Schiit (MultiBit) Bifrost

What was the sample rate of the music, and what were the Windows Audio settings set to? ie, if the sample rate of the music was different than the DS settings, it would incur an unnecessary sample rate conversion.

 

Or rather use a 192khz file and another native whatever file. That test I did when I got it in October, this was merely to test the megacomboburrito filter vs. the HEX and NOS vs. HEX.

16/44, 24/96 and 24/192 files mostly to make that test easier. Using Foobar and Asio Link to switch around and see what we end up experiencing. In my experience the resampling happens no matter what the output is set to in the devices settings. I could be wrong and this could be placebo but that's how I'm hearing it.

 

First completely unscientific round of Bifrost Deathmatch.

Set up is as follows:
Source 1: Windows 7-Foobar-USB-Bifrost MB
Source 2: Windows 10-Foobar-USB-Vanilla Bifrost USB Gen1

Both DAC outs into a Sys fed to a Valhalla 2 then HD800.

My initial quick impression after listening to the MB all week and allowing the Vanilla to warm up for around 3 hours while I was at class is that comparing DACs is HARD.

The differences remind me of how you hear different levels of needle refinement/replacements on a single phono cart body, they are there but you really need to focus.

Vanilla Gen1 USB: Sounds slightly more V shaped, bass seems to hit harder, high are a tad harsher/brighter. Still very detailed, on a very bright track it was noticeably harsher than the MB, on well recorded music is difference in treble was very hard for me to spot.

Multibit: Soundstage (headstage) is slightly larger, handles poorly recorded highs better, decay feels slightly faster/more detailed. I still stand by the fact that the all the multibit Schiit I've heard sound more analog, I cannot exactly explain what it is I'm hearing, but I hear it.

I have plenty of listening ahead, and an Uber board to try out.

Sidenote: The Gen1 usb bifrost with nothing playing seems to have a very very slight noise versus the dead silent MB, this could be the cable or the different PCs, I'm not sure.

 

Got the Uber board into the Vanilla Bifrost.

I'm not gonna lie, I would fail blind test on this, The differences are hairsplittingly small. I will play around with this more and put them on my 2 channel setup, but at this point I'm thinking about pocketing the $450 difference in cost between these two Bifrost's as they sit and selling the Multibit. I feel like there are some really really tiny differences but I have to be zoned so hard on listening for things like decay, air, grain and micro dynamics that I'm not even listening to music at that point. I will update as I play more with these two.

TL;DR Vanilla vs Multibit was difficult but noticable. Uber vs Multibit is basically near the point of impossible for my ears/gear.

 

These are the comparison tracks I am using.

All tracks are 16/44 FLAC rips:
Lyle Lovett-Baltimore
Ryan Adams- Call me on your way back home
Steely Dans-Kings
Danny Brown- 25 bucks
Radiohead-Weird fishes/Arpeggi
Comus-Drip Drip
Volcano Choiur-Alaskans
Lucinda Williams- Side of the road(Live)

Any suggestion for tracks that you find revealing of DAC differences?

 

How many channels is your headphone setup?

If you really want to hear dac differences it is much easier when you use speakers and 2 of them will do just fine

there is no comparison when using a stereo speaker setup compared to headphones assuming the speakers are at a resolving level on par with the headphones, in other words, HD800 = $3k+ speakers per pair.

 

Boy I love sweeping generalizations, figures pulled out of thin air and direct price = performance correlations.

 

Perhaps I should leave the $ figure to the person who has the speakers, but a pair of audioengine desktops is not going to be on the same level as HD800s. And a well designed pair under that generalized number could be quite resolving.

Your point is well taken

 

To be fair I don't think anyone would seriously consider the Audioengines as having a good price/performance ratio or good value at all.

 

I'm not really getting into contest of which is more resolving, however my Speakers are B&W DM3000s , though vintage, adjusted for inflation, would cost $4000ish today they sat directly under the 802 Matrix in price/performance, powered by an Anthem i225(msrp $1600) I mostly want to try them on my speakers as sound stage changes are more apparent there than on headphones to my ears.

 

We will have a rematch soon! The Metrum Dac just came out of the factory and only had 100 hours on it. Not sure if the burn-in time will effect the quality of the Dac but we will find out soon enough. I did chose the Metrum Dac because I felt in love with the natural timbre and flow of it.

 

Got a used Bifrost Multibit from @JoshMorr today. I plugged it in around 9 AM and began listening to it around 4 PM. I know that new toy-itis will be in full effect right now, but I have to echo the sentiments about having a huge grin on my face with each song that plays. The GOV2 is a good entry level DAC, but the Bifrost Multibit bests it in every way to me. Resolution is better, the sense of realism is better, better soundstage and depth, and it feels more analog. Every song that comes on, ones I might have skipped otherwise, I stop to listen to, and they've never sounded so good. What a fantastic DAC.

 

I know Hands has said it 100 times, but most people should just buy a Bifrost Multibit and shut their eyes to all other dac's. It produces lovely articulate sound, and that slight touch of warm does give it that taste of analog tonality. Glad to hear everything is going well, and enjoy new toy joy, its why we obsess over new gear.

 

Ordered a Modi 2 Uber - read this thread. Makes me want a Bifrost

 

There's always something better. Just think of all the money you saved.

 

They will be connected to a pair of JBL 305's which I bought because they were a great deal. Are these speakers "good enough" to discern the differences?

 

Or all the music you can buy!

 

Have you heard the Gungnir? The only thing I would upgrade my multibit Schiit DAC to would be....a better multibit Schiit DAC, haha