Less Is Really More - Schiit's New Yggdrasil DAC - Less Is More


So, over the past week I have been auditioning the new Schiit Yggdrasil Less Is More Variant DAC.  In my opinion it is a significant step up from the analog 2 version of the original yggy and should be on everyone’s list to audition if you in the market for a new dac. So what makes this DAC so special ?.  First, music originates from a deep space black background and has a smooth liquidity that is just incredible to hear.  I have never heard a black ground like this.  There is a clarity that gives the effect of lifting a thin veil off my speakers.  The highs are refined but not harsh whatsoever and you can listen to this dac hours on end and never get fatigued...something I can't say about other schiit dacs I have owned in the past.  Some reviewers have said that this version rolls off the highs, but to me  everything sounds just right.  All the music is there and seems natural.  It's just that the highs never get fatiguing...perhaps this is due to the roll off effect that others have talked about.  To me, this dac sounds very evenly balanced throughout the frequency spectrum with nothing emphasized more than others.  The Timbre on this dac is the most realistic I have heard...bar none.  Piano, snare drums and cymbals just sound so real.  The bass is very detailed with great texture.  It may not have as much bass slam or bloom as the original yggy or an ESS Sabre dac but this definitely has more detail and texture.  The separation of instruments, depth and layering is incredibly realistic as well.  During complex passages I have never detected any congestion whatsoever.   Schiit dacs have a reputation for long warmup times but this less is more version only took about a day to come alive and I have not detected any other changes since.  Like all schiit dacs, you still need to leave this unit on 24/7.  If you are in the market or considering a change you should put this on your list to audition.  Schiit hit a home run with this DAC in my opinion and mine will be staying.  Note, I have no affiliation with Schiit nor am I a reviewer...just posting my experiences which are based on listening in my system.  YMMV.

jaudio1

@ozzy62 Ahh yes. The ole "smoked it" comment. Mostly used by teenagers and millennial boys who drive Honda Civics with fart can mufflers.

 

Oh my gosh, best post of the year,  LOL, hilarious! 🤣

@wolf_garcia "I have a Bifrost 2 and just ordered the upgrade thing. Weeks...gotta wait weeks..."

 

Latest Schiit Bifrost with 2/64 DACs on the way. Has L.I.M. Here next week. 👍

 

My Bifrost 2 update actually didn’t take weeks...about a week maybe, and man...the Bifrost was already an excellent DAC, but now it’s sort of amazingly good. 

@wolf_garcia good to know. Thanks for sharing more. Would like to know how long you had to play the unit upgrade before it settled in and sounded right to you?

While I’m keeping and truly enjoy my other R2R tube DAC, I wanted something else to alternate and rotate-in and leave powered on more of the time with a few baseline requirements. 1) no tube in the dac this time, 2) R2R/multi-bit Ladder design for smooth sound 3) NOS/filter on-off switch, 4) excellent internal power supply 5) reasonably good dac chip(s) used, and these particular dac chips are medical grade level which is nice. Glad to see Schiit trying other options here. 

All seems good on paper. Now for the sound, we’ll see soon. Seeing praise of smooth yet some retained detail noted by various reviewers who've tried it too.

Glad you are liking yours so far!