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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
rikkipuu's avatar
rikkipuu
278 posts
 
The W4S and Yggy are the only DAC's I have owned and listened to critically.  I upgraded the W4S to the newest 9038 Sabre chip that is also in the Oppo.  I was just piping in that the 9038 chip in the W4S and the Yggy sound very diifferent.  I have not heard a DAC that I think sounds like analog. 
No doubt bad analog is better than bad digital in general, and great analog is better than great digital in my experience.  I think the newer Sabre chip and the Yggy and probably other DACs mentioned that I have not heard are eliminating a lot of the really objectionable problems with digital playback. 
I think analog has a lot of problems, the biggest is that to make it sound wonderful is really expensive and involves reel to reel.  I think LP's suck- but that doesnt stop me from listening to them.
I like both the DAC's I own, they make digital sound less bad than what I have heard in the past to the point I think digital can sound really good.  I have similiarly invested in my turntable and record cleaning and tube phono amp and tube amp to make my analog sound less bad, and sometimes it sounds really good.
gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
@ anzaanimalclinic

That's a fair response on your part and I have no disagreement.
itzhak1969
515 posts
 
I moved from analog to digital from practical reasons but I always preferred analog till I bought the Macintosh D100 pre/dac which also includes Sabre chips and I couldn’t believe my ears it sounds to me completely analog it was the first time that I didn’t miss my turntable and vinyl collection anymore.
davide256's avatar
davide256
399 posts
 
My suspicion on your probable end result

a) the Emotiva and the Oppo are physical transport solutions and as such cannot give you the highest resolution with either their built in DAC or the Yggdrassil. Think of them as equivalent to a basic Rega turntable for transport section. The Oppo also includes a streaming option, its nice sounding but not that much better than the CD transport.
b) Samsung cable box- no experience with it but these devices rarely have good electrical isolation and aren't "hardened" to prevent output jitter.
c) Gateway NV79 laptop, appears to be 2010 vintage. PC laptops suffer the same issues as the cable boxes.

So net of all this is if you kept the Yggdrassil, hopefully you concluded a made to purpose music server or streamer was  lacking to get you the fullest enjoyment of your purchase. Else I suspect the Oppo ended up being your solution of preference.
gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
....So net of all this is if you kept the Yggdrassil, hopefully you concluded a made to purpose music server or streamer was lacking to get you the fullest enjoyment of your purchase. Else I suspect the Oppo ended up being your solution of preference.

Yes, I kept the Yggdrasil. And, I am using the Oppo UDP-205 as the transport solution of preference. 


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