Any upgraded to a Schiit Yggy Singular?

At the moment I do not have a pure preamp. I sold my Benchmark HPA4 to raise cash for the D-1. The D-1 must go into a DAC to get the full effect. I thought I would not need a preamp going forward, but now I am on Plan B.

At the moment I am using the Schiit AsgardX headphone amp/preamp to burn in the unit. The volume on the AsgardX was used. I am connecting everything by RCA.

This morning, I inserted the provided Forkbeard USB stick to the Byggy, that provides wireless BlueTooth connectivity to my iPhone. The Byggy Forkbeard stack has all the function of the remote including volume adjustment. I could set the volume on MAX on the Byggy (the way it was defaulted too) and use the AsgardX or I can use the Byggy volume from my iPhone and lower the AsgardX volume to compensate.

Later, today I will use the XLR out of the DAC direct into my CODA #16 amp and use Forkbeard to control the volume. I was hoping to use the D-1 with a Balanced Y cable to my 2 amps but that failed and I blew a fuse on my CODA #11. Not a biggie but the Byggy will now be used with the #16 and the D-1 with the #11.

BTW - this DAC is again starting to get fatiguing again; it will be a roller coaster ride for 2-weeks of heavy play before it settles. This is the universal sentiment on Head-Fi on this DAC.

I should add that to recover from selling the HPA4 preamp, I have ordered the $500 Schiit Valhalla 3 OTL/OCL headphone amp/preamp. It only takes 1 RCA input and has no remote. However, I am getting an audiophile level custom RCA switch built by SpaceTechLab. They were recommended on A’gon.

This passive switch with a knob for input selection (not degrading audio quality) will go into the Valhalla 3 single RCA input. The RCA output of the Valhalla will go into the CODA #16 RCA input. I will also have my tuners connected by RCA (only way) to the passive switch.

I will also have the Byggy connected directly into the #16 with the XLR

Volume for both RCA and XLR can be done via the iPhone, and the Valhalla 3 will have a volume knob for the RCA path, just like the AsgardX.

The reason I am trying this is the best preamp I ever heard is the $33k Allnic OTL/OCL top end model. I am attempting a poor man’s equivalent. Here is a quote by Schiit.

Nothing Between You and the Tubes

With Valhalla 3, there’s nothing between the tubes and your headphones. No transformer. No capacitors. You’re hearing nothing but the tubes. This OTL/OCL topology makes Valhalla 3 the rarest of breeds, an amp where tubes directly connect to your headphones. 

Hey YYZ, mind giving an update on the sound of your new Schitt Singular "Biggy"?

I'm waiting on mine and would love to hear how it is breaking in, for you.

Thanks and Best, Jim.

Owned the Singular for 4 months - not modified, brand new.

It takes about 17 days of being on before they shape up - caps? chips?  Who knows, but quite disquieting until about day 5.

IMO it crushes all the Schiit DAC's before it - with the Gungnir 2 and MIB doing the best of the rest.

I'm handing it down to one of my sons when I get off this mortal coil.  In fact after 52 years of building kits, selling, modifying, designing listening rooms and my cataclysmic downsizing of 10 years ago. I have my endgame now.

TIDAL->Silent Angel w/ outboard PS network transport->Singular->Kara->Wotan->BMR Philharmonic Monitors v2 on Kanto SX-22 stands with Gaia 3 feet.