Schiit (MultiBit) Bifrost

But probably more costly than the Bifrost Multibit, yes? I can't see myself going over $600 for a DAC at this time.

 

It had a Modi 2 chassis. What do you think?

EDIT: Added quote from velvetx

=> Definitely something budget-oriented with performance way beyond its price point, as is typical of Schiit stuff

 

Hmm, okay. Thanks. If there was a version of their new multibit stuff in the $300-400 range I'm sure it'll sell heavily! Wonder what time frame we are looking at...

 

Targeted release date?

And also, if prices were dead equal...Bifrost Multibit still better?

 

Don't be too optimistic though. As far as I know, it can't possibly be multibit since the Bifrost chassis already had to compromise in some areas in order to fit the entire multibit board, so expecting them to put multibit in a modi-sized chassis is rather unreasonable. Whatever it is though, it's safe to say that it'll be real good, as hinted at by the impressions.

 

Wait, am I missing something? How do we know it's a DAC???

 

Makes sense. Well, I can wait a few months and see what happens, if anything. Thanks for the heads up.

 

Purrin hinted at a new DAC sometime in Nov or Dec when he replied to a member looking for a new DAC. I can't find the exact quote but he told him to wait for a couple months. Unless EC suddenly began to manufacture DACs, there seems to be only one possibily. Secondly, get to the third page of the impressions thread and you can obviously see the eater egg for the device, which is a Modi enclosure.

 

I just saw. Might be a Modi 4490 upgrade.

 

The concept of having upgradable components like the Digital Equipment Corporation computer modules of yore is brilliant on Schiit's part. Sell product at Y price, get users to upgrade again at X add-on price; everybody wins!

 

purrin made mention of a ReDACted3 back around that time...

 

Ah, a Modi with a 4490 chip would be a good next step for me. They'll likely get more of my money if that happens

 

Z Review on Youtube just posted a review in which he says he can't tell a difference between a Bifrost Multibit and some of his other DACs.

 

This review is from a guy who can tolerate the hd700. I only watch Zeos's reviews for his humor really. He lacks the experience with higher-end gear and critical listening required for reviewing amps, much less DACs.

 

Don't get me wrong I do fully believe that with the music he usually uses for testing, paired with that amp and the transducers used that the differences were probably going to be minimal if at all noticeable. Personally I found that both the Shure SRH1540 and using an O2 would barely tell me anything in that regard, even sighted. Hell even the HD800 with the O2 made noting differences harder. Not to say that you need to spend a ton, but the chain itself has to at least allow you to hear it.

That aside, this man has called the X2, SH9500, HD600 and the AKG K712 literally the best things he has ever heard in succession of each other. So I'm gonna agree with @Ash1412 on this haha.

 

Add the LCD-2 Fazors to that list as well. He even made it clear that he liked the Fazored ones over the old ones as well. Goes to show that most unexperienced headphone lovers usually take a liking to the pair of headphones that wow them the most at first glance without slowing down and enjoying the minutiae that amp and DAC upgrades provide.

 

Been trying to fight the good fight clearing up DAC misconceptions in response to the video (especially warm up opposed to burn in) over on r/headphones, where I'm fairly active, but of course it's quite the uphill battle for most of that crowd.

Link, but save yourself the frustration
https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones/comments/41s5zp/z_review_schiit_bifrost_multibit_dac/

 

I feel ya. r/headphones has turned into an X2-hype thread and an instagram-esque site for headphones. I still read it for the occasional good posts but all of my hope pretty much lies in SBAF now.

 

Yeah, I got my start there, and often find giving advice or looking at some of the better, more discussive posts worthwhile still, but here is certainly more desirable and I've learned much more. The reddit community definitely has a lot of hot button issues, DACs especially, or amps that cost more than a couple hundred, and flavor of the month headphones for sure.

I will also add that I've always liked Z videos from the perspective of entry/midfi level, and on the whole does a decent job of parsing through all of them that are available (I also have sent him transducers as a method of support) . But high end gear has more minutae, and it can be tough without tons of experience (as I've been learning too). I don't doubt he can't hear a difference without warm up, that amp, and those headphones, and if high end DACs aren't for him that's fine. It's more the community reaction that bothers me, and I saw it coming

 

Should have a review on 4490 soon