Just got a Yggdrasil!

[JoeWhip]

I now have the Yggy and have played master files of tracks I was there during the recording and mixing process and couldn't disagree any more strongly with Mani. This DAC is superb. Let's not relitigate this topic again. Pointless.

[JoeWhip]

13 hours ago, Samuel T Cogley said:

 

I'm rather fond of the iFi iDSD Micro.  I have the now-discontinued silver one (the current model is black).  That one's around $550.  With PCM, the Yggy is much more detailed and lush.  Keep in mind that the Yggy is PCM only.  And every DSD->PCM conversion I've tried with the Yggy sounds underwhelming (even with HQPlayer).

 

Dacmagic Plus?  Buy an iDSD Micro.  The Dacmagic Plus was all that a few years back, but it's not at the same level as the current drop of DACs at that price.

 

To be fair, I've had an opportunity to listen to an Ayre Codex ($1800-ish) for an extended period.  This is basically "trickle UP" tech from the Pono, believe it or not.  It will play both PCM and DSD and it sounds really nice.  Some consider DSD a "unicorn" format, but I tend to use HQPlayer in some environments and boy does the Codex shine with HQPlayer.  Better than the Yggy?  Maybe just as good in a different way.  YMMV, of course.

 

I also have a Gumby that had upgraded from a Gungnir.  I don't want to say it sounds "almost" as good as the Yggy, but it sounds quite good with Redbook.

 

Now here's where I might lose some people: I think all the Schiit multibit DACs perform best with Redbook (as opposed to 24 bit at higher sample rates).  If someone had a lot of high sample rate files, I might steer them away from a Yggy.

 

Depending on where exactly in the $500-$1000 range you want to be, you might consider the Gustard X20.  There's no shortage of people who just love this DAC.  I heard one with HQPlayer (have not heard straight PCM) and it was just amazing for a sub-$1000 DAC.

 

I have mixed feelings about how much I spent on the Yggy.  While I sincerely feel I got more than my money's worth (it sounds really, really good with Redbook), it also raised the bar of what a "reasonable" price for HiFi gear is, to the detriment of my wallet.  I've since bought other non-DAC gear that I wouldn't have considered (too expensive) since I bought the Yggy.

 

Hope this helps.

I had the Gumby and the Yggy is significantly better. It sounds great with anything you feed it. Yes it is optimized for redbook but high Rez sounds superb. I would not steer anyone away from it for high rez at all. Not even close. As for the Gustard, we have listened to it vs. the Yggy extensively as a friend owns both. The Gustard is fully modded. It you want DSD, the Gustard is a great deal but it doesn't match the Yggy for PCM. IMHO. Of course, YMMV..

[JoeWhip]

I am sitting here listening to the Mozart by Candlelight recording now available at chasing the Dragon.co.uk through my Yggy. I was at the performance in the front pew last week at St. Martin in the Field in London. We were almost right under the binaural head. This recording captures all of the magic we experienced that night. Incredible spaciousness, timbre and detail. Mani can post all he wants but this is a stellar DAC. 

[JoeWhip]

I am sorry but look at the title of this thread. The guy is happy he got a Yggy and Mani comes back in with the same stuff that was debated ad nauseaum in the other thread. At least Mr. Phasure hasn't chimed in. I get it Mani, you don't like the Yggy. Others love it. Give it a rest.

[JoeWhip]

This thread has run its course and has veered so far off the original posters intent that it should be closed. I would suggest that Mani start his own thread. On most other forums I post on, this would have been taken care of by the moderator. It is too bad that it has had to go this far off course. 

[JoeWhip]

I know far too many of the magazine reviewers to take anything  they say as gospel, whether I like the particular product or not. There are some I don't listen to at all. I respect JA to a point but do not consider him to be the final word on anything.

[JoeWhip]

Time to drive up to Reading to see the Jeff Hamilton Trio. Hopefully I won't hear any of that glitchy energy during the show,

[JoeWhip]

Now, as Jud suggested, back to the Yggy. DSD is not an issue for me. I have quite a few native DSD files that I have had great success with playing back first through the Gumby and now the YGGY converted to 176.4 PCM. They sound great. I have played some of these files through a friend's Halo DAC and a modded Gustard as DSD and through his YGGY. (Yes he has a few DACS). I do not intend to get into a DSD v. PCM debate so please don't start one. I will just say that I don't really think I am missing out playing the files on my YGGY as PCM. Great recordings sound great regardless of how you play them.

[JoeWhip]

Audirvana

[JoeWhip]

Amazing how this thread dried up after the latest posted review!

[JoeWhip]

I pay little to no attention to reviews and have let my AS subscription lapse. I just found the drop off interesting. The other thread you mention isn't quite as vitriolic.

[JoeWhip]

I didn't mean to imply that the other thread is vitriolic at all. It isn't. As for being critical of the Yggy, by all means go for it. I just don't see it. I have purchased one myself after hearing one for two years. Best DAC I have ever heard and this includes Chord, Benchmark, Berkeley, Aqua, Gustard and Halo just to name a few. I can see that those with systems and or rooms that tend to the bright side of things might not like the Yggy. DACs are somewhat system dependent. I find the level of detail, spaciousness and overall timbre to be outstanding in every room I have heard one.  I just don't see the point in trying to disparage someone's choice which is where I think this thread went to some degree. Note, I am not saying that you have,

[JoeWhip]

I have some recording I have been involved in making and they sound completely transparent through the Yggy. This is one of the reasons I don't find the measurement issues all that relevant. I don't hear what these measurements are measuring. Of course, YMMV.

[JoeWhip]

I had the Gumby for 2 years. The Yggy is much better. I have a system very similar to Jud. No sizzle or sibilants at all with the Yggy. I will be back in the studio with a piano, vocal and sax piece on Friday. Will see if I can hear the glitch when I get back in the evening with the studio file.

[JoeWhip]

Mani, as an old law professor of mine used to say, only if you say so! I will leave it at that.

[JoeWhip]

We are back to this nonsense again. I am done with CA. Mani should have his own thread. 

[JoeWhip]

This thread frankly went off the rails awhile ago. Nevertheless, with my experiences yesterday, I figured I would post one last time. I was involved in a recording project yesterday at one of the best studios in the area. We used a fantastic sounding Steinway, one of the best I have ever heard. It was tuned for the session. The recording was vocal with jazz piano. I know the sound of the vocalist well as he is my son. We recorded using pro tools at 24/96. I played the piano a bit myself beforehand. I brought the files home and listened to the 24/96 files as well as a 16/44.1 version created for digital distribution. So, I heard the unamplified piano and vocal in the studio, the live mic feed and the playback. Listening at home through the Yggy, the file sounded just like the live mic feed and the control room playback. The piano had a rich sound with natural decay. It was stunning just like hearing it live. The piano was not thin or hard sounding at all, quite the opposite. Same with the vocals. Both the 24/96 and the 16/44.1 files were superb with the 24/96 sounding just a tad better. This is a great DAC. If you don't like the sound, fine. But it is not screwing up the sound. Far from it. There is a ton of work going on to try to dump on this DAC. I find this to be ridiculous and a waste of time proving nothing. Time to close the thread. Bye.