[Alexnova]

This is actually a great idea.

So Jason, here's another one of my 'elevator product pitches' for ya!

Bifrost 2 Jr

- same 9" x 6.75" chassis as Bifrost 2
- nothing modular (to keep costs down)
- no remote (to keep cost down)
- comes with Unison USB
- MicroSD slot for future firmware updates
- AD5547 16 bit chips (x2)
- single-ended RCA out only
- same or similar power supply as Bifrost 2
- $399

Boom.

I'd say get rid of the firmware slot to save even more costs and to kill off audiophile neurosis.

But overall that would make a nice Modi True Mulitbit product if It can fit in a Modi chassis

 

[Jason Stoddard]

Do you think it would be a good guess that this cheap DS that sounded very good be going towards the gaming product(s) Schiit plans to release?

Wait till you hear one of them...it's nuts. Same basic stuff we've been doing, but we learned a few new tricks.

 

[Alexnova]

I'm looking forward to reading a chapter on Schiit's gaming products and what the gaming market is like and demand for them. Would be interesting to read what kickstarted the idea to develop such products.

 

[XERO1]

Ironically, we found a bunch of boards for the old-style Bifrost and Asgard 2 just shortly before the launch of Bifrost 2 and Asgard 3. We don't have metal for them, so I've been contemplating doing a short run so we can sell them as the "Schiit Classic Stack." You know, like Coke Classic, except nobody asked us to bring it back.

Hell yeah! The Asgard 2 really is a classic.

 

[vladpetric]

Actually we started it with Yggy, that was an internal shortcut because, yeah, the name is ridiculous. Wait till I do a Gjallarhorn someday. So it's our fault. But it keeps biting us in the ass. When people look for comments on Yggdrasil, they miss Yggy. So I've been forcing myself to type out Yggdrasil every time I talk about it these days.

It took me almost 20 years in the US to unroll my Rs ... Now my favorite audiophile company is telling me to roll them again ...

If you don't mind my question again, is the main difference between Jotunheim and Asgard 3 power (and heat)? Is the DAC module the same?

 

[Balthazar B]

1 Vents. Asgard 3 runs 500mW of Class A bias (for 32 ohm loads), so it runs plenty warm. Don’t block these vents, and don’t spill your Chardonnay in them, either. Nor coffee. Nor Coke. Or let your cat throw up in it. You get the basic idea, right?

Or....

???

 

[Alexnova]

Lol wonder how many products have been sent back to Schiit due to cat puke. Gross

 

[Jason Stoddard]

It took me almost 20 years in the US to unroll my Rs ... Now my favorite audiophile company is telling me to roll them again ...

If you don't mind my question again, is the main difference between Jotunheim and Asgard 3 power (and heat)? Is the DAC module the same?

The DAC module is the same, but the difference in topology is significant. Probably best to go back to the Jotunheim chapter for that. Bottom line, Asgard 3 is a variant of the single-ended, current-feedback topology we've been using in Vidar, Aegir, Magni 3, and Loki Mini. It's closest to an Aegir for headphones, because it's a CFA+Continuity output stage. Jotunheim is a precursor to Nexus, called Pivot Point, which is also current feedback, but differential.

Or....



???

The whole "cat threw up in it" refers to an actual Asgard 1 we repaired. It worked fine after cleaning out the cat puke.

 

[Jason Stoddard]

Lol wonder how many products have been sent back to Schiit due to cat puke. Gross

Interestingly, Asgard always seems to be the one that gets crap in it. Cat puke, wine, coffee, orange juice, you name it. Never a problem with Lyr or Valhalla, maybe because of the tubes. But Jotunheims are usually pretty clean as well. Weird.

 

[scottbrown5271]

I like the sound of Bamby (Bifrost Automomy Multibit) but Bamu would be more accurate (Bifrost Autonomy Multibit Unison). Maybe someone else has a better acronym, have to see what catches on. Does Schiit have an in house nickname for Bifrost 2?

Not that I've heard... How about B2?

 

[Alexnova]

I have a question that sorta relates to the Bifrost 2 and wondering if one of you fine people can help shed some light for me.

Why are there DAC chips that have 18-bits when standard Redbook is only 16-bit. Why do those 2 extra bits matter?

Sorry I'm not an engineer or an expert at understanding tech specs of DACs, just curious.

All of my music is in 16-bit which is why I went for the Bifrost. And I'm running single ended too. Just didn't make sense to get a DAC higher than 16-bit.

 

[Jason Stoddard]

Not that I've heard... How about B2?

How about "Bifrost 2?" Seriously, can we please kill the nicknames?

I have a question that sorta relates to the Bifrost 2 and wondering if one of you fine people can help shed some light for me.

Why are there DAC chips that have 18-bits when standard Redbook is only 16-bit. Why do those 2 extra bits matter?

Sorry I'm not an engineer or an expert at understanding tech specs of DACs, just curious.

All of my music is in 16-bit which is why I went for the Bifrost. And I'm running single ended too. Just didn't make sense to get a DAC higher than 16-bit.

That's a Mike question. And probably a religious one as well.

 

[Alexnova]

That's a Mike question. And probably a religious one as well.

LOL. I can't imagine how full your inbox was with angry messages when the Yggy came out by the 24-bit zealots. Or that ridiculous Stereophile review as "obsolete". Made for a good ad though haha

 

[XERO1]

Hey Jason,

I just finished reading the Asgard 3 manual and it says:
________________________
Note: Be careful with TRRS-terminated headphones (usually ones with microphones)—you will need a specific TRRS-to-TRS adapter for those.

I get weird noises when I use my cheapie earbuds that have volume control on them.
Right. Those are TRRS headphones. You need a TRRS to TRS adapter for those. Continuing to use TRRS headphones without the right adapter can cause functional problems as well. Seriously, get the right adapter.
________________________

I've used earphones with track/volume controls (using generic 3.5mm-to-6.35mm adapters) with all of my Schiit amps and I've never had any problems.

Is there something different about the Asgard 3 that we should be more careful about?

 

[Jason Stoddard]

Hey Jason,

I just finished reading the Asgard 3 manual and it says:
________________________
Note: Be careful with TRRS-terminated headphones (usually ones with microphones)—you will need a specific TRRS-to-TRS adapter for those.

I get weird noises when I use my cheapie earbuds that have volume control on them.
Right. Those are TRRS headphones. You need a TRRS to TRS adapter for those. Continuing to use TRRS headphones without the right adapter can cause functional problems as well. Seriously, get the right adapter.
________________________

I've used earphones with track/volume controls (using generic 3.5mm-to-6.35mm adapters) with all of my Schiit amps and I've never had any problems.

Is there something different about the Asgard 3 that we should be more careful about?

I wouldn't use them, personally. If the geometry is off, you'll be shorting both channels together (or one to ground). Boom.

Yours might work, but I wouldn't do it.