Rolling Another DAC-Off ~ Elekit PS-3249R vs Schiit Modi Multibit 17Mar25

Ok, the "integrated" Elekit delta-sigma DAC is now optimized to the extent I want to take it (see prior post). But, it's still just an OK DAC serving in a keen system. Can I do better but stay cheap? I was impressed with Schiit's "True Multibit" tech when I did a DAC-off for the NestDesk, that included their Bifrost... it didn't win against the Denafrips Enyo 15th, a true R2R DAC, but it was close. So, keeping with the small and frugal tone of this whole kit, I bought the least expensive "multibit" DAC I've ever seen, the $300 Modi Multibit, to trial it and bake off against the incumbent Elekit DAC. The Schiit seems16bit internally to me but handles 24bit/192KHz (and that's what's advertised for its bit depth/sample rate). I could throw in the miniDSP 2x4HD again with these other DACs, but it's just not as good when EQ isn't needed. The SPL sweeps comparing the DACs were largely indistiguishable ~ as I've seen before. I will use my ears on headphones and from the fab FrugalHorns.

The Schiit ModiMB2 was just better than the "integrated" Elekit 3249R DAC so I'll be adding it to the EleFrugalKit. While listening to key passages on Phoebe's, Molly's, and AJ's works was great on the FH3s, it was a challenge to find sharp differences as I A-B compared the DACs. I liked the low range on the ModiMB2 more but that was about it. On headphones however the differences were more noticeable; the ModiMB2 sounded more defined, was "faster" tracking on decays, and it was more dynamic sounding. Perhaps it's not just the "multibit" nature of the ModiMB2 but also the difference in how the DACs are powered ~ the Elekit is powered from the attached PC USB (which is potentially noisy) and the ModiMB2 has a keen AC wall adapter. 

So, the Modi Multibit 2 is "in" the Blodgett Living Room Kit now.