Schiit Gungnir DAC - anyone have one of these?

Dragon 1952 - thanks for the feedback - what's your system consist of? (please include interconnects used)

Many Thanks

dragon1952 - never dis someone unless you are above dissing!

Insight is better than no site so understanding your environment is paramount to understanding what performance I MIGHT expect with differing components.

BJ's gets a lot of good press here and until I hear some I'll make no comments.

So how do you find the dynamics of the PS Nu Wave compared to the Schiit?

Since PS is heavy into power I would assume they would be very dynamic also

I just heard the Mytek and it was spatially very impressive and very dynamic, but not as musical as the Chord QuteHD, which I heard yesterday.

Maybe the dynamics in the Schiit is what fatigued you?

Thanks

Thanks for the feedback everyone

Spent the week looking at several DAC's - Wadia, Mytek, Chord, all in the $1300-$1700 region and the differences were significant and enlightening, since the only one that I found did not fatigue these ears was the Wadia.

Then I came home and listened to my Dacmagic - and again - no fatigue. BTW my upgraded power supply on the DACMAGIC allows it to perform way above it's snack bracket - I thought very close to the Wadia, but not quite as spacious

I decided to go with the Bifrost + USB + Uber options, since that would bring it closer to the performance of the Gungnir and cost $300 less.

I don't have a requirement for balanced outputs, as on the Gungnir and the differences in Gugnnir/Bifrost power supplies hopefully can be minimized by using a high quality power cable and connectors. This should also enhance it's performance considerably.

There's chatter about DSD options coming for the Schiit DAC's, so hopefully there will be an upgrade for the Bifrost.

My primary source is my turntable, which I have just completed an arm upgrade, so right now I want to keep these costs down.

I will post a review once It's suitably broken in

Thanks again

Well, after reading several posts on the bifrost I figured I would have to wait a while for it to burn in before I would be impressed - WRONG!

As stated above I had previously listened to Wadia, Mytek and Chord.

Well, the Bifrost seems to have most of the punch of the Mytech coupled with the smoothness of the Wadia and a very accurate delivery of music in general.

I originally thought of leaving the Dacmagic in the system so I could do a side by side comparison. No point - the Bifrost is clearly superior in every respect...
- much wider and deeper soundstage and more precise instrument placement.
- improved dynamics - almost as dynamic as the Mytek
- much finer details particularly sibilance control
- much improved frequency response
- very deep low end - organ music is superbly deep and rich

I think the Uber analogue upgrade was well worth the extra

For $520 + $60 shipping I would recommend the Bifrost + USB + Uber to anyone.

For Canadian readers there was an $70 GST and $10 handling fee bringing the total to $660

A couple of posts cited it as having an overly bright sound, but as yet I am finding it very musical - and I have silver interconnects on it.

I have a feeling that my well burned in Furutech power cable is responsible for the smooth performance so far.

Right now I`m listening to some very smooth saxophone and it sounds superb.

If you are in the market for a DAC give this one some consideration, but use good cables - you`ll thank yourself for doing so.

Back to the music

AND - After 200+ hours burn-in it really shines

Much improved spatial detailing that really increases instrument position and isolation from front to back i.e. more air around instruments.

Back to the toons:-)

Tboooe - keep us posted - be good to know your findings

Doak - just for a reference point - what power/interconnect did you use on the Gungnir?

I've found the Bifrost was so much nicer using good cables

It is a little rich in the bass, but I never found it an issue with classical and jazz - and only on some rock and pop

The teac definately looks better (haven't heard one) - better power supplies ( I like toroid transformers) and feature set and prices are almost identical when you add the usb to the Gungnir.

What did you use to stream files to them?

The Bifrost sounded much better when the digital stream was NOT upsampled.

Thanks for the info

Eagertrader - after having the Bifrost in my system for a few months now, I can tell you it only gets better :-)

Since installing it I have upgraded the interconnect to a pair of Stager SilverSolids - with Eichmann Silver Bullet RCA connectors and upgraded many of the related power items like cables, connectors and outlets.

Every step of the way the Bifrost revealed more dynamics, delicate textures and space in the music.

I would encourage you to consider such upgrades if you have not already done so - I'm sure the payback will be worth it.

Since my last post I've changed to Silver Harmony from KLE Innovations, which proved to be a considerable improvement over the Silver Bullet across the board.

Faster dynamics, extended bass and high frequencies, warmer sounding, much improved imaging and above all superb clarity

:-)

Audioman58 - at the end of your post you said "a bit more resolved and refined"

Was that in comparison to the Bifrost?

Was that improvement worth the additional $300 - in your opinion

Thanks

Figured I resurrect this thread with an update, since so many have viewed it over it's life.

I've just installed the newly released USB Gen 2 from Schiit

For details see this thread...

Schiit USB Gen 2 Upgrade for Bifrost & Gungnir

A worthwhile upgrade