1.     Don't be a dotard!
    Read these "rules" AND introduce
    yourself     before your first post
  2. A healthy approach to understanding measurements
    Being true to what the artists intended
  3. After being asked for the 308th time, Merv lists top 5 headphones
    (opinion / entertainment piece)
    Dismiss Notice
  4. $1000 to the first to design a headamp using discrete components with better measurements than Magni 3+
    Dismiss Notice
IMPORTANT: New Members Read This Don't Be a Measurement Fascist Merv's Top 5 Headphones - 2023 Edition $1000 Challenge

AURALiC Vega or Bifrost Multibit?

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by mtoc, Nov 9, 2015.

  1. mtoc

    mtoc SBAF's Resident Shit-Stirrer Banned

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2015
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Hello, guys, I am in the middle of choosing, I am about to get one of them, AURALiC Vega or Bifrost Multibit, anyone know which is better?

    Plan B: AURALiC Vega or Gungnir Multibit?

    Thanks...
     
    mtoc, Nov 9, 2015
    #1

  2. Azteca

    Azteca Friend Pyrate

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,581
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    This would be a good question for the all-purpose advice thread, I think. If you can afford a Vega it would be much wiser to get a Yggdrasil.
     
    Azteca, Nov 9, 2015
    #2
  3. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda Pyrate BWC MZR

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    19,091
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    On planet
    I've posted something similar elsewhere but for your convenience:

    My opinion (FWIW) the Yggdrasil, Gungnir MB and Vega are all very fine DACs. Best is in the ear of the beholder. The Vega has multiple filter modes, which can tailor the sound. It is a very clean, clear sounding DAC, an exemplary delta-sigma implementation. Schiit’s MultiBit DACs give a dimension and depth to the reproduction sound that I have not experienced with any delta-sigma DAC.

    Yggdrasil and Vega are really good tools for studios and mastering facilities, to hear the most neutral representation on both MB and D-S DACs. Those who have the similar goals to hear as closely as possible to the studio experience might also find both DACs useful. I appreciate the exceptional neutrality for production work. However the very slight euphonic sound and ever so slight lost of resolution of the Gungnir MB from the Yggdrasil actually serves recreational listeners better, in my opinion. Then there is the Bifrost MB. I've spent a lot of my disposable time listening to the BiMB and asking myself, do I really need the extra resolution of GuMB for most of my recreational listening enjoyment? Plenty to enjoy about this relatively inexpensive DAC.

    Also look here:
    http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...-mb-bifrost-mb-a-terse-ribald-comparison.308/
     
    atomicbob, Nov 9, 2015
    #3
  4. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator Staff Member Pyrate

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,068
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Schiit Comparison

    On Saturday I had a chance to listen to the Vega and after listening to the Bifrost Multibit, Gungnir Multibit, and Yggdrasil will give you this advice as well as my thoughts. The Bifrost Multibit to me didn't hold a candle to the Gungnir Multibit or the Yggdrasil (keep in mind I think listening to the Yggdrasil and Gungnir Multibit first kind of spoiled the Bifrost Multibit experience for me). In regards to the Yggdrasil vs the Gungnir Multibit I thought that the Yggdrasil had a more open sound stage and did a better job with the bass and tonality details (tighter and more accurate). I heard this through both vinyl and hi-res digital files.

    Schiit vs Auralic Comparison

    The reason for the Schiit comparison is to let you know that when comparing the Vega the better choice for comparison would be the Yggdrasil and Gungnir Multibit. The Vega is a very good DAC but I felt it had the sound stage of the Gungnir Multibit so that is what I would compare it with because personally I think the Yggdrasil is better than the Vega. The Vega and Gungnir Multibit I would say have similar sound stages (not as open as the Yggdrasil) but the bass impact seemed to be where these two would differ. The bass impact and lows are too abundant on the Vega and can sometimes block out the mids and the highs. For me the Vega was a tad too bass heavy for my liking and that is where I feel the Gungnir Multibit has the advantage because it's much more on the neutral side than the Vega (as well as being more tonally accurate to my ears). The Yggdrasil BTW takes a long time to warm up (recommended is 4 days that it needs staying on and plugged in) and some people have said that it sounds even better with longer than 4 days of warm up (potentially about a week).

    I will admit I am a fan of Schiit because to me they produce a great sound at a great value. They tend to have a more natural accurate sound and produce the bass tightness and punch I look for. Value being that the DACs are upgradable which makes your listening experience last a long time.

    Final Thoughts

    Just a few questions to ask yourself about this decision is what types of music do you listen to? How would this sound signature compliment the music you listen to? For me I love rock and roll, electronic, and hip hop so I am definitely more of a bass focused listener while also noticing the sound stage and detail differences (not sensitive to treble like others).

    Prices:

    Auralic Vega: $3,495
    Schiit Yggdrasil: $2,299
    Schiit Gungnir Multibit: $1,249
    Schiit Bifrost Multibit: $599

    Anyway hope this helps and good luck with your purchase.
     
    velvetx, Nov 9, 2015
    #4
  5. steve

    steve New Contributor

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    Milpitas

    Went to that meet but got to leave early :-(

    Hi Velvetx, Did you guys have a chance to compare the dacs under the same system?
     
    steve, Nov 9, 2015
    #5
  6. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator Staff Member Pyrate

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,068
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Unfortunately not as you know you can't have a warmed up proper Yggdrasil at a meet. Also note that unless a meet is specifically set up for comparisons of this nature then usually they can't be done properly. So I took my impressions of the Vega I listened to at the meet and used previous thoughts from listening to the Bifrost Multibit, Gungnir Multibit, and Yggdrasil for comparison.
     
    Last edited: Nov 9, 2015
    velvetx, Nov 9, 2015
    #6
  7. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda Pyrate BWC MZR

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    19,091
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    On planet
    It is possible to have a Yggdrasil properly warmed up at a meet if the extra effort of hot transport is employed. The following are helpful for hot transport:

    http://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-CP1000PFCLCD-Sinewave-Compatible-Mini-Tower/dp/B00429N192
    http://www.amazon.com/Go-Power-GP-SW150-12-150-Watt-Inverter/dp/B00153EYX0

    Please note that both devices produce true sinusoidal output waveforms, thus they are more expensive than their inexpensive stepped approximation converters. The UPS supplies power to the DAC between indoor and vehicle. The inverter keeps the UPS powered thus avoiding battery drain for trips longer than 5 to 10 minutes. I've been doing this for hot transport of DACs in local meets. It does make a difference.
     
    atomicbob, Nov 9, 2015
    #7
  8. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator Staff Member Pyrate

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,068
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Haha yah I forgot about the hardcore peeps. Good point :)
     
    velvetx, Nov 9, 2015
    #8

Share This Page