a medical/defense grade Analog Devices AD5547 D/A converter. It even includes our proprietary Unison USB™ digital input, for superb performance.
Features and Flexibility You Need
Modi Multibit 2 isn’t a stripped-down DAC. In addition to USB, you also get coaxial and optical inputs. And, we’ve included NOS (non-oversampling) mode, to give you even more flexibility in system matching.
Centerpiece of a Compact System
It’s easy to build a complete system around Modi Multibit 2. Its size and aesthetics match many of our other products—Magni or Vali for headphone and preamp duties, Loki for EQ, Mani for your turntable, and more. Or forget size and use it as a DAC for your largest system. It’s that good!
Designed and Built in California and Texas
By “designed and built in California and Texas" this is what we mean: we manufacture in Valencia, CA and Corpus Christi, Texas, and the vast majority of the total production cost of Modi Multibit 2—chassis, boards, transformers, assembly, etc—goes to US companies manufacturing in the US.
2-Year Warranty and 15-Day Returns
Modi Multibit 2 is covered by a limited warranty that covers parts and labor for two years. And, if you don’t like your Modi, you can still send it back for a refund, minus 15% restocking fee, within 15 days of receiving your DAC.
Inputs: USB, Toslink SPDIF, Coaxial SPDIF
Sample Rates and Bit Depths: 16/44.1 to 24/192 via USB, Coax, and Optical
USB Input Receiver: Schiit Unison USB™
D/A Conversion IC: Analog Devices AD5547
Analog Summing, Active Filtering: discrete JFET buffer output, DC-coupled with DC servo
Output: RCA Stereo Analog (single-ended)
Output Impedance: 75 ohms
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz, +/-0.2dB
Maximum Output: 2.0V RMS
THD: <0.005%, 20Hz-20KHz, 0dB
IMD: <0.006%, 20Hz-20KHz, CCIR
S/N: >108dB, referenced to 2V RMS
Crosstalk: > -115dB, 20-20kHz
Power Supply: Included 14-16VAC wall-wart, x stages reg
Size: 5 x 3.5 x 1.25”
Weight: 1 lb
Hey, you know your Modi+ measures wayyyyyyyyy better than this?
Yep! It’s also less than half the price. Pretty cool, right?
Then why does this thing exist at all?
Sound.
Oh, you’re gonna go there?
No. We don’t say anything about how our stuff sounds. However, owners and reviewers have said they really like the way True Multibit™ sounds, so we’re repeating that. Believe it or not, that’s a thing. It goes way back in time, to when manufacturers would sometimes actually reprint reviews. Printing is the art of putting things on paper. Said reviews were frequently on paper. Yeah, they had electronics back in those days.
But I don’t get why you’d want to have a worse-measuring product—
Let us cut you off right there, because we know how this argument goes. And goes. And goes. And keeps on going. Here’s the deal: we are free to believe what we want. So are you. If your belief system leads you to devices that perform well by standard metrics, cool. If not, that’s also cool. There’s room for both viewpoints. Read “Schiit Happened, The Objectivist/Subjectivist Synthesis.” And even then you may think we’re entirely full of it. And that’s cool.
Fine. Be like that. Sell me on this little sucker.
Sorry, we don’t have salespeople. Or anyone with “sales” in their title.
Then how do you sell things?
People tend to look around and choose for themselves. They choose Modi Multibit 2 because it’s the most affordable True Multibit DAC we offer, with a ton of not-off-the-rack technology like our own DSP-based digital filter, a medical/defense grade multibit D/A converter, and our own Unison USB™ digital input, all wrapped up in a neat little package that matches the same size as our Magni, Loki, Sys, and other products.
I see other manufacturers are claiming to do “multibit” DACs.
Yeah, but you gotta be careful with that. There are other manufacturers using 2- to 5-bit delta-sigma D/A converters and calling them “multibit.” As in, they have more than one bit (like DSD or some very early delta-sigma products). But they aren’t what most people on the planet—er, we mean most people who are super into digital audio—mean by “multibit.” So we created a phrase, True Multibit, so people wouldn’t be confused.
What is True Multibit™?
It’s a unique combination of a time- and frequency-domain optimized digital filter, implemented on an Analog Devices DSP, and one or more 16- to 20-bit real honest medical/defense grade D/A converters. This is, as you’d expect, wayyyy more costly than doing it “off the rack,” with delta-sigma converters, and that’s why Modi Multibit costs a lot more than Modi+. In the case of Modi Multibit, we are using an Analog Devices SHARC DSP and a stereo Analog Devices AD5547 D/A converter.
Hey, I’ve heard tales of legendary ancient multibit chips lovingly foraged and repurposed into amazing NOS D/A converters, how about those?
Oh, you mean the ones using the old Philips chips pulled from used gear? Yeah, those exist. There is a giant gulf between the bespoke implementation of Modi Multibit 2's True Multibit architecture and those DACs. But if you want NOS, just press and hold the input button on Modi Multibit 2. The input light goes into a slow pulsing mode, and you’re all set for NOS.
Wait, Modi Multibit 2 has NOS mode?
Yep!
Am I also seeing a linear power supply?
If by “linear power supply” you mean a wall-wart outputting AC, with rectification and regulation done via linear regulators inside the chassis, then yes, it has a linear supply. Except for the 1.2V switcher for the DSP.
Well, I’m gonna get me a fancy-shmantzy linear power supply and plug it into the Modi Multibit 2, what do you think about that?
We think you’re a little strange. But if it makes you happy, we’re not going to stop you. Nor will we try to sell you such a power supply. It also won’t work if it’s DC.
So what platforms does your USB input support?
Actually, the question should be “What platforms support Unison USB?” since Unison USB is 100% UAC2 compliant (that is, USB Audio Class 2, the accepted standard for USB audio transmission.) So, here you go:
- Windows. Windows 10 or 11 are plug and play.
- MacOS. 10.11 and up, you’re good.
- iOS. From iOS7 on up, iOS devices work using a Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter.
- Android. Most Android plug and chug. Some may require separate player software.
- Linux. Most Linux distros that support UAC2 natively will be plug and play. Please note that we cannot provide detailed technical support for Linux.
- Roon. Roon recognizes our products and is plug and play.
- Most streamers. Most streamers are Linux-based, so they have no problem with our USB input.
What’s so special about Unison USB?
It’s a very good USB interface designed to do a single thing well: to interface seamlessly with modern UAC2-compliant devices. There’s no stuff in it for DSD or MQA. It doesn’t have drivers for now-obsolete Windows platforms. It’s really just for getting PCM audio (still over 99% of all files) from your streamer or computer to this DAC.
I want a combined DAC/amp! Why didn’t you put an amp in here?
We did. They’re just in different chassis and costs another $109-149. They’re called “Magni” and “Vali.” The latter of which even gives you a tube! Now you have options, instead of a single boring, soon-to-be-obsolete combo box.
If Modi Multibit2 is so great, why would I step up to Bifrost or Gungnir or Yggdrasil?
Because you want something big enough to hold down the curling veneer on the fake-bark stereo rack you got on sale at K-Mart in 1979. Or because you want even higher performance. Or upgradability. Modis aren’t upgradable.
