You might like how it sounds, but be aware that if you’re hearing coloration it will most likely be caused by distortion (the FR is ruler flat.) That said, at normal listening levels, it’s unlikely you’d be able to pick out any differences in a blind, level-matched test.
Well I really even as I type this, think I shouldn't be! But, the difference is an unquestionable improvement.
To set some background context, I couldn't really hear a gnat's chuff of difference between the Node 2i internal DAC and the Schiit Modius. Significant A/B testing and you could be arguing a case either way in truth - i.e I would never in a million years know which was in use.
Now this always surprised me, I was expecting big things from it because we have 2 DACs that pretty much bookend the performance table here on ASR - so if measurements could indicate a sound difference you'd expect these 2 DACs at opposing ends of the spectrum would yield something. But reality was disappointingly different.
However moving on to the BF2 vs Modius, and I won't wax lyrical on here (I'm not that stupid!), but I will say genuinely you can hear the A/B difference. It is still far from a night and day switch, none of this 'veil is lifted' or other hyperbolic audiophile tripe, but there's both a touch more detail (the texture to a guitar pluck as a good example and something you can easily identify going A/B), and for sure more mass, body and depth to vocals (vocals by far the the biggest difference - they should unquestionably thinner on the Modius).
Do I think I could pick out which is playing blind, good question - I don't think so, not reliably anyway. It's still small differences, the Modius still sounds great in it's own right, but genuinley there's just this realism that wasn't there before especially to as said to the vocals.
So the conclusion is there is a much bigger difference between the BF2 vs Modius, than ever there was between the Modius vs Node 2i. - Which to my mind seems to go against what the measurements would indicate? Now I know the BF2 has not been measured, but it's a recent Schiit product so I expect it to do well enough, likely closer to the Modius than the Node 2i.
If people want to think it's my love of distortion, sure, I don't actually mind and I'm honestly not trying to provoke a fight. My instinct is that I think it has to be something to do with the proprietary filtering, which I believe is both time and phase optimised?
I consider myself a pretty critical person (hence being on here), but it's exceeded my expectations. I was very nervous I wouldn't hear any difference as is the usual case when I've tested other D/S DACs.
As for level matching, yes they were - well, they both produced identical measured REW levels (UMIK-1 mic) which means they are within a whisker. I absolutely could not tell a change, the REW graph is accurate, so maybe not level matched to the way ASR would typically do things with a voltage check - but let's be honest it's decently close enough.
Now interestingly I ran multiple REW sweeps and the BF2 would consistently show extra levels in the same few spots?
-Is it distortion? I doubt it, these weren't loud sweeps by any stretch (KEF R5 speakers - pretty damn good and very capable!), so yeah it's a marvellous DAC it really is!!
-Is it a result of the better filtering ad thus does this imply more signal is being preserved? An interesting question I think, we have a clearly repeatable difference.
(yes I am planning to fix the 100hz null with some room treatment behind the speakers with GIK T100's
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