1.     Don't be a dotard!
    Read these "rules" AND introduce
    yourself     before your first post
  2. A healthy approach to understanding measurements
    Being true to what the artists intended
  3. After being asked for the 308th time, Merv lists top 5 headphones
    (opinion / entertainment piece)
    Dismiss Notice
  4. $1000 to the first to design a headamp using discrete components with better measurements than Magni 3+
    Dismiss Notice
IMPORTANT: New Members Read This Don't Be a Measurement Fascist Merv's Top 5 Headphones - 2023 Edition $1000 Challenge

Schiit Bifrost 2

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

Page 3 of 74
  1. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,273
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Well, Gungnir MB and Yggdrasil still have better clocking schemes for the S/PDIF inputs...

    I'm using the Yggdrasil A2's SE outputs with my Lyr 3 at work (I love this amp with a Psvane tube) and all this talk about non-gimped SE output has me wondering. We all know how that's gonna end :rolleyes:.
     
    Clemmaster, Aug 28, 2019
    #41
  2. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,230
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    [​IMG]
     
    ColtMrFire, Aug 28, 2019
    #42
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,962
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    It's tonal balance makes it easy to match. I'd say the Yggdrasil and Gungnir have more character which make it more difficult to get the best results and synergy if you are nitpicking.

    Most evaluation was mostly done with this setup (except not with the XA25, but with the Aegir as the power amp). Note Bifrost 2 not pictured. It's been returned to Schiit.

    IMG_20190825_175338.jpg
     
    purr1n, Aug 28, 2019
    #43
  4. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2017
    Likes Received:
    7,791
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Canada
    @purr1n , not to side track the thread, but XA25? Oooohhh...Compare to Aegir coming?
     
    rlow, Aug 28, 2019
    #44
  5. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    14,090
    Trophy Points:
    113
    what do you think of the pass labs XA25 amp you have in that pic? Once you reply I'll move this to another thread :)
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Epic Epic x 1
    • List
    zerodeefex, Aug 28, 2019
    #45
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,962
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Not sure if I want to talk about it right now. Maybe in three months, and embedded in some thread about global warming. You can ask @julie so I can absolve myself of all responsibility since no one will believe me anyway.
     
    purr1n, Aug 28, 2019
    #46
  7. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,951
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    @purr1n any observations on warm-up time? In line with nu-Gungnir Multibit?
     
    k4rstar, Aug 28, 2019
    #47
  8. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    14,090
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Don't be a butthead. Spill the beans.
     
    zerodeefex, Aug 28, 2019
    #48
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,962
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    A day? I just plugged it in when I got home and did the real listening the next day. TBH, really didn't think about it. Seemed to clear up and less PCM vintagey after 24 hours, but hard to say.

    A lot of these DACs I've had for a while don't seem to require long warm up anymore after being unplugged. It could be that I'm a lot less neurotic about gear and more into finding the right Japanese vinyl for Judas Priest these days.

    My advice these days about gear is just to have your loved ones buy you an authentic Supreme shirt, treat yourself to some dadcore sneakers, and just chill and listen to music.
     
    purr1n, Aug 28, 2019
    #49
  10. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10,579
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Palms Of The Coasts, FL
    I love leather daddy Halford.
     
    YMO, Aug 28, 2019
    #50
  11. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    9,943
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Texas and California
    Home Page:
    Don't feed the neurosis. It's already been WAAAAAAAYYYYY overblown. Like USB decrapifiers.
     
    schiit, Aug 28, 2019
    #51
  12. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    I would love to hear this against the OG Beefroast I have available. If there is a loaner please count me in!
     
    cskippy, Aug 28, 2019
    #52
  13. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

    Pyrate Banned
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,455
    Trophy Points:
    113
    @schiit would you be able to use both balanced and SE output simultaneously to two amps? I believe the Gungnir Multibit could do this.
     
    Ice-man, Aug 28, 2019
    #53
  14. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    9,943
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Texas and California
    Home Page:
    Yes, both outputs are active at all times.
     
    schiit, Aug 28, 2019
    #54
  15. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,204
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Nation's Capital of failure
    Same boat with Gungnir Multibit A1 and Lyr 3, it's always been in the back of my mind with the claims of gimped SE output...but I got too much other shit to worry about and am just enjoying the music (now more than ever with a zero-gravity chair). Bifrost 2 is damn tempting, but I think I'll wait for a better balanced amp instead to blow my funds on.

    Gungnir Multibit resale prices are headed for imminent recession. Sucks for Gungnir Multibit owners, but fantastic to see the evolution in Schiit products without following stupid headphone industry pricing trends.
     
    rott, Aug 28, 2019
    #55
  16. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,506
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    Thank you for a valuable post in a thread that (so far) reminds me more of HF than SBAF.

    -----edit for piss-poor grammar-----
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2019
    dasman66, Aug 28, 2019
    #56
  17. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    6,864
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nashville, TN
    Home Page:
    @schiit, will you guys be offering the Unison card for existing Bifrosts? I doubt it, but I thought I would ask anyway.
     
    Azimuth, Aug 28, 2019
    #57
  18. monacelli

    monacelli Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,649
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    The Land of Enchantment
    Many thanks to @schiit, @baldr and company for continuing to push the boundaries of what's possible in the affordable audio space. My eyes kind of glaze over at the price of most products discussed on the forums these days, so the Bifrost 2 is a welcome change of pace. I remembered reading a post from @baldr back in June (this one, on HF), where he wrote:

    "baldr: One of the cheap DACs sounded waaaaaaaaaaaaay too phucking good. This what I should know after forty some years of building DACs. I have to find out why this cheap DAC if built sounds so good. I do not believe in the engineering paranormal so perhaps I am missing out on some engineering spec. We shall see. More on this as it is revealed."

    Which naturally makes me curious. Were you referring to Bifrost 2, @baldr? Either way, I would love to hear your thoughts on the development/design of this latest iteration of Bifrost. Jason's chapter was great, but it's always cool to hear your side of the story too~
     
    monacelli, Aug 28, 2019
    #58
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,962
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Don't get me wrong. If you've built a system that sounds good with the Gungnir Multibit, it's just going to be a matter of slightly different or maybe a step down with Bifrost 2. If you are running balanced then more surely a step down. A maxed out setup with the Yggdrasil or Gungnir Multibit > Bifrost 2.

    And again, Bifrost plays in more straight tonally. Think Lavry DA10 in terms of tone. Some may find this too boring, may want more sparkle or upfront mids.

    Also, I imagine Unison upgrades soon (EOY) for the rest of the line.
     
    purr1n, Aug 28, 2019
    #59
  20. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,506
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    The FAQ on their site says they will offer unison for the OG bitfrost
    -----Edit for piss-poor spelling------
     
    dasman66, Aug 28, 2019
    #60
Page 3 of 74

Share This Page