I believe the serial number will start with a B, not an A or a C.
My Gungnir MB is the newer one, the serial starts with a B. Yggy Analog 2 models all start with a B. The pic on @Torq’s post above starts with a B. Look for a B.
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Since Schiit haven’t made any statements about the availability of an “A2” Bifrost MB or Gungnir MB it’s a bit difficult to make any definitive statements - officially they don’t even exist.
I can tell you that the Modi MB, Bifrost MB and Gungnir MB I had on loan in November last year both sounded and measured differently from their “original” versions (units bought very close to their original release) . Those were built in October 2018. And that’s about as much as I can say “for sure”.
It’s possible there have been further changes in the 7 months since then. Or those might be the “latest” versions (I describe them in my upcoming 4-way comparison as “current”). But this says nothing about what any specific changes might be … the differences just could just be down to minor running-changes/revisions and not a true/full “A2” style update.
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Should also be able to pull off the casing and look at the PCB. I’ve seen a couple “silent revisions” get caught that way on other devices; think it’s safe to assume you could determine generations from Schiit in the same fashion.
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I just caught this part of your review again:
Modi MB just isn’t cutting it with Mj2. It’s not bad, it’s just not great either. It sounds to me like the Bifrost MB might be an excellent pairing for the Mjolnir 2 - meaning it might bring a little balance to the Force. For those who haven’t heard the Mj2, it really has some of the most intense slam and impact I’ve heard out of an amp. While it’s fun, it’s also a bit much for long stretches of blues or electronic music which is what I listen to at work, where I’m mindlessly listening while working on stuff.
I have the newer Gumby, so if Bimby = Gumby Jr., that is excellent news.
So, the plan would be to get a Bifrost MB for work, Yggy for home, sell the Black Widow 2, Gungnir MB and Modi MB to help offset the costs.
Knowing that no plan survives contact with the enemy… err, I mean the finance department… I better make sure I have reinforcements and an escape route before I execute “Operation: Financial Disobedience”.
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This will tell you that you have a specific revision, but absent actually analyzing any differences (or spotting a new/updated DAC IC or something, as with what happened with the Uber -> 4490 transition), it won’t give you any insight in to what has changed.
Until a revision number can be married up with a specifically called out, officially identified, “upgrade” (rather than a running change - which could be nothing more than parts substitutions when something becomes unavailable), it’s probably best not to make assumptions about what any given version number means.
At the same time, there’s a definite change in sound with the “original” and “current” Bifrost MB … we just don’t know whether that’s a new DAC stage, a new analog output stage implementation, new firmware/DSP code or some combination …
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The “current” Bifrost MB lifts the “veil” that was apparent with the Modi MB and the “original” Bifrost MB and delivers an easily audible improvement in clarity. There’s a bit more low-end weight too, and the overall presentation is moister than the older model and it’s quite a bit smoother in the treble too (the good way).
It’s a clear step up from even the “current” Modi MB.
And it sounds much closer to the “original” Gungnir MB than the “original” Bifrost MB ever did. The older Gungnir MB still wins out on micro-dynamic resolution and overall dynamics, and has other benefits if run in a fully-balanced chain, but it’s closer than I’d ever have guessed would be possible at that level.
I have my ZMF Vérité review to post here in the next couple of days and then the big multi-bit DAC review/comparison should be up within a week of that …
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Don’t disagree with you at all. Figured it’d at least be the first step in identification. I usually find that reading the Rev # on a PCB is marginally easier than the point 2 font they use to identify components.
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Hello Torq, thank you for your DAC reviews.
I am curious about this, did you test any files that have either a sample rate of 176.4khz or 192khz?
I ask because those sample rates would switch the Bifrost to NOS (non-oversampling) mode. So if you are still hearing that combo-burrito filter applied at these higher sample rates then yes it’s probably at 8x.
I would be curious to know how the newer Bifrost Mulitbit you received in October compares to the single-ended output of the Gungnir Multibit. In theory the BM might have a better analog stage, even with op-amps, compared to the GM because the latter uses a summing stage for single-ended ouptut. Balanced would probably perform better than the BM, however.
Also just how dramatic the difference in performance the new Bifrost 2 is to the BM would be another thing worth reviewing.
Thanks Torq.
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I tested files at all relevant sample rates and as best I could tell (listening and measuring) with the Bifrost MB (O18) it was doing 8x oversampling.
The Bifrost MB (O18) was a quite close, overall, to the Gungnir MB (OG) with it really only being micro-dynamics and and low-end weight that the Gungnir MB (OG) was ahead - at least if you stuck to comparing the single-ended outputs (Gungnir MB (OG) had a resolution advantage via its balanced outputs).
Bifrost MB (O18) was closer to Gungnir MB (O18) than Bifrost MB (OG) was to Gungnir MB (OG) on technicalities, but Gungnir MB (O18) had a leaner, drier, more forthright presentation which gives it a rather different signature compared to both the OG iteration and the Bifrost MB (O18).
I plan on reviewing the Bifrost 2 at some point, though it won’t be before October. Doubtful that it will include a direct comparison to earlier versions of Bifrost MB (either OG or O18), however, as I don’t have them available.
*(O18) = Unit built in October 2018. (OG) = Original Release.
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Hello…
I have had my Bifrost since 2017 and use it daily over other dacs I have…IMO its really a nice MB dac that indeed works well for me…I had an issue with audible hum coming from the unit a year ago, sent it back to Schit and they replaced the main board which has the power transformer on it. I suspected the laminations in the xfmr were coming loose etc…over a year and no issues at all.
I upgraded to Gen 5 and things got better again using the USB primarily…for grins I brought out my old OPPP BD83SE and listened to all outputs coax, optical and compared to the Gen 5. It was very hard for me to hear any really discernable differences…so for ease of use etc I just stuck with the Gen5 USB connection, my desktop listening pc is a HP 27" AIO and has not digital outs and didnt want to use a usb to digital dongle etc…too many cables and connections…
So along comes Unison and B2, well l like others felt a little left out after buying into the upgradeablity of this B1 unit way back when…and when there was an upgrade it had to be sent back to Schit for the work.
So I sent a message to Jason and offered to be a beta tester for the upcoming Unison upgrade for existing B1 owners and voila I got the last beta unison board with the ship leel firmware!! See being poilte and asking nicely sometimes really helps!!
Easy to take the B1 apart and swap out boards and I never had an issue with the leds lining up or the input selection button…its really simple to me and not rushing and watching what your doing when you take it apart makes life easy…
Immediately upon using the B1 with the beta Unison I was floored with that “holy cow” they really pulled this one off very well…the old addage “a veil has been removed” popped into my head. Crap it was a no-brainer for me, the best USB connection I have ever heard…I listened for a week and then put back in the Unison board and again, a “wow” this is good…its been in the unit for several months and hasnt come out!
I am thinking strongley about upgrading to the B2 for the other reasons and new design, but something is telling me that the B1 as is pretty good in itself…if this unit sells then I will most likely spring for the $599 for a B2…
Alex
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Sold a set of cans and I just ordered a Bifrost 2…ya cant take it with you!!
Be here late next week and will compare to the B1 and am prepared to accept the verdict good or bad!!
Here I go again!
Alex
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Looking forward to your impressions!! I am interested in a LyR 3 and Bifrost 2 for my next pairings.
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I really enjoyed the Bifrost2 while I had it… there is something to be said for just plugging and playing and not having a billion options to mess with (exaggeration of the ADI-2DAC) and distract from the enjoyment of listening…
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Yeah I am really looking for stuff that pairs well and it seems like there is a ton of respect for the LYR 3. So naturally pairing it with the bifrost 2 would be nice.
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I think it would be a great combination!
Lyr 3 would be great with most any headphone.
The MB stuff from these guys IMO is really very nice…compared the B1 with other stuff higher in cost and none reallty make me want to upgrade, the B2 makes a lot of sense to me…for the long term.
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Are there any headphones LyR/bifrost2 combo wouldn’t do well with you think?
How does that combo sound compared to say the smsl THX SP200 amp and the SMSL SU8 Dac?
Also how do you think it compares to the iFi iDSD Micro Black Label?
That is what I am currently using so just curious as to what I can expect from the LYR 3 bifrost 2 combo vs. those amps/dacs?
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Just got the Schiit Bifrost 2 in house to pair with my THX AAA 887 amp…
WIll compare with B1 and its Unison USB today.
Alex
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Well I did do some comparisons and the Bifrost 2 was the winner and I sold the Bifrost 1. The differences were noticable to me, just more of the openess and clarity etc…I wont lie they are not night and day differences…I could be happy with either one, but the balanced capabilities and all the other improved design changes make it a better overall DAC for me.
I will leave it to the “golden ears” club that has touted the Bifrost 2 as a better unit overall as well…
Alex
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