Hey, @JTS
I very much share your findings, mentioned it in the first post. That the USB ultra mega unison stardust magic, just sounds sharper to my ears compared to optical, so USB is kind of dead to me 
Today I got new tubes, so I’m back to fully buffed WA2, doing some more testing and so far coming to a similar conclusion, there is something sharp about the BF2 compared to BF1. Not sharp as SMSL SU-8 or so, but still too sharp for my ears.
Another take is that the BF2 midrange is more laid back so that you are turning the volume higher to get the mids you want. This means listening louder and then the highs bother you more, even though possibly not being brighter.
That is most probably the “issue”.
New Tubes = the Power Tubes? Those are Tung Sol 5998’s no?
Yea, those are just incredible. My old pair died few years ago, then I got lucky and got GEC 6AS7G, but those died on me about month ago, so I got 5998 Sol’s again, looking forward trying them in Elise too.
Hi JTS,
Thanks very much for the efforts in asking. Funny you mention the NAD’s, because I actually have had experience with a NAD D3020v2 earlier this year. I got it for my outdoor system (patio with B&W AM-1), because I just wanted a small simple amp for it (to replace a Sonos Amp). But frankly I was not very impressed with that one. Very light/lean presentation and overly digital sounding to my ears, my Sonos amp performed better in contrast, which I did not expect. Maybe it does better with easier to drive speakers. The Vista Spark which I currently still use with the Harbeths is on a whole different level (quality watt wise) for a a similar price compared to the D3020, so that will move this Spring to the outdoor system.
The new class D NAD amp (probably NAD M33) he is referring to, are based on the Purify Eigentakt modules, so has not much to do with NAD as a brand in general. These are newer designs from the same designer responsible for the well known Hypex NCore modules. NAD only uses those more expensive modules in their more premium M line up, which usually has a starting price from at least 3k up. Those NCore modules are currently also used in a few very hi-end active speaker systems, like the Kii Three’s and the Grimm Audio LS1. For my Buchardt S400 speakers in the living room I have actually ordered their upcoming I150 amplifier, which also uses the Hypex Ncore amplification stage.
With respect tot RCA cable, probably it is a combination of both. The previous 25 euro cable worked perfectly fine with the Triangle Borea’s and Aune X8 dac I had before (amp was the same). So maybe the Burson Dac really needs a high quality cable (around 100 euro mark) for it to send the full resolution to the Amp. Certainly the amp is not the limiting in the chain. Makes me also wonder however how much assessments on forums are based on people using "cheaper cable"s, not knowing that their cables are the limiting factor in the chain. I today also installed the Oyaide speaker cables for which the improvement compared to the RCA cable was relatively limited. The presentation became a little clearer/more and bass more refined (less bloated). Most noticeable however was that the overall volume clearly increased a few notches, which I did not expect.
The last few posts between the 2 of you are very interesting, but I don’t think they belong in the Bifrost 2 thread. I certainly would like the conversation to continue, as I’m learning a lot, but perhaps in a more general thread?
Copy that. I’ll be back in a while with my assessment of the PI2AES with the BF2 in a while. The post has been delayed so I am not sure when it will be here.
Sooooo. PI2AES feeding the BF2 S/PDIF = next level. All the brittle/brightness that I had been experiencing in my system with the BF2 and Allo DigiOne is gone. It maintains all the detail I had with the Allo Digione but everything is clean as can be. In addition, with Plain Jane Redbook, the speakers all but completely dissapear like they do with DSD and a Holo Spring.
I have a couple thought about this:
The PI2AES is clearly a well engineered S/PDIF transport. I have read that people get great results from the Allo (and I don’t for second doubt it) but it requires a nice (expensive) PSU. The PI2AES sounds great with a Meanwell SMPS, which I think points to some love and care taken with the manner in which the power is implemented.
The BF2 is sensitive to source. Stuff that was bitey over USB and S/PDIF previously is now clean as a whistle. This is a contrast with my ADI-2 which shows very little difference between sources. With the P2AES, the BF2 mantains all the detail (unlike optical) with none of the pain.
I did do a brief headphone session with the P2AES and my ADI-2/MAD Ear+ and there was a very slight improvement vs USB in clarity. With the BF2, though, it’s more pronounced.
The thing I like/love about the BF2 is the timbre and meatyness of voices, the “real” sounding upper treble with cymbals etc, and the exciting transients. Despite this, after six months of wrestling with it, I was about to move on because of the brightness I was experiencing in my system (over 4 different sets of speakers).
While it is early days with the new transport, I would say the BF2 is sticking around.
So it is now:
W10 Roon Server>LAN>PI2AES with ROPIEEE>Coax (Oyaide)>BF2>Heed Obelisk SI 3>P3ESR XDs+REL t7i
Holy hell.
I’ve not even tried S/PDIF on my BF2 yet. I’m sourcing from a 2014 Mac Mini, so I only have optical as a possibility.
And you say that the coax is better than optical, if I read correctly. So I searched and find that there are some Thunderbolt to S/PDIF adapters, but have never even looked at them. Perhaps that adds a whole new level of problems.
Not that my ears have minded the USB connection.
I do think it is system dependant. I know most find the BF2 smooth and easy going. I tried USB, and S/PDIF from a few sources and found I was getting painful treble here and there depending on the recordings. Optical sounded nice, but soft - I missed the detail of coax S/PDIF.
If you’re going to try coax S/PDIF be aware that, in my experience, the BF2 is very resolving of the upstream gear you’re feeding it with = get something that is well engineered.
The PI2AES is a network streamer that uses a Raspberry PI as the network front end. For how good it is, it is very reasonably priced. In my system it is much more resolving than optical. The staging also improved by an order of magnitude over the Allo streamer, USB and Optical.
I was up until 4am listening last night which has not happened for a while.
Of course this is my system, my room, my ears. YMMV and also could be horses for courses.
You were going to try your MAD Ear+ amp last weekend to see how the BF2 would sound in a headphone setup. Before you used the PUI2AES, did you get painful treble in the same songs when you tried headphones instead of speakers?
I did not end up dragging the BF2 to the studio, unfortunately. I looked at all the wires and wire ties and was discouraged.
I will see if this is something I can accomplish in the coming weeks.
I’m looking to use my BF2 in a vertical configuration, is there any harm or negative impact in doing so?
Thanks
Update: I’ve set it up vertically for now, hopefully won’t be an issue. 
Should not be an issue, other than having it tip over? I assume you have it supported somehow.
Thank you for the confirmation, yes I have it supported using the Command velcro strips.
I’m running my Sony UBP-X800M2 through the coax of the BF2 to listen to my SACDs and rare cds that you can’t stream. It sounds great. Obviously using USB for my streaming setup. And the optical is going to my tv. Don’t run that through the tube amp much, I have a Jotunheim that I typically use for that.
The most notorious orientation issue was when the vertical layout Xbox 360 overheated circa 2008 and self-desoldered its own chips from the mainboard. This followed from serious design flaws with the console. Many devices are designed for both horizontal and vertical use.
Just make sure the transformer is at the bottom (where the IEC plug is) so the center of mass is low to the ground.
I’ve used an Yggy vertically for a year at work with no issue (smaller footprint).
Hi there, first I want to thank you for all your recommendations.
As I am using my DT1990 with my Bifrost 2 and the Lyr3, I got really annoyed by wearing headphone all day long. The pressure and the headband are just a bit uncomfortable.
I mean I do have speakers, but I rather want to get something more comfortable.
What do you think about some IEMs?
Do they even need the BF2 and the Lyr3?
Is there a good IEM that you all of you could recommend to me?
Beste regards from Switzerland
Cuplock
