Schiit Bifrost 2

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by RobS, Aug 28, 2019.

  1. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    Can't say as I don't have any of those products here. Lyr chassis has more grain like you'd see in a piece of finished hardwood. The BF chassis does not. It's smooth as a baby's behind. I can faintly see grain in it if I put on my readers.
     
  2. JustAnotherRando

    JustAnotherRando My other bike is a Ferrari

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    Well, something in mine went pop after I left it plugged in overnight so it's going back to Schiit. Fortunately they're fast and sane on their replacement process for international customers, so I'm off to the post office today.

    Can't speak for the sound, seeing as I've listened to it for less than five minutes. The black colour option worked out well- it looks a lot more discreet than the product photo on the website suggests. The soft click between tracks was a bit of a surprise, and might be annoying if placed right next to me. Fortunately my gear sits halfway across the room.
     
  3. Ice-man

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    First five test tracks done. Here is my stream of consciousness (these thoughts and impressions are mostly in comparison to my last DAC the Arist r2r from Massdrop.

    First thought, "f**k this sounds good. The Unison usb sounds glorious." No pops clicks or hiccups of any sort. Just music emerging delicately from utter blackness. That's a HUGE hurdle crossed over easily.

    Second thought, "I REALLY like the tone I hear across the whole spectrum." First thing that popped out was the taught and extended bass. Not sure the last time I heard a DAC doing this kind of bass. Maybe when I had Gungnir Multibit A1 with an EITR. Not sure really, that was a good while ago.

    The next thing was the treble. I'm having a tough time coming up with accurate descriptors that convey how I perceive it. At first I wasn't sure that it fit my preference. Detail was pouring through from the top end. But then it wasn't harsh or biting in any way. The treble especially in the upper register was "smoothly extended." Lot's of nuance and subtlety. After the third track I was more addicted to the treble than the lovely bass.

    The mids fit my preference if not ever so slightly depressed (this could change with additional warm up). The transition between treble mids and bass is spot on. Everything sounds coherent. Good spacing between instruments and vocalist. Staging is very nice and better than I remember with Modi Multibit. Maybe somewhere between Gungnir Multibit and Yggdrasil??

    I'm hearing NO congestion or grain with the BF. This DAC sound hi fi and not mid fi. I'm having no regrets about spending the money for the BF. In fact, with the $100 discount I'm feeling a little guilty. I keep looking behind me expecting to see Stoddard holding his hand out waiting for the rest of the payment.

    If the BF sounds any better after extended warm up, this whole thing could get real serious.
     
  4. Ice-man

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    Okay, this is not good. DAC made a pop, music quit playing. Three light flashing sequentially (on front) and nothing happening. Turned it on and off. Unplugged it and restarted the PC. Nothing doing. Just three flashing lights.

    Anyone have a suggestion. Using a decent Pangea usb cable that I've used for the past three years. Not sure what else to try.

    Does the BF prefer usb 2 or 3 ports?
     
  5. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

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    Just contact us and we’ll swap it out.
     
  6. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I believe this only happens when the sample rate changes between tracks. If you have a rip of an album (or adjacent tracks in your playlist) with tracks sampled at the same rate, there shouldn't be any clicking.

    And sucks about your DOA. Hope they're able to get a replacement to you soon.
     
  7. Ice-man

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    @schiit What do the three flashing lights on the front mean btw? I was hoping that you give me a secret key combination press that would magically put the world right again with this DAC.

    Anyway, sent the email for the swap out to you guys. It was kind of you to respond here. I appreciate the help.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2019
  8. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

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    How do you handle the tax, mate? Will the custom charge you another import tax?
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2020
  9. McFly

    McFly New

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    I think if they send it it will be as second hand goods, not tax? Depends on the country though.

    Edit - whats peoples serial numbers who are having issues ?
     
  10. JustAnotherRando

    JustAnotherRando My other bike is a Ferrari

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    Returning to the US it goes as a repair item, presumably to avoid duties complications going in.

    I live in a country with no import tax, so it's not as issue. However CS indicated that that they'd cover duplicate duties if they did exist.

    @McFly all serial numbers would be low given that that the Bifrost has only been out for a week or two.
     
  11. Biodegraded

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    Great stuff! I'd be grateful in addition for your observations on MB vs B2 both fed by Eitr (or some other S/PDIF source) in comparison to Eitr -> MB vs Unison -> B2. I'd like to get an idea of how much diff. is due to Unison vs the rest of the B2.
     
  12. Poleepkwa

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    No, the will not. They will however want to see the original tax clearance you received on the first import.
    Also must be declared as warranty replacement or similar.
     
  13. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    This is already planned, and I'll get around to it this weekend. I want a bit more time listening to Unison to set a reference before trying the S/PDIF in. I don't have a long enough "real digitial" coax cable to run from my little cabinet to the B2, which won't fit in the stack. I'll have to use one of the new Monoprice Premium RCA ICs I bought and move everything a bit closer together.

    Additional notes added to my comparo post about warm-up/burn-in.
    https://superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/schiit-bifrost-2.8226/page-14#post-271954

    The B2 has a grainy "matte" finish which is different from my Magni 3 and MB, which have a brushed aluminum finish running front to back. My SYS has a similar grainy "matte" finish as B2 (maybe slightly courser, the B2's grain is finer and nicer looking), which looks to be painted and is slightly darker than Magni 3 and MB.

    Edit: Eitr has the same brushed aluminum finish as MB and Magni 3.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2019
  14. Cakecake

    Cakecake Guest

    Can anyone compare to Yggdrasil se vs bifrost se?
     
  15. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    I mean my OG Bifrost doesn't match my Vidars and none of them match Freya S so at this point I just assume @schiit just can't help playing around with boxes like a cat and none of the generations of products will ever match :p
     
  16. Ntbm3

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    I have had a couple weeks with my B2 and completely agree with these statements! Especially treble, more detail with no added harshness.

    My set up is USB->Bifrost2->Mjolnir2->HD800s/LCD-X.

    This weekend I plan to set up a comparison of my Gungnir A2 + eitr vs. B2. Including comparing SE out of both using my tube amp (WA6-SE).

    Impressed with the B2 so far!
     
  17. Stuff Jones

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    I have the BF2 with a Gilmore Lite MK2 and the HD6XX. Was listening to that setup with the DAC in the GO V2A for a few days prior.

    One hour first impressions from someone unqualified (based on experience) to give them and in order of how they struck me.

    1. Black and quiet. I never really knew how much of difference this cold make before. Notes just come out of nothing and then go back to nothing.
    2. Bass more present. Hits with more weight.
    3. The slight glare from the GO that bothered me after some time seems gone.
    4. More solid notes. Less grain.
    5. Not obviously more detailed so far. Might be related to 3 & 4?
    6. Volume quieter - why? (edit: Because GO firmware doesn't allow vol control on Win, just 100 or 0. BF2 does and it was set lower than 100. Haven't double checked Modi.)

    Will update this post as time goes on.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2019
  18. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Let that BF2 warm up at least a day. It will likely sound slightly different tomorrow.
     
  19. Ice-man

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    Through dark means I was able to discover the meaning of the three flashing lights on the front of the bf. This is top secret so please do not share on HF. Three flashing lights mean...Voldemort is near. And it was actually right on target. He showed up at my house a little after midnight. I had no choice but to give him the ass kicking that he deserved. And now, the BF is working just fine. haha

    Seriously, I got up early this morning to pack up the DAC and there were no flashing lights. Cued up some tunes and every thing is working as normal. I plan to hold on to this for a while and see if I get any more weirdness. If so, I'll send it back for a swap. But right now, it sounds fantastic. Been running for about 7 hours now with no issues.
     
  20. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    It's possible that this is because your previous source has hotter outputs than the Bifrost 2. I noticed similar behavior with the Lyr 3 multibit; using the onboard card had me up higher on the volume pot to get satisfactory volume compared to connecting it with X-Sabre Pro.
     

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