I've had the Uber Bifrost (with USB2 & Uber Analog) for the better part of nearly three weeks now. Since arriving, I've used it exclusively with my BH Crack (w/ speedball and other upgrades). On average, I've used it three to four hours a day (typically more, sometimes less).. exclusively via the USB2 interface. When not in use, I've left the UB powered on... so it's been on continuously since it arrived (sufficient "burn-in" & use for those who might be concerned with these processes).
I've used the HD800 & FA-002w HE with UB/BH Crack combo.. and so far, come away extremely pleased with the performance. OOTB, the UB did not sound all that much better than the ODAC. That isn't necessarily a knock on the UB cause I'm very happy with the ODAC (and both the ODAC & UB are exceedingly transparent), but I was wondering what I paid (nearly four times the price of the ODAC) for. After using the UB for a week or so.. and comparing with the ODAC again.. I found the difference in SQ between the two DACs to be quite distinguishable. The thing that was most apparent was the soundstage size.. with the UB, it was noticeably wider, deeper, and taller. The ODAC's stage sounded flatter, more 2D, in comparison. Via the UB, imaging cues were more precise and even easier to pinpoint than they w/ the ODAC... so the UB puts its larger soundstage to good use. The UB offers better instrument separation and clarity over the ODAC, as well. More generally speaking, the UB sounds a bit more articulate and better detailed at the extremes of the freq spectrum... for example, the ODAC sounds almost rolled off at the very upper treble frequencies in comparison to the UB. This isn't a case of the UB 'enhancing' or 'coloring' the upper treble to increase perceived detail and presence.. the UB simply reveals the musical information in those regions through better clarity and extension. Same goes for the bass frequencies. The midrange on both the ODAC & UB are very similar.. but the UB enjoys better depth, resolution, and space.. so it leads to a more 'realistic' midrange, IMO.
So far, I've found the UB to be a worthwhile and valuable 'upgrade' to the ODAC. I still love the ODAC (and use it with my portable rig) and find it one of the best values around. I feel comfortable saying that if you like the ODAC.. you'll love the UB.. as the UB seems like a more refined, articulate, & detailed version of the ODAC. Taking its performance into account, I feel the UB is priced precisely where it should be in relation to the ODAC (~$160). The improvement in sound seems appropriately consummate with the increase in price in this instance, for me at least. I think the UB would, quite comfortably, go head-to-head with many DACs in the $1K-1.2K range. Considering the performance of the UB and how impressed I've been, I don't anticipate getting another (desktop) DAC for the foreseeable future. It certainly doesn't feel like a bottleneck in my rig and I love Schiit's modular/upgradeable architecture to 'future-proof' this DAC. With Schiit's 'statement' amp/dac coming out in the next year or so, I think it's safe to expect some of the innovative advancements in DAC architecture to eventually trickle down to the Bifrost. Until then, I'm more than satisfied with what the current UB has to offer.
..next up will be a comparison with the Violectric V800.
