A Visit from Gumby
 

Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of having one of my local audio friends visit my place to listen to my new to me McIntosh XRT29 speakers. He just recently purchased a Gungnir Multi-Bit DAC and wanted to bring it over to listen to in my system. It was also an opportunity to compare the sound to my ModWright tube modified Oppo 105 which I have been using as my primary digital source and DAC for the past couple of years.

We started out listening to a few songs played from Tidal streaming through my modified SB Touch USB digital out into the MW Oppo 105 DAC. Then we switched over to the Gumby utilizing the same source and songs. It was a very interesting comparison and there were definitely differences in the presentation. I found the Gumby to be very smooth and analog sounding, and was very well balanced across all frequencies. To my surprise, it sounded warmer than the MW Oppo, with a bit more air and separation around vocalists and instruments, with very good layering and microdynamics. I felt the MW Oppo had a slightly better soundstage, both width and depth, and was perhaps a touch more dynamic overall. It also had better frequency extension on both ends of the spectrum, especially bass weight and depth. However, the Gumby sounded to me a bit more precise and defined, while the Oppo had a bit more bloom to the sound that you would expect from a tube based analog stage and a separate tube regulated and rectified power supply.

I came away from the 90 min audition extremely impressed with the Schiit Gungnir MB DAC. My friend and I both agreed that both units sounded terrific and had their own positive strengths. I also know based on what I've read that the Gumby was probably not playing at it's full potential since it was only plugged into my system for a short time and was likely not fully warmed up. I also don't believe it's even fully broken in (not sure if it has 500+ hours on it yet or not).

My friend and another local audio friend who owns a Yggdrasil will potentially both be over again later this year or early next year to hear both units in my system together and compare with my MW Oppo. That should be fun, and I will definitely post again here with further impressions if and when that happens. In the meantime, there is now a very strong possibility that the Gumby will find a place in my system later in 2018! :yes:

Jeff.......If your pals are going to do a Gungnir and Yggdrasil comparison with your modified Oppo BDP-105, it would not surprise me to see a Yggdrasil make its way into your sound system. Hopefully both the Gungnir and Yggdrasil DACs are fully broken in and warmed for this showdown. Looking forward to your impressions.

Thanks for the feedback and description of your listening session and comparison. :thumbsup:

Just wanted to add a few observations of my own since I have owned and enjoyed Gumby for exactly two months now and it has 60dx24h=1,440 hrs of burn in and break in. Gumby and I suspect other Schiit multibit DACs start to bloom past the 3 week (approx 500hr ) period for sure.

Yet there are small but noticeable changes that take place way past that time frame. Mostly in the further smoothing and relaxing of the highs and further and complete disappearance of hardness or glare of new digital gear mostly noticeable in upper mids and highs.

Having said that Gumby never sounded like it added artificial sibilance to begin with while with other digital gear it may never go away. That used to drive me crazy before to the point I had to find refuge in tubed CDP like the EAR/Yoshino to smooth out the sound but it came at the expense of loss of natural frequency extension, sparkle and transient crispness. I do not yearn for tubed sources with Gumby. It indeed sounds analog, natural and without apologies or sacrifices.

As far as the bass. A bit light at first to being a bit ripe after few hundred hours to articulated and impressively deep after the initial burn in of at least 500-600 hrs. Gotta have patience with Schiit DACs for sure. :yes:

Looking forward to your further thoughts and Yggdrasil comparison at some point and always let your ears be the judge, Schiit DACs appeal to many but certainly system synergy and personal preference will take precedence over anything anyone else can or will say. Schiit DAC is not the "universal" solution for everyone, not one piece of audio gear is, but Gumby certainly plays some great music. :music:

I will be interested in your next review, Jeff.

Is this possibly the initial thread regarding your future new Schiit purchase? ;)

A Visit from Gumby
 

And so the Shitt begins for you Jeff. :thumbsup:

I have sent the invites out and hope to be able to set up the DAC comparison before the new year. I will keep everyone posted.

Serge - I appreciate your additional comments and I expect that additional time and break in would be very important in evaluating the overall sound and long term potential of the Gumby.

I do know that my other friend's Yggy is close to if not over a year old, so break in won't be an issue there. Figuring out the warm up part is more difficult since the units have to be unplugged and brought over to my place to listen to.

Last Saturday's listening session to the Gumby was fun, although I thought my MW Oppo 105 sounded better overall, especially with regard to bigger dynamics, soundstage depth, and frequency extension of the sound. The Gumby as it sounded was very good, but it's the POTENTIAL of what it is capable of after full break in and leaving it turned on a longer period of time that has me thinking I might want one (or a Yggy possibly if it's not too bright sounding in my system)... :scratch2:

A Visit from Gumby and Yggy
 

Some fun happened earlier this afternoon:

https://www.audioaficionado.org/atta...4&d=1514597892

https://www.audioaficionado.org/atta...5&d=1514597911

All three DACs/sources sounded fantastic, but there were some definite differences. The Yggdrasil definitely stood out the most among the three.

The good news is my friend is letting my borrow his Yggy over the long weekend until Tuesday, so I'll have even more time to let it get fully warmed up and to get a feel for how it sounds in my system! :music:

A longer write up with detailed listening impressions to follow soon...

You'll be buying an Yggy in no time at all. :smoking:

I look forward to reading your listening impressions.

Jeff.......Being able to make direct A/B comparisons in your own sound system is the best way to determine what appeals to you the most. You are right about the Yggdrasil, it is quite special. I would not be the least bit surprised to see a Yggy make its way into your sound system.

Jerff, very cool that you were able to do that 3-way comparison and have Yggy over the weekend and until Tuesday to ensure it is fully warmed up. We'll all be very intersted in reading your write up and detailed listening impresssions. :banana: