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New Yggdrasil - First (and second) Impressions

Okay, so I’ve finally (on order over 2 months) received my Schiit Yggdrasil. The unit arrived in exactly perfect condition (i.e. well packaged).

Upon first (and second) listening through all sources/inputs, I would need a stethoscope to discern any difference among my current components and connectivity. I also cannot detect any difference using the phase inversion button.

I suppose the aforementioned is a testament to how good my current system (before/without Yggy) already sounds. :)

I can easily A-B test because the Yggy is hooked in via balanced and my other components are also hooked directly to amp via RCA or USB.

Also, obviously I have NOT let the unit "burn in" for days because I just got it, however, it has come to full operational temperature after being powered on continuously over 24 hours.

System configuration: (Yggdrasil > XLR > Musical Fidelity M6si integrated amplifier > Golden Ear Triton Reference speakers )
all cables blue jeans cables "best" offering

Emotiva ERC-3 CD player > AES/EBU > Yggdrasil
Oppo UDP-205 blue ray player > coax > Yggdrasil
Samsung SMT-C5320 cable box > optical > Yggdrasil
Gateway NV79 Windows 10 64-bit computer > USB > Yggdrasil

I’ll be patient, but if there are any suggestions to "try" in order to hear *some* audible difference, that would be great. Appreciate any feedback you have.

Thanks.
128x128gdhal
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Basically a ladder R2R DAC has poor linearity but low noise and converts PCM natively.

 The use of basically is correct that haven't been done well, this is why I've always stipulated "well implemented" when saying this, but saying this I'd rather have not perfect linearity compared to a Delta Sigma dac that only giving a facsimile of the real thing with pcm. Even old school TDA1541's "well implemented" sound better to me doing PCM than Delta Sigma (even the highly rated Bricasti M1) can do.    

Cheers George
gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
I think the current best solution is a hybrid style DAC like the ESS Sabre 9028 chip set.
Maybe this is why my Oppo UDP-205 sounds so good. It uses an ESS Sabre 90 *38* chip set.

EDIT: Or why I cannot discern the difference between the Oppo and Yggy. Still working some angles on that though.....
gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
All -

I consider my concern/inquiry regarding NOT hearing any difference when using the Yggy *phase inversion button* resolved.

Per https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_phase  "Some audiophiles claim that reversing the polarities of all the channels simultaneously makes a subtle perceptible difference in the reproduced sound, even though the relative phases of all the channels are preserved. ... In practice, the absolute phase of an audio system can be assumed to be inaudible."

The broader and more important question as to why I do not hear a difference when compared to the Oppo UDP-205 still remains though.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
"Some audiophiles claim that reversing the polarities of all the channels simultaneously makes a subtle perceptible difference in the reproduced sound
Yes I believe it can, I’ve heard the difference using dynamic speakers especially in the bass, but less so using planer,esl, types.

It’s sound it makes with dynamic speakers in that initial movement of the cone is out into the room (pushing) rather than backward (sucking), this pushing of the air on the eardrum has a more discernible sound rather than the sucking of the air, and gives a more leading edge to the start of the bass note.

Cheers George
gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
@georgehifi 

I appreciate your contributions to this particular thread, because I know by reading elsewhere on the forum (within the past 18 months or so) that you are a proponent of the Yggdrasil. And, from what I can glean, you are a proponent not merely because you own/use the product, but because you truly believe or absolutely know with certainty that (a) multi-bit ladder R2R is superior to delta sigma and perhaps more importantly (b) that Schiit's *implementation* is exemplary.

So, are you able to recommend a musical or sound passage - that can be downloaded freely in lossless format via the Internet - and indicate the time index (from-to) and specific nuance to listen to, in order to unequivocally state that multi-bit sounds better - as in readily audible - than delta sigma, or an Oppo UDP-205 specifically?
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