Schiit Bifrost 2

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

  1. Wilewarer

    Wilewarer Almost "Made"

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2021
    Likes Received:
    275
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Chicago
    I don't think I mean the excess sibilance going away. That happened in the first week or so. A certain amount of that seems to be part of 2/64's sound, but it's not something I consider a problem. That said, I think I would notice it less than many anyway because of my headphone/amp - Eikon isn't overly lively up top, and to my ears Lyr 3 deserves its reputation for subduing treble fuckery. Could be your stuff highlights that more, so you'd notice that better?

    Like some others are saying, I think it's more subtle. It's probably an improvement at something the DAC was already good at, and I'm not quite grasping that because it was already good. I might say something about clarity/separation, but I'm not sure, I just think something's better.

    Maybe this is like one of those distortion tests where my ability to detect which one is messed up outstrips my ability to describe how/why it's messed up by a good 20 db or so. Or brain burn.

    (mine was new boards in an old unit too)
     
  2. Mdkaler

    Mdkaler Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2016
    Likes Received:
    390
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    CA
    Seems like a couple of folks are noticing improvements after extended burn in. I did notice my all new 2/64 sounding less annoying/better after the 3 month mark but I thought it was brain burn in and mental adjustments after listening to the LIM loaner. Hopefully I can find some time to write more soon.

    Also, to those who want a comparison between 2/64 and LIM, just buy a Modi 3E if price-performance is concerned, otherwise LIM all the way. Schiit knows their products, and you ain't gon get an Yggdrasil for $800.
     
    • Like Like x 4
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  3. Tone?

    Tone? Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2022
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    USA

    Pardon and I know this is all subjective.

    I bought a Bifrost 2/64 and it was pretty bright and sharp.

    not trying to be a jerk at all.
    Just offering constructive criticism
    The textures were really good and the sense of space.

    so it’s a shame that I had to return it because of the excess brightness.

    Is there something in the analog output stages that you guys use to set the freq response ? And tilted it a certain way? Like coupling capacitors?
    Or is that in the DAC chip?

    And pardon as I noted before not trying to be snarky.

    thanks in advance.
     
  4. Empyah

    Empyah Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2020
    Likes Received:
    156
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Earth
    For how long did you test it?
    Am asking since the consensus for Schiit Multibit DAC's here seems to be that they need to burn in for at least 2 weeks to settle on their final tonality, my Iggy A2 needed 2 months for example. And many have said the BF2/64's edge goes away after sufficient burn-in.
     
  5. Tone?

    Tone? Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2022
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    USA

    A little over a week and kept it on the whole time since Schiit products are notorious for needing burn in.

    it got slightly smoother. But still kept the sharp/bright signature.

    shame because the textures were very cool. Something I haven’t heard in DS DACs
     
  6. Empyah

    Empyah Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2020
    Likes Received:
    156
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Earth
    Would have kept it for at least a week, then on the other hand I give evaluating DAC's allways a couple of months minimum.
    What is the rest of your chain? Maybe the BF uncovered a scratchy source or did not play well with your amp?
     
  7. Tone?

    Tone? Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2022
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    USA

    No offense but my chain is MacBook Pro through Ifi galvanic to DAC, to benchmark LA4 to benchmark AHB2 ( which are both actually warm sounding). Out to my Proac DT8 speakers.

    treated room


    That’s not a bright freq response

    I took that while swapping inductors for my external crossovers I built for the speakers.


    [​IMG]
     
  8. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    My experience below. Basically, it got better after a long time and a long break, but it's still tizzier than the OG. You could try to get hold of that and have a listen.

     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  9. Tone?

    Tone? Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2022
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    USA

    Thanks for the reply man.

    yeah I can usually tell if something will get to where I want or not.
    Too bad because I did like the texture and spatial info.

    The OG would be a cool listen , I do want to only listen to DACs with discreet output stages from now on.
    I listened to a bunch of op amp DACs and not once did I get a less than flat soundstage.
    Kinda done with op amp DACs. Especially the Chinese ones. No offense
     
  10. Empyah

    Empyah Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2020
    Likes Received:
    156
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Earth
    Sorry for implying lack of experience with my line of questioning, you have obviously done your homework and know what you want. And in that case I would suggest the OG BF2 or the LiM all the way.
    There are a few on sale right now on HeadFi.
     
  11. Postol

    Postol New

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2022
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Got my Bifrost 2/64 and Jotunheim 2 stack about a month ago. Initially, I was very disappointed with the harshness of the treble BUT am pleased to report that after never turning off either unit the treble has smoothed out nicely. There are times when it is still slightly harsh but that may well be the recording. My Klipsch desktop speakers using the pre-out on the Jot2 show no harshness at all. I use Audirvana in Kernal mode on my PC via USB and a Wim Mini via optical into the BF 2/64. BF2/64 and Jot 2 are connected balanced. Sources are Qobuz and Tidal. My headphones are Focal Clear mg, Senn HD650, and Audioquest Nighthawk Carbon.
     
  12. Tone?

    Tone? Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2022
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    USA

    No not at all my friend. All is good.
    It helps showing a freq measurement I think of my room.

    would be good to see how others rooms are when reviewing stuff.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    A lot of folks here have said many of the same things that you have. Some people had an issue with the highs, others didn't. There's been a lot of discussion back and forth. It could be system dependent. I found the Bifrost 2/64 a little bit disappointing because what I was expecting was an Yggdrasil Less-Is-More Jr. The LIM is laid-back, but not the most micro-detailed (when compared to other TOTL DACs), but with very "natural" timbre.

    The Bifrost 2/64 (on this setup) sounded tipped up at both ends with "difficult" highs. Seemed like a combination of perceptual brightness and overly zippy transient response in the highs. As a result, I did not feel the audio spectrum sounded cohesive from lows to mids to highs.

    I think a one month break-in or warm-up is just too much.

    On the other hand, on various headphones with Folkvangr headamp, the Bifrost 2/64 as a source sounded great. Folkvangr is colored, very rich, and dark sounding though.

    P.S. Said the same thing a while ago (I'm turning senile): https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/schiit-bifrost-2.8226/page-63#post-392432
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2022
  14. Tone?

    Tone? Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2022
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    USA

    Yeah you saw my room response and it’s pretty much got a Harmon curve to it.
    But the 2/64 was sharp bright. And you are correct about the cohesion , or lack of.
    That part was weird. Hard to describe. But it took away from the fullness of the soundstage
     
  15. Tone?

    Tone? Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2022
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    USA
    Surprised Amir hasn’t measured it and degraded the DAC because it didn’t have a SINAD of 5,000,000

    lol.

    god that guy is a knob
     
  16. GoldenOne

    GoldenOne Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2020
    Likes Received:
    1,049
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    England
    Just wanted to quickly say that in case there was any doubt. The Bifrost 2 is indeed 'true NOS'.

    Have been testing the Denafrips Pontus 2 12th anniversary edition which claims to be true NOS but in fact is not as it turns out.
    But yep, the BF2 NOS mode is legit

    I presume this means the new Yggdrasil+ is also genuine NOS. Will confirm once the review unit lands back here
     
  17. Johnny the Nose

    Johnny the Nose Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 13, 2022
    Likes Received:
    108
    Trophy Points:
    33
    Location:
    Hill Valley
    YMMV but for me one of the best decisions I've made in terms of audio is sending back the 2/64 upgrade card. This was just on the Jot 2 at the time - but it sounded out of balance. I burned it in plenty. It was trying too hard for the detail but was missing everything to make the sound balanced and it was - at least on the jot 2 - very glaring. OG Bifrost 2 for me
     
    • Like Like x 7
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2022
  18. Tone?

    Tone? Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Dec 23, 2022
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    USA

    the original is that much different?

    too bad you can’t buy one.

    I wonder if I would like something from them with a discreet analog output stage.
    I honestly don’t want anything ever again with op amps. Yeah yeah I know some can get great. I’ve had enough for now.

    gungir I think also has a discreet output stage correct?
     
  19. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    5,773
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    small island claimed by China
    Of course, go by your own experiences, but I wouldn't get hung up on opamps vs discrete. The implementation is likely more important.

    Yes, the BF2 OG is that different WRT tonality (worse IMO) and other sonic properties (better IMO). You could try putting up a WTB post here (after contributing) or elsewhere (ad-fi?).

    I'm going to pop my OG board back in and then decide if I'm going to sell the upgrade board.
     
    Last edited: Dec 25, 2022
  20. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NW Pennsylvania
    ditto, but my BF2 is on my Crack and I'm pretty sure I'm going to prefer keeping the 2/64 with that amp.
     

Share This Page