Been using Schiits MB dacs for years, I stopped looking for something better…after a dozen dacs the B2 is my gold standard for both heads and speakers…its a no brainer for me.
Mike Moffet is my hero!!
:>)
Alex
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So with the change in speaker position are you still favouring the RME?
No. I am really digging the BF2 now. I am not 100 on it, though. When I switched to the RME at work, I didn’t like it either…I found it sibilant and brittle. After a month, I couldn’t get enough of it. The recent experience with the BF2 leads me to think I will continue to adapt to it. It IS the more detailed of the two dacs for certain. I do find it a touch etched, but that could be based on my experiences with other DACs.
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Im glad you found the missing link. Based on reviews I have heard of the RME (not my own ears mind you) and what I recall from what you posted I kind of thought something was amiss there.
Im now convinced that the BF2 is a quality item. Pluses outweigh any marginal minus. For the things I have noted right away: control/texture in the lower register and detail retrieval they are an improvement over what I have previously used.
Im having comfort issue with my Auteur at the moment (Rt side ear cup isnt sitting correctly and it is driving me bonkers) so I havent really critically listened to determine any soundstage or speed differences.
The only thing that might not be a complete step up over what I have primarily used as a DAC (the BB in the Black Label) is the treble presentation but I havent A/Bed anything to really check and its not a deal breaker.
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So the D90 arrived DOA today. Given my growing interest in the BF2, I am disinclined to reorder the D90.
We have a family that we are recently “bubbling” with here in Toronto - the kids love each other and we are super good friends with the parents. We went for dinner there last night, and our kid stayed over for a sleep over. Despite this being a new scene for us in the wake of the lock-down here, we went home early-ish and listened to music.
BF2, Heed, Harbeths. F–king f–k.
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I’ve been doing some A/B’ing between my SDAC-B and Bifrost 2 using my THX 789 as input switcher and Roon to play both DACs in sync with their volume levels matched. Headphones used are just my Empyreans so far. Differences do come to light quite clearly at times, but it varies immensely on a track by track basis.
I’ve got some notes on how it compares against my SDAC-B which I’ll share now, but they’re very early notes, so things might change after some more dedicated listening. I’m mostly just curious whether my notes are relatable for others as well, before sharing any “final” review on the Bifrost 2.
To be clear though, these notes don’t imply any huge differences whatsoever. Everything happens on a very small scale here, it just feels kinda silly to prefix every observation with “Ever so slightly …”.
| Vs. SDAC-B | Bifrost 2 |
|---|---|
| Resolution/detail | Perceivably better |
| Stage/imaging | Equal stage width, improved depth/layering definition |
| Dynamics | Weightier impact, quicker decay, better micro dynamics & low volume performance |
| Bass texture | More rounded, tighter, less rumbly |
| Midrange texture | More 3-dimensional, polished, richer |
| Treble texture | Less hazy, smoother, more natural |
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That’s great info @Jsim. I’m on the fence about buying a new DAC, and am still holding with an AK4490 setup.
Note that the Mass(Drop) SDAC-B (Balanced) uses the modest AKG AK4452 DAC chip. Many mainstream DACs use the AK4490 (e.g., Schiit Modi 3) or AK4493 (e.g., Schiit Modius; RME ADI-2) chips.
For general reference, here’s AKM’s DAC chip comparison table:
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Yeah I still need to do some more A/B’ing between my FiiO M11 Pro and the Bifrost 2, definitely a better competitor overall. Quite a bit more difficult to tell those 2 apart.
I mainly use the SDAC-B as primary reference because that’s the DAC I upgraded to the Bifrost 2 from, and I would expect plenty others who are considering a Bifrost 2 to come from something like an SDAC(-B) as well. I’ll be sure to include the M11 Pro in my comparisons though, once I’m feeling confident about posting a review.
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Ha!
Once you have a Bifrost 2, you can then spend your bucks on headphones and maybe an amp or two!!
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I would add though that If pretty much all categories are an improvement than the sum of its parts may add up to give you something markedly better. You get to a certain performance level and it really does became a game of inches.
Nice chart of impressions, concise and clear.
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Thanks!
Yeah I must say the first hours with the BF2 just listening normally felt like a significant step up. Once I set it up for instant A/B’ing it became clear that it wasn’t as significant as it seemed at first, but once you add up all those variables it indeed results in a fairly substantial overall improvement to my ears.
I just try to be cautious about how I word things, since it’s very difficult for people who don’t have much experience with different DACs to understand the context and scale at which these differences manifest themselves.
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That’s an excellent approach @Jsim.
I’ve also found the the changes are subtle, but as a whole they do indeed tend to have a perceivably greater impact.
I guess it really is ‘the little things’.
Great impressions, thanks for taking the time.
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That’s almost exactly my experience coming from the black label used as dac only.
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I am continuing to make some adjustments to the system. It turns out that cables in my system ARE a thing. I had been running Canare 4S11 starquad. The system, with the BF2, was still bothering me in moments. I spoke to my hifi dealer here in Toronto, and they suggested that it might be the cables. I switched to a pair of BJC 10 White cables I’ve had for years. Everything was better, though a bit loose and the mids were noticeably recessed.
I picked up a pair of Oyaide Explorer 2 V2 cables at the recommendation of my dealer and everything is now recognizable and really really good. All of my grumbles about too much, not enough, and staging weirdness are now resolved.
I have thought, up to this point, that cables made subtle differences. The changes between the Canare, Blue Jeans Belden, and the Oyaide were not at all subtle. This is perhaps a conversation for another thread, but I wanted to update my report on the BF2.
I have had a Holo Spring and a Gumby A2, and I have to say that I am getting a lot of enjoyment from the BF2. I am unable to do side by side comparisons and only have an emotional memory of those other DACs, but I would say that I would say the I love the BF2 and feel I am getting more of the good stuff and do not miss the Gumby or Spring.
I think, in the end, that the C7ES3s are quite sensitive to the signal chain. I am very glad that I did not knee-jerk return the BF2 (even though I requested an RMA from Schiit). It was well worth putting the work into figuring out weaknesses in the rest of the system to allow the BF2 to shine.
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Okay, so the Bifrost clicking was driving me nuts. So based on this and other forums it is caused by bitrate changes from the source. Using Tidal from my Macbook Pro through USB to the Bifrost. Had “Use Exclusive Mode” selected. Clicking happens whenever I pause, start, advanced, or rewind (OMG I am old) a song. Also happens every time a new song starts on the playlist.
I turned off “Use Exclusive Mode” and the clicking stops. My question is then what is happening on the Mac that is stopping the bitrate changes? Is it sampling at a fixed rate? If so how do I see what rate is being used?
Thanks!
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I know this doesn’t address your question but I actually like the clicking. Makes it sound like it’s doing something in there.
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I can’t hear it well with the headphones on. Not well enough that it annoys me. The Yggy clicks louder than the Bf2 too.
I agree though. I like the clicky of the relays. I find the clicky helpful. Its nice to know your bit depth has changed. I also like the clicky of the Freya volume control too.
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The first thing I think is boy, if that clicks every time a song starts something is going to wear out. I am a little OCD that way.
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Can’t say the clicking every once in a while bugs me.
@Jsim mentioned trying a fixed sampling rate in Roon and it caused problems.
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