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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
docknow
316 posts
 
Gdhal-

Good that you recognize that the balanced output of the Yggy might be better than the SE.  I understand your desire for an apples to apples comparison with the Oppo, but I think an equally valid comparison is "best" to "best".  Certainly, if you are keeping the Yggy, you will want the best sound out of it.

Here is where I first heard of the difference:

http://tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Schiit_mod.html 

"2. If you are using the coax (single ended rca's) outputs then you need to take the single ended signal from the xlr connectors for much better sound. There is a summing circuit after the balanced circuits that is not super transparent. This mod eliminates this circuit. You can get or make adapters to use (you use just pins 1 and 2 and you leave 3 unterminated....important!). Another way would be to put xlrs on your cables that use just pins 1 and 2. Another even more transparent way is to hardwired (more on this later). This mod will make the DAC way more transparent and clear.....mucho better."

Enjoy!!
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

I would suspect that if you had a lower jitter source to the Shiit DAC to start with, there would be an obvious difference between the OPPO and the Shiit DAC.

Making a comparison using the OPPO as a CD transport is okay, but only if you are comparing two DACs driven by the OPPO S/PDIF digital output signal. Even then , I would argue that you need a lower jitter signal to tell what the DAC’s can actually do.

Using the OPPO as a DAC only and driving the OPPO DAC and the Shiit DAC from a low jitter S/PDIF source is a valid comparison betweenthe OPPO DAC and the Shiit DAC.

Trying to compare the OPPO analog outputs to the Shiit DAC analog outputs, driven by the OPPO digital output (and coax cable) is inconclusive. The jitter inside the OPPO is probably lower than the OPPO S/PDIF jitter, so even though the DAC in the OPPO is maybe not as good as the Shiit, the lower jitter will cause it to sound better or at least different.  The S/PDIF cable alone could easily skew the results, depending on the jitter that it adds.

The point is that the selection of the source (and S/PDIF cable) is critical when comparing two DACs. The lower the jitter, the better.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio



gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
I would suspect that if you had a lower jitter source to the Shiit DAC to start with, there would be an obvious difference between the OPPO and the Shiit DAC.
Perhaps. Logically what you are stating does makes sense.

I've read a quite a bit of information about transports here on Agon, and like much of everything else there is some disagreement, however, in this regard. In my particular case, besides the level of contentment I already have with the sound of my system, I am (for now) electing to side with the camp that would argue that any high-end DAC that purportedly has jitter control, reclocking and so forth will employ those functions regardless of how "clean" or "dirty" the incoming signal is to begin with.

So, I'm "relying" on the Yggdrasil to essentially "do its job" and what I believe I paid for, which is to correct the jitter, irrespective of how low or high it is to begin with.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
I’m "relying" on the Yggdrasil to essentially "do its job" and what I believe I paid for, which is to correct the jitter, irrespective of how low or high it is to begin with.

A simple test to determine whether its doing the job is to try 2 different coax cables, a cheap one and a good one and see if there is any sonic difference. If there is, then the DAC will benefit from lower jitter S/PDIF signal.

You could also compare 2 sources, like a Sonos, Transport, computer etc..

Most DACs fail this test.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
A simple test to determine whether its doing the job is to try 2 different coax cables, a cheap one and a good one and see if there is any sonic difference. If there is, then the DAC will benefit from lower jitter S/PDIF signal.

You could also compare 2 sources, like a Sonos, Transport, computer etc..

Most DACs fail this test.

Good point. This is a very fair and reasonable reply. Note that at the time I A/B'd my Yggy to Oppo UDP205, I also A/B'd it against my Emotiva ERC-3, which is connected via AES/EBU (and not coax like the Oppo). The improvement I found with the Yggy was the same vs both the Oppo and Emotiva. In fact the Oppo and Emotiva have the same "tinny" treble, one dimension and less authentic sound in comparison to the Yggy. Point is, the difference wasn't just because of one input type like S/PDIF. I hear improvement in the USB input as well, relative to the USB input of my M6si amp.

So I am using multiple sources.

I remain open minded to better cabling, but this isn't something I feel a need to investigate further at this time. I have (as do others) a degree of confidence that any cable supplied by blue jeans is going to be "more than good enough". Maybe not the best, but certainly good enough. Given the responses on this forum it wouldn't matter what cabling I purchased or how much it costs because someone will always point to something "better". Ditto for any other piece of equipment. 
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