Schiit Yggdrasil - Best DAC available!?

[JeffNYC]

First time on this forum. Currently auditioning a Yggdrasil, although it only seems a subtle change from my current Emotiva DC-1. Been running it 2 days, will continue for the recommended week or so to warm up (do electronics really take that long?). Will this really sound markedly after a week?

[Jimmypowder]

First time on this forum. Currently auditioning a Yggdrasil, although it only seems a subtle change from my current Emotiva DC-1. Been running it 2 days, will continue for the recommended week or so to warm up (do electronics really take that long?). Will this really sound markedly after a week?

 

Ah if it doesn't check your other gear ! . Are you keeping the Yggy on 24/7 ? That is a must .

[JeffNYC]

24/2 at this point. All other gear is working well: Magnepan 1.7s, Emotiva XSP-1 (new) and XPA-1 monoblocks.

[tboooe]

I read somewhere that the AES output is better than USB? Anyone compare the two?

[scan80269]

24/2 at this point. All other gear is working well: Magnepan 1.7s, Emotiva XSP-1 (new) and XPA-1 monoblocks.

 

There should be some improvement at the 1 week mark. My Yggy has been on continuous burn-in for over a month and has stabilized. What's driving the Yggy, and with what interface?

[JeffNYC]

There should be some improvement at the 1 week mark. My Yggy has been on continuous burn-in for over a month and has stabilized. What's driving the Yggy, and with what interface?

 

Using USB from Mac Mini, iTunes. Same as previous DAC.

[JHG]

. Caveat: I have yet to personally hear a Yggy.

 

What are you waiting for???? :-)

[crazychile]

Probably right, but Schiit has not had to do much groundwork in R&D compared to Benchmark--

 

Whuuuuht? You need to read up on the background of the Schiit Megacombo burrito filter.

[ted_b]

What are you waiting for???? :-)

 

For Chris to send me his!

[The Computer Audiophile]

For Chris to send me his!

Very soon ted :~)

[jp11801]

any thoughts on running the Yggy USB from the mac mini or using the stello U3 and run coax into the Yggy?

[skatbelt]

any thoughts on running the Yggy USB from the mac mini or using the stello U3 and run coax into the Yggy?

 

I am quite sure the Stello will be the weakest link in the chain then. May be a Berkeley Alpha USB gives good results. I tried Regen/BADA coax into Chord Hugo but preferred Regen directly into Hugo.

[Gbar]

Ordered a Yggy on the buzz off this forum. Right out of the box, sounded pretty good to me. After 1 day warm up, compared to my Vega. Vega had deeper soundstage, Yggy had wider soundstage. Yggy more detailed to my ears, Vega more relaxed and mellow, using usb on both with Mac Pro, Wireworld USB and Jitterbug. Anyone tried Alpha USB with the Yggy?

[The Computer Audiophile]

Ordered a Yggy on the buzz off this forum. Right out of the box, sounded pretty good to me. After 1 day warm up, compared to my Vega. Vega had deeper soundstage, Yggy had wider soundstage. Yggy more detailed to my ears, Vega more relaxed and mellow, using usb on both with Mac Pro, Wireworld USB and Jitterbug. Anyone tried Alpha USB with the Yggy?

Alpha USB with Yggdrasil is sublime.

[Gbar]

Alpha USB with Yggdrasil is sublime.

What are you running form Alpha to the Yggy? BTW, I am running Constellation Inspiration and bought the Yggy on the buzz here and your review. You nailed the Yggy IMHO. Thanks for the heads up on one of the best deals out there.

[tboooe]

Yggy more detailed to my ears, Vega more relaxed and mellow

Really interesting observation here. My impression from reading reviews is that the house sound for the Schiit multi bit implementation is more mellow while the Vega is more detailed and dynamic. Just goes to show you that every system and listener is different.

 

Btw, I intend to audition both the Gungnir and Yggy. I really hope my ears can't the difference between the two!

 

Alpha USB with Yggdrasil is sublime.

 

So are you saying usb through the Alpha sounds better than connected directly to the Yggy?

[Gbar]

Really interesting observation here. My impression from reading reviews is that the house sound for the Schiit multi bit implementation is more mellow while the Vega is more detailed and dynamic. Just goes to show you that every system and listener is different.

 

Btw, I intend to audition both the Gungnir and Yggy. I really hope my ears can't the difference between the two!

 

 

 

So are you saying usb through the Alpha sounds better than connected directly to the Yggy?

Re the sound- The Yggy was only on for 1 day, so it will no doubt change its sound as it warms up (according to this forum). That was why I noted the 1 day warm up. Also, I can really see why anyone would love the sound of amy of these DACs. System interaction dictate a lot of what we end up hearing in a component, and personal preference is the decisive factor in where we spend our cash.

Also, I have the same question- does the Alpha USB make the DAC sound better than without it?

[Jimmypowder]

I listened to the MB Gungnir and Yggy for months . The Yggy is much better . The MB Gungnir is very good just not as detailed . Soundstage is smaller .

[Feanor]

I listened to the MB Gungnir and Yggy for months . The Yggy is much better . The MB Gungnir is very good just not as detailed . Soundstage is smaller .

 

Heard the Bifrost Multibit by any chance?

 

The Ygg, sadly, is beyond my budget but the Gungnir Multibit might be possible. I have a balanced preamp and amp it the will make a difference, (especially vs. the SE Bifrost).

[The Computer Audiophile]

What are you running form Alpha to the Yggy?

 

Wire World AES cable.

 

 

 

 

So are you saying usb through the Alpha sounds better than connected directly to the Yggy?

 

Yes.

[Jimmypowder]

Heard the Bifrost Multibit by any chance?

 

The Ygg, sadly, is beyond my budget but the Gungnir Multibit might be possible. I have a balanced preamp and amp it the will make a difference, (especially vs. the SE Bifrost).

 

I have not heard MB Bifrost but I will say the MB Gungnir is just as good as my Chord 2qute .

[tboooe]

I listened to the MB Gungnir and Yggy for months . The Yggy is much better . The MB Gungnir is very good just not as detailed . Soundstage is smaller .

 

Exactly what my wallet does not want to hear right now! Lol.

[wdw]

Wire World AES cable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes.

 

I questioned M. Ritter, of Berkeley, about using AES/XLR, directly from, say, an Aries to his DAC and his reply, as I understood it to be, was more a hesitation about the possible poor implementation of these AES/XLR protocols, hence the wish to insure better implementation and therefore the need for the Alpha USB.

[Melkior]

Alpha USB with Yggdrasil is sublime.

 

+1 (I gave my first impressions about the Yggy in page 9). I made extensive tests and the Berkeley Alpha USB is clearly an improvement compared to the direct USB input of the Yggy (from a MacBookPro). I would say the improvement is much obvious in high frequencies, and less obvious in the mid and low frequencies, but still there. I use the AES output of the Alpha USB, so maybe a part of the benefit to use the Berkeley comes from feeding the Yggy with AES instead of USB.

[Herb13]

+1 (I gave my first impressions about the Yggy in page 9). I made extensive tests and the Berkeley Alpha USB is clearly an improvement compared to the direct USB input of the Yggy (from a MacBookPro). I would say the improvement is much obvious in high frequencies, and less obvious in the mid and low frequencies, but still there. I use the AES output of the Alpha USB, so maybe a part of the benefit to use the Berkeley comes from feeding the Yggy with AES instead of USB.

 

Would the expected improvement be comparable if using an Aurender N100H as the source (vs. the MacBookPro)? Or would the marginal improvement be less since the output of the Aurender is "better" to begin with?

 

Or stated another way, I noticed in the review of the Berkeley Alpha USB by CA that "Audiophiles prepared to part with $1,895 will no doubt be delighted with the Alpha USB connected to any source or any DAC." Generally, would a "bad" source likely be greatly improved but a "good" source only marginally improved?

 

Thanks for any thoughts.