Schiit DACs (Bifrost and Gungnir down, one to go)? The information and anticipation thread. - Page 47

Really looking forward to listening to the Bifrost.  Would love to go for the statement DAC, but:

- It's my first new DAC in 20 years (last one was a Mike Moffatt design as well) and I just can't hang on until March.  :-)

- My wife is an avid HGTV watcher, so guess where she'd rather our money went?  $1000 is probably a bit much to go for all at once in the context of current ongoing home improvements and financing thereof.  An eventual trade-up of the Bifrost on the statement DAC might be more do-able, but I can't see the usefulness for Schiit of that kind of trade-up program.  (Yes, they might sell more statement DACs, but why saddle themselves with a bunch of used Bifrosts in order to do it?  And my personal finances aside, it's impossible to argue that's not a *very* reasonable price point for a high end DAC.)

Long as she designs a good listening room for you I guess its all good.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by judmarc 

Really looking forward to listening to the Bifrost.  Would love to go for the statement DAC, but:

 

- It's my first new DAC in 20 years (last one was a Mike Moffatt design as well) and I just can't hang on until March.  :-)

 

- My wife is an avid HGTV watcher, so guess where she'd rather our money went?  $1000 is probably a bit much to go for all at once in the context of current ongoing home improvements and financing thereof.  An eventual trade-up of the Bifrost on the statement DAC might be more do-able, but I can't see the usefulness for Schiit of that kind of trade-up program.  (Yes, they might sell more statement DACs, but why saddle themselves with a bunch of used Bifrosts in order to do it?  And my personal finances aside, it's impossible to argue that's not a *very* reasonable price point for a high end DAC.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninjikiran 

Long as she designs a good listening room for you I guess its all good.
 

 

Heh, guess who the designer is in the family?  Unfortunately I've got no artistic talent, but I did get hold of some software that let me "construct" our house on the computer.  It's a lot cheaper to move things around on a screen than while they're actually being built.  And I also had the advantage of having an architect friend to whom I'd fax screenshots and ask, "Have I made the house fall down yet?"

So the listening room's in place (cleverly disguised as the family room where my wife watches TV and movies), and everyone gets to enjoy the comfy sofa and good sound.  In fact the TV and the blu-ray player have toslink outputs, so if the Bifrost improves the sound of movies that will definitely help with the Wife Acceptance Factor.  (I'll have to put on something with Russell Crowe, she loves the guy.)

I think I read through much of what is posted at Head-fi about these forthcomming DACs from Schiit. There are lots of details about the technology, but I don't think I've seen a single word about it's intended sound signiture or Schiit's philosophy behind what sound they are going for.  For example, I wonder what is the intention with this first DAC; is Schiit going for a  revealing analytical studio engineer type sound or something more uh cozy and analog (sorry I don't know the correct audiophile terms maybe)?

Is Schiit sending out any early review samples to any of the fine reviewers here so that reviews will get out there before Sept. 30th? Otherwise I guess we will have to wait for the reviews as they trickle in after release.

My preference ATM is for a musical-sounding DAC paired with analytical-sounding tubes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by judmarc - It's my first new DAC in 20 years (last one was a Mike Moffatt design as well) and I just can't hang on until March.  :

You've waited 20 years, and another few months will kill you???

Yes, Skylab will be posting a review.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by HammerSandwich 

 

You've waited 20 years, and another few months will kill you???

Don't know if you're old enough to've watched Popeye cartoons, but: "That's all I can stands, and I can't stands no more!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

My preference ATM is for a musical-sounding DAC paired with analytical-sounding tubes.

"Analytical-sounding tubes" (!?!) Is that not a contradiction in terms? Do you also prefer alcohol-free scotch, scratchy silk sheets and non-dairy ice cream (which is, for unguessable reasons, actually available)? 

Of course, some would opine that "musical-sounding DAC is another oxymoron...

Quote:

Originally Posted by 45longcolt 

"Analytical-sounding tubes" (!?!) Is that not a contradiction in terms? Do you also prefer alcohol-free scotch, scratchy silk sheets and non-dairy ice cream (which is, for unguessable reasons, actually available)? 

 

Of course, some would opine that "musical-sounding DAC is another oxymoron...

How about 'intelligent post'.  Where does that fit in?  

Hey guys, big big news! I have just got a heads up on the upcoming schiit products, no specific details, just a rough sketch. Basically, we will be seeing a balanced ss amp and balanced DAC by end of this year and a balanced hybrid amp and flagship balanced DAC by q1 next year. Furthermore, it seems the two balanced DACs will have options for the exact same usb card as the bifrost (dissapointing to me). More details include the fact that the cheaper balanced DAC will use existing high-end DAC chips (Sabre, Wolfsson, etc.) but the flagship will be completely unique, featuring never seen before chips (multiple). Furthermore, the flagship DAC is being designed to completely outperform the competition.  Including DACs that are many times more expensive (W4S, Weiss, Zodiac Gold, Berkeley, etc).It is actually being designed to even outstrip things like the dCS and Mark Levinson.  It is also going to be very special in that almost all the components will be in-house Schiit designed and produced parts. The casing for the two new amps and DACs will be matching. (as in mid-range amp and dac will be the same, flagships will be the same) They will both be significantly larger than the current products. (Lyr, Bifrost) Finally, suggested pricing could be 649-749 for the mid-range DAC and 949-1049 for the flagship DAC. The amps will probably be slightly cheaper respectively.

Hope you guys found this info interesting, I personally cannot wait for the balanced amps and especially the flagship DAC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayvaanshrike 

Hey guys, big big news! I have just got a heads up on the upcoming schiit products, no specific details, just a rough sketch. Basically, we will be seeing a balanced ss amp and balanced DAC by end of this year and a balanced hybrid amp and flagship balanced DAC by q1 next year. Furthermore, it seems the two balanced DACs will have options for the exact same usb card as the bifrost (dissapointing to me). More details include the fact that the cheaper balanced DAC will use existing high-end DAC chips (Sabre, Wolfsson, etc.) but the flagship will be completely unique, featuring never seen before chips (multiple). Furthermore, the flagship DAC is being designed to completely outperform the competition.  Including DACs that are many times more expensive (W4S, Weiss, Zodiac Gold, Berkeley, etc).It is actually being designed to even outstrip things like the dCS and Mark Levinson.  It is also going to be very special in that almost all the components will be in-house Schiit designed and produced parts. The casing for the two new amps and DACs will be matching. (as in mid-range amp and dac will be the same, flagships will be the same) They will both be significantly larger than the current products. (Lyr, Bifrost) Finally, suggested pricing could be 649-749 for the mid-range DAC and 949-1049 for the flagship DAC. The amps will probably be slightly cheaper respectively.

Hope you guys found this info interesting, I personally cannot wait for the balanced amps and especially the flagship DAC.

Quoting for posterity. Where did you get those nuggets from?

Quote:

Originally Posted by olor1n 

Quoting for posterity. Where did you get those nuggets from?

I think he got it from reading the rest of the thread? :)

Is there anything in there that's even new compared to what we'd already been told?