The All Purpose Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Sep 26, 2015.

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  1. barbz

    barbz New

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    Knowing schiit warranty isn't transferable, would anyone have any issue with buying a second hand bifrost 2?
    Thankyou
     
  2. MichaeLeroy

    MichaeLeroy Almost "Made"

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    Yes, I would have an issue paying $900 for a Bifrost 2 at a Sheriff's auction of items seized from a meth cooking operation. The unit might need repair following decontamination.

    No, I would not have an issue paying $500 for a Bifrost 2 from a SBAF Friend.

    This is a snarky reply, but I just wanted to make the point that questions, even simple ones, require context to be taken seriously. Your question was about as context free as can be, hence the unserious reply. Good questions, those with enough context and not easily answered with the SUPER SEARCH, are more likely to get answered and answered seriously.

    Not an answer to your question, but I can say that I've bought 9 Schiit products (not including accessories) in about as many years and have not needed a repair on any. I did get a replacement Lyr 3 because the first one I received did not include an AK4490 module as ordered.
     
  3. Type35

    Type35 New

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    For all the Schiit experts: is there an Analog2 board on Bifrost Multibit (Bifrost2 excluded)? Same question for Modi Multibit.
     
  4. JustAnotherRando

    JustAnotherRando My other bike is a Ferrari

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    There were some teething problems identified within the first couple weeks of release, but they appeared to have settled down. They're covered in the fairly comprehensive Bifrost 2 thread.

    Otherwise there's not a whole lot to the question. You identify the discount over retail, weigh up against a wild guess at it going wrong (say a 10% chance just to be pessimistic) and make your decision.

    It's not like there isn't an original manufacturer to fall back on to and pay, if necessary. This isn't some 1980s gear from a company that has long since vanished.

    Thinking about it, the most risk is probably transacting with a seller who you don't know, and who doesn't know you. And the postal system.

     
  5. MichaeLeroy

    MichaeLeroy Almost "Made"

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    Caveat, I'm a Schiit enthusiast but by no means an expert. So take the following with all due skepticism.

    If you are thinking about the Yggdrasil Analog 2 board, of course not. The OG Bifrost can certainly be upgraded with a multibit AD5547-based analog board.

    I don't have any experience with the Yggdrasil, but I imagine that a Yggrasil Analog 2 is somewhat different to the Bifrost or Modi Multibit (hopefully better sounding ;)). The Yggdrasil is a TOTL multibit DAC using 4 AD5791 DAC chips and doubtless carefully designed and implemented supporting DSP and analog output circuitry. The budgets and internal real estate available to the Bifrost OG and Modi multibit-version DACs don't really support a Yggdasil Analog 2 implementation. For perspective, the Mouser single unit price for the AD5547 (used in Bifrost and Modi multibits) is about $25, but an AD5791 costs about $100. So different league.
     
  6. barbz

    barbz New

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    Thankyou for the feedback and sorry for the lack of information.

    The question was moreso targeted at any teething issues and lack of transferrable warranty on the newer models rather than price and the reputation of the seller.

    I've been through the entire bifrost 2 thread now to see what those earlier issues are and that they all seem to be resolved or can be resolved with a firmware update if it hasn't already been applied.
     
  7. nithhoggr

    nithhoggr Author of the best selling novel Digital Jesus

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    Has anyone here used Qobuz / Tidal / something similar on Linux? I'm considering subscribing to one of the audiophile streaming services, but I'm a bit anxious about how well they'll work in a Linux environment. I imagine I'd probably need to use the service's web-based player, but getting a web player to do bitperfect playback seems like it'll be a pain in the ass.
     
  8. Pocomo

    Pocomo Friend

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    How about using a Pi2AES into your Holo Spring and controlling it from your Linux browser (or your phone)?

    I prefer Spotify over Tidal for the music selection, UX and the fact that Spotify Connect works great to control a Pi-based player from a variety of devices. Also a big fan of the "Weekly Discover" playlist they generate for you every week. SQ (when running in "high" 320 kbps mode) seems just fine to me.

    Lastly, you could run a Roon Server + Endpoint combo on basically any modern Linux and get bit-perfect output. I love roon, but I don't feel their Tidal integration gives you any of the cool UX as the Tidal app itself. It's really just for access to their uncompressed library through the Roon interface.
     
  9. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Looking for an SS amp later this year or next for the following. Need something for shorter sessions or when I otherwise don't want to burn tubes on Stellaris or Af.

    Key requirements:
    - $1k or less. Used is OK.
    - Quiet amp (no background noise) with fine enough volume adjust for use with BA IEMs (specifically, UE5, UERM, UERR).
    - Can use with either high Z (HD6xx or ZMF dynamics) or low Z (Focal) dynamic headphones if not both types.
    - Exceed or have the same level of performance as Asgard 3 or Arcam rHead. SPL Phonitor series level of performance would be ideal (Phonitor not quiet enough for BA IEMs).
    - Desktop friendly. Roughly the footprint of a 8.5x11 sheet of paper or smaller if possible

    Less important factors:
    - Doesn't get very hot. Ideally not nearly as hot as Asgard 3 is after reaching equilibrium, etc.
    - 2 or more inputs if possible - will be fed by Yggdrasil, 1421, and/or a Sonnet Morpheus or Holo Spring later.
    - No need for a built in DAC
    - Good spatial / sound-stage for video games. Will occasionally use for video games but I do not play a lot or competitively so not critical.
     
  10. monkey_magic

    monkey_magic New

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    THX AAA 789 meets all requirements for $299 when available on drop.com
    It is a cool & clinical SS amp but the only thing it lacks is bass slam IMO
     
  11. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    What is the size of the Schiit volume knob: diameter of the face, height and post size?
     
  12. MichaeLeroy

    MichaeLeroy Almost "Made"

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    For my Lyr 3:
    • 1 and 3/16 " knob diameter
    • 13/16 knob height
    • 1/4" diameter shaft
    • just over 1/2" of shaft in front of its mounting threads, plus about 1/4" of mounting thread (so not much meat on the face of the knob at the center)
    Apologies for the antiquated units, but I'm guessing that it was designed and built to this system.

    Interesting this Lyr 3 has a slightly different knob design to the first one that I got a few weeks ago. The shaft is keyed (with a flat) and the knob is a friction fit on this one. The previous one had a round shaft and the knob was secured with a set screw. So there may be some knob variation between units of the same model.

    I hope that this helps. I could add photos if that would be of use to you
     
  13. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    789 is a great suggestion on paper but I wasn't a huge fan of it's sound in general. Granted this was with a 1421, maybe the Yggdrasil A2 will change the sound enough.

    Does anyone else have anything else? Or are really not that many BA IEM compatible amps?
     
  14. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophileâ„¢

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    If I were you, will buy asgard 3 and call it a day. Life couldn't be any simpler.
    I can't honestly think of any potential SS candidates that can rival asgard in the sub-2k new category. Some (such as thx 789 or gil lt2) may do somethings better or differently, but overall not quite at the level of asgard 3 to my taste.

    Early ECP offerings rarely pop up. Could be very interesting but I haven't hear them yet.
     
  15. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Had an Asgard 3 that I returned within their "trail period" - it was different but not better or worse than the rhead for BA IEMs . Wasn't a huge fan of Gilmore Lite 2 but that was with dynamics and I haven't tried with IEMs... I'll make a mental note to try it again with IEMs when I get the chance.

    Guess I'm going to keep using rhead for now. Nothing wrong with it per se - just wanted to see if something "better" existed for my use case.
     
  16. MichaeLeroy

    MichaeLeroy Almost "Made"

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    I've kept out of this discussion until now because I'm not much of a IEM guy, and even less so as the pandemic takes me away from my usual IEM use cases. When I do listen to IEMs it is via an ifi micro IDSD BL, which I find quite satisfactory, but I've not listened terribly critically. There is a SABF thread on this device, which I have not dug into, but would not be surprised if it contains some good comparisons to other gear.

    I have a Monoprice THX 887, which I imagine is somewhat similar to the Drop THX 789 (capable but polite to a fault). I might have a go at comparative listening between the THX 887 and the ifi micro BL. If the ifi sounds significantly better it might be worth your consideration. It's in your price range and is certainly IEM friendly. Sadly no Phonitor available to me for comparison:rolleyes:.
     
  17. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    Here's my gear...

    Analog:
    TT:
    Technics SL-1210GR
    Cart(s): Soundsmith Otello, Audio Technica VM750SH, Shure V15 Type III with JICO SAS stylus, Orotfon 2M Red
    Phonostage/ADC: PS Audio NuWave Phono Converter [pretty much untouchable for me]
    Pre-Amp: Schiit Freya OG
    Tone Control: Loki [mothballed]
    Amp: Onkyo TX-8555
    Headphone Amp: Auralic Taurus Mk II, Vali 2, Magni 3 [mothballed]
    Cables: All Blue Jeans Cables, except for phono cables (tomorrow will be Blue Jeans)
    Speakers: Polk Audio RT251, Klipsch R-110SW
    Headphones: Massdrop x Focal Elex w/Black Dragon balanced cable, Sennheiser HD650 w/Silver Dragon balanced cable, Denon AH-D2000, Massdrop x Fostex TH-X00 Ebony, Beyerdynamics DT880, AKG K601, Grado SR-80e, Massdrop x HIFIMAN HE4XX

    Digital:
    PC USB
    Decrapifier/USB to Coax:
    Eitr [mothballed]
    CD/SACD: Denon DCD-1600NE, Marantz CD5003 [mothballed]
    DAC: Gungnir MB (purchased new, April 2018), Modi MB
    Pre-Amp: as above
    Amp: as above
    Headphone Amp: as above
    Cables: as above, but USB connectors are Audioquest Forest
    Speakers: as above
    Headphones: as above

    Miscellaneous/Portable:
    Audioquest DragonFly Red, RSA Hornet, RSA Mustang, assortment of IEMs (none of them costing more than $99), iPhone XS


    My listening mode: 65/35 headphones/speakers while at home, 100% IEM when I had to work in an office, 100% IEM when reading before bedtime.

    I like rock and pop music. I don't listen to jazz at all, and I rarely listen to classical. I own most or all the studio albums of groups like The Cure, New Order, The White Stripes, The Black Keys, Rush, David Bowie, The Beatles, Alice in Chains, Led Zeppelin, Daft Punk, Gorillaz, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (well, actually only 4 of these), Jack White, Roxy Music, Joy Division, Black Sabbath (all the "good ones," anyway), Beastie Boys, Pixies... and so on.

    Say I wanted to spend MAX $1,200. What would provide me with noticeable audio improvement, or, barring improvement, what would give me more convenience, functionality, etc.? New amp? New cartridge? Better IEMs? Should I shut up, sit down, and just buy more music?

    Just looking for ideas.
     
  18. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    ^ IMO a new amp would help for analog / headphone use. For portable use I think new IEMs would help a lot but unfortunately it's kind of hard to audition IEMs right now.

    Won't make specific gear suggestions as I'm not familiar enough with your preferences.
     
  19. luckybaer

    luckybaer Friend

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    That Onkyo is probably the least "sexy" thing in my system, but all I ask it to do is drive my speakers, and it does a good job. I don't know enough to know whether or not it isn't any good. It seems fine. And it has a tuner. Hahaha
     
  20. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    So I probably will be asking for some more advice in the future as I am trying to upgrade multiple aspects of my setup, but I will only focus on a portion of it right now. To kind of give insight to what I am currently using, i have an FX-Audio DAC-X6 that I have been using since I first got into the hobby. I have this feeding into a Darkvoice (Will upgrade eventually), but I have bene wanting to try and get some better quality out of my source and SS amplification.

    I don't use SS that often when really listening (I use tubes when really listening), but most of the day I am either on Youtube or listening to music just passively. I have been wanting to upgrade to a good mid tier setup for my DAC and SS amp, to a point that I wouldn't really need to upgrade those anymore since I wanna focus on tubes when looking at more TOTL stuff. The headphones that I currently have are the Auteur, HD 6XX and DT770. I have no real plan to upgrade anytime soon, so these will be my drivers for this setup for at least a year or 2.

    I have been doing weeks of reading here and have really narrowed down my search into a couple devices but just wanted to know what others thought, or if they had more insight into some gear I may have overlooked I would love to hear those suggestions as well.

    BUDGET: $1000 ish but would prefer to spend less if possible.

    DACs Considered:
    - Airist RDAC
    - Schiit Modi
    - Schiit Bifrost 2

    I know the Airist RDAC is pretty difficult to come across now on the used market but if this was suggested I would keep a look out and try to find one. I have an inclination toward the Bifrost 2 but considering the price difference don't know if it really is worth the jump up. I keep thinking this probably will be my DAC for a very long time so I shouldn't skimp, but still, I have never tried any other DAC except my DAC-X6 so don't know if this really would be offering that great of an increase. I kept the Modi in there because for the price, I think it really is a good offering, but again, I am trying to buy something Mid Tier that I can have for a very long time and not have to mess with or worry about thinking of upgrading.

    AMPs Considered:
    - Drop THX 789
    - Asgard 3
    - Modi 3 +

    I am really conflicted on these 2 amplifiers, the THX 789 and the Asgard 3. I know they have a bit of a different sound profile, but both seem to be good amplifiers for the price. If anyone has any experience regarding the 2 against each other I would really appreciate the advice on this. On a side note, I know aesthetics aren't everything but if purchasing the Schiit or the Drop, I probably would try and get the corresponding DAC just to have it nice aesthetically. I know that shouldn't matter but that is something I enjoy, BUT I am not hardset on that. If the THX + Bifrost or the Asgard + RDAC is a better combination I will do that.

    I really appreciate any insight anybody has to help me decide, I have been mulling over posting this but I really have been reading and reading and not wanting to pollute the threads of these devices so decided to post here to get some help. If I can give anymore insight that would be important for someone to know to give suggestions, I would be more than happy!

    Thanks everybody!
     
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