SPECS THAT MATTER

Distortion: inaudible; 100-1000x lower than any transducer (speaker or headphone) you're using
Noise: inaudible; far below a typical speaker power amplifier
Input capability: accommodates all actual music recordings (upsampling for the heck of it, maybe not), 2 USBs!
Heat: runs moderately warm; this is normal and no need for panic 
Size: suitable for typical stereo shelf or rack placement, not super desk-friendly

OTHER SPECS

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz, +/-0.02dB

•        THD+N: <0.0008%

•        IMD: <0.0006%, CCIF

•        S/N: > 124dB, referenced to full output

•        Crosstalk: -132dB, 20-20kHz

Maximum Output: 2.0V RMS single-ended, 4.0V RMS balanced

Inputs: Coaxial SPDIF, Optical SPDIF, USB 

Input Capability

• Up to 32/384 for Unison 384
• Up to 32/192 for other inputs

Input Receiver

• SPDIF: AK4118
• USB: Schiit Unison USB™

Outputs: RCA (single-ended) and XLR (balanced)

Output Impedance: 75 ohms for both

Conversion Type: Schiit Multiform™ 

D/A Conversion IC: Texas Instruments DAC8812 x 4  

Digital Filter: proprietary Schiit time- and frequency-domain optimized digital filter implemented on Analog Devices SHARC DSP processor, running 8X oversampling

Analog Stage: Unique differential multiplying, based on LME49724

Power supply: two transformers, one each for analog and digital, 13 stages of regulation, including separate supplies for critical digital and analog sections

Upgradability: Autonomy 2™ architecture with externally replaceable DAC/Analog Card and replaceable input card, plus over the air updates via Forkbeard™

Remote control:

• IR remote included, controls source selection, phase invert, and mute.
• Forkbeard™ Bluetooth module optional, controls all above; provides real-time information on sources and outputs; integrates with a complete Forkbeard system for more advanced functionality

Power Consumption: 24W

Size: 16 x 8 x 2”

Weight: 12 lbs

APx555 Report for Gungnir 2

Holy moly! Buzzword bingo much? Multiform? Unison 384? Autonomy 2? Forkbeard? What is all this stuff anyway?
Well, we think we broke it down pretty good in the copy, but here you go, in a more bulletized format:

• Multiform™: our new approach to multibit DACs, including a new balanced multiplying analog section, as well as our unique time- and frequency-domain optimized DSP digital filter, and unique medical/defense-grade DACs (in this case, four DAC8812CRUZs).
• Unison 384™: this is our new high-rate Unison USB input, for people who have super high-rate music (or like to upsample). It joins a standard Unison 192™ USB input, so you have two inputs, for multiple USB devices.
• Autonomy 2™: An extension of the modular, upgradable platform we began with Bifrost 2. Makes it easy for you to keep up with changes in technology, without having to buy a new DAC—or send it back to us.
• Forkbeard™: Our all-new, patent-pending, multiproduct Bluetooth remote control that gives you better visibility of what your system is doing, enhanced control, and advanced cross-product features.

So Multiform™ is the successor to True Multibit™?
Yes, exactly. It’s a more advanced implementation of True Multibit. So, even though it uses the same DACs as Yggdrasil Less is More, it’s different thing.

How is it different?
Oh hell you’re gonna kill us when we say it sounds different.

I don’t believe DACs sound different.
Cool, then you can use the $0.30 one in your phone, or step up to a $119 Modi if you really want peace of mind. Not sure how you got here, looking at expensive-ish DACs like Gungnir 2.

So do you think it sounds better than Yggdrasil LIM? Or Bifrost 2/64, which also uses the same DACs?
We think that once you get above a certain point on DACs, sound becomes a very personal thing. Depending on what you like, and what the rest of your system is, you could very easily prefer Gungnir 2 to Yggdrasil LIM.

Seriously?
Yep. Especially when you find out it’s exactly the same size as Freya (or Kara), so it looks great in a rack with them. And also Freya+ F and Kara F are ready right now, so you can have a Forkbeardified system. Heck, add a Wotan for a Giga Stack!

Hold on a sec. You went into Forkbeard-land. What about the other features of this DAC? Heck, what about how Forkbeard works with this DAC, and this DAC alone?
Yeah, sorry. We’re excited about Forkbeard. Excuse us. So if we’re talking Forkbeard on Gungnir 2 alone, you have two options:

• No Forkbeard. Forkbeard uses an external plug-in module. Don’t want Bluetooth? Hate apps? Don’t want to deal with Apple (Forkbeard’s Android app is a few months out)? Then don’t get Forkbeard. You’ll save $50. You’ll get an IR remote in any case for basic functions. And you can add Forkbeard later if you want.
• With Forkbeard. Just add any current iOS device and you’ll get:
  • Display of current input, sample rate, etc
  • Display of input health (high jitter, etc)
  • Input selection
  • Mute
  • NOS mode selection

Oh yeah...that's just the start. As we add features via Forkbeard, we won't charge you for them. Ever. 

Wait a sec, I don’t want no Bluetooth crap on my product!
Cool, then get it without the Forkbeard module. You’ll also save $50.

I’m OK with Bluetooth, but I don’t want to share data with you. What nefarious info are you collecting with your Forkbeard app?
None. Hell, you don’t even have to make an account to use it. No sign in, no info, hell, no pairing—it’s based on a broadcast prototcol so it’s as easy as downloading the app, opening it up, picking the Forkbeard products that show up, adding a passcode (so your butthead neighbor can’t mess with you), and using it.

Well that sounds good, but I need Android.
We hear you. Working on it.

And you gave us a higher-rate Unison USB input?
Yes. Unison 384 accepts up to 32 bit/384kHz content. So you’re set on DXD. Or for upsampling. Have fun; we think you’ll find it very hard to beat our digital filter.

Why not higher than 384?
Basically because 384k covers all available real actual music content. There is some native-rate content recorded and/or mastered in 352/384, so we wanted to be able to accommodate that. Content above that is upsampled by a computer. We think that the current craze for super-upsampling is not necessary and causes too much audio nervosa. We’d like you to sit back, relax, and enjoy your music, rather than debate about what kind of processing is best to apply to perfectly good files. But then again, we’re a bit weird. In any case, if you want something that does higher rates, you’ll need to look at another DAC. We don’t see the need for Unison 768 or Unison 1536 anytime soon. (But then again, the input card is replaceable, so who knows?)

But I have some friends who say 64/1536 is the future, and sounds the best...
Yeah, and we've been saying that PCM has been the way forward since, well, the 1980s. Even in the face of 1-bit, even with SACD, even with DSD, even with MQA, even with whatever whacky-ass flavor-of-the-month thing that people come up with because they are bored, and too much of audio is retail therapy for people with wheelbarrows-full of cash...and we've been right so far.

Whoa. Snarky.
Snarky and correct are not mutually exclusive.

I noticed the input card is replaceable, but only from inside the DAC, not from outside like the analog board—is this Autonomy 2?
We introduced Autonomy with Bifrost 2, so you’d never have to send your DAC back to us if you wanted to upgrade. Gungnir’s Autonomy 2 architecture is similar, and has the same goal. The analog card is upgradable from outside the chassis, because this is the card that may see the most change over time. The input card is swappable from inside, because it will see much less change. It’s still something that shouldn’t have to come back to us for service, though. Finally, Gungnir 2’s firmware updates are over the air via Forkbeard, rather than via an SDCard. An SDcard slot is still available in the case you don’t have Forkbeard. All of this adds up to a DAC that is ready for future change, and doesn’t have to be returned to us for upgrading.

So what platforms do your Unison 384 and Unison 192 inputs support?
Actually, the question should be “What platforms support us?” since both Unison 384 and Unison 192 are 100% UAC2 compliant (that is, USB Audio Class 2, the accepted standard for USB audio transmission.) So, here you go:

• Streamers. Also most Linux distros that support UAC2 natively will be plug and play. Please note that we cannot provide detailed technical support for Linux.
• Roon. Roon works great with our DACs.
• Windows. From Windows 10 up, you’re set. Sorry, don’t provide UAC2 drivers for earlier versions of Windows. 
• Mac OS. From 10.10 on up, Macs are good to go. 
• iOS. From iOS7 on up, you’re set with a USB Camera Connection Kit, Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, a Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter, or directly with the new USB-C models. External power required for Unison 384 on Lightning devices.
• Android. Most Android devices work great. Some may require separate player software, like USB Audio Player Pro. 

How the heck can you do something that’s completely modular, and has all this new tech inside it, for such an insanely affordable price…and make it in the USA, with a 5-year warranty? 
Because, well, we are what we are. We provide fun, affordable audio products. And unlike some other companies, we don’t think “affordable,” means “the price tag is four figures, and it starts with a 5.” In short, we design products that are efficient to make and easy to support, and sell them to you directly, without multi-level mark-ups. We’re not interested in “race to the top” price wars, because that doesn’t bring new people into high end audio. Nor are we worried about some who might think our products are less capable just because they’re less expensive. Maybe it would be better to ask the other companies why they charge so much for their products?  

Gungnir 2 Manual