Haute Schiit! Bifrost is world's most affordable fully upgradable DAC

[WNBC]

Depends on how good that soundcard is because USB may very well trump it if BiFrost USB input is implemented very well and the card is just so-so or a wash and if both are excellent you don't need the BiFrost (but you still will want it

).
Which will sound better is unknown until sometime reviews the BiFrost.  I just looked up the Yamaha model and it looks pretty high-end but I can't tell how good the headphone output is.
The Lyr is a fantastic headphone amp and we'll have to wait for reviews on the BiFrost.  With that said, you can find positive reviews about the Lyr + 702 combination.
 
Quote:

If your computer already has SPD/IF output, is it still necessary to get the USB option with the BiFrost? I'm planning to purchase the Lyr and the BiFrost to drive the AKG 702.
I am currently using the Yamaha RX-V3800 receiver to drive the AKG702. How different would the AKG 702 sound when driven with the Lyr and the BiFrost?

 

 

[grokit]

^ X2, the Lyr with the 701/2 is definitely a win.

 

[Tetsuma]

Absolutely not. No point paying $100 for a redundant option that has no effect on sound quality. Unless you see yourself with a device that only has digital out via USB, like an old low-end mac laptop.
Quote:

If your computer already has SPD/IF output, is it still necessary to get the USB option with the BiFrost? I'm planning to purchase the Lyr and the BiFrost to drive the AKG 702.
 
I am currently using the Yamaha RX-V3800 receiver to drive the AKG702. How different would the AKG 702 sound when driven with the Lyr and the BiFrost?

 

 

[obazavil]

Quote:

^ X2, the Lyr with the 701/2 is definitely a win.

X3.. Lyr+K702 rul3z

 

[cricketbaby]

Looks like i'll be pre-ordering one of these on payday. Never heard anything by Schiit but their reputation is brilliant (as well as their individual histories), plus their whole attitude towards audio equpiment and marketing is a much needed breath of fresh air. It really does give them an edge over many other companies. A risk that has paid off for them i'd say. Can't wait to hear this and eventually pair it up with an Ayr & He-500!

 

[gurus]

Ordered one today. Where would that be in the production schedule-First batch?

 

[Hawaiiancerveza]

September 30 if Im not mistaken.  The site should have the date.
 
 
http://schiit.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=7
 
Quote:

Ordered one today. Where would that be in the production schedule-First batch?

 

 

[gurus]

Quote:

Does this mean that every single Bifrost is going to ship on September 30?
No. We actually produce Bifrost here in the USA on our own production line, which has a finite capacity. The earliest orders will be shipped first, and we don’t anticipate it will take more than a week or two after production starts to clear all the backorders.
 

All the best,
Jason

 

 

[Hawaiiancerveza]

Better than waiting a few months 

 
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[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.

 

 

[Maxvla]

So, what's the news? We knew all of this already.

 

[WNBC]

Why exactly is this a bad thing?  If they do USB implementation correctly then no need to re-invent the wheel with later generations.  It's very common for manufacturers with multiple models.  It also means that the BiFrost is not being shortchanged if they think the USB going into that is good enough for their mid and upper tier models.  
 
Quote:

Furthermore, it seems the two balanced DACs will have options for the exact same usb card as the bifrost (dissapointing to me). 

 
 

 

[Bucko]

Is SPDIF all the same quality?
 
example... is it like dvi connection? I don't really want to buy the STX soundcard if i'm buying the Bifrost, so I may aswell get a cheaper soundcard like the Xonar DS and save some money if they are all the same.

 

[Maleficus]

I want my Birfrost!
 
Bucko: When I emailed Jason asking about soundcard etc, his response was "Personally, I'd get a cheap soundcard with SPDIF and call it a day--but that's me. The SPDIF receiver will take care of most of the jitter."

 

[ninjikiran]

If all you care about is jitter rejection then yea but sound cards have different driver implementations and digital output limitations.
 
You need to take this into consideration as well, whether or not it supports the sample rates you desire, whether the drivers allow for bit perfect output, some do funky things like resample even on the digital output.