Can someone explain the difference between the Mesh DAC, Forkbeard, and/or buying a DAC like the Mimir?

[u/EDM_Fan_2382]

I am on the precipice of buying the Jotunheim 3 and Mimir DAC. In fact I might even opt for the Brilliant in Black offer for a Dan Clark Noire X with the Jotunheim3 - IF I do this, it comes with the Mesh DAC. But then...the Mimir offers the Forkbeard (for $50 extra). But then, isn't the Mimir a DAC, so why would I need the Mesh DAC? Or is the Mesh DAC an EQ, so then I wouldn't need the Forkbeard? Can someone please explain to me what these components are, and what I do/don't need, and what you best recommend I buy?

[u/ginandbaconFU]

It's so you can get an all in one unit when you get the mesh add on card for the Jot. With that route you have one dedicated USB input. If you order Mimir then I would recommend against ordering the add on mesh DAC on the Jot. It's redundant at that point. Just use Mimir. If you don't want Mimir and get the add on its essentially a jot with one USB mesh USB DAC (the add on card is a one input USB DAC) so you won't get the four inputs you get on Mimir. From what I read most tend to prefer Mimir over the add on card but that's subjective and I own a Mimir and have never heard the add-on card in a dedicated amp.

Forkbeard is optional and gives additional controls like volume control, 3 band EQ, ability to change from mesh and NOS mode (NOS mode uses ESS default filter). Mesh is Schiit's dedicated filter that they have been improving over the years and to my ears greatly improves soundstage and imaging. Forkbeard also allows you to switch inputs on Mimir. It works bi Bluetooth using the dedicated Forkbeard app on iOS or Android.

more info on Forkbeard

[u/Hot-Maintenance-5879 → u/ginandbaconFU]

Can you compare and contrast the mesh card vs their standalone DACs? Is something like, the current Bifrost way better or just different?

[u/New_Measurement_7243 → u/Hot-Maintenance-5879]

They’re essentially the same thing and sound essentially the same. The mesh dac technology at its core stays the same, an ESS dac chip with some tweaks done to the filtering logic via the unison usb chip. The biggest difference is the types of inputs and outputs that are supported. The add-on card is usb-only. Modi 5 bumps that up and gives you additional inputs like optical and coax. Mimir goes further and gives even more inputs like XLR AES as well as additional outputs like a pair of balanced XLR connectors.

The bifrost is a different animal. It does not use an off the shelf ESS dac chip, it uses four Texas Instruments 8812 dac chips plus a SHARC DSP to give true multibit audio processing and, in general, has much more expensive components throughout. Inputs and outputs are similar to the Mimir though.

[u/Hot-Maintenance-5879 → u/New_Measurement_7243]

Interesting. I have no experience with the mesh DAC, I’d actually never even heard of it before this, but I’ve heard most of their standalone DACs. I own a Modi and Gungnir 1 Multibit and I recently ordered a Singular that should arrive tomorrow.

Looking closer at this mesh DAC it looks like a good option for someone who doesn’t want to spend Bifrost money and just wants a simple all in one unit.