Schiit Bifrost 2

I want a bridge….

 

If you select 220V desired output, then any input of 234V or higher will be reduced by 9.8%. So if you do that, ~241V will come down to ~217V. That isn't as luckily close to 230V as my case which lands on 228V, but could still be ok for the Bifrost.

 

You're talking about using the monitor as a USB 2.0 High Speed hub, right?

USB 2.0 High Speed runs at 480Mbps, not 330Mbps. So the Mac-to-monitor connection will always be 480Mbps.

If your DAC is a High Speed device, then the monitor-to-DAC connection also runs at 480Mbps.
If your DAC is a Full Speed device (unlikely), the monitor-to-DAC connection runs at 12Mbps.

Either way, the data isn't converted down to audio frequency until it's inside the DAC.

 

Bitfrost 2 is about to celebrate its 2nd birthday. Do you think any lessons from brand new Yggdrasil LIM will be backported to BF?

 

Only Schiit knows but I certainly hope so. It should be possible except maybe if there are power supply limitations, meaning newer chips need more power than what can be provided.

 

I think I may prefer high quality SPDIF to Unison as well.

 

Wait, do you mean that USBridge actually beats PI2AES if the DAC has Unison USB?

 

I had a Pi2AES, but sadly do not have it any longer to do a direct comparison, but switched over to a Zen Stream for its USB output, conditioning, and higher bitrate capability. This was when I had Holo and DF DACs that could use such things.

I still have the Zen Stream but now have a BF 2 as of yesterday - bought used - and took a listen last night to a few favorites. All I can say is that Unison USB does sound really good. I had an Yggdrasil 2A with Gen V USB and while I felt it was an improvement over previous things I'd tried, it didn't floor me and I preferred AES via Pi2AES into that DAC. By fuzzy memory comparison, Unison sounds like there's not anything left to tap out of USB audio transmission. A lot like I was impressed by the Titanis 2.0 module in the May KTE.

So a bunch of roundabout comparisons here but in short - I could see it - Unison being subjectively "better" than Pi2AES outputs.

Of course, ZS also costs quite a bit more than Pi2AES and I run it with Roon, so it's not exactly a bargain basement setup

 

I have tested both Pi2AES (coaxial) and USBridge Sig (USB) with the Bf2. The performance level is in the same ball park, with the Pi2AES edging out the USBridge in clarity, articulation and sharpness in attack. But I prefer the USBridge with the Bf2 because the USBridge and Unison combo helps to take the edge off the lower treble on the Bf2.

 

I think its going to be a preference/YMMV type thing. Some people here prefer SPDIF/AES into BF2, others prefer unison. I prefer SPDIF from Pi2AES into BF2 over USB from USBridge Sig.... but that's me.

My USBridge Sig now feeds my USB only Walnut DAC (or, it will when it returns from its loaner tour)

 

Don’t have any deep remarks on Bifrost 2 yet except for a few observations


The SE outs sound fantastic. I’ve tried both into my amp (custom McCormack DNA-125) and have no preference either way. Currently using DSP volume due to a shipping delay on the preamp I ordered so I know I’m giving up some SQ in that regard but that’s a level playing field in this comparison.
It’s just enjoyable to hear. Not analyzing or dissecting anything. Just listening.
I don’t hear any treble harshness, low or high. Not too familiar with what’s been said there but maybe it’s my speakers evening things out and it’s more noticeable on headphones.
As stated before, Unison is very good IMO.
Gives up some width to the May and of course it doesn’t quite project space like it but.. I honestly don’t care. Tone and weight are spot on to my tastes and it gave me goosebumps almost immediately out of the gate on my current music crush - AFI - Sing the Sorrow

Looking forward to getting a proper preamp in here. Also no longer using HQ Player as I don’t really see the point with how Bifrost works (to the extent I understand it anyway) with its filter and multibit architecture.

 

Nope. Upon a lot of further listening, the Pi Spdif cannot overcome Airplay in my chain. Airplay seems to be a limiting factor.

I have a new Android tablet from work. I will be experimenting with Apple Music on Android soon.

 

Small noise from Bifrost 2

I encountered some noise from Bifrost 2 when I was listening same track from Tidal and Spotify high quality, that is Claire Huangci's Bach Toccatas track 2, from 46 seconds to 48 seconds, there has others places in the track I found some noise, I listened this track by my mobile phone with head phone, I didn't hear any noise, the nosie can be repeated at the fix time, so I don't think it is my amplifier or speakers issue.

Can anyone help me to listen to this track from 46 seconds through Bifrost 2 and let me know if you hear any noise?

Here are the link of Tidal and Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/track/5wMvRDvDPwPAMMsm27TOEw?si=a4IK1ouFQ-KwjZ_hWMdiHQ&utm_source=copy-link


https://tidal.com/track/188772159

 

I found it is not Bifrost 2 problem, it is gone now.

 

If i'm going to be running everything off my computer, at my desk, what is best practice regarding power? I live in granny flat which has its own power line straight to the fuse box, and the wall socket im at has two sockets, one i run a power board for my computer equipment, is it okay to plug in my bifrost/amp into that same board or would i be better off running them off a seperate power board from the second socket? And also is there any benefit to using a surge protector board or something of the like? I'm not looking at stepping up to power conditioners at the moment, so just trying to figure out the next best thing. Thanks!

 

You should just try what you have and see if it works. My Bifrost and Magni are on their own power strip because I tried them on other plugs and it did sound a bit messed up, which was expected given the other plugs. In my case, I tried having them on my UPS with my computer, monitor, etc (extra noise, really too much) and also on the passthrough plug for a powerline networking adapter (the amp seemingly picked up the networking signals, which are probably not what you want to listen to).

From what I remember about all that, your amp is probably going to be more picky than the Bifrost is about power. But you should just try, and if there's no obvious problem don't worry.

 

I'm a bit confused, you suggest USBridge at least in the absence of BNC aka Bifrost 2, but above say that you are in fact using the BNC with Bifrost 2.

Could you please clarify for me? Thx!!

And are you still getting on well with the USBridge?

 

I'm not sure why this was the tipping point, but last week I felt like I heard a bit of digital sound in the upper mids and treble in the Bifrost 2 one too many times. This is after using the Bifrost 2 for about a year as my sole DAC. To my ears, the Modi Multibit handles mids and treble a bit better and I've come to think that the BF2 is just a bit too V shaped and oversampled for my liking.

 

Interesting. I've always loved my little Modi multibit. I also think the new Modi 3E and Modius are good DACs. The last few weeks though I've seriously been thinking that now is the time for a Bifrost 2 since the last time I looked there were no six week delays. I'll probably still try one since Schiit has a decent return policy.

 

Yea, give it a go. It's a DAC that a lot of people enjoy. I've gone back to the Modi Multibit and haven't looked back though!