Is that the maker of the ZDS?
Did you see this @ProfFalkin
ANNOUNCEMENTS: LAST CALL FOR EDDIE CURRENT!
If you don’t want to miss the opportunity to own Eddie Current gear, now is the time!
For over a decade, Eddie Current has served the audiophile community. However, it is time to switch the quest with new endeavors.
We are selling out the last of new amp stock (20% discounted) and prototype amps sold at cost.
Contact Craig by email cuthus@charter.net or call 818-651-2734.
Yep, I saw. Craig is finally retiring it seems.
ZDS and Aficionado are some of the best amps in the hobby, period. I also miss my Black Widow 2, although some might call it warmbutt and gooey. I think it’s just an engaging listen.
Aficionado has been making my evenings magical since last summer, and making my two other home headphone amps (Phonitor XE and Apex Peak) nearly redundant.
Joined Bifrost 2 club on Friday. I spent some time with it on XLR into Headamp GS-X Mini amp.
But was trying to use the RCA into Phonitor x, and the left signal was not active. Sure enough, it is a quality control issue, RCA jack is loose, Wiggle RCA cable RCA channel activates with audio. Now I need to look and see if it is the jack or soldier joint.
I could only A/B the Chord Qutest on RCA and Bifrost 2 on XLR because of the issue above, here I need to volume match since Qutest is operating at 3 volts outputs, and Bifrost is feeding 4 volts in via XLR. But the Bifrost 2 does drive good bass thump at lower amplifier volumes
Really looking forward to hearing your impressions! The Bifrost 2 is my most accessible upgrade, and I am considering it for later this year.
Wondering if there are any opinions out there about the relative merits of Bifrost 2 / Gungnir / Yggdrasil, all equipped with Unison?
As I contemplate my system upgrade, I am wondering, given how good the BF2 with Unison is, whether the Gumby or Yggy would really represent that much of a step up?
Honestly I dont think so.
Compare the dacs without. Add unison…
B2 has been touted as a mini - Yggy…there ya go.
If you use USB, Unison is the best interface to date IMO.
If not then its not a concern.
What Schiit has done in the B2 upgrades really improves this MB dac…very, very well done.
I had a test beta USB Unison board for a Bifrost OG (orignal) and the USB part is very similar.
Are the Gumby and Yggy a step up…yes they are in price and performance but your 99% there with
B2…
Alex
My Gungnir is still Gen5 USB, but I own both, and I actually prefer the Bifrost if you are using single ended out.
Balanced out I prefer the Gungnir, but it’s very close given the price difference.
I use the SE out to my LYR3 and TUBA…and balanced to the Jotenheim…both really nice IMO.
Alex
Looking for a new amp and dac for my dt1990!
I was looking for a combination of these:
Any recommendation? Here, I’ve red many positive resonance of the Bifrost 2 and Lyr 3 combo!
Kind Regards
Cuplock
I guess it would somewhat depend on what you’re driving them with now, and what you expect to get out of changing.
The Bifrost 2/Lyr 3 combination is, indeed, excellent.
Though that’s really a lot more than I’d personally go for to drive the DT1990, but then I’m definitely not a Beyerdynamic fan.
If it was me, they’d either be getting a Modi 3/Modi MB on the DAC end of things, and a Magni 3+ or Vali 2 (or both with a Sys, for both SS and tube listening options). Or something else of that nature.
Hi Torq
Thank you for your answer and recommendation. I was looking for an Ananda, but I there was a sweet deal of the dt1990 several days ago. But I feel like I have to pick the Ananda up anyways…its hunting me 
Well here’s the situation: I have neither a dac nor an amp. And I feel like the Modi 3 DS and Magni 3+ setup might be “too small” for the dt1990 and maybe an Ananda.
I just red you article as well https://www.headphones.com/blogs/news/schiit-magni-3-magni-heresy-headphone-amplifier-review-comparison
After all I’m torn between the M&M vs. BF2&Lyr3 (bigger Soundstage?)
“Too small” in what regard?
Power wise, neither headphone is especially demanding … $9 USB dongle will drive the DT 1990 Pro to 108 dB/SPL and the Ananda to 117 db/SPL, albiet it won’t be in its sweet-spot.
The Magni 3+/Heresy on the amplifier side of things is more than capable of frying either of them.
Qualitatively the Bifrost 2/Lyr 3 is a sizable step forward, I just couldn’t justify it for the DT1990 Pro (I’m a transducers-first kind of guy). It’s easier for the Ananda (and more so if you have both), but that doesn’t need Lyr 3 levels of power, either … so that’d be more for the tube-flavor it offers.
Yes, the Bifrost 2 and Lyr 3 will project a bigger stage than the Modi/Magni or Modi/Vali combination.
Yes, you got me there, power wise, but also sound quality wise.
I see, but still the sound stage would be better, even though it’s almost the six-fold of the price of a Modi/Magni stack. Well, I must make up my mind…because I am relatively new to this audio scene and thought why not just buy a bit more quality instead of upgrading the Modi/Magni in half a year.
Let’s put it that way, in which case would clearly recommend a Bifrost 2 and Lyr 3? I mean does it depend on the music gerne, or is it just depending on the headphone?
Another question from me, sorry to bother you, what Headphone would you recommend, what is your advice to upgrade, after the Ananda, a HD800S, or would you even buy the Ananda?
It depends more on what you’re looking for, sound-wise, and what your long term intentions are.
On the DAC front, the Bifrost 2 is hard to beat unless you want to spend a lot more (as pure DACs go, the next stops, for me, would be the Chord Qutest or Matrix X-SABRE Pro (MQA). It hits hard, as a nicely meaty presentation, good tonal weight, excellent detail and dynamics. And it’s a longer-term keeper-piece, especially where it is upgradeable.
Amp wise, if you want some tube-flavor and the ability to power pretty much any headphone out there, then the Lyr 3 is a lovely choice. If you don’t want the tube-flavor, then Jotunheim or one of the various THX amps are a good start (though the THX stuff will go better with the Ananda than it will the HD800S), since they’ll run fully balanced out of the Bifrost 2. And if you don’t need quite as much power, and don’t care about balanced input/ouput, Asgard 3 is rather good, too.
Headphone wise …
No, personally, I would not buy the Ananda.
While it is probably the best sounding planar can available at its price point (at least right now, where it’s $699) I don’t find lower-mid level planar cans to be that compelling, and haven’t since the HE-500 and original LCD-2.2c.
That extends to most lower-mid-level planar cans if it has to cover all genres, due to a tendency towards “wall of sound” rendering of really complex music (e.g. big orchestral/classical/operatic pieces). They have other strengths, and the above may not matter if you have more than one headphone and don’t mind using different cans for different genres.
Tonally the HD800S is a side-grade from the Ananda, though the Sennheiser will spank the Ananda hard from a detail, micro-dynamics, stage and separation/layering perspective.
If detail and stage are what’s most important to you, then the HD800S is a definite upgrade, but if you care about other things as well, I’d have the Focal Clear on the list also (you’ll lose the staging there), and I’d have the ZMF Aeolus and Auteur on the list as well as the Arya (though Ayra still exhibits that “wall of sound” effect to a certain degree).
Really, though, if I had the Bifrost 2 and Lyr 3, and wanted an upgrade from the Ananda, I’d probably be leaning either ZMF (if their flavor is your thing) or HEDDPhone - even if it meant waiting a bit longer.
All that said, others can probably better advise you on the mid-level stuff at this point. And they’ll have an easier time of it if they know your musical/genre, tonal and signature preferences.
Heed these words. Come back and thank him later.
Hi and welcome @Cuplock!!
Your case reminds me about myself a little more than a year ago. My suggestion… what @Torq just post to you is an excellent advice!!
Sometimes it’s better to be told by someone who knows what they are doing, saves time and money.
Bifrost 2 and Lyr 3, would lay down a good foundation for years to come!
Most headphones will work with this combination well…
Clears have a tonality thats almost perfect IMO.
Good luck!
Alex
Torq what can I say…Thank you very much!
In fact, I appreciate your guidance, the rich recommendations you gave me/us and the time you put in for this! Let’s see where it takes me!
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers Cuplock