Schiit Audio’s New “Mesh” DAC Is Called The Mimir
The New Schiit Audio Mimir – Schiit Announces a new “Mesh” DAC with pre and EQ capabilities.
I’ll admit, DAC tech has appeared to slow down a bit from the old days of the SABRE 9018 race in the 2010s. This week however, Schiit Audio added a new $300 option to their lineup that claims the best of a rouge 32-bit microchip processor with a proprietary digital filter and a delta sigma modulator. Schiit Audio has often pushed the envelope with their pricing, so it would stand to reason that they would continue to put available R&D into something that clearly falls underneath the normalized threshold for more mainstream audiophiles. The days of the $99 may be gone (Schiit’s entry level is now $130) but apparently there is still some room for bang-for-buck growth sub $300.
There are two pretty big bonuses that come along with the new Schiit Audio Mimir. First, it includes a pair of balanced XLR ports for analog output on the back, nice to have if you utilize that type of connection (and not always found on products at this price point) and second, the Mimir comes with Schiit’s “Forkbeard” connectivity to further access the DAC as a digital preamp with volume control and 3 band EQ. Bonus: the Folkbeard functionality adds more DAC controls, balance, and a loudness feature among other options.
More details from the presser below:
“MIMIR: MESH™…AND MORE
The First Mesh DAC is also a Full Digital Preamp with Forkbeard
April 24, 2025, Corpus Christi, TX. Today, Schiit Audio announced the immediate availability of Mimir, our first Mesh™ DAC that combines our unique time-and frequency-domain closed-form digital filter with a standard delta-sigma modulator. Mimir also debuts the next generation of Forkbeard, enabling full digital preamp functionality. Finally, Mimir includes Unison 384™, Schiit’s unique USB input implementation. Mimir is priced from $299 without Forkbeard, and $349 with Forkbeard.
“Mesh delivers a DAC that sounds a lot more like our flagship True Multibit and Multiform DACs, at a much more affordable price,” said Jason Stoddard, Schiit’s co-founder. “By incorporating a version of our unique digital filter, we’ve achieved a giant leap in performance.”
Mesh™ dramatically reduces the cost of implementing Schiit’s proprietary, closed-form “megacomboburrito” digital filter by implementing it on the same 32-bit microprocessor that enables Unison 384™.
“Mesh is a big deal by itself,” Jason added. “Even without talking about Forkbeard. Now, we’ve decoupled Schiit’s affordable DAC performance from off-the-shelf D/A converters, creating something completely unique.”
Mimir also debuts significant new Forkbeard capabilities. When a standard Forkbeard module is added to Mimir, it becomes a full digital preamp and EQ. Volume, balance, a 3-band parametric EQ, Loudness preset, and full DAC remote control functionality, including NOS filter switching and absolute phase inversion are all controllable via the Forkbeard app.
“Even though it took us a bit to get there, I think we can all be really proud of this one. Not only is Mimir the most innovative digital product we’ve ever done apart from Forkbeard, it also sounds great,” said Martin Schindler, Schiit’s Head of Digital Development and architect of Forkbeard. “Crazy to think that this little mid-range DAC is our tech leader, but also really fitting.”
By adding full digital preamp capabilities, Forkbeard has significantly changed Mimir’s applications.
“It’s a gateway to simpler, less costly integrated systems,” commented Jason. “Stack a Mimir and a Gjallarhorn F, and you have a full Forkbeard integrated system for $698.”
There are many times when an analog preamp is desired–for extra gain, ability to add analog inputs such as a turntable, or precision, truly lossless volume control. In these instances, the Saga 2 provides relay ladder attenuation, zero-feedback gain, and full Forkbeard integration, from $279.
Mimir also includes Linear Override™, a unique power supply that allows it to be run from a single USB for portability and convenience, or to use an AC wall-wart to override the switching supply with a higher-voltage linear-regulated one, for higher output and additional headroom.
Mimir includes 4 digital inputs, including Unison 384 USB, AES, coax, and optical. Mimir’s outputs include both balanced XLRs and single-ended RCAs.
Like Gungnir 2, Mimir is updatable over the air via the Forkbeard app, so if new capabilities are added, there’s no need to send the product in for upgrade. Gungnir 2 will be also be getting the new Forkbeard digital preamp capabilities shortly, estimated by the first week of May.
Yggdrasil is also slated for Forkbeard enabling and significant upgrades. The Yggdrasil Owners’ Priority Upgrade Program allows current Yggdrasil owners to select their desired upgrades, which are expected in August 2025.
Mimir is available now at schiit.com.”
More info: Schiit Mimir
If you would like to hear Schiit founder Jason Stoddard himself talk more about the Forkbeard and also what is new at Schiit Audio, check out his recent interview on the audiophile show The Occasional Podcast. The episode is available to listen direct from the embed below or by subscribing via the major podcast platforms including iTunes, Android, Google, Deezer, Spotify, iHeartRadio, etc.