Audio GD DAC 19 vs Bifrost Multibit

Battle of the sub $1K R2R DACs. Has anyone had a chance to compare these two?

 

Interested in this too.

 

There are people who have made comparisons between Gungnir Multibit and DAC-19 but not the Bifrost Multibit - as far as I know. You could see if you can discern the difference between Gungnir Multibit and Bifrost Multibit by impressions and reviews and take that into account when you read the comparisons between Gungnir Multibit and DAC-19. Of course it's best to see for yourself, but since you ask I recon that is not an option for you.

For what it's worth I own Audio-gd DAC-19 and am about to switch to Gungnir Multibit based on my own research - and some helpful information from a few individuals. And regarding the Schiit line I hear it's best to go either Modi Multibit or skip Bifrost Multibit and go straight for Gungnir Multibit/Yggdrasil. At least untill Schiit updates the Bifrost Multibit.

 

I think this is still being a slave to the urge to buy random overpriced mid-fi:

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/sub-1500-amp-values.3542/

We've been around this loop a bit.

 

Ya, after reading into the Multibit line a bit more, it seems like the Modi Multibit has sort of made the Bifrost Multibit a pointless purchase. Its seems like the Modi Multibit is actually slightly better in some ways and there is really no way the difference in sound is worth the extra $300.

So if Delta/Sigma is the devil and Schiit's only multibit Dac's worth purchasing cost $250, $1250 and $2300, then I should just stick with my Modi Multibit and call it a day. I guess a better comparison is between the Modi Multibit and the DAC 19. I have read a few reviews favorably comparing the Gungnir Multibit to the DAC 19, which makes the $800 price tag of the DAC 19 seem reasonable.

But in the end, I'll probably just stick with my Modi Multibit and accept the fact that a $250 DAC is simply better that any other DAC under $1K and I'm stupid for paying anything more unless I dramatically scale up all my other components.

 

I'm continually surprised at how readily people discount the value of this feature. Upgradability is a pretty nice perk, I think? It's why I'm hanging on to my Bifrost Multibit. But it's true, the Moby is a better value on its own merits.

 

If you don't already own the Bifrost Multibit I don't see why one should go for Bifrost Multibit over Modi Multibit. Sure it can be upgraded later down the road but that's gonna cost extra. Why not just go for Modi Multibit now and get the Bifrost Multibit once it's upgraded then?

 

@Gravity: Perfectly sensible way to go. Advisable, even! Wasn't saying not to do that, so much as I was calling attention to the Bifrost Multibit still being a worthwhile acquisition in and of itself.

 

The biggest problem with the Audio-GD DAC 19 is that it clearly doesn't have enough PCM-1704UKs in it. After all, the only thing better than having MORE PCM-1704 chips in your DAC is, well ... having none-at-all.

I find it, or at least a high degree of consistency in designs that use it, especially in multiples, too be a bit to relaxed and well, a bit sloppy, particularly in the lower registers. Someone desperately needs to sell that man a BFB of 1702s or PCM-63s.

 

Oh God, I had the gaul to mention something I read here over on the DAC 19 thread at Headfi and my post was later edited by an Admin to scrub any mention of this site. I then received a nice PM telling me to never mention SBAF again. Seriously? Is this stupid pissing match still going on? No offense to anyone involved but ya, as a semi-outsider, this kind of crap is pretty stupid from my perspective. I know people take headphones seriously, but this is a bit much guys.

Edit: Hope I didn't offend anyone who was involved in this beef. I'm not blaming SBAF for any of this. I know its Headfi just being Headfi. I knew there was animosity but I didn't know that I literally could not acknowledge the existence of this site over there.

 

It must be a script by now... "you don't have to agree, but we hope you understand..."

 

@TheIceman93: The "pissing" is entirely unidirectional at this point. Nobody on here should give much of a fig about such matters. Appreciate your sentiment, but it's not really constructive to complain about the nonsense that happens on HF. Just don't sweat it.

 

That's hilarious ... that's word for word what he said at the end. So stupid.

 

Thanks for the Modi Multibit offer Marv but I do own one currently (which makes the whole upgrade discussion even more stupid I guess). I'm really pleased with it for the price but I do suffer from a desire to upgrade things simply out of curiosity. The Modi Multibit had been a noticeable improvement over my previous DAC (Peactree DacIt X). I guess it's Gungnir Multibit or bust but that is a ways down the road for me. I should probably pick up some more headphones in the meantime.

I've been using coax with the Modi Multibit, feeding it with a Dynamat dampened Tascam CD200 (maybe it sounds better after the mod? Not sure, it certainly doesn't sound worse). No USB unless I'm watching Netflix or listening to an album on Spotify to decide future CD purchases.

I'd be totally down for a SoCal mini meet if you want to put one together. My setup is really modest but I'm improving it slowly but surely. Every upgrade in the chain has had a positive effect. I would love to get a chance to see and listen to higher end setups and meet some of the people here in person. Lets make it happen.

 

It's a slightly strange conclusion, despite being a fair one. Upside- it's quite a money saver, too. Of course, you can't stack a Mjolnir 2 on a Modi Multibit...

 

Ya, its a strange conclusion but the way I see it, there are only a handful of R2R DACs under $1K. The only ones I know of are the Modi Multibit, Bifrost Multibit and the DAC 19. The Modi Multibit and Bifrost Multibit are pretty similar sound wise and from what I've read, it can be argued that the Modi Multibit bests the Bifrost Multibit in a handful of ways. That's the thing I love about Schiit, they aren't afraid to undercut their own products knowing full well that there will still be Bifrost Multibit customers who are buying more for aesthetic reasons.

The DAC 19 is also well reviewed but I think Audio GD are marking up the price and saying "Hey buy this ASAP cause we are almost out of chips". Who knows if there is any truth to that. Kingwa seems to be a pretty straightforward, no BS guy but maybe he really is sitting on a mountain of 1704's. I'd be interested to see what he could do with the ESS 9038 but I'm definitely more interested in the R2R stuff.

 

@baldr -who designed them- says that the only time you'll really hear the difference is in a monstrously expensive speaker setup, where the Bifrost Multibit will do better in the bass.. something something power supply something. I'm the wrong side of half a bottle of red, so don't expect details. By expensive, I mean "costs so much that you'd have a more expensive DAC anyway"- it's an edge case that only freaks and lunatics would ever encounter. Needless to say, he has encountered it. Happy days.

I also love the way they don't manage their lineup in a wanky way- if they have something better and cheaper, they just put it out there anyway. The Modi Multibit and the Jotunheim both probably would have cost twice as much from anyone else.

Regarding the form factor- if they had a balanced multibit that just happened to stack perfectly with the Jotunheim, I'd be sorely tempted- even if the difference to the Modi Multibit's sound was minimal.. but then we're all secretly a bit shallow.

I believe that claiming that there's a critical shortage of parts is how Kingwa rolls. He seems to be somwhat.. disingenuous. Best not to let yourself be too swayed by claims like that; he has form. One day it might be true, but it's best not to reward such behaviour.