New Yggdrasil - First (and second) Impressions

@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?

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.

gdhal,
My experience with the Jolida DAC, Gungnir (only run in for 2 weeks) and the Channel Islands Audio CD player with external power supply to the sound of the Oppo straight into my preamp.  The difference in sound was non-existant.   Lots of folks on this forum say the Schiit DAC's need a long time to sound their best, but you only have 15 days to audition it or you own it.  

I am confounded by the SQ differences folks hear with external DACs with Oppo CD players.  My suggestion is that if the use of the Schiit doesn't bring about a perceptible improvement in the sound of your very fine system, send it back for a refund.   Others have suggested that you would need to spend $3K-$5K to get the sort of improvement in sound that you likely have in mind.  Don't overthink the matter, my friend.  

@randyhat  - understood and your advice is sound (no pun intended)

but wait!....

@stfoth -

Using the source I found of Rebecca Pidgeon Spanish Harlem (thank you for that recommendation, and which windows reports a bit rate of 2967kbps and the Yggy LEDs indicate 48 and x2, so that is hi-rez), I have listened to random sequences of about 15 seconds or so, and low and behold, I may (I'd like to try this blind, unable to do so at the moment) have "found the difference"! Mind you, all I need/want is some iota of evidence that there is an "improvement". But what I've discovered may be more than an iota, and instead just my own increased understanding as to what to listen for. 

Within the track, from time segment 1:55 remaining to 1:45 remaining (albeit 10 seconds), there is bass, violin, and a maracas. Through the Yggy, the bass is definitely more pronounced, more "authentic" sounding, and it vibrates or "lingers on" just a hair longer than when played via the Oppo. The violin too appears a tad bit more authentic; and that is fine, if in fact it is a more accurate reproduction. I'm still "testing", but I *think* I'm beginning to hear a quality difference.

Again, I appreciate the test track recommendation.

It was also suggested by a friend of mine to specifically listen for "cymbal decay". I am able to download samples here https://freesound.org/, and will listen to that too.

@gdhal. Glad to "hear" that. They’re not where I hear the biggest differences in the DACs, but Brian Bromberg’s two "Wood" albums work well for me for bass comparisons. Maybe worth a shot if you are hearing differences in the bass on Spanish Harlem. Pretty "cool" albums, anyway, imo.