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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.
gdhal
stfoth
435 posts
 
@gdhal . I’m also curious about George’s recommendations.

I’d suggest a few recordings with which you are very familiar. If you’ve had some that you ever thought to yourself sounded particularly thin/metallic/digital, maybe try those. As cheesy as they are, Chesky’s "Ultimate Demonstration Disc" and the "World’s Greatest Audiophile Vocal Recordings." I believe both include the obligatory Rebecca Pidgeon Spanish Harlem. I’ve found both to be good test-type discs for comparisons...just skip the narrator on the demonstration disc.


edit--agree with George on trying the actual CDs on a decent transport.
gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
I don't own a Yaggy, but from all reports it is a well done Multibit, and to me should be discernable for the better over an Oppo DS using the same PCM source material, try feeding both a CD from a proper transport, maybe it the download junk that doing a great equalising job on both for you.

Is something from here download junk? I think not.
http://www.2l.no/hires/index.html

I can play the majority of those files from a USB flash drive connected to the Oppo. Pick one, please.

Then, let me know which one you picked, and at what time index within the track you exclaim "WOW, AHA, I GET IT, THIS SOUNDS SO MUCH BETTER THAN DELTA SIGMA BECAUSE..."
gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
I’m also curious about George’s recommendations.

I’d suggest a few recordings with which you are very familiar. If you’ve had some that you ever thought to yourself sounded particularly thin/metallic/digital, maybe try those. As cheesy as they are, Chesky’s "Ultimate Demonstration Disc" and the "World’s Greatest Audiophile Vocal Recordings." I believe both include the obligatory Rebecca Pidgeon Spanish Harlem. I’ve found both to be good test-type discs for comparisons...just skip the narrator on the demonstration disc.

edit--agree with George on trying the actual CDs on a decent transport.

@stfoth

I’m very appreciative of your reply. Thank you.

To your points:

Would you suggest then listening to this source of Rebecca Pidgeon Spanish Harlem?
http://hostuje.net/file.php?id=474eb0e4c6a97d2ab1e0ffcfd9d53fda

Secondly, with regard to using a CD, while I’m of the opinion that wouldn’t and shouldn’t matter (in lieu of same from USB), I have two CDs that can act as transport. An Oppo UDP-205 and an Emotiva ERC-3. So, are we saying that if I have a recording on CD and play from one of those players, I should (or might) expect different results than if I play the same (ripped from CD) file on a USB stick from the Oppo?
stfoth
435 posts
 
@gdhal . I’m unfamiliar with that source. I wasn’t really suggesting Ms. Pidgeon, in particular, although I suspect a lot of us have heard it enough times to be familiar. :)

I suppose it probably shouldn’t matter whether it’s from cd, usb stick, from a computer, etc., but I concurred with using the CD and transport mostly for simplicity and avoiding perceived complications from things like potentially questionable provenance of some downloads, USB implementation, etc.

Just relaying a few things that helped me more easily discern differences when comparing stuff. As much as I love some Pantera and old-school Iron Maiden...I couldn’t recommend them for this type of thing.

I don’t have a Yggy, but have an old DAC that uses those 1704 chips and a Denafrips Ares. They sound different to me from the Delta Sigma DACs I have. It’s not a humongous difference, and I certainly couldn’t say whether the difference is fully attributable to the multibit v. DS or something else in the units. Both sound better to me than an Oppo 95, which I don’t think is awful, but that was forever ago from your 205.

An odd one that perhaps sounded the most different on the Ares was Surfin with the Alien era Joe Satriani. Worth a shot?

randyhat
138 posts
 
The fact that you are having to jump through so many hoops just to maybe hear a slight difference between the DACs speaks to the quality and consistency of digital sound.  I have tried similar comparisons and had the same experience as you.  Once you get into the territory of listening to music you are not familiar with or may not even like, and will unlikely ever listen to again, just to "test" equipment you have moved into an area of over thinking and under enjoying your music.  I agree with a previous poster who suggested that you just listen to it for an extended period with music you are familiar with...and like.  You will no doubt be enjoying a fine product that will give you many years of enjoyment.  If you decide to continue to compare it to the Oppo and over time you still cannot hear a difference then you could always sell one.  Either would probably have good value on the used market.
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