[beancounter0]

Quick question on Bifrost and USB vs S/PDIF - assuming I am restricted to a laptop w/ USB out only, would I get better sound with the Bifrost optional USB board, or with a Hiface 2 USB/spdif converter?
 
 
My apologies if this has been asked before....

 

[rune-san]

I have very little experience with S/PDIF converters but in all honesty the USB board in the BiFrost is top notch and I'm extremely happy with the sound from mine.

 

[Anathallo]

I find the USB input vastly inferior to optical and coaxial on my Bifrost.  By leaps and bounds.

 

[lja1125]

Hi,

I'm wondering there is anyway to connect Idevice to bifrost.

 

[munchzilla]

you should try the Apple Camera Connection Kit (CCK). there is a discussion of it here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/507559/list-of-dacs-that-work-with-ipad/
 
and some explanations.

 

[grokit]

That's for the iPad only, for the rest the Pure i20 is the least expensive way to go.

 

[Killbox]

If I connect my Bifrost to my secondary computer via toslink I hear a click sound when I click back in forth in windows folders. Just like the click sound when you turn it on. How can I get rid of this issue?

 

[Anathallo]

Quote:

If I connect my Bifrost to my secondary computer via toslink I hear a click sound when I click back in forth in windows folders. Just like the click sound when you turn it on. How can I get rid of this issue?

Turn off Windows sounds, use a separate sound card for output to the Bifrost, use a different output device for windows sounds, or something else along those lines.

 

[grokit]

Routing system sounds through the computer's onboard speaker works for me, that way I can hear them when I'm not wearing my headphones and when I am they won't bother me.

 

[188479]

I find the USB input vastly inferior to optical and coaxial on my Bifrost. By leaps and bounds.

X2

 

[grokit]

If the USB is all that bad compared to the other inputs on the Gungnir, my configuration will be with converters:
 

1. Mac Mini > Musical Fidelity Vlink 192  > coaxial
2. iPad (with CCK) > Firestone Bravo > optical
3. Guest/Windows laptop > USB

 
But I will try the USB direct to the Apple machines first to compare.

 

[paradoxper]

Quote:

If the USB is all that bad compared to the other inputs on the Gungnir, my configuration will be with converters:
 

1. Mac Mini > Musical Fidelity Vlink 192  > coaxial
2. iPad (with CCK) > Firestone Bravo > optical
3. Guest/Windows laptop > USB

 
But I will try the USB direct to the Apple machines first to compare.

And if USB is not noticeably any better or worse than optical or coaxial. What will you decide to use?

 

[grokit]

If there's no need for the converters, I will not use them. I have found this to vary from DAC to DAC and from source to source.
 
But since only one computer can connect via USB anyways, may end up using the converters for flexibility (connecting iPad, guest laptop, etc).

 

[Yuceka]

Quote:

If there's no need for the converters, I will not use them. I have found this to vary from DAC to DAC and from source to source.
 
But since only one computer can connect via USB anyways, may end up using the converters for flexibility (connecting iPad, guest laptop, etc).

Looking forward to your findings Grokit as I just sold my Macbook Pro and got a Macbook Air instead. 

 

[jsplice]

Quote:

X2

 
Quote:

I find the USB input vastly inferior to optical and coaxial on my Bifrost.  By leaps and bounds.

 
Could you guys comment as to why you find the USB to be vastly inferior?  What differences in sound do you notice?