For reference, my setup consists of an iPhone 4 -> Pure i20 -> coax SPDIF -> Schiit DAC -> HK 3490 stereo receiver -> Dali Zensor 3 speakers.
As for the comparison, I'm the wrong person to ask as I'm very green to the whole DAC world. These are the first units I've ever used so I have little perspective comparing them to other DACs. I will say, however, that I do notice a difference between the 4490 and MB. I'll do my best to explain what I hear...
First, both units were run for about 12 hours each, so not a lot of time. Both sound fantastic and GREATLY improved SQ and presentation compared to the direct connection between the i20 and the HK. During "testing" I listened to some Jazz and Indie tracks from Pandora and ALAC files straight from the iPhone.
What I like more about the MB:
- Warmer sound, which to my ears, gave instruments more body/weight. They sounded more natural. Using the 4490, instruments sounded very natural, but I prefer the sound of the MB.
- Better instrument separation. I felt like I could hear each instrument distinctly. The 4490 still does a great job, but I felt the MB did it better.
- Sound is more focused. Whether others feel this is a good thing or not, I felt like what was meant to recorded in the "foreground" was presented as such compared to the rest of the instruments recorded more in the background. EDIT: I don't believe focused is the correct term to use here. A better term or phrase might be 3D. While I wasn't surrounded by the music, the MB seemed to give better spacial positioning than the 4490.
What I like more about the 4490:
- Sound is airy and more enveloping. I felt more surrounded by the music vs the more focused presentation of the MB. Presentation was wider in general.
- Being not as warm, I felt like I could hear more detail from the music. Whether it's actual detail or "digital" detail as some call it, I can't tell being so new to this subject.
- I didn't have as much time to listen to the 4490 otherwise I'd probably have more comments for it.
EDIT: One thing I forgot to mention...both versions GREATLY improved bass performance. I couldn't believe what I was missing before. Bass, while not monstrous, was so much more noticeable and accurate. Drums hit with authority instead of disappearing into the background. In jazz tracks, hearing guitars, bass and pianos really made me see what the Zensors were capable of, instead of assuming I needed larger speakers or a sub to bring out those lower frequencies. Again, I couldn't believe how much difference the DACs made.
For my listening tastes, the multibit version wins in the end. However, if I had purchased the 4490 first and never heard the MB, I can say I would have been extremely happy, especially for the price. Of course, I've never used an external DAC before so this is probably no surprise.
Overall, both units made music come ALIVE in my system and brought huge smiles to my face as I listened to them. I love the form factor of the Bifrost - it's on the smaller side, a super clean design, it's built very well, and most important of all, both versions sound fantastic. I'm sure many other DACs on the market fit this profile but for my money, the Bifrost checks all the boxes for a price that fits my budget.
Finally, if someone wants a DAC under $500, I feel the 4490 absolutely kills it in this price range. If you have a bit more in your budget, I'd say you can't go wrong with the MB version. To me, I prefer the sound of the MB and feel the cost difference is worth it, but the 4490 is the better value, especially if you can find one in the B-stock or used market.
** NOTE: I want to repeat that the Bifrost versions are the first external DACs I've ever tried so keep that in mind when reading my impressions.
