Schiit Audio Gungnir 2
The Schiit Audio Gungnir 2 pairs natural timbre and weighty, punchy sub-bass with a spacious, layered soundstage that stays smooth rather than analytical. Reviews By WaveTheory praised its lively dynamics and coherent imaging, while Passion for Sound highlighted its refinement, texture, modular upgrade path, and exceptional price-to-performance balance.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
90/100
Build Quality
84/100
Features Connectivity
82/100
Value for Money
91/100
Pros
Smooth, largely neutral sound with natural timbre, controlled treble, and deep, lively sub-bass dynamics.
Large, coherent and well-layered soundstage with strong imaging, separation, and three-dimensional spatial cues.
Strong connectivity and longevity features, including dual USB-C inputs, 384kHz capability, non-oversampling mode, and modular hardware upgrades.
Considered an excellent price-to-performance option, with a clear sonic step up from the less expensive Bifrost 2.
Cons
No native DSD decoding, which may limit listeners with substantial DSD libraries.
Forkbeard control was limited to iOS and felt unfinished at the time of review.
Single-ended output trails the balanced connection slightly in soundstage size, clarity, and treble smoothness.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 90/100
Reviewers describe a mostly neutral, gently warm presentation with natural timbre, satisfying note weight, lively dynamics, and a spacious, coherent stage. It is praised as refined and engaging rather than analytical, with strong texture and separation, though one reviewer stops short of calling its resolution exceptional.
Tonal Balance and Musicality
92/100
WaveTheory hears very good tonal balance, controlled and smooth treble, a natural midrange free of shout or honk, and a presentation that remains easy to enjoy over long sessions. Passion for Sound similarly highlights natural timbre, weighty notes, and an engaging, enjoyable character, calling the Gungnir 2 more refined and natural than the Bifrost 2.
Resolution and Detail
90/100
Both reviewers hear stronger resolution, texture, and space than Schiit's less expensive DACs. WaveTheory found that the unit opened up after extended use, revealing more air, control, detail, and texturing, but also characterizes its resolution as good rather than amazing.
Digital Performance
88/100
The onboard oversampling filter is said to sound really good at everyday sample rates, while the available inputs are described as sounding fantastic. Reviewers hear a smooth, refined and spacious result rather than an overtly digital or fatiguing one, but do not specifically report black-background performance, noise-floor standouts, or measurement-led superiority.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
84/100
The clearest construction-related praise concerns the modular architecture: the analog/DAC section can be replaced for future upgrades. Reviewers also call the design sleek and attractive, but say comparatively little about chassis execution, internal component quality, or long-term durability.
Features Connectivity
82/100
Connectivity is notably broad, with dual USB-C Unison inputs, coaxial, optical, and AES digital inputs, plus both RCA and balanced XLR outputs. The DAC supports 384 kHz USB playback, includes a non-oversampling mode, remote control, and optional Forkbeard system integration; reviewers specifically describe the connectivity and upgrade path as strong.
Value for Money
91/100
At roughly $1,549-$1,649, WaveTheory considers the Gungnir 2 very fairly priced relative to its performance and build. Passion for Sound calls it a price-to-performance sweet spot and says its price is not eye-watering in the context of hi-fi, supporting a particularly positive assessment against similarly positioned DACs.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- 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
- Frequency Response
- 20Hz-20KHz, +/-0.06dB
- THD+N
- <0.0008%
- IMD
- <0.0006%, CCIF
- S/N
- > 112dB, referenced to full output
- Crosstalk
- -128dB, 20-20kHz
- Maximum Output
- 2.0V RMS single-ended, 4.0V RMS balanced
- Inputs
- Coaxial SPDIF, Optical SPDIF, USB
- Input Capability (Unison 384)
- Up to 32/384
- Input Capability (Other inputs)
- Up to 32/192
- SPDIF Input Receiver
- AK4118
- USB Input Receiver
- 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 DAC8812C 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 AD4898
- 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)
- IR remote included, controls source selection, phase invert, and mute
- Remote control (Bluetooth)
- 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
- APx555 Report for Gungnir 2
Manufacturer's Description — Schiit Audio
Gungnir 2’s all-new Multiform™ balanced multibit architecture is just the start. Add two USB inputs, including new high-rate Unison 384™, and modular design with Forkbeard™ for full digital preamp and EQ capability, and you have a do-all DAC that's ready for anything.
Introducing Multiform: True Multibit, Evolved
Gungnir 2 extends our multibit approach with an all-new, balanced multiplying analog stage, coupled to four medical/defense grade DAC8812C D/A converters with our proprietary time- and frequency-domain optimized digital filter implemented on an Analog Devices DSP. Or, choose a true non-oversampling mode (NOS) to bypass our digital filter entirely.
Forkbeard™: Digital Preamp and EQ with System-Wide Control
Gungnir 2 also includes Forkbeard, which gives you full digital preamp capability, including parametric EQ, balance, and loudness. Forkbeard also enables system-wide control, visibility, OTA updates, and more. Just plug the Forkbeard module in the back of the Gungnir 2, download the app, and you're set. Don't want a digital preamp? Choose to run Gungnir 2 as "just a DAC."
Two Unison USB Inputs, Including Unison 384
Two USB inputs? Yes! Now you can connect a streamer and a PC, or a Mac and a phone, on the same DAC. Plus, Unison 384 accepts bit depths and sample rates of up to 32 bits/384kHz, for native DXD playback capability, or the ability for you to experiment with upsampling.
Modular Autonomy 2…Ready for the Future
A slide-in analog card, completely modular input and processing cards, and over-the-air or SDCard firmware updates means Gungnir 2 is ready for the future—without ever having to come back to us for upgrades. Compare this to other DACs, even DACs costing many times more—only Autonomy provides complete hardware and firmware upgradability.
Designed and Built in the USA
By "designed and built in the USA" that's exactly what we mean. We design and build our products in Corpus Christi, and San Antonio, Texas. We're the only US manufacturer with our own dedicated PCB assembly in-house, and we get our chassis and transformers from long-term partners in California or Utah. So, really made here--not just putting in the last screw.
5-Year Warranty and Easy Return Policy
Gungnir 2 is covered by a 5-year limited warranty that covers parts and labor. And if you don’t like your Gungnir 2, you can send it back for a refund, minus 5% restocking fee, within 15 days of receiving it.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
All Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Schiit Audio Gungnir 2
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- Class D Audio USA — online — United States (website)
- Golden Acoustics — in-store — Athina, Greece (website)
- Schiit Audio — online and in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- The Analog Shop — in-store — Victor, New York, United States (website)