DAC's Streamer and Preamps

Do you have a budget restriction? Schiit Yggdrasil is a good starter DAC. 

For me the R2R Yggi+ OG is an end game DAC. Especially the discontinued A2 variant (or Yggi+ OG DAC). I would not replace this DAC with anything mentioned in this thread up to $20k.

At this current time, you may see a lot of Yggi DAC variants show up on the used market. The reason is that Schiit has just released a new Delta-Sigma DAC that people are loving. Schiit actually designed the whole thing from scratch. That is ZERO off the shelf ships, such as an ESS or AKM chip. Not many digital companies can do that. Rockna, Playback Designs, Chord come to mind but they are not delta-sigma.

I am in the queue to get the Byggi DAC via an upgrade of my other DAC, the Yggi+ MIB variant. the cost of the upgrade is $1500, and the new cost is $3500. It can also be used as a digital volume with some DSP though I will not use that feature. I will use it with a RAAl VM-1a tube headphone amp, Kara F preamp, and Benchmark HPA4 preamp. All connected at the same time.

Even though the Yggi+ OG is an incredible DAC I am considering selling it along with the Yggi+ MIB and Yggi+ LIM cards. This gives someone 3 flavors of DACs. Easy to hear the differences on my system. The reason is to generate cash for the best DAC I ever heard and that cost $26k, the Allnic D-15000 Signature OTL/OCL. 

Do not listen to OTL/OCL gear it will be hard to go with anything else afterwards. Very expensive.

@jallan On January 10th weekend I am heading out to a headphone audio event. The show will have the following:

- dCS Lina Stack

-Imersiv DAC (along with DAC designer)

- Allnic D-15000 Signature OTL/OCL (my choice as the best in the world)

- my Schitt Byggi (if I get it delivered to my home by January)

- Chord Dave

- Mola Mola Tambaqui  (not sure)

A couple of headphone dealers will bring RAAL 1995, Stax, and ZMF. Attendees will also bring their own phones; I will bring a Focal Utopia OG and a RAAL SR1a.

This is a great way to compare gear. I can gauge where the Schiit Byggi fits in this group. Last year, my Schiit Yggi+ OG was sent with a friend, and it was closely compared with the Mola Moila Tambaqui and Chord DAVE. 

Here is what the DAVE owner said about the Yggi+ OG. My friend liked the OG more than the DAVE.
Colorado Head-Fi meet impressions (December 7, 2024) | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

Another Head-Fi’er, @yyzSB, sent his Schiit Audio Yggdrasil+ OG DAC with Danny, and I got a chance to listen to it not only driving my Immanis through my Zahl HM1 and VM-1a, but also through Danny’s Feliks Audio Envy. It has great tonal density—more than my Dave. And it does bass drum better than I think I’ve ever heard. Not only with the impact of the drum strikes, but the hollow reverb (I mean hollow in a good way here) of the sound of that strike bouncing around inside the drum. Timbre across the rest of the FR, and technicalities, were a touch behind my Dave, with the Yggi+ sounding a hair more digital. But the Yggi+ is also much less expensive and offers insane SQ per $.

@jjss49 

the yggy’s are pretty nice overall, have a lively personality, but the lampi’s are in a different league of realism of soundstage, "analogness" of presentation, and musical drive/impact when the music calls for it

I have always considered a tube DAC but was never swayed because I feel some resolution or detail is lost with tubes. Though the tubes give other benefits. [Edit: I just remembered I had the popular tube DAC Audio Mirror Tubador. It was nice but it was also missing detail.]

The Allnic DAC that I am raving about, and about to get a 2nd job to buy it, is the most detailed DAC I ever heard. It is also a tube DAC and has an incredible holographic sound. From my research into the South Korea designer, I am inclined to believe this guy is onto some genius level OTL/OCL designs. I think it is this OTL/OCL that elevates the Allnic from other regular tube DACs. like the Lampi et al.

My comments on the Yggi+ OG above are not to meant to say it is the greatest DAC. It is meant to say it is the greatest DAC at that price point.

I like this post from today comparing the Yggi+ OG with the new Byggi,
Schiit Yggdrasil Impressions thread | Page 963 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org