Schiit Bifrost Uber Analog Upgrade

[junkimchi]

Kind of unrelated, but does your guys' selector button kinda shake around? mine is kinda lose in its casing and rattles just a tiny bit (even though I never have to press it lol)

 

[FlySweep]

I was under the assumption that the "Uber Analog" upgrade come standard on all new Bifrosts ordered direct from Schiit.com.. is this the case?  Reason I ask is cause at the Bifrost page, there's an option to add the "Uber Analog" upgrade to a (new) Bifrost.  If it comes standard, people may be adding/paying for it by mistake.

 

[internethandle]

It's my understanding that the USB Gen 2 upgrade comes standard with all newly ordered Bifrosts and Gungnirs, whereas (for the Bifrost), the Uber Analog does not and is an optional addition/upgrade.

 

[captouch]

I think it's still an option that you have to pay for, though I could be wrong. . .it's well worth it in either case!

 

[traehekat]

Quote:

Kind of unrelated, but does your guys' selector button kinda shake around? mine is kinda lose in its casing and rattles just a tiny bit (even though I never have to press it lol)

Yup, same here. Bugged me a little bit at first, but like you I never change it so it makes absolutely no difference to me now. 

 

[FlySweep]

It's my understanding that the USB Gen 2 upgrade comes standard with all newly ordered Bifrosts and Gungnirs, whereas (for the Bifrost), the Uber Analog does not and is an optional addition/upgrade.

 
Hmm.. well, if that's case, the Bifrost page is still incorrect: the USB2 module is shown as an available add-on for a new Bifrost, as well.  I'm more inclined to think the Uber Analog would be offered as a standard feature since Schiit has always offered the USB card (even prior to USB2) as an optional add-on (since many people prefer to use coax/digital inputs w/ their DAC & don't need USB).  Popping over to the Gungnir page, USB2 remains an optional/addt'l cost add-on.

I think it's still an option that you have to pay for, though I could be wrong..

That might very well be the case.. perhaps I need to go to Schiit to find out for sure.. I'm stuck between the UB & the Concero.. decisions decisions!

 

[ngyu]

Quote:

 
Hmm.. well, if that's case, the Bifrost page is still incorrect: the USB2 module is shown as an available add-on for a new Bifrost, as well.  I'm more inclined to think the Uber Analog would be offered as a standard feature since Schiit has always offered the USB card (even prior to USB2) as an optional add-on (since many people prefer to use coax/digital inputs w/ their DAC & don't need USB).  Popping over to the Gungnir page, USB2 remains an optional/addt'l cost add-on.
That might very well be the case.. perhaps I need to go to Schiit to find out for sure.. I'm stuck between the UB & the Concero.. decisions decisions!

 
USB is still an add on for the Bifrost, however when you do select USB option, you get the USB version 2 board. Uber Upgrade is always an upgrade. 
 
I personally have a fully decked out Uberfrost with USB, however I only use optical with my current setup. USB is really an extra, and if you have no need for it, you don't need it. I only got it just in case in the future, I become less tech-savvy and just want to plug and play things (yeah... probably not gonna happen, but its just in case).
 
I never heard the concerto, but the uberfrost remains for me one of the best DACs for the price. You really can't beat the sound quality that comes from it. 

 

[FlySweep]

Quote:

 
USB is still an add on for the Bifrost, however when you do select USB option, you get the USB version 2 board. Uber Upgrade is always an upgrade. 
 
I personally have a fully decked out Uberfrost with USB, however I only use optical with my current setup. USB is really an extra, and if you have no need for it, you don't need it. I only got it just in case in the future, I become less tech-savvy and just want to plug and play things (yeah... probably not gonna happen, but its just in case).
 
I never heard the concerto, but the uberfrost remains for me one of the best DACs for the price. You really can't beat the sound quality that comes from it. 

 
Thanks!  I'll be joining the club soon.. I ordered the Uber BiFrost (w/ USB2) a short while ago.. now, it's time to sell some things.. 
 

 

[jmsaxon69]

Yeah, it's funny, you'd expect that the Bifrost would just start coming with the Uber board in it as stock, but it doesn't look like that is happening, maybe they need to move through the old inventory of original boards first?

 

[ngyu]

Thanks!  I'll be joining the club soon.. I ordered the Uber BiFrost (w/ USB2) a short while ago.. now, it's time to sell some things.. 

:bigsmile_face:

nice! it's a great DAC, at this price point, it's hard to beat.

Yeah, it's funny, you'd expect that the Bifrost would just start coming with the Uber board in it as stock, but it doesn't look like that is happening, maybe they need to move through the old inventory of original boards first?

no, the uber boards are offered as upgrades, higher end if you will. they are addons to the Bifrost not intended to replace the analog board like the usb 2 board.

 

[walls]

Though I have never heard the non uber version I love my uber one and couldn't be happier. I almost bought the regular version and upgraded later just to see if I could truly hear a difference. LOL!

 

[mikek200]

Quote:

Though I have never heard the non uber version I love my uber one and couldn't be happier. I almost bought the regular version and upgraded later just to see if I could truly hear a difference. LOL!

When I got the Uber upgrade,I immediately heard a difference in SQ-for the better
I even e-mailed Jason about it,because he managed to do the upgrade,and ship it back to ,all within  8 days..
I mentioned to Jason,that I found a comparison to the mjolnir,and he confirmed ,that ,yes,there is a close comparison to the mjolnir & that was his intention.
 
So,IMHO,it's a no brainer,get the uber upgrade.

 

[moriez]

To be perfectly honest, I don't hear a difference with Uber. Maybe because I spend too little time to get to know the non-Uber Bifrost or it's the untrained ear. Probably both

 

[captouch]

They say auditory memory is pretty short. I know I have that same problem when I'm trying to A/B gear that requires me to unplug cords, power down, change tubes, etc. If I can A/B instantaneously with a remote, I can listen better for differences. The other thing people say to do is live with a piece of gear for days, even weeks, then switch to a new piece of gear once you're thoroughly familiar with the old one.

I was able to tell a difference with the Uber, but I used full size speakers. To be honest, I often can't tell the differnce with high confidence between tubes or a couple of similarly powered vintage receivers. I'm sure that has to do with each person's hearing, as well as the equipment being used.

 

[walls]

I can hear differences between my gear, the WA2 with stock tubes stomps my LD2++ with every tube combination I have tried. Is the difference HUGE....  probably not as big as I make it sound, as my wife just shrugged and said they both sound good. lol. But to ME the difference is worth every penny of the cost of admission.
 
The difference between my WA2 and my Asgard2 is pretty darn obvious (even to my wife). The Asgard is faster and sharper then the Woo but the Woo has better bass and a much larger sound stage. I love the Woo with ANYTHING acoustic or music that is nicely layered like Dave Matthews or Sarah Mclaughlin etc. And well recorded metal is stellar on the Woo like the Metallica Black album or the newer Testament stuff. BUT the Asgard is really great with any of the older metal that I throw at it, anything from my collection that is not recorded as well like older Slayer and Metallica.
 
Now the Bifrost compared to the DAC in the Ipure, honestly, I have a hard time using the Ipure alone at work and am considering getting another Bifrost for the office. The sound from the Ipure's DAC just seems congested compared to the Bifrost. I think of course I am comparing apples to oranges when you consider the two products but in the very least the "every DAC sounds the same" idea gets destroyed here. But the Ipure is  great and worth every penny as a stand alone dock anyways.
 
There is absolutely a point of diminishing returns when you get to the higher dollar gear, that is why I decided to go with the WA2 and the Asgard2 instead of just one higher priced or "better" piece. This way I figure I have the best of both worlds and can choose which sound I want by what mood I am in and I have a system that will play well with any future can purchases.
 
YMMV.