It depends on if you want to push your amp to a warmer side or add more detail/analytical.I believe the Pendant can lean towards and be complimented either way with what is around it.
Sounds like both dac choices are good and you just need to choose it upon sonic characteristics after reading up on each or listening. There will be much more experienced people on here to explain each dac too as I don’t have tons of listening time with either.
BF2 is crazy value. Tonality wise it’s a bit more low end to mid friendly but top end is good if not tremendous. It doesn’t have any real glaring faults. Haven’t heard the topping.
Not sure you would find a 2k DAC that would blow it out of the water across the board but that’s kind of how DACS go, very quickly hit a wall price to performance wise unless you go big $$$.
Thanks all, forgot about the Qutest, that was also on my list…A friend also just threw out the RME ADI-2 as a suggestion as well, although I don’t know if i need all of the other features. For sonic preference I’m less interested in an analytical sound, and prefer a slightly warmer tonality.
I own a BF2, Pendant and VO. That combination has a rich, warm sound, but not at the expense of detail or rhythm. It’s definitely not slow and syrupy. I’ve thrown every type of music at it and can listen for hours.
I don’t have another DAC to compare it to, so I can’t say what you’re gaining or losing vs other DACs.
From what I recall the RME is a bit analytical. Perhaps not what you are looking for but lots of built in processing options.
Here’s a really good comparison of the RME vs BF2 that @ProfFalkin did, which I found helpful when I was DAC shopping.
This suggests BF2 over Topping/RME. Others to consider in this price range that I want to try: Denafrips, Border Patrol, Mhdt Lab.
I can confirm I much prefer the Bifrost 2 with the Pendant than with the Topping D90.
I’m by no means an expert, but had deep email exchanges with Zach during my wait for my VO & Pendant. Three months of waiting allows you to do a lot of researching! Anyway, my thought was Zach would be a great authority on this as the headphone maker. In regards to DACs, the one he pointed me to was the Schiit Gungnir. I already own the RME ADI-2; and it’s lovely with the VO, but his suggestion for considering the Gungnir is that it pairs nicely with the VO, as opposed to the RME or any other DAC that is a bit more analytical. Just sharing in case that’s helpful.
Thanks for confirming man. Looking forward to your review of the Pendant and comparison with the Elise!
I have a Gungnir MB A2/USB5 for sale if your interested.
Now to sabotage my sale.
I think on the Pendant, because it’s SE in only, I prefer the Bifrost 2.
They have a somewhat different tonality, but I find I generally prefer the BF2 SE out vs Gungnir and Vice Versa Balanced.
Normally I would be interested, but I’m tapped out for audio equipment spending for a bit. Looking forward to a nice period of just enjoying what I have for a bit. This feeling never lasts too long, hah!
Your honesty is awesome and respect, to you for it. To maybe help your sale if the sound is fairly close a person wanting the ability to stack the Pendant on the Gungnir might have a more streamline setup. I wonder how much of a difference the unison USB on the BF2 makes over your Dac?
I’ve run the DAC’s off SPDIF via a Pi2AES, the Gungnir is the more technically proficient DAC, but it’s so close that going to SE out on the Gungnir loses that edge.
The Bifrost 2 is stunningly good for the price point IMO.
The Gungnir is more airy than the BF2, BF2 has a bit more dynamics in the Bass.
I’m not in any rush to sell TBH, the BF2 is in my secondary setup over the Gungnir, mostly because of form factor, the Gungnir is in a bit of no mans land in my primary system I run 2 DAC’s that cost >3x as much as it, so it doesn’t get a lot of use.
That reminds me… I want to get a Gumby A2 to @TylersEclectic so he can do a head to head with the TT2.
Maybe some day.
I think the Gumby would have a tough run against the Chord. My money would be on the Chord. Sold my Gumby a couple years ago. Solid performer.
I had the Chord Qutest and Gumby together for about 6 months. The Qutest is still here and the Gumby is sold. It was really not a tough choice.
Ill put my vote in for the chord aswell. Using it currently with pendant and loving it. I like an analytical dac with the pendant, because you can customize your sound with the pendant. With mullard/brimar tubes the pendant will get plenty warm. Also Zmf headphones are already on the warm side. For my tastes and all that a warm dac would be too much.
Sounds like some Great synergy!
Anyone ever tried the Border Patrol DAC?
Supposedly a very analog relaxed sound.