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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
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gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
By the way everyone, I received a reply on the head-fi forum, *supposedly* from Mike Moffat himself (I have asked for confirmation of that) regarding my question about the phase inversion button. His response:

"....I can state that the absolute phase is a holdover from the Theta DACs I designed some 40 years ago. In that era, the greater majority of systems were two channel. The effect in time domain accurate speakers with better mastered material is difference in image size. In the wrong position, the image collapses between the speakers. The difference is that in one absolute phase, the music "blows" relatively speaking - in the other it "sucks"."

@georgehifi  - yes, I realize you too mentioned (paraphrasing) this in your 10-18-2017 7:24pm post.
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gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
@stfoth

I remain appreciative of your recommendations regarding music. So you should know, I am not completely blind in this regard. I have at my disposal the following, in optical format, and I tend to use the following. 

1) Sportin Life (all tracks) by Weather Report. This disk was used in the 80's by Leonard Radio (Manhattan NY) to demo all their equipment at the time. They sold rather high-end and pricey items. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportin%27_Life_(Weather_Report_album)

2) Denon Audio Technical CD. It has a number of tracks with sample music that covers the entire gamut of frequency range, dynamic range, imaging subtleties, etc. http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1526639/a/denon+audio+technical+cd.htm

3) Sony Music Super Audio CD Sampler http://www.amazon.com/Music-Super-Audio-Sampler-Players/dp/B003UQ4CXC

gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
@whitestix

Thank you. I appreciate the good advice *not* to overthink this. As you point out, the Schiit audition window is only 15 days (compared to Benchmark which I was told is 30) and *supposedly* the unit needs longer than that to break in. So, it is a dilemma of sorts. I’m honestly trying to give the product every bit of whatever doubt I might have. Fortunately, I wasn’t expecting a "night-and-day" difference relative to the sound I had/have without the Yggy. If there were, something would be amiss. I would be content and pleased with marginal, subtle improvement. However, I want and need my own ears to provide evidence of said improvement. Like the Rolling Stones would say, "I’m just sittin’ on a fence. You can say I got no sense" :)
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stereo5
6,405 posts
 

@gdhal ..................

I have an Esoteric SACD player which uses the PCM1704 r to r ladder dac, and my Sony music server in the same system uses some kind of delta sigma dac. I have found from extended listening that as much as I love the sound from the Sony Music Server, the same cd played on The Esoteric sounds noticeably better. When I say better, I mean not as up front as the delta sigma dacs. Instead of first row like with the Sony, the Esoteric with the ladder dac is more like 10th row.

With all that being said I have found over the years that if I am not pleased initially with a new product, no amount of break in or magic spells will make it sound much better than it is now. Because of that , I would never warm up to it.  I finally got the T Refs well broken in and with the Conrad Johnson 250wpc amp, they sound much better than I thought possible.  I hope you are still enjoying yours.

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