I’m curious how Multibit differs from those ladders cause this looks distinctly different
For me the issue is Shipping and exchange rate. I want that new version of the denafrips terminator and the Yggdrasil but exchange rate, Customs all will kill me
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In a multibit DAC, the resistor ladder in inside a chip, as opposed to being surface mounted resistors.
All early DAC’s were multibit, DS DACs came later.
Schiit use multibit DAC’s intended for medical devices, because no one makes audio chips that way anymore.
Companies like MHDT/Borderpatrol and others use discontinued audio chips from Philips, TI, Analog Devices etc. with similar ladder on chip based designs.
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Wow, you shoot high! I would be happy with the Ares II. 
Those are the USB input board and the signal output board. One comes before the DAC, the other comes after so there’s no DAC on this picture. My understanding of Multibit is that they are just super tiny resistors on an IC. But I may be way off.
So, it’s performing the same behavior but on a chip? Or is it fundamentally different and results in a qualitatively different sound?
The ladders are basically the same, the version on a chip will probably be more accurate, because the required resistor tolerances for each additional bit get tighter and tighter.
The chips usually guarantee 1/2 lsb accuracy, I doubt any discrete solution gets close to that for the same bit depths.
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I’m guessing it’s the flat square chip just south of the 2 silver caps below the phone jack.
The actual DAC are built in chips.
The DA converters are labelled U6 and U7 in the right hand board on his first image.
They are a part of the analog board int the Bifrost 2.
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Oh! Interesting. Thanks 
You’re right, they’re the AD5781ARUZ - you can see it if you zoom in on the chips.
I have an Audio-gd R2R to try out today for a month or so. It’s hooked up to my Lake People G109a and my Sundaras, and even though it’s early days I can hear a striking difference between it and my other current dac, the ifi zen. On first listening the sound is rawer, less smoothed out, but more energetic, powerful. I’m really enjoying it. Of course it costs over twice the price of the zen dac but still. I really liked the zen dac, but then I hadn’t heard better yet. I also have a NuPrime USB Hi-mDAC which I find really really good too, although just a touch bright.
Anyway, just wanted to post on my current setup after having finally gotten my hands and ears on an R2R, and my first impression is that the sound is way more present and lively than the other admittedly entry level dacs I’ve heard.
I wonder if there’s a sort of checklist of things to listen for when judging a dac or amp. Perhaps they are the same checklist for both DAC and amp, perhaps they’re different.
I’m sure the more experienced members must have some sort of ordered routine that might be helpful for us noobies and not so noobies
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ok odd. apparently most of his visitors liked it more. felt it was more natural and dimensional. but also some of the harsher frequencies seemed rolled off. almost as if it lacked some detail. still he said he felt it was better than any other dac in the price range
I used to own a Modi Multibit and it was single handedly the worst DAC I’ve ever owned. Absolutely dull with no detail or dynamic range.
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But for a beginner with a low budget ? although the E30 would be better
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Maybe a beginner with a low budget would prefer an integrated solution like the ifi zen. Unless you have difficult to drive headphones it’s really fantastic, versatile, and at a great price. Anyway, that’s my experience as a noobie with a low budget.
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For a beginner with a low budget there are now tons of great 100$ DACs. Topping D10/D30, SMSL M100, Sanskrit 10th, Khadas tone board… and now even the JDS Atom DAC.
For a beginner who wants to try R2R…
-The Airist R2R DAC (used) is probably a solid (AF) pick.
-For 399$ you can now get the Schiit Asgard 3 headphone amp and add a “module” inside, their new “True Multibit” DAC. Worth it? I don’t know. Great amp (apparently), I don’t know about the DAC. Expensive, but you can also buy the module afterwards and install it yourself… but for 100$ more (meh).
-But for 400 euros (472$ USD), you can get the smaller Soekris 1101, which is a DAC/Amp combo too. My guess: Great DAC, bad headphone amp?
And if you already have an amp, remember the Soekris 1321 DAC (just a DAC) is 400 euros too.
And… if you just want to have a taste of what R2R sounds like for (very) cheap, search for used CD players. That’s where R2Rs started apparently.
Final edit: Pairing R2R DACs with 100$ headphone amps like the JDS Atom or the Liquid Spark might also be a bad idea?
TL,DR: R2R dacs are not budget-friendly. 
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Amen 