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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.
128x128gdhal
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
Hi, Hal. Timing is timing. It's obvious when it is off. It's obvious in live performances when one musician is 'off.' Nothing subtle about it.

To @parsons point, timing issues are common during break in, and his post made a relevant and a very good point. I have found the same to be true during component break in.

However, 'timing' is not limited to components being broken in. There are components that (when fully broken in) handle timing better than other components. A live recording or studio recording doesn't change that.
gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
@david_ten 

Is the timing you are speaking of something entirely different than what can be caused by jitter?
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
Hi Hal. I thought I was being clear in my two previous posts. I'm copying a couple of sections, since you ask (and I don't want to assume, in any way) [repeat, I don't want to assume]. Best, - David.

From Wikipedia: "Timing in music refers to the ability to "keep time" accurately and to synchronise to an ensemble,[1] as well as to expressive timing—subtle adjustment of note or beat duration, or of tempo, for aesthetic effect.

Research in music cognition has shown that time as a subjective structuring of events in music differs from the concept of time in physics.[2] Listeners to music do not perceive rhythm on a continuous scale, but recognise rhythmic categories that function as a reference relative to which the deviations in timing can be appreciated.[3][4] In fact temporal patterns in music combine two different time scales—rhythmic durations such as half and quarter notes on the one hand, and on the other, the continuous timing variations that characterize an expressive musical performance."


From: https://www.musical-u.com/learn/how-to-improve-your-rhythm-and-timing/

"Having a reliable sense of rhythm is a hallmark of any good musician and it’s one of the things which can immediately distinguish an amateur from a pro.

HIGHLIGHTING >>>: Our sensitivity to rhythm when listening to music is subtle but powerful, and any inaccuracies quickly give the listener and uneasy sense that things aren’t working quite right.

In music rhythm is widely considered as the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions, whereas “timing” refers to the ability to keep accurately to the regular beat and synchronize with an ensemble. With such a fundamental and broad definition, hopefully you can see why having a strong sense of rhythm isn’t just for the drummers!"

gdhal's avatar
gdhal OP
1,641 posts
 
@david_ten

Hi David. As always, I remain grateful for your thoughtful feedback. Given your last response, it would seem to me that the answer to the question I posed 4-22-2018 1:31pm is "yes".

And, as we are essentially speaking of a songs rhythm, I certainly agree with you that one should be able to detect if something is amiss irrespective of it being a song that one has listened to for years, or for the first time.

Then, back to parsons point about burn-in, I remain confident in my assessment that there hasn’t been any change in the Yggy’s "rendition" of a musical passage, where the emphasis of the assessment would be on the rhythmic portion of the piece. This is to say, the Yggy’s rhythmic rendition is "exactly perfect". :)
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parsons
149 posts
 
Ha, I’m eating my words on this one. The new Yggy sounds awesome right out of the box, cold. The pace is back after 24 hours on the SOTM equipment and for fun I plunked in the new Yggy to get it burning in. It easily sounds as good as the old one, but I of course don’t know if I’m hearing the further improvements of the SOTM gear over my UltraRendu/IsoRegen combo (I definitely hear improvements last night on hour 5). Regardless, I don’t think the new/cold Yggy is hurting it any.

I’ll report back if I hear further improvements.

I definitely found myself playing everything a louder levels than before, which I always equate to improved detail, lower noise floors, and improved clarity.
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