Metrum Acoustics Onyx (balanced Dac) and Jade (balanced Dac + Pre)

That is one of the most childish and unprofessional messages I have seen on a company website. Especially one that plans to try to get going again.

Saving for prosperity:

 

Might be a llittle bit of a window as to why Cees left instead of making the Morpheus a Metrum product. Metrum probably would have charged $8K for the Morpheus though.

 

I'm a bit late to the party on this, but in terms of Onyx vs Bifrost 2, I owned the Onyx when it first came out a couple years ago and have been a Bifrost 2 owner for a few months now. Everyone else's comparisons have been pretty spot-on from my memory of the Onyx. The Onyx I remember being more "fleshy" and weighty/forward probably because of its thicker/fuzzier sound. I think the Bifrost 2 is a bit leaner, but it's definitely not a thin-sounding DAC. Both are warmer DACs and neither caused any listening fatigue for me, but the Schiit is probably a tad more neutral and better extended on the top-end.

One thing that really stuck out to me about the Onyx was how the sound felt like it wrapped around you on either side of the listening position (using speakers). It was a cool effect that felt really engaging. The Bifrost is more straightforward in terms of delivery and less full-sounding, but for the price difference the Schiit I think is a much better value than the Onyx. From memory I don't find either to be technically superior to the other.

 

I have to agree with you on this. I tried my Onyx on the speakers and it really does have that envelop sound, as everything seems to be within the two speakers. I much prefer using it with my headphone system of Auteur, and don’t find the soundstage to be an issue. I’m always a bit defensive on Schiit product as I started this hobby with Modi/Magni stack, and later quite hated them(to be fair, I know that’s not a good reference as what Schiit is actually capable of). I’m actually pretty happy to see them (hopefully) back in business despite all the drama these two years, as support of their products are still valuable in my mind.

 

Yep, I found both DACs to have decent soundstages that don't leave much to be desired until you start hitting absurd prices. Neither DAC created that expansive, room-filling concert hall effect you get from the PS Audio DirectStream DAC I owned for a couple years, but both the Metrum and Schiit are a fraction of the price of the PS Audio unit. I think the Metrum is more involving than the Schiit from memory, but it definitely sounded a bit less focused.

The Bifrost 2 I have zero issues referring to as an end-game quality DAC for the vast majority of people. Any improvement beyond the Bifrost 2 is truly incremental. I sold the aforementioned PS Audio DirectStream last year in order to put some money in other hobbies, and tried a couple Chord DACs (Hugo 2 and Qutest) until I decided to give the Bifrost 2 a shot. I had owned a Gungnir Multibit A1 years ago and thought it sounded too steely up top and recessed in the mids, so I was apprehensive about going back to another Schiit DAC, but man am I happy I got the Bifrost 2. It reminds me of the Metrum DACs I've owned (Onyx and Pavane L1) in that I can listen to it for hours without fatigue, which is really coming in handy during all the time I'm spending at home these days.

 

Ha, yeah Metrum has never been a value-driven product like Schiit. But like all things in audio, numbers aren't everything.

 

@purr1n Pretty spot on. I thought I read somewhere that Cees had said that they hadn't asked him to design any new products? Seemed like he was on retainer as part of the sale? I don't know why else they would buy a company if the person who designed all their products and made them unique wasn't part of the deal.

 

They're Italian, what did you expect? Crying foul is their national sport.

Take it from a Frenchman

 

I get why they'd be mad but if there's no non-compete and they don't ask / let Cees work with / for them...

And yes, why throw the brand and IP away after spending so much time/$/resources to acquire. Could have just let the assembly line / money printer go brrrrrrrrrrrrr while looking for new engineers or designers.

 

Here's to my pavane never breaking down or needing service.

I fail to see how the owner leaving resulted in bad customer service judging by some postings or even the need to innovate. They could have lowered the price of the gear to stay afloat. I've seen it before, new management didn't understand the product/philosophy and sank the boat. This being 2020 everyone can play the blame game.

 

Metrum also had really awesome support. Until Cees left. Then it took a nosedive. I'm sorry for all existing owners but these guys have nobody but themselves to blame.

 

Not to mention, making public defamatory statements, if they aren’t completely factual, are libellous, and/or haven’t been proven in court, can also get your ass sued into extinction. They also don’t help you in any ongoing court battles.

Bottom line, shut up about the person who you feel screwed you (at least in public) and just focus on building your business back up.

 

Metrum units seem pretty robust. I think worst-case scenario for a fee, sending it to Cees for repair might be an option. So it's not as if you'll be high and dry turning dacs into bookends.

 

“How dumb can they be ? That is one of the most childish and unprofessional messages I have seen on a company website. Metrum also had really awesome support. Until Cees left. I fail to see how the owner leaving resulted in bad customer service. Might be a little bit of a window as to why Cees left …”

This is not the 1st time Anjo de Heus has posted such a message. The last one was up less than 24 hours some time back. I think everyone here can put 2 and 2 together and know where to place their trust in future and spread the word. The T word is clue (several personal experiences).

Support is available for existing owners as posted above. As Dealers still hold stock around the world check with them 1st on the issue before outlay.

 

Yeah that statement on ethics violations annoys me a little. I was on preorder for the Metrum Flint when it came out. The company pulled a bait & switch promising MK2 DAC modules and then putting in the older MK1 modules from the Musette. They only ever addressed it in the manner that "Well if you want the MK2 modules you can pay us $100 to upgrade." One of those emails was sent out just before they closed to Flint buyers telling them it was their last chance to upgrade before they went under, it struck me as a last ditch cash-grab double so now that they are apparently re-opening. I would have complained about the B&S when it happened but they accidentally sent me 2 DACs and I didn't want to call attention to the mistake.(In detail I canceled my preorder from Metrum & preordered from ZMF instead as the price was better, Metrum shipped me a DAC despite having fully refunded my purchase.)

I don't know who was running what at the time, the Flint launching around when Metrum was sold to its new owners, but from what I've seen the fall can easily be explained by internal factors.

 

Hi guys, I have been enjoying my Onyx with Auteur for some time now. Just want to ask if anyone compared different inputs on the Onyx? Right now I am using a iFi micro iLink to convert USB to coax and feed to the Onyx. How does i2s compared to coax using something like a Singxer SU-2? Thanks.

 

The Onyx's I2S is single ended (RJ-45), so it won't work with the SU-2, unless you add a LVDS -> TTL converter.

The I2S input is easily the best on the Onyx. Brings realism up a couple notches compared to AES (both fed from the same Metrum Ambre). Good stuff!