Schiit Audio Bifrost 2

[lexx21]

I guess i find myself wondering if it's worth it to wait for the Forkbeard to be added to the Bifrost or if i should just go ahead and purchase one now. Currently i'm using a IFI micro idsd finale linked up to my Ican pro signature. Would like to have fully balanced multibit setup. Maybe it's not really necessary to wait idk...

I seem to remember Jason saying it might be the end of the year at the earliest in the schiit happened thread.

 

[Audiofiend1]

I seem to remember Jason saying it might be the end of the year at the earliest in the schiit happened thread.

Damm, i really want the forkbread. I think i'm going to have to bite the bullet and consider the Gungnir 2 instead

 

[Daniel Johnston]

Damm, i really want the forkbread. I think i'm going to have to bite the bullet and consider the Gungnir 2 instead

I personally would go the Gungnir2. I bought it a couple weeks ago and am extremely happy.

There's been very little talk about the BF2/64 upgrade path. And if the Yggy to Byggy conversion is any indicator, it won't be cheap.

 

[Siggi]

Same boat here, I just traded in my BF2/64 and placed an order for a Gungnir 2 I hoping this will be my endgame DAC

 

[Quadrangulator]

How does the Gungnir 2's sound compare to the Bifrost 2/64's?

 

[Daniel Johnston]

How does the Gungnir 2's sound compare to the Bifrost 2/64's?

Significantly different. The Gungnir2 has better resolution, detail, and is more on the neutral side.

The BF2/64 is more energetic, more treble forward, and maybe a bit more bass.

 

[Quadrangulator]

I just hooked up a new Bifrost 2/64, and I cannot hear a difference between it and my RME ADI-2 FS R Black Edition (AKM chips).

I'm switching on the fly with a Schiit Lokius going out to a Jotunheim 2 and a Vali 3, primarily listening with an Atrium Closed, and using a Schiit Sys to level match the Bifrost 2/64 by ear.

I'm toggling back and forth listening to music from Tidal via a Bluesound Node Nano's coax output to the ADI-2, and the two DAC's sound the same to me. Same thing when listening to video games, white noise, pink noise, or brown noise from the PC via optical to the ADI-2.

Soundstage width? Same.

Kick drums, bass, and other low frequency? Same.

High hats, cymbals, etc.? Same.

Swithed to Tungsten DS? Same.

At first, I thought the BF2 sounded fuller and thicker in the lows, lower mids, and upper treble. But after level matching, the difference dissapeared.

Don't get me wrong, the BF 2/64 sounds good and looks good — especially in silver. But I cannot hear a difference between it and the ADI-2 Black Edition.

 

[Hyde00]

I too thought Bifrost 2/64 sounded pretty linear, similar to delta sigma DACs.

Bifrost 2 OG however was definitely more colored.

 

[NiGHTS4EVA]

IDK how true this is but they say the best way to hear the differences between any DAC is to listen to the new one for like a week or so then go back to the old one and try to pick out any changes.

 

[Hyde00]

IDK how true this is but they say the best way to hear the differences between any DAC is to listen to the new one for like a week or so then go back to the old one and try to pick out any changes.

Yes to this.

 

[ColtMrFire]

I'm toggling back and forth

There’s your problem right there. Differences in DACs can be subtle and unless you’ve trained yourself to recognize subtleties instantly your brain is going to homogenize the differences since it’s already used to the old DAC.

It’s a bit like wine tasting. You have to “cleanse your palate” so to speak. As the others said, give your brain time to adjust to the new DAC for a while and approach it casually, trying to force yourself to immediately hear differences isn’t conducive to the process. Be patient. The BF2 will handle music differently but it can take time to recognize it over a variety of songs and albums.

You may hear how a singer places different emphasis on certain notes you’re not used to hearing… or how a guitarist arranges a certain pattern of harmonies differently, etc. Like wine tasting it is a skill set to notice differences and it can take time to develop.

Pay more attention to musical elements as you listen, but don’t strain to hear differences, just have fun with it, like how you may notice different things in a movie every time you watch it.

Go slow, have fun.

 

[nasty nate]

My reply to Schiit:



Edit with their reply:

I'm experiencing the same symptoms. I think I'll re-seat the cards as well. I'll update this thread with the results...

So far, I have tried:
1. New cables (USB, Power, RCA)
2. Different source - Urd vs MBP - Bifrst swapped out for Modi 3 (problem disappears with Modi [which sounds great btw - forgot how good that little thing is] )
3. Different outlet
4. Tapping on housing, the problem persists - moving the Bifrost seems to have little or no effect

Since the problem is intermittent, it's quite challenging to pinpoint as you all know - wish me luck! This DAC has been without fault for nearly 5 years - always on.

---
Edit:
Yep - that did it... -___-

To think I was about to send this thing across the country

 

[Schuie Driver]

Curious, have any of you used a XLR to SE cable to power another SE input preamp if already using the SE out for a different amp/pre? If so, was the sound quality greatly impacted vs using the regular SE outs?

 

[duncan4791]

Curious, have any of you used a XLR to SE cable to power another SE input preamp if already using the SE out for a different amp/pre? If so, was the sound quality greatly impacted vs using the regular SE outs?

Whether using a XLR-SE cable or a Lokius in bypass the difference, if discernable, is between the SE's OPA1656 and the XLR's LME49724 or OPA1632 output opamps. The specs seem to suggest that different 2/64s use different differential opamps. In both cases the cable or Lokius is using the positive phase of the balanced output. Most of the improvement for XLR is with both phases active and the +6db increase in output. Try it and listen, if the cable is properly made there is no harm.