Great question--one I actually thought of myself after I posted the update.
It's very, very solid directly from the Schiit Yggy (latest version). If I'm honest, it's not giving much up, if anything. Perhaps a tiny bit of breadth and depth in the sound stage--maybe just a little bit more flat in this regard, but not much, and certainly not "flat"--still massive. It's dropped just the slightest bit of sparkle on cymbals. I think the midrange is tending to fall just the slightest bit more centrally in the soundstage, which may be the same point I'm making from the first soundstage comments. Decay is just the slightest bit reduced, which is lowering the live sound a tiny bit perhaps.
But I'm being very, very nitpicky here. It still sounds phenomenal. I can say I don't prefer it to having the MP-1 pre-amp in the mix, but I will say this...if I had access to some of my not-as-excellent preamps to put in to try, I suspect I would only prefer a pre-amp in the mix with the absolute best of them. It's extremely solid as an integrated. I would still probably say it's better than the Audions in my system, which is saying a TON. YMMV.
Two additional data points...I have only heard the Audions and the Taboo III side-by-side with my Druid 6s, and I haven't yet heard the Taboo III with the Soul Supremes. I won't get to for several more weeks as I'm in process of a long move to a new house. So I'm only assuming it will have the same synergy with those speakers.
Also, the Taboo III did NOT blow my socks off with my 16 ohn Altec Valencias. It was good, maybe even great, but not the level of synergy the Taboo seems to have with the Druid 6s. In fact, I think I can say I still prefer the Melody 845 with the Valencias.
It's very, very solid directly from the Schiit Yggy (latest version). If I'm honest, it's not giving much up, if anything. Perhaps a tiny bit of breadth and depth in the sound stage--maybe just a little bit more flat in this regard, but not much, and certainly not "flat"--still massive. It's dropped just the slightest bit of sparkle on cymbals. I think the midrange is tending to fall just the slightest bit more centrally in the soundstage, which may be the same point I'm making from the first soundstage comments. Decay is just the slightest bit reduced, which is lowering the live sound a tiny bit perhaps.
But I'm being very, very nitpicky here. It still sounds phenomenal. I can say I don't prefer it to having the MP-1 pre-amp in the mix, but I will say this...if I had access to some of my not-as-excellent preamps to put in to try, I suspect I would only prefer a pre-amp in the mix with the absolute best of them. It's extremely solid as an integrated. I would still probably say it's better than the Audions in my system, which is saying a TON. YMMV.
Two additional data points...I have only heard the Audions and the Taboo III side-by-side with my Druid 6s, and I haven't yet heard the Taboo III with the Soul Supremes. I won't get to for several more weeks as I'm in process of a long move to a new house. So I'm only assuming it will have the same synergy with those speakers.
Also, the Taboo III did NOT blow my socks off with my 16 ohn Altec Valencias. It was good, maybe even great, but not the level of synergy the Taboo seems to have with the Druid 6s. In fact, I think I can say I still prefer the Melody 845 with the Valencias.