Schiit Bifrost

[The Fez]

I'm looking at this DAC as a possibility. I can see gen1 and gen2 not sure I can see a difference? Anyone know any more than me about this model difference.

This generational description I've seen on the addicted to audio site.

Sent from my XT925

[Chill3]

Gen 2 has upgraded analogue board, and the optional USB board is also an upgrade, both have been well received

 

If you have a Gen 1 the new boards can be purchased from Schitt and are easy to install 

[holliswhy]

great bargain dac this one. very musical. 

[Willco]

Agreed I had a Beta Bifrost with the Gungir Analogue Board-- Truly excellent-- you won't go wrong with the brand def' superior to the competition at it's price point .

 

Willco

[The Fez]

Thanks heaps for the information.

[The Fez]

When I first got into ripping and streaming audio, I was interested in PS Audio. I was, and still am,impressed by their audio philosophy and history. I was new to the DAC thing, so I contacted them directly in Bouder CO, at that time I was looking at their Digital Link III DAC.

 

Now from memory, I think I dropped Darko a note at the time, asking hIm to review said Digital Link III DAC. I don't thInk that review ever happened. Since then JD has reviewed the Perfect Wave DAC marks I&II. So I'll take this opportunity to ask him to review the NuWave DAC, that sits in the highly competitive 1k DAC market. Thanks!

 

Anyways, back to PS Audio. I had a great email conversation with the guys from Boulder about the DL3 and other stuff. They seemed like a real good company to deal with. I'm DACless at the moment, and seriously considering the NuWave DAC. I believe the NWD is manufactured in Boulder. My prior DAC was the Rega. 

 

I think its between the Schiit Gungnir and NWD?? Anyone tell me where the Schiit DACS are manufactured?  

[holliswhy]

From words on forums (so take this with a pinch of salt), the two dacs have difference flavours. 

The Schiit are typically known for a softer, more rounded, and smooth sound. the PS audio is fuller and more dynamic.

So I think it really depends on the rest of your system. 

[Willco]

When I first got into ripping and streaming audio, I was interested in PS Audio. I was, and still am,impressed by their audio philosophy and history. I was new to the DAC thing, so I contacted them directly in Bouder CO, at that time I was looking at their Digital Link III DAC.

 

Now from memory, I think I dropped Darko a note at the time, asking hIm to review said Digital Link III DAC. I don't thInk that review ever happened. Since then JD has reviewed the Perfect Wave DAC marks I&II. So I'll take this opportunity to ask him to review the NuWave DAC, that sits in the highly competitive 1k DAC market. Thanks!

 

Anyways, back to PS Audio. I had a great email conversation with the guys from Boulder about the DL3 and other stuff. They seemed like a real good company to deal with. I'm DACless at the moment, and seriously considering the NuWave DAC. I believe the NWD is manufactured in Boulder. My prior DAC was the Rega. 

 

I think its between the Schiit Gungnir and NWD?? Anyone tell me where the Schiit DACS are manufactured?  

Well Schiit are in Calif--why not send Jason an Email and ask him re the Chips?

 

jason@schiit.com 

 

The Moffat designed Schiit DACs are in a class above  the PS Audio-- never rated their stuff--all marketing and bluster--they forgot about the sound---not for this boyo.

 

Willco

[ceeceevee]

I'm looking at this DAC as a possibility. I can see gen1 and gen2 not sure I can see a difference? Anyone know any more than me about this model difference.

This generational description I've seen on the addicted to audio site.

Sent from my XT925

I've been looking at this also and their site is a bit confusing. However, if you look at their listings:

- bifrost no USB $494

- bifrost gen1 USB $499

- bifrost gen2 USB $604

- bifrost + board upgrade $604

- bifrost + USB gen2 + board upgrade $717

It looks to me as if gen1 and gen2 refers to the USB board version, rather than the uber upgrade. Given the $5 difference with the no-USB version, it seems they want to get rid of their older USB boards. I'm actually tempted by that offer because the base Bifrost is already likely to give me a decent sound and I'm not sure that the rest of my system is transparent enough to make the most of the upgrades so the gen1 USB will probably be enough for me...

[anfs]

Note that the Schitt Bofrost uses a muting relay that clicks

 

A good explanation from guildenstern on head-fi.org

 

If you hook up your Bifrost and never change the input, then the clicking won't bother you. Such is the case with the Bifrost I use in my office setup, with USB output from my laptop. Because the USB output remains a steady "always on" signal, and because I don't change to a different input on the DAC, and because the sampling rate remains consistent, the Bifrost quietly does its job of making music. Same goes for another Bifrost that I use with a Sonos zone player -- the "always on" digital output of the Sonos into the Bifrost's coax S/PDIF input produces a single click when the Bifrost locks on to the signal, then no more clicking, just uninterrupted music.

 

But it's different if you use the digital output from a CD player into the Bifrost's S/PDIF input. If, like many CD players, your player mutes the digital output when not in "Play" mode, then each and every time you push "Play" to start a CD, the Bifrost will emit a brief series of clicks as it tries to lock onto the digital output from the CD player. The same clicking also occurs when you manually skip from one track to another -- the CD player mutes the digital output when it searches for the track you've selected, and then when it reaches the selected track and unmutes, the Bifrost relay clicks again (in my experience, usually a few times before locking onto the signal). I've tried three CD players (Rotel, Marantz, Classe), and all cause the clicking with the Bifrost.

 

I still have lots of music on CD, unripped to NAS (slowly getting there, but the paying job does get in the way...). I thought of trying Schiit's higher-priced Gungnir DAC with my CD player, but the Gungnir also uses the mechanical relay. I am hoping that the much-anticipated "Statement DAC" from Schiit avoids the noisy mechanical relay.

 

In the system in which I often use the CD player as my source, I don't use a Bifrost, because that clicking is just annoying enough to get in the way of the music. (I use a Rega DAC instead.) But in my office system and in the room with Sonos player, I greatly enjoy the performance of the Bifrost, which doesn't click as long as it is fed an uninterrupted digital signal.

[ceeceevee]

Note that the Schitt Bofrost uses a muting relay that clicks

 

Wow, that's a hugely valuable piece of information. Thanks heaps for that. I'm definitely planning on having my CD player use the Toslink input (AppleTV on the optical input, no plans for USB yet) so I could fall foul of the evil clicks. Mmh...

[The Fez]

Well I didn't go with Schiit - but I'm going to try some Wisdom In Mind & Enthusiasm At Heart...Be my first AGD product. Going to give the NFB-1.32 ES9018 Sabre DAC a go. Will report shortly...

[holliswhy]

what's the rest of your system?

[The Fez]

what's the rest of your system?

 

Squeezebox Touch (EDO), various vintage integrated and power amplifiers, a "modern" Yamaha A-S1000 integrated, Quad 12L2 monitors.

[pete_mac]

I'm very much looking forward to hearing your new DAC Stephen. Many, many positive reviews of this DAC, particularly from others who have compared it against ES9018 implementations from other manufacturers.

I reckon it will suit your system nicely.

[holliswhy]

I'm very much looking forward to hearing your new DAC Stephen. Many, many positive reviews of this DAC, particularly from others who have compared it against ES9018 implementations from other manufacturers.

I reckon it will suit your system nicely.

 

Agree.