Schiit Bifrost 2

Real engineering requires system design considerations as a whole, including the damn power supply which is 50% of any amplifier design. Cut-n-paste engineering has a 99.9% probability of producing mediocre results at best and more likely shit; very far from real schiit.

 

You are getting into quantum physics is a great topic , full of mystery, because our brains cannot understand it\

 

deleted.

 

Brought the Yggdrasil home and Roon works fine in WASAPI/Exclusive mode on my desktop PC. Go figure...

 

Is there a safe way to output the balanced on the bifrost 2 to SE? What would be the pin outs?

My bifrost 2 is on order, so can’t post any impressions yet.

 

Why would you want to? The SE outs are already stated not to be "gimped." Just asking.

 

Unbalanced to blanced is generally OK but balanced to unbalanced should go through a transformer. For both safety and to drop the voltage to something an unbalanced input would be expecting.

 

I think the transformer is for impedance matching.

Bifrost 2 has balanced outs, so no reason to pair down to unbalanced unless you needed 2 unbalanced outputs.

 

I am curious about this too, I want to use the balanced outputs to run long (40ft) balanced cables to my singe-ended headphone amp. Just need the balanced for its better noise rejection over long cable runs.

 

Guys check this out:

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...o-unbalanced-input-a-brief-visual-guide.7012/

And here’s a transformer Atomic Bob tested:

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...sen-transformers-technical-measurements.7017/

May want to ask questions in one of those threads rather than muddy up the Bifrost thread.

 

to have two SE outputs to feed two different SE amps.
I know there are transformers for this, but for some DACs (RME ADI-2, for example), outputting from the balanced output directly into SE is OK, if wired correctly.

Alternatively, I can just use a splitter or switch box., I was just curious if there is a safe way to go from balanced-> se from the Bifrost 2. If not, no problem.

 

I’m in the same situation as you are. If cost isn’t an issue a possible solution is the Bifrost 2 and a Saga S or +. Both have two SE outs so it fits my situation well and replaces my Gungnir’s two SE outs.

 

Roughly 33 hours have passed since got mine. Several first impressions. Ignore anything too biased or enthusiastic. I am probably in the status of ‘the happiest puppy in the world’.

1. Notorious stabilization time reduced meaningfully. Even the coldest bifrost (right out of the box) sounded pretty good enough. Changes over time is gentle (opposed to dramatic like other Schiit MBs). And after 4-5 hours, it seemed pretty much there. And after 24 hours, I honestly found no need for additional warm-up. It’s not DS-like instantaneous, but for MB, surprisingly non-bothering. I feel stabilization time is largely similar to Modi MB but with gentler time slopes. I’m betting once it get used well, this dac can be conveniently turned on and off like DS dac.

2. Non-Unison Bifrost 2 (I mean.. purely as a dac) has been underplayed in the forum. Even without Unison, this dac sounds satisfying -- tested it through a Chinese USB converter (Gustard U16; ESS ES8620 based implementation and claimed as having DSP corrections and tricks on clocking). With this configuration, it’s ‘almost’ Yggdrasil A2 if I recall correctly. Perhaps degraded by 5%? (low level stuff a bit oversimplified or blurred occasionally, front to back layering a bit less ideal, etc etc). Instead those lost 5% is filled with very MODERN sounding as if DNA of some great DS dacs is mixed -- blacker background, less rounded transient, exaggerated dynamics, better details at mid-high levels, etc.

3. Switching to Unison input (aside: remote controller feels rock solid), I feel tonality and timbre changed from ‘reference-y’ to ‘preferrable’. In short, it sounds like SUPER gungnir mb A1. It reminded me of all the good things I enjoyed with Gungnir MB A1 years ago. But this time around, such nostalgic traits come with better-ish technical presentations -- therefore ‘super’. I don’t think all the perceived improvements real. Some portion may come from lost plankton. Need more time before concluding. Bottomline I like it. Very very much.

4. Testing it with Verite (driven by Glenn OTL and DSHA-3F) and SR1a (driven by Weiliang Accuphase-ish), I agree that the tonality easily fits either quite different transducer. Both unbalanced and balanced outs are quite good. It’s not suboptimally balanced.

5. So far, it’s confusingly good. I intended just to add some MB tastes at a reasonable cost. But now I am confused in that I can hope to simplify and downsize my rig significantly, which wasn’t expected at all.

Oh, picture or didn't happen..

 

That picture sealed it.

Gonna have to flip my og Jotunheim for a matching black when I get my BF2.

 

It pairs well with the 3F and the Verité, then? Looking forward to more insight as that is my current planned upgrade for the home office.

 

It depends on how 'well' defined.. but mostly yes.

Let me put it this way :

A. I am happy and not complaining anything on Bifrost 2 with 3F+Verite. Bass slamming, detail rich, and a tad fun-oriented dynamics easily enamored me. Period.

B. However, on the tonality synergy front, I am not quite sure if there is a 'special' synergy in the mentioned configuration. To me, Verite largely tends to veriterize upstream (in a pleasing way). Unison change was the less dramatic with Verite, compared to SR1a. Not bad per se though.

Will report back once my thoughts more collected and organized.

 

Looks really good thanks for sharing Vtory! Never got to own/listen to a Schiit DAC, perhaps it's finally time to jump on one once they become available in the EU, especially considering the sleek black look and the non-gimped SE, not to mention Unison USB. Awesome.

 

1. So how cold is it really out there in TX ATM. Pushing 3 digits here in Hotlanta for the past week plus. I'm surprised that you didn't have to put the BF2 in front of the AC just to cool it down before plugging it in. Seriously, I'm glad that the crazy stabilization times have gotten in check. That's a good thing.

2. Almost Yggdrasil a2? Damn! I'd be pleasantly shocked if I end up coming to the same conclusion. But if so, schiit may have overshot things a little with the performance of this product. (I love it when they do that)

3. I will hold on to my EITR in case the Unison is not as crazy good as expected. To be fair Unison is a little hyped at this point. Not that I don't trust "the boys" here, I do. But will all have different amps and headphones and the difference with Unison may not play out as well for some of us as others. Taking preferences in to account also.

4. Glad that it's not "suboptimally balanced." Didn't know that phrase was a thing. I'm kinda surprised that balanced output was included on this product given it's price. This makes me muse that the upcoming revision on the Gungnir Multibit and Yggdrasil must be somewhat other worldly. Otherwise schiit has cannibalized it's products and they usually don't do that.

5. So this BF2 is a mini Yggdrasil a2, huh? That would be quite a feat and I certainly hope that I come to the same conclusion. Mine will be here Thursday.

My interpretation is that the tuning of the bf2 would be better for neutral/brighter headphones such as hd800, he6 and the Focals. But time will tell. Thanks for your write up. Interested to see if your impressions change at all with time.