Schiit Happened: The Story of the World's Most Improbable Start-Up

[Moondog55]

This would be incredible. To me, the BF2 OG card is possibly my favorite product they've ever made (non Fv division). If not, no biggie, I'll keep mine blood and guts.

I second that emotion. I own several dacs, probably more on the horizon but Bifrost 2 is my favorite.

 

[theveterans]

But does it sound good? It does? Then I don't care.

That's all that matters at the end of the day

 

[NewSchiithead]

Yes, there are differences if there's something in the path that the audio data is taking that "screws" with it before it comes out of your USB port. That can be a player software with integrated resamplers, EQ, or mixers, an operating system's own or a third party's system-wide audio mixer that you installed knowingly or unknowingly, etc.

If there isn't, though, the data that comes into the DAC is exactly the same. And in those cases, the analog output sounds and measures precisely the same, regardless of the source or the storage medium.

And just to be abundantly clear: This doesn't necessarily have to apply to a 16 bit 44.1 stream from a streaming service when compared to that same album's CD, for example. It can be the same, but depending on whether any processing happened on the label's or streaming services' end, it doesn't necessarily have to be the same. My tests and the results I saw only apply to comparisons between CDs I own and bit-perfect rips I personally made of those very CDs.

This makes sense. I compared streaming services to the same performance on CD via URD and the CD was waaaaay better. WAAAAAY better. I did NOT compare a ripped FLAC stored locally which should have been identical to the CD assuming the player software avoids mangling things. But a streaming service now, there's too many ways that can get screwed up to even count. Thanks for looking into this.

 

[sickmonkey]

But does it sound good? It does? Then I don't care.

In my world, the Ultra did not sound good. it's gone. Oddly enough, the Pro sounds pretty good. It stays. I am with you, if it sounds good, especially over time, I don't care either.

 

[Ripper2860]

That's all that matters at the beginning, middle, and end of the day

FTFY.

 

[misterpumpy]

No transformer isolation on Mimir USB, but still 384 capable, which means it has the high-rate oscillators.

If Bifrost 2/64 gets a USB 384 upgrade card and Forkbeard, will the USB still be transformer isolated, or no? Also, is it possible to upgrade bifrost 2/64 with Forkbeard or does it require a Bifrost 3 bc of pcb changes?

 

[binarypie]

It does seem that way, which is really disappointing.

I enjoy this forum for all the good-humoured banter and also because I have learned a lot... and not just about audio gear

I won't even mention the name of the moronic poster who decided to post outright lies about Forkbeard

He should crawl back into his cave.

I'm sorry that I don't believe in Forkbeard the way you do. I've been in tech for a very long time. I've seen thousands of great ideas poorly executed at worst or simply mistimed at best. In today's economy money truly has to be earned.

The early postings I saw on ASR, Reddit, and YouTube were pretty lackluster. I don't have an ios device so I can't disprove them. To that point. The lead developer here says things are better and working perfectly.... so much so that they are building an android app now. I'm cautiously stoked about that as I have a desire to buy more Schiit gear.

However, I still don't believe that the long-term value is going to be there unless they step heavily into a sonos-style of world. Which to be honest if they did and it worked, i would replace every single sonos amp and speaker in my house with Schiit amps and the appropriate speakers. To go even further despite my criticism and skepticism of the product as it stands today; I would love something in the mobile space.

 

[theveterans]

This makes sense. I compared streaming services to the same performance on CD via URD and the CD was waaaaay better. WAAAAAY better. I did NOT compare a ripped FLAC stored locally which should have been identical to the CD assuming the player software avoids mangling things. But a streaming service now, there's too many ways that can get screwed up to even count. Thanks for looking into this.

I'm glad some are speaking out their anecdotal experience. But yes, "fixing", "improving" streaming sound quality is a PITA due to how ridiculously deep the rabbit hole can get. Been there done that but after all the troubles and fun of tweaking, I've ended up with very satisfying results from streaming since I don't have physical space for CDs and especially vinyls.

 

[Moondog55]

The good news (at least for buyers in the UK) is that USD has weakened significantly against GBP in the past few weeks.

Yep, bad news for us 'mericans. I bought some tubes from Langrex. I should have purchased them several weeks ago. The current exchange rate felt like a tariff.

 

[sickmonkey]

I'm glad some are speaking out their anecdotal experience. But yes, "fixing", "improving" streaming sound quality is a PITA due to how ridiculously deep the rabbit hole can get. Been there done that but after all the troubles and fun of tweaking, I've ended up with very satisfying results from streaming since I don't have physical space for CDs and especially vinyls.

I am slowly getting my act together. I am treating streaming as old photography magazines. lots of pictures and discovering cool stuff. Looking at the mag pictures are great and then you see it in real life and wow.

Example: I did not know Lenny Kravitz's dropped a new album last year. Blue Electric Light. discovered it on Qobuz. It's really good. Hardcopy (CD) will be hear Saturday. It will get ripped, archived and enjoyed on the main system.

When I am traveling in auto, I am perfectly fine with accepting "MP3" quality streaming from iPhone. If I want something better, I have a DAP.

 

[Moondog55]

Pages and pages of incomprehensible verbosity. Seriously this is so pretentious and affected it is impossible to read if you dont drink the kool aid.

Troll Alert!

 

[unclefred]

This is a very very cheap universal remote, especially for something that has a 10" screen.

https://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPad-10-2-inch-Wi-Fi-32GB/dp/B08KWJW3DV/ref=sr_1_4?crid=113W95SNJHXOP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._4KBwBzmdWc7Ajc5wkJFr4oRr2k-rXiLDXWKpQDn5grhJkI1V3qnfNPFKuVijw3Xh4oE5k8mPRHye0OLN3zHME0aE5kfu6Fq3X--xW2e8211wU7wTF097UwVFtSRVojhZAUuH4dEs_jrEjZ4J_wMoniGH60X5J1-UfMS9AqcxmvlUEh4GWPIVpUWra_kWtvA-YtaMjm0EgexK2rzEp-d4NirVMWbj2pQOUrF1QKr80Q.lvKFvSsqKmFl8sdgATtiiTLkZ1f7q5IoSBGviPeoouU&dib_tag=se&keywords=ipad+9th+generation+renewed&qid=1745521770&sprefix=ipad+9th+generation+renewed,aps,142&sr=8-4

Personally, I use an old phone or iPad, because I don't want to deal with my phone phone after hours. You can make it a clean device and even turn off wifi entirely, and Forkbeard works just fine.

Also personally, I don't understand the fight between two different camps. I carry a Macbook Air an Microsoft Surface in my bag at all times, and I always have both an iPhone and an Android phone. Maybe I'm crazy.

All that said, Android development continues, if you want to wait.

On your recommendation I just bought one. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[StimpyWan]

Pages and pages of incomprehensible verbosity. Seriously this is so pretentious and affected it is impossible to read if you dont drink the kool aid.

I personally enjoy the honesty that Jason presents. I know of few others that share so much of the thought process that went into the design of their gear. Plus, the tech info. While I might not understand 100% of Jason's explanations, I comprehend the vast majority of the presented information, to realize how unique Schiit Audio is. That, and their price-point mentality, and no pressure marketing, will keep me as a customer for a good long while. No complaints...!

 

[DACattack]

Cross posting a bit, but in further prep for operation Valhalla 3 bedside stack, just got a new ZMF Bokeh.

Oh my, that is simply gorgeous. Congratulations. I've been scrupulously avoiding the ZMF website today. I can't afford another until ZMF November. I love my stock Bokeh Closed. I've only had it since the 7th, but as it's broken-in it's become my favorite headphone. It works well with every Schiit amp I have too. Enjoy!

 

[Dr. Cube]

I'm actually not sure if there's a way to have a given operating system's volume buttons or sliders control not the OS's own mixer but the connected sound target's own volume level through USB commands.

I have a Shure interface that seems to work this way, but I haven't looked into how/why.