Which version of the Bifrost do you have?
I haven’t purchased yet. Looking for an improvement from what I had before (Chord Mojo). I’m hoping to get into a matching/stackable DAC/AMP setup though. I’ve read and watched very positive reviews on the Bifrost 2 so that is the one that is of most interest to me right now.
After spending hours (days really) searching through numerous threads. I’ve thrown in the towel and decided to ask for help. I apologize if this has been covered ad nauseum somewhere in the forum and I’ve missed it if so a redirect would be greatly appreciated! I recently picked up the HEDDphone/SPL XE bundle from headphones.com and although I did opt for the DAC ( I know its an upgrade from the original but still looking for another option to pair with it and likely future amp(s). I see a ton of recommendations for the RME ADI-2 out there, but honestly I’m lazy by nature and don’t want to fiddle with the settings. I have a BF-2, but it’s set semi permanently with my Pendant/ZMF VC and this set up will be located in a different (quieter) part of my house and I don’t want to lug it around every time I want to listen to a different rig. So… looking for an opinion on a DAC to pair with the Phonitor that isn’t one of these 2 options listed above that someone may have experience with. Moving toward end game (yeah right, who am I kidding!) solutions and have considered the Yggy, iFi Pro DSD, Chord Hugo, Holo Spring and even the May, but not sure how well they play with the Phonitor… Future amp purchases will almost certainly be a tube upgrade from the Pendant, I do not plan on adding any other solid states at this time.
Appreciate all feedback in advance!
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I wonder if it’s worth lugging around the BF2 for a while, to give you a baseline.
Then you can look at comparisons between the BF2 and other DACs (like @ProfFalkin’s RME ADI-2 vs BF2 comparison or @CinciJeff’s Yggy vs BF2 comparison ) to get an idea of what your SPL XE will sound like with those DACs.
If you want a Spring, you’re going to have to wait anyway, because the new Spring 3 won’t come out until April or May.
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What will you be feeding into it? Streaming from a streamer box? Computer through usb?
The May plays quite well with the Phonitor XE. Listening to the pair right now and it’s seriously engaging. Definitely a lot more there than with the DAC 768 in the XE which I have as well. If you decide to go with the Holo Audio stuff it’s solid. Unfortunately, I can’t give you feedback on the other contenders as I’ve no experience with them. However, each DAC you listed gets high marks consistently across a number of forums. You can’t really go “wrong” with any of them.
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What are your sonic preferences? Warmth, clarity, detail, etc? Also, general budget?
Depends on my listening mood, my thought process was to have a few different set ups dedicated around each. The BF2>Pendant>VC is for that holographic easy listening experience that comes with the VC and is extenuated by the Pendant and Bifrost, I also have a Focal Stellia/Arche Combo that’s like Peanut Butter and Jelly for the Focal sound which is quite different from the VC but also very enjoyable. I use my Rad-0 mainly with my iFi Black
Micro because it seems to work better with that set up in comparison to the other Amps, but I’m looking to upgrade to an Amp/Dac combo for Planars sometime in the future. This DAC would look to pair with the Phonitor XE and the HEDDphone to give me a more detailed listening experience but not be fatiguing. Not sure how the Phonitor scales with Planars, but it might be what I use with the Rad-0 going forward. Looking to avoid a warmer DAC because that seems a little counterintuitive to the sound signature of the Phonitor which I’m hearing is neutral as is the HEDDphone, but I don’t want a sterile listening experience either, so something engaging but that’s a good match for the sound signature already present… Budget is not really an issue unless your talking something 10k which I would have a hard time justifying running with my current set up.
Thanks for the feedback! Do you have the KTE version? I’ve been leaning this way for a bit now especially if it pairs nicely with tube amps as well. Hows the sound of the built in 768 DAC compared some of the more common DACS out there if you have any experience with them?
Using Roon through MacBook Pro and USB currently.
I do have the KTE version and am still burning it in. Got maybe 350 hours on it or so. I can’t give you any feedback yet on tube amp pairings, still waiting on my Eddie Current to be built. Should have it sometime this month though. I don’t really have experience with most of the common DACs that are popular, but I went to the 768 from a Mytek Liberty. The Liberty was cold and thin sounding and very sharp in my opinion. I felt that the 768 had a more full, laid back sound. It’s much more listenable without ear fatigue than the Liberty, especially for long sessions.
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Have you heard the Chord DACs? I have a Mojo, Hugo 2, and DAVE, and have loved every one as I stepped up to it. I personally find them to be very clean, clear, and still very musical. They’re also among the most “awarded” DACs out there, but always take that with a grain of salt, as personal preferences matter more. Not sure of your feelings on new vs used, but a used Hugo TT2 can be had for about $4.2K (new is $5.5K) and, if you’re patient, you can even nab a DAVE for around $6.5K. Both the TT2 and DAVE should pair excellently with an SPL Phonitor, and you can even read a detailed review that used that pairing HERE. I haven’t heard all of the DACs you’re considering, but thought I’d put a good word in for the Chord lineup as something you should at least consider, especially given your stated preferences.
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For context, a DAVE went up on US Audio Mart two days ago for $6,800. I’ve generally found most sellers are willing to negotiate a bit. And here is a Hugo TT2 on Head-Fi for $4,250.
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Yeah was planning to do that for sure for at least a little while especially to compare it to the built in to see the difference in sound characteristics. I do like the thought of the RME-ADI-2 in theory but the thought of messing with a bunch of different outputs is a little unsettling to me. Knowing myself I’d forget my settings and never be able to get back to something I really enjoyed.That’s why I like the BF2 so much, plug it in and let it rip!
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Thanks for your thoughts on the Chord DAC’s I came very close to pulling the trigger on the TT2 a year ago. Honestly the thing that has kept me away from them has been the look, but I’m not nearly bothered by the aesthetic as I was last year. Got to admit that Dave for $6800 is very tempting…
You and I (and probably a whole bunch of people on the forum) are looking at the same DACs, wondering which one to buy, so I’m hoping that you buy one first and let us know what you think. 
I have to admit that’s a compelling argument for me to upgrade my BF2 to the Yggy, which I’m assuming is also plug & play.
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LOL, I just might get that Yggy, if I do I’ll be sure to review! I swear the more I read about configurations the more confused I get. I am not a person who enjoys the technical aspects of this hobby, Impedance and voltage conversations make my head hurt, I just want to know if I pair x DAC with Y amp it will sound good with Z cans (and hopefully not explode).
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I wonder if @Shelby_Steve has considered that 2 BF2 might be better than 1. Certainly no problem reselling if he changes his mind.
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I certainly have given that a thought!
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Going with the Holo May KTE, I’ll give my impressions once its made and received, hopefully before June.
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