Schiit Bifrost Gen 5 USB Upgrade Instructions

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Elnrik, Sep 21, 2017.

  1. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Hey Friends,

    I upgraded my Bifrost Multibit to Gen 5, and didn't see a thread in here for it. I thought I'd be helpful (instead of my typical lazy assed and useless self) and snap a few pics, then throw them up here. The info probably already exists on 10000 different sites already, but I don't care.

    Insert Marvey's Gen 5 Disclaimer:
    (Shamelessly lifted from @Marvey Yggdrasil post. I'm trying to be helpful, not original.)


    Important tip: Chassis screws are DIFFERENT than the PCB screws. Keep them separate. Don't lose them.

    Step 1: Remove Rear Screws
    20170921_131355.jpg

    Step 2: Remove Chassis Screws on Top and Bottom (Do not remove PCB screws yet.)
    20170921_131431.jpg
    20170921_130702.jpg

    Step 3: Pull dark grey chassis out from the silver housing. Go directly back from the rear of the unit. Don't twist. Go slow.
    20170921_130935.jpg

    Step 4: Remove PCB screws. Ensure the guts don't go sliding out. I'll let you figure out which way is best.
    (I forgot to snap a picture, sue me.)

    Step 5: Remove screws holding USB card in. Remove card by lifting directly up. Do not twist, wiggle, or otherwise twerk the card out.
    IMPORTANT!!! Keep calm and override shutdown.
    20170921_125800.jpg

    Step 6: Put Gen 5 board in place of previous board. Do not bend pins. Do not apply too much force!
    If you get this wrong, you should never have tried this in the first place. Society should ostracize you. You're probably going to die alone. From ass cancer. Good job, hero.

    Step 7: Secure Gen 5 board to the unit with the supplied screws.
    20170921_130205.jpg

    Step 8: Place the guts back into the chassis. Align LEDs with the LED holes. Ensure button is still in place and hasn't fallen to the floor and rolled under your couch.
    20170921_130429.jpg

    Step 9: Screw the thing back together, starting with the PCB screws. Actually attempt to align everything nicely, and don't force screws in or over tighten. You don't want tiny metal shavings getting in there because you had to He-Man a steel screw into the aluminum chassis.

    Step 10: Say a prayer to Odin wishing that your upgrade was successful and you didn't royally f*** something up.

    Step 11: Turn it on, and listen to music. (Plug everything in first. Duh.)


    BTW - I found that I had to remove the 2.0 drivers from Windows 10 before the Gen 5 drivers could be automatically detected and installed.

    Enjoy!
     
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  2. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Yes, I was very bored at work today.
     
  3. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
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  4. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    That's a great idea! Thanks! Do you hang yours up, or just use it mat style?

    I use Dixie cups, which are great until you accidentally send a cup full of tiny screws flying across the workstation when you flicked the cord on your soldering iron, then burn the shit out of yourself when you try to catch the cup...

    Not that that's happened.

    Twice.
     
  5. DrForBin

    DrForBin Friend

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    hello,

    thanks ever so much for this. feeling a bit more confident that i can do a self install. (A+ certified, don't ya know!)
     
  6. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    Install done. I've upgraded a Bifrost before (Uberfrost --> 4490), but even so I was glad for the pics and reminder.

    Much thanks, @Elnrik !

    Small aside, but I didn't need to remove the previous gen2 drivers as you mentioned. Everything took care of itself automatically. Also Windows 10. I was interested to see that the drivers now specify Bifrost Gen 5, which they did not before. Previously, it was more generic (Schiit USB Audio Gen 2) or something along those lines.

    Hard to objectively describe what I'm hearing. I've been using an Uptone Regen in my setup for so long that I don't remember what a direct to USB connection sounds like and I still need to wait for proper warmup, etc.. Either way, the install was painless and the sounds euphonious.
     
  7. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    Old-ish thread but deserving of a thank you. The photo of the LEDs was particularly helpful. I can see where fat fingers would make that difficult, and some long forceps would really simplify the struggle. I’m now confident ordering the upgrade board. Oh, where do I get your mouse pad - it looks like a requirement?
     
  8. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Thanks!

    The pad was a gift from a friend who knows I like all things BattleTech/MechWarrior. No idea where he got it though. :)
     
  9. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Thanks for the tutorial. I just upgraded.

    What’s the plug on the back of the board for?
     
  10. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Also, my gen 5 board came with two metal standoffs and 4 screws. It appears I did need these parts. Did I miss something?
     
  11. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    What plug? I must be missing it.
     
  12. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Mine came with the same. They were the same height and shape as the ones that were in there so I didn't use them.
     
  13. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Damn. I should have taken a pic. There a plug on the back of the card. Like for phone or ethernet plug.
     
  14. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

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    It's for programming the board.
     
  15. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    What he said
     
  16. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Thanks for this. Added to my list.

    I used to use coffee cups, but switched to plastic medicine bottles. This board looks better as you can better separate the different screws.
     
  17. rrwwss52

    rrwwss52 New

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  18. rrwwss52

    rrwwss52 New

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    @Elnrik Thanks for posting this. I just picked up a used Bitfrost. At Steps 5 and 6, is it a simple “snap in” for the new USB 5 board? I may wait for the newer USB board coming out n January 2020 that Schitt is using on the new model Bitfrost. Again, thanks for the great detail in posting, especially the different screw groups and excellent instructions. Best, Robert
     
  19. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Glad it helped.

    Yes, 5 and 6 are quite easy once you see underneath the board. It is a simple series of long pins that fit into a specific slot on the main board. As long as you don't bend the pins, this is nearly impossible to mess up. Pull / push the two boards directly away / toward each other, and you'll be fine.

    In other words, do not twist, wiggle, or otherwise twerk the card in or out.

    ... Or, twerk to your heart's content, and get some pliers to straighten bent pins.

    Your choice.
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2019
  20. rrwwss52

    rrwwss52 New

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    Thank you for the reply. Best, Robert
     

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