1. Home
  2. digital
  3. 131826-65769

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
gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
But did you drive only the Shiit DAC from 2 different S/PDIF sources or use 2 different S/PDIF cables?

This will tell you whether it is jitter immune or not.

Hi Steve. More than two sources actually, however, I get what your saying (and have no disagreement) about using the same source with different S/PDIF cables. So no, I did not use a different S/PDIF cable with the same source. My gear and connectivity of same is as follows.

Musical Fidelity M6si  > Belden 5T00UP speaker wire > Golden Ear Triton Reference (pair)

Schiit Yggdrasil > Canare L-4E6S XLR > Musical Fidelity M6si

Oppo UDP-205 > Belden 1694A (Canare RCAPs) coax > Schiit Yggdrasil

Emotiva ERC-3  > Belden 1800F AES/EBU > Schiit Yggdrasil

Samsung SMT-C5320 > Optical Mitsubishi Eska POF > Schiit Yggdrasil

Gateway NV79  > Belkin e129760-c usb  > Schiit Yggdrasil

333jeffery
122 posts
 
With my Yggy, I found the ERC-3 to be a very good transport. Better than the PS Audio Memory player, and the Sonic Frontiers SFT-1. I used a high quality AES/EBU cable, though, bought off of Agon from Mark Tunis.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Oppo UDP-205 > Belden 1694A (Canare RCAPs) coax > Schiit Yggdrasil

Emotiva ERC-3 > Belden 1800F AES/EBU > Schiit Yggdrasil

Samsung SMT-C5320 > Optical Mitsubishi Eska POF > Schiit Yggdrasil

Gateway NV79 > Belkin e129760-c usb > Schiit Yggdrasil

gdhal - Now you have a good DAC. In order to get the performance from it, you need good digital sources and good cables. This is the best advice I can give you.

Audiophiles that upgrade the DAC and not the digital source and cables are usually the ones reporting that the upgrade was not that significant. They are the ones that report that most DACs sound the same.

The source is actually more important than the DAC. Most systems need a source/cable upgrade much worse than a new DAC.  Even a $599 Synchro-Mesh reclocking your CDT will make a huge difference.  If you want to start cheap, get an IFI SPDIF iPurifier for $149.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
The source is actually more important than the DAC.

@audioengr

That is interesting and appreciated information Steve. I’ll have to "digest" that for a bit before making any moves, but I certainly will keep it in mind.

Of course, I do realize and have heard/read that if we are speaking about the music itself (which really is the "source"), that certainly plays a major role; probably the most important one. But you are speaking (unless I’m misunderstanding) of my electronics and cabling that are feeding the DAC.

Keep in mind though that I *initially* reported the upgrade to Yggy was not that significant. Once I found source (music) material that could easily reveal the upgrade and was advised of the specific characteristics (dimensionality, cymbal decay among them) to listen for it became rather apparent. Further, and as many owners of the Oppo and Emotiva report, they really do sound pretty good to begin with.

Nevertheless, let me "stew" in your recommendations/suggestions for a while. I'm certainly not finished making any further upgrades, just paused for the time being.
limniscate
241 posts
 
I agree with Steve and have tested $100 DACs such as the ODAC all the way up to the Chord Dave and Ayre QX-5 Twenty.  None of the DACs made as big of an improvement as adding a Sonore microrendu or SOtM sMS-200 Ultra.
More to discover