Schiit Fire and Save Matches! Bifrost Multibit is Here.

[smitty1110]

3. It is a parallel input DAC. As in, the entire 16-bit word has to be written in at once, on 16 separate pins. This is very bizarre, since most DACs are serial in. Just one way that these are NOT easy to use for audio. 

That makes me want a stiff drink just reading it.

 

[earnmyturns]

That makes me wabt a stiff drink just reading it.

+1

 

[rmullins08]

 
Quote:

  Some fun facts about the AD5547CRUZ DAC used in Bifrost Multibit (for super techies only):
 
 

 
 
 
ignores warning and keeps reading..... 

 

[Jason Stoddard]

Parallel is still easier than the AD5791/5781, which require specific preambles to be written in before each sample...
 
Yeah, I'm really glad I do the analog, and Mike and Dave do the digital. The funny thing is, I think both of them are as terrified of analog as I am of digital.

 

[jfoxvol]

  Some fun facts about the AD5547CRUZ DAC used in Bifrost Multibit (for super techies only):
 
1. It features an integral nonlinearity (INL) plot that's better than +/-0.5LSB. This is a spec they never provide for audio DACs, because (a) it would be terrifying in the case of audio multibit DACs and (b) it is not possible to measure delta-sigma DACs in this way, since the output depends on the preceding and following samples.
 
2. The THD performance is actually scary good--far better than 16 bits. 16 bit level THD, from a theoretically perfect 16-bit DAC, is -96dB. Most 16 bit DACs from the Jurassic Age of Digital didn't hit this number. The AD5547 is -104dB, much better than 16 bit--and its noise level is down at the 22 bit level. And this is without the deglitching tricks applied to Gungnir Multibit and Yggdrasil.
 
3. It is a parallel input DAC. As in, the entire 16-bit word has to be written in at once, on 16 separate pins. This is very bizarre, since most DACs are serial in. Just one way that these are NOT easy to use for audio. 

Very nice.  That's some seriously good numbers and interesting implementation.  

 

[smitty1110]

Ugh, sounds like those DACs are closer to CPUs than I'm generally comfortable with. Hopefully the DSP chipset's vendor wasn't evil and let Dave use a fairly standard-compliant programming language.

 

[Billheiser]

Quote:Originally Posted by kyungrok325 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
  ...
I mainly use my akg k712 and asgard 2 to play games on my computer such as CSGO
and I also listen to some light music (such as OST's/rock/ballad/ etc....) when Im studying or just messing around.
...
1) What is the best way (quality) to listen to headphones?
 
 
 
   
The best way is to listen to fantastic music while paying attention and digging it deeply.  Not while studying or gaming or just messing around.

 

[bgentry]

1) Optical is my choice.  USB is not reliable and noisy.  

While that may be true in some circumstances, with some computers, and with some DACs, it is NOT universally true. If it was, no one would use USB for audio.

USB, on my system, produces no noise in the DAC and is ROCK solid.

Brian.

 

[Billheiser]

While that may be true in some circumstances, with some computers, and with some DACs, it is NOT universally true. If it was, no one would use USB for audio.

USB, on my system, produces no noise in the DAC and is ROCK solid.

Brian.

I have 2 systems with USB and optical, and find these 4 inputs equally quiet and reliable.  

 

[madwolfa]

USB (and coaxial for that matter) is prone to ground loop noise, but if you don't have that issue - it is as good or better than optical...

 

[Ableza]

Maybe it's just me but when I listen to headphones I like putting them on my head. 

 

[jimmers]

  Maybe it's just me but when I listen to headphones I like putting them on my head. 

Some of us go even further and put them on our ears, like this

 

 

[Ableza]

  Some of us go even further and put them on our ears, like this

 

Now THAT'S awesome.  I'll have to try it.

 

[LxJLthr]

I have read through the thread, but still do not have any idea as to the practical difference between the two Bifrost models (or why they are more awesome than prior generation).  I greatly appreciate the detailed technical information provided and applaud people's ability to comprehend it...but it might as well be written in Gallic (or whatever extinct language of your preference) LOL
 
Therefore, would you kindly...put that into lament terms?  What would be the typical application difference/necessity between the two models? =)
 
For reference, my current desktop listening is done via HD600 and Vali/Modi2U from a laptop USB with various cornucopia of files (ranging from 256k through the different FLAC levels).  I am not a file format snob nor do I have golden ears...but I still like shiny new Schiit from time to time.

 

[madwolfa]

  For reference, my current desktop listening is done via HD600 and Vali/Modi2U from a laptop USB with various cornucopia of files (ranging from 256k through the different FLAC levels).  I am not a file format snob nor do I have golden ears...but I still like shiny new Schiit from time to time.

 
I'm not a huge DAC believer myself and most likely will not be able to hear any difference, but my Bifrost is out for a Multibit upgrade. Just because I need some "shiny new Schiit from time to time" and want to support the company I like.