Life after Yggdrasil: Watering the Ash

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Torq, Mar 1, 2017.

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  1. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

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    https://superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/turntable-advice.194/page-28
     
  2. auvgeek

    auvgeek Acquaintance

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  3. Elmer Danilovich

    Elmer Danilovich MOT:Earmen, HeadAmp, Bricasti; AKA:MShenay

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    I've heard Yggdrasil Analog 2 and a myriad of the TOTL Chord stuff time and time and time again at shows. Heard it on speakers, and with a dozen headphones both at shows, small meets and even tinnier mini meet ups what ever I guess nothing stand out imo

    That said, listening to a Bricasti M1 atm and I have to say it's clearly a step above everything I've heard prior.

    10k New... second hand original M1s are like $4-5k, there's also the M3 which is said to "contain the same magic of M1" and while I ADORE M3H I've not heard it directly again'st M1... but still M3 is also around $5k new.

    Now again, I can't say how M1 SE compares but original M1 is phenomenal... like "I get it" phenomenal... Mid Fi hell has never felt "hellish" until I sat down with this thing for a few songs <.<
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2020
  4. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
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    The Bricasti is awesome and isn't made to make modern, hyper limited pop punch like the current Dangerous stuff.
     
  5. zonto

    zonto Friend

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  6. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
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    Torq shat on a known name in his first paragraph because they needed to pay the bills. The M1 is awesome. The M7 is awesome. Reverb boxes doesn't pay the bills. Look at Lexicon. Got bought by Harman and now is just a brand owned by Samsung.
     
  7. Elmer Danilovich

    Elmer Danilovich MOT:Earmen, HeadAmp, Bricasti; AKA:MShenay

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    I'll have feedback on exactly that by wednsday, heading up to a friends Monday to compare his A2 Yggdrasil on his Quads and new Line Array Speakers to M1, he's got a Dynahi as well so I'll get some headphone thoughts too if I can
     
  8. Xecuter

    Xecuter Brush and floss your amp twice a day

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    As discussed in discord, I think it's relevant that you explain the origins of this m1, it's not exactly a stock m1 nor the SE. It's potentially a prototype? It would be beneficial to know the firmware, hardware of this particular m1 unit to give context to your review.
     
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Isn't leaving out potentially crucial or game-changing information like this a capital offense on SBAF?
     
  10. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    I believe the penance would be to post about SBAF on HF.
     
  11. Elmer Danilovich

    Elmer Danilovich MOT:Earmen, HeadAmp, Bricasti; AKA:MShenay

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    It belongs to a tech who hasn't told me what is or is not different, but it's rather old and I can't deny or confirm anything from him

    So I have no intent on reviewing it anywhere just sharing my thoughts on it, I cannot imagine it to be any better than the new M1 SE nor worse than an original M1, in fact it may be a M1 SE prototype for all I know. But as far as "game changing" information it's all rumors. Not going to come onto the forum and spread unconfirmed rumors,

    That would be like me claiming I had an S Grade Pre Fazor LCD 2 because it belonged to @Torq but he never measured it [well never posted measurements] so I/we can only speculate where it falls on that chart, so in reviews I felt no need to mention it's origins as I've no idea how or what makes it different? It's fun to talk about what it could be with people in person who have heard it but again no point in diving into rumors online, an regarding the M1 chatting over voip at 5am with newish friends it's fun to explore what it might be.

    So when speaking of my Pre Fazor LCD 2 mentioning it's origins doesn't really add much does it? Hell technically the ZMF Eikon I owned was the very one Tyll tore apart and reviewed, from my understanding Zach repaired it and then it wound up in my hands and I purchased it...

    Overall the Bricasti House Sound is exceptional, having heard the entire product line it's a step above anything I've heard form Schiit thus far.

    An I don't post my reviews here anymore as you guys are not an audience that cares about what I have to say in the context of a review, that said I still enjoy reading here and post my impressions when I feel their relevant as part of discussion.

    An when I have feedback on how Yggdrasil A2 compares to what'll I'll describe as "The Tech's M1" that would have be a good time to discuss it's origins.
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2020
  12. Elmer Danilovich

    Elmer Danilovich MOT:Earmen, HeadAmp, Bricasti; AKA:MShenay

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    Actually since were already here, my Tech Friend does, used to do or at one time did repairs on the M1 units so it's likely his was a previously defective unit that he repaired. So it's just as likely to be a magic "prototype" as it is to actually be a refurbished or even partially defective unit.
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2020
  13. k3oxkjo

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    I am trying to parse this out, but my assumption is that the "they" is Bricasti. I don't know either Mr Psalmanazar or Mr. Torq, but reading the Torq review it seems he was pretty well disposed to the DAC and was pretty fair in his tone (not that I am endorsing his view, I have never heard a Bricasti product).

    But reading the preamble, Torq was critical of their (non-Robert) Frippery in terms of the physical product. I personally have no objection to a company positioning themselves as a producer of luxury (in addition to good sounding) products with commensurate pricing, but I don't think pointing this out in a review is exactly "shitting" (Schiiting?) on a product...

    Best, Kevin
     
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    G'dmit. f**k this shit.

    WTF is this? It's not about writing formal reviews. Any such strong statement without qualification, considering the circumstances, is highly irresponsible. Don't even make excuses and talk your way out of this one with another tl;dr explanation.

    Do you have any idea how many various gears I may have had in my hands, modded, tweaked, or otherwise which are "clearly a step above everything I've heard", but are essentially DIY, POCs, protos, which will never make it into production for one reason or another? Maybe I should casually mention a Magni that beats the living crap out of anything I've heard under $1200 and some stuff under $3000 which I've been using for the last several years.

    I'm with @Torq on the original Bricasti M1. I didn't find it better than the original Yggdrasil, but it was very competitive. Since then, the M1 has undergone revisions, tweaks, and a major update. Likely surpass Yggdrasil 2, although I would need to do a direct apples-to-apples to comparison with the same component chains to be sure.

    You have 5 days to comply with this. Please provide proof with screenshot.
     
    Last edited: May 1, 2020
  15. Elmer Danilovich

    Elmer Danilovich MOT:Earmen, HeadAmp, Bricasti; AKA:MShenay

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    If/when I posted my thoughts on Yggdrasil 2 vs this M1 that would have been the time to discuss it's origins and the systems used alongside source material as I've always done with any postings to this community or else where. As that's both responsible and respectful to the readers here,

    I have only made casual mention now as the time to perform such a listening hasn't happened yet, an casual talk is understood casually. Ya know? An since when do any of you take any "statements" seriously without context especially from me of all people?

    An what exactly have I heard in my own home? Nothing nicer than my RME ADI 2, which I think most everyone here knows about me, especially in this thread. Any time I read anything I ask for or get context before I make an opinion a habit I picked up on after my time here. I imagine the entire community here does the same, especially in a thread like this.

    Still I understand the principle of what your getting at and respect that your wanting to address it.

    Anyways here's your screenshot

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2020
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    tl;dr. OK You win.

     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2020
  17. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

    Pyrate Slaytanic Cliff Clavin
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    @purr1n exactly. Mods don’t count. There is a lot of cheap crap that is total crap stock but can be modded into 3000 dollar goodness. Turntables, amps, pres, compressors, crossovers, etc. Black Lion Audio and Jim Williams make a living off of this. You open up some of this gear, and it’s so cheaped out by bean counters that it’s not even hard to improve it if you can solder ICs or even just replace the power supply.

    Well Torq was a hypocrite who pimped audio jewelry and was mad that Bricasti gives people the option to pay more. Lavry did the same thing but Torq wouldn’t dare criticize him.

    Bricasti’s problem is the filters and other crap. They should have just picked the one that sounds best.
     
  18. will_f

    will_f Friend

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    Nuisance post deleted.
     
  19. Firegon

    Firegon New

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    "Life after Yggdrasil" huh? First time i saw that topic, I thought the title was rather excessive and overly dramatic, but alas ... here I am.
    Finding a cheaper, satisfying alternative after getting used to the Yggdrasil quality turned out to be quite a challenge. The balance of general sound quality ( detail, resolution, bass extension, staging etc. ) and tonality in Yggdrasil 2 was impressive.
    So far, the best options I've heard were used Hegel HD25 and Sonic Frontiers SFD-1 mk2 - sadly both of them are not that easy to get( especially SFD-1 mk2 ). If anyone is looking for a downgrade, but still on a relatively high level, I'd probably recommend those - obviously I'm a rando, so take my advice with caution !!!

    Perhaps Yggdrasil 2 is one of those DACs that does everything really well, but isn't the absolute best at anything in particular ( in its price range ofc ). If that really is the case, then I can understand why it's such a beloved DAC, especially here on sbaf. That being said, I still think it's better for stereo than headphones, but that's just based on my own taste.

    At the very least, I've started educating myself on circuits, smd soldering/desoldering, troubleshooting and hopefully in a few months I'll be able to bring my Yggdrasil back to life.
     
  20. Cakecake

    Cakecake Guest

    Worth it to use isomax xlr -> se? Or is Yggdrasil internal se better than jensen isomax
     

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