As I await the arrival of my shiny new Schiit Bifrost, some coax/optical/USB questions...

Digital Drive

Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it.

Posted by willkayakforfood (A) on May 26, 2012 at 16:17:03

I struggled to decide whether to post this in the Cables asylum or here, but since I'm looking for advice concerning some specific components, I thought I'd try my luck here first...

I've been bitten by the "new generation [reasonably priced] DAC" curiosity bug, and so accordingly, have just ordered a Schiit Bifrost (with USB input option). I'll be testing it in both my main music system and with my laptop computer's "new and improved" 2.1 relatively portable speaker system, and will then decide where it would be best utilized (or, if I love it in both applications, I may have to get another).

I'm actually quite happy with the analog output of my CD player (Virtue Audio Piano M1, with Philips TDA 1543 DAC), but still, I'm curious. If it doesn't turn out to be an appreciable improvement for my main system, I've ordered the unit with the optional USB input as well, so that I could use it with my computer (the assumption here being that no matter what, running a digital signal out of the computer through the outboard DAC will "naturally" represent an improvement in sound over the 3.5mm analog output of the computer's "onboard" sound).

So then - on to my questions concerning the cables I'll need to collect...

My CD Player offers both coaxial and optical digital outputs. Considering the specific components in question (Virtue Audio Piano M1 and Schiit Bifrost), I'd like to know of your opinions regarding my best cable options for good sound - let's say with a budget of less than $100 for the cable (new or used).

Also, if I decide to use this new DAC primarily with my computer rather than with the main system, could you recommend a good USB cable for the purpose? Also, even though the Schiit USB input is "2.0", would there be any problem with me using the USB 3.0 port of my computer for the output? (the two 2.0 ports are already being used for other things that would truly be a waste of 3.0's supposed benefits).

Thanks!

By the way - I've been curious about both the Bifrost and the Peachtree DAC-iT, but looking into the future, the "modular upgrade" option of the Bifrost seemed like a nice idea, so I went with that one for the moment.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Topic - As I await the arrival of my shiny new Schiit Bifrost, some coax/optical/USB questions... - willkayakforfood 16:17:03 05/26/12 (23)

From the Horses mouth - Des 06:59:50 06/03/12 (2)

RE: From the Horses mouth - maximum kahuna 19:21:20 06/03/12 (1)

Are you Mac? - Des 17:05:39 06/05/12 (0)

RE: As I await the arrival of my shiny new Schiit Bifrost, some coax/optical/USB questions... - Bromo33333 19:18:55 05/31/12 (4)

Here's what I've decided to do with regards to the USB cable issue... - willkayakforfood 00:05:22 06/01/12 (3)

RE: Here's what I've decided to do with regards to the USB cable issue... - boboli 10:53:51 06/01/12 (2)

RE: Here's what I've decided to do with regards to the USB cable issue... - John Swenson 15:44:19 06/01/12 (1)

RE: Here's what I've decided to do with regards to the USB cable issue... - boboli 22:05:02 06/01/12 (0)

Bifrost arrived today! So far, so good... - willkayakforfood 16:46:05 05/31/12 (2)

RE: Bifrost arrived today! So far, so good... - Bromo33333 20:51:21 06/03/12 (1)

Second Bifrost will arrive -- tomorrow! :) - willkayakforfood 21:01:48 06/03/12 (0)

RE: As I await the arrival of my shiny new Schiit Bifrost, some coax/optical/USB questions... - soulfood 21:00:22 05/30/12 (0)

RE: As I await the arrival of my shiny new Schiit Bifrost, some coax/optical/USB questions... - TubeDriver 11:59:11 05/29/12 (6)

My computer only has USB, but my CDP has both coaxial and Toslink outputs. Questions... - willkayakforfood 18:02:07 05/29/12 (5)

I tested a non-high-end configuration - DrChaos 18:16:11 05/30/12 (0)

RE: My computer only has USB, but my CDP has both coaxial and Toslink outputs. Questions... - TubeDriver 18:47:48 05/29/12 (3)

Again, my choice is not between USB and optical... - willkayakforfood 19:02:38 05/29/12 (2)

Avoid the USB cable nightmare - Sordidman 13:51:16 05/30/12 (0)

RE: ...optical... - cdb 06:18:55 05/30/12 (0)

RE: As I await the arrival of my shiny new Schiit Bifrost, some coax/optical/USB questions... - boboli 16:57:52 05/26/12 (3)

RE: As I await the arrival of my shiny new Schiit Bifrost, some coax/optical/USB questions... - stereo5 19:42:21 05/26/12 (2)

Thanks boboli and stereo5! - willkayakforfood 13:29:03 05/27/12 (1)

RE: Thanks boboli and stereo5! - maximum kahuna 13:45:53 05/27/12 (0)

Post a Message!