Schiit (MultiBit) Bifrost

Yeah, I definitely get a rather 3d sound field with Bifrost Multibit, that feels very immersive, and instrument location is pretty well focused. It's remarkable to me.

 

Strange things are afoot...

• Audio-GD Reference 5
• Audio-GD Roc
• Schiit Bifrost Multibit (Black)
• Garage1217 Project Ember II
• Sennheiser HD650 (Balanced)

The Ref 5 has been on for a couple days, the Roc has been on for about 15 hours, the Multifrost has been on for about 4 hours, and the Ember II has been on for about 4 hours.

First impressions of the Bifrost vs. Reference 5 (both into the Roc since I can switch them quickly):

Both are pretty amazing. They are very similar in their characteristics.

It's harder than I thought to judge the two. The Ref 5 sounds more detailed than the Bifrost Multibit. Then I realized that I'm using ACSS from the Ref 5 and RCA from the Bimbo--the volume is slightly higher from the Audio-GD than the Schiit.

I need to get a second set of RCAs that can plug into the Roc (they're like 8 inches apart--most of my RCA cables can't separate far enough to connect) if I want to do a truly proper comparison.

I really like both. The Schiit is destined for work since it's of a reasonable size, as is the Project Ember II. I currently just have an Emotiva Big Ego at work and it's quite good for the price, but I might not be able to listen to it next to the Multibitfrost.

 

I have a Schiit Bifrost Uber Analog, but with no usb 2.0, only usb 1.0. I'm currently using optical into my iMac with it.

Will the multi-bit also include an upgrade to usb 2.0, or would I be stuck using the optical? Also, if I did upgrade to multi-bit, would it be worth it to use usb 1.0 or the optical?

 

Email or call Schiit. My guess is that it doesn't include the USB upgrade because they're separate boards (and because they sell that upgrade for $100 in addition to the $250 Multbit upgrade), but I have no idea.

 

The usb 2 is a separate upgrade.

 

Ok, so now the question is, would I need to upgrade to usb 2.0 to get the full-blown effect of the multi-bit sonic upgrade, or would using usb 1.0 or optical out be sufficient?

I did recall Jason at schiit saying a while back that the optical was better than usb 1.0, but I'm not sure how usb 2.0 compares.

 

I found optical and usb 2 sounded the same on my Uberfrost when I was using optical. I just use usb now. I thought some devices limited the sample rate through optical to 96k. That may or may not affect you.

 

I don't have a Bifrost (yet) but I can report that with my Modi Uber, USB performance can definitely affected by the source computer you are using. I have an inexpensive Cubox-i (~$140, though I got it for $100) and found that their USB implementation was sub-par compared to the optical out. So you definitely have to give some consideration to the source equipment, too, (as well as the signal path, cabling, etc.) when assessing whether or not USB is right for you. But if you have the time, energy and means to optimize your USB path (if needed), I hear you can get excellent results.

(for full disclosure, I don't own any high-resolution music files--it's all FLAC ripped from CDs)

 

I just realized that there are no black Lyr 2s running around to match up with my black Bifrost Multibit. Sadness.

 

Dark sunglasses are your friend.

 

Not at the moment. I expect there will be. Please note I cannot predict when this will happen.

Here's the real deal on black: it will never be a standard option, but it will appear from time to time. It's a great way to maximize metal usage (which, in English, means when something gets scratched--and is therefore unrepairable given our chassis design--we can powder-coat it and sell it as black.)

So, if you see black products listed on the "finish" or "version" drop-down, and you want black, grab it. There won't be much of it available.

 

???

 

In other words, the black ones are all 'scratch & dents'?

;-)

(sorry, I seem to be in a cheeky mood today...I'll go back in my box now...)

 

Word. If I ever get lucky and see a Lyr 2 in black, it's coming home with me. What kind of beer do you want me to send you to key one of them so it unfortunately must be turned black?

I'm currently drinking St. Bernardus Abt 12 and have Allagash Curieux on deck.

 

Would love to get a 230V black mj2+Gungnir Multibit...
Please make it happen Jason..

 

Really enjoying the Bifrost Multibit. I can't say with confidence whether I prefer it or the Reference 5. It's much smaller, you can still get it new, and it's cheaper, so I guess that would give the practical edge to the Multibitfrost. It has found a home at work, which is actually where I listen to music the most.

For now, there's a Project Ember II sitting atop it. If a black Lyr 2 ever can be found, that will be on top instead.

 

Just back from holidays and catching up...

Such great advice... I had lent my MB Gungnir to @Griffon while I was away, and when I came back, was using the Modi 2 uber with my speaker setup. Sounded just fine, however putting Gungnir Multibit back was a night/day difference. I would say the difference is much more apparent than I ever heard swapping between different D/S DACs... it's kind of funny/creepy at the same time as my girlfriend was catching up on tv shows, and commented on how the background music on Project Runway sounded so good.

In the case of my PMC speakers, Gungnir Multibit offers much better bass, clarity and details throughout, and very natural sounding treble. The Modi 2 uber sounded flat and congested in comparison.

 

On Friday, I received my Uberfrost back from its Multibit upgrade. (The sound is significantly different from the "redacted^2" description, so I am glad I found this board with impressions of the production model.)

I echo the comments above about soundstage being bigger, but for me, the bigger difference is "imaging", meaning the specific location of instruments, the sense that they are in a specific location, and the sense of a shape of the instrument. There are also significant improvement in instrumental timbre, making instruments generally sounding more realistic.

The biggest differences are in instruments in the "cello" frequency range, that have quick attack and decay. In the Reiner Scheherazade (one of the best recordings of an orchestra), sections of pizzicato strings sound much clearer and realistic than I have heard them sound before. Similar thumped bass in jazz has equivalent improvement.

Bass in general is definitely tighter and EDM sounds very good.

 

There's a vast amount of discussion here and elsewhere about the digital section of the Multibit Bifrost and nothing about the analog output.

The Uber Analog upgrade for Bifrost states:

" This DAC/Analog upgrade card improves the sonic and measured performance of Bifrost, using a discrete, direct-coupled gain stage from Gungnir. This discrete stage is more sophisticated than the base Bifrost, with a more complex topology, and DC servo to eliminate capacitors in the signal path. "

The new (DS) 4490 Bifrost stat page states:

" Analog Stage: Fully discrete, DC coupled "

The Multibit Bifrost stat page states:

" Analog Stage: precision I/V converter and output buffer based on AD8512 "

At first glance, audiophiles might consider the Analog Output of the Multibit Bifrost to be "lesser" than that of the cheaper 4490 Bifrost, or the old Uberfrost. Some speculation on HF is that there was no room left for a fully discrete, DC coupled output. HOWEVER, just from the Schiit historical blog at HF, it seems clear that choices are necessitated for all sorts of reasons, not only board space, but also electrical and sonic.

Some input from Jason about the AD8512 choice would be great, but any other thoughts on this issue would be of interest, thanks!