#XXHIGHEND VS HQPLAYER UPDATE#
#XXHIGHEND VS HQPLAYER FULL#

Really subtle stuff like someone pushing piano pedals or the dampers lifting off the keys sound noticeably clearer on the Gungnir Multibit. But when you feed it good 24-bit material, even with SE output, it simply gives you more. On 16-bit material, it can be a bit less evident. Gungnir Multibit is simply more resolving. Bifrost Multibit is ultimately less transparent and trips over itself more. I assume this is due to the different output stages.

On the other hand, the Gungnir Multibit is consistently more detailed and makes it easier to hear what's going on. It's odd, but on some tracks, the Bifrost Multibit sounds faux-clearer than the Gungnir Multibit, as if the Gungnir Multibit has a very, very, very slightly smokey quality to it. Bifrost Multibit has a smaller, more in-your-face stage that doesn't always mix well with the grainier, shoutier characteristics. Gungnir Multibit has a much more interesting (or better, or moar) soundstage presentation, separation, air.you name it. Gungnir Multibit sounds thicker and more powerful than Bifrost Multibit yet clearer, smoother, and more taut from top to bottom. Yes, I know, you can't measure stuff like that. The Gungnir Multibit is actually easier to listen to for me because the response seems smoother and better integrated from top to bottom, where as the Bifrost Multibit can get a bit shouty. And, no, the Transient is not what I'd call a warm converter. I am curious if this has something to do with most people using straight USB, where as I find the Transient Mk2 to offer consistently better performance than almost all built-in USB solutions. Despite everyone saying the Gungnir Multibit is noticeably more neutral than Bifrost Multibit, I actually hear them as both being slightly warm. Gungnir Multibit just puts out music like it's not even trying. In relation to above, Bifrost Multibit sounds a bit grainier and more strained that Gungnir Multibit. This is another very important difference in my mind. In particular, Bifrost Multibit has this sort of upper-mid, lower-treble emphasis that makes it sound more grating and less mature and refined than Gungnir Multibit. Bifrost Multibit sounds a bit more midrange focused than Gungnir Multibit. I don't remember why I wrote that, but, eh, OK! My notes say 'dynamics sound more grey on Bifrost Multibit,' whatever that means. Bifrost Multibit has less micro and macro dynamics. Sure, it's not as tight as Gungnir Multibit and is woolier, but I'm just saying you can hear some of that magic still. Despite this, it still has shares some of the traits in terms of bass tautness that seem inherent to the Schiit multibit + digital filter combo. Bifrost Multibit sounds softer in terms of bass impact, slam, power, and as said before, extension. It doesn't reach as low as the Gungnir Multibit. Most readily apparent difference is the relative lack of extension on the Bifrost Multibit, mostly in bass. USB->SPDIF comparisons.Д«ifrost Multibit vs.

#XXHIGHEND VS HQPLAYER UPDATE#

UPDATE - See bottom of post for direct USB vs. I did not have a XLR->RCA transformer converter box thing to try. Make note of this, given balanced input is known to be better out of Gungnir Multibit. Other Source - CI Audio Transient Mk2 without LPSU - always used this for both DACs, never straight USB or other inputsД¬ables - Have no balanced-capable amp, so had to use SE. Player - Primarily JRiver Media Center or HQPlayer for upsampling filter tests

#XXHIGHEND VS HQPLAYER FULL#

Laptop/Tablet - Win10 tablet, 8', quad-core, full USB out OR Acer Cloudbook 11' Whatever w/ BunsenLabs Linux + Liquorix kernel Gear (skip if not concerned, though note use of SPDIF converter for all tests - no straight USB) While I like both for different reasons, you might be wondering how they really compare and which is better for your budget. While I've only heard the Yggdrasil at meets or at Big Sound (read: unfamiliar setups), I have had a wonderful chance to compare the Bifrost and Gungnir multibit DACs at home for a while now, which I'll continue to refer to as the Bifrost Multibit and Gungnir Multibit. I really like the new Schiit multibit DACs.

Xxhighend vs hqplayer