Schiit Yggdrasil Less is More (and MIL and OG) Impressions + Measurements

So durn happy. LIM->Freya+->Aegir monoblocks->KLH Model 5. Tried to swap out the LIM for the Bifrost 2, and spent half an hour and then LIM went back in and is staying. Gosh it’s lovely, and discerning. Or allows me to discern. Just plain pleased. Maybe smug. But mostly happy.

 

You know, one thing I've been curious on... How does the LiM stack up against TTs, generally? Owning a LiM, would I really benefit much by starting an LP collection and picking up a $3k TT like the Technics SL-1200G?

I'm sure it's possible to get better sound out of an analog setup, but I'm starting to question whether I'll find it a worthwhile pursuit (especially since I have a tendency to move around every couple years for work).

The LiM honestly is giving me what I think I was looking for. But, it'd be interesting to know the state of digital in 2022 (particularly the LiM), and what "level" it would generally compete against with an analog setup?

 

Make sure you know what you'd be getting into:
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...before-going-down-the-vinyl-rabbit-hole.9461/

 

I think this depends on largely what are you after? Detail retrieval? Immursive soundstage? Vinyl is more about calling antiquities and also has some good thing about audio. Convenience factor is WAY down.

If you are asking if it has the same amount of detail amd enjoyment out of vinyl, that is an age old question. Bothh will have their advantages and disadvantages that only you can decide yourself.

For me, I would still have both because I have WAY more digital collection than vinyl. Not to mention streaming basically almost whatever you want. And really low convenience factor when you consider things like Unison and even AES/EBU inputs. I think the LiM might be close enough for vinyl for pure enjoyment based on the analog output you get. But that is still a subjective opinion of my own. So YMMV.

 

No.
From a financial perspective, it would be silly to start a vinyl collection now. I’m not even considering the cost of a TT, cart, phono-pre etc into the equation. Also, see @Metro reply above

 

my current digital source is the yggdrasil A1 (been waiting for the LIM upgrade forever) feeding a jotunheim 2, balanced...while my analog source is the technics sl-1200gr and the audio technica 440mlb cartrdige (with a carbon fiber headshell and KAB's tonearm fluid damper) going into the phono card of the jotunheim 2.

i would say the yggdrasil a1 has a clearer and more immersive sound, but the differences are definitely not major. unless you absolutely must dig on discogs with no time or budget concerns, or DJ on the side like i do, i don't see much point getting into records.

cheers!

 

I've been picking up some LPs here and there in anticipation of eventually making the jump.

I once had an entry level table -- Project Debut Carbon -- and it was fun back then, but I found myself spending more time messing with the setup than enjoying the music lol.

Thanks for input everyone, confirmed my suspicion that it's probably not going to be worth the investment for myself now. Sometimes you just gotta hear it from someone else.

 

Are there any MIL impressions forthcoming? I'm still curious about it. I remember reading that a few people were considering picking one up.

 

Funny. I have a Yggdrasil LIM and a Rega P6/Ania (both via Freya+/dual Aegirs/KEF Model 5’s), and I go back and forth. Weeks spent primarily on Roon, weeks spent primarily on Vinyl. Yes, there’s the lovely experience of old records carefully kept, covers carefully guarded, cleaning, etc, but sometimes I just love the texture, surface noise, and immersiveness of the sound. And other times I love the detail and ease of the Yggdrasil via Roon/Pi2AES. Am I crazy if I say “both”?

 

Have not heard LIM but owned Yggdrasil A2 and a good TT setup. Vinyl ultimately sounds more realistic and closer to master tape to me, but good digital is close enough that I don't care about the differences unless directly comparing them (which isn't fun, so why bother?). Vinyl also has some mechanical peculiarities that require alot more tinkering than digital, which can impact enjoyment. I can happily live with good digital and never think of vinyl again.

Technicalities are not necessarily directly tied to musical enjoyment.

 

I’m going to quote myself, which is generally obnoxious, but I had one more thought.

There are some vinyl masters / pressings that I just cannot find the equal of on any Qobuz / Tidal / CD. Doesn’t mean they don’t exist, but some are just better. Almost all of the Led Zepplin catalog sounds far far better on vinyl. All of the “HD remasters” and older redbook CDs sound very compressed to me compared to even the worst pressing I’ve heard. Particularly so on II and IV and How The West Was Won. The Music Matters 45s of many Blue Note classics are just unbelievable to hear… but you have to flip records four times to hear the whole album, so do you really play them in real life?

The one thing I don’t understand is listening to vinyl on headphones - there’s something about the desktop experience and the room that’s required for vinyl that just don’t go together for me - it’s a living room or listening room thing.

But there are plenty of examples in the other direction. Jimmy Smith Root Down, there’s an extended version that I’ve only found on CD that captures the crowd and the atmospherics in a way that is unequalled on any other recording I’ve heard other than the Complete Live at Llage Gate Bill Evans Trio. The work that went into a lot of the old Reiner recordings like the Bartok concerto on digital are unbelievable, and come through on most of the available HiRes streaming. Neil Young is mostly more satisfying in HiRes, but there are some albums I prefer on vinyl (notably Everyone knows this is nowhere) and many rarities that afaik are only available on digital.

So what am I saying? I got into higher end audio through a basic Schiit stack, moved up to Bifrost 2/Jotunheim, got an Yggdrasil LIM/Freya+/Aegir stack, started listening more on speakers, and then added the Rega and can hear a lot more difference between recordings.

Your mileage will definitely vary. For me it’s been totally worthwhile to add vinyl into the mix. Many others will find it fiddly / not worth it / aggravating. I honestly think whoever said “you can try adding vinyl with an AT120” is exactly right. I would never ever suggest switching. But if you have the time and money and you actually listen enough, there are some wonderful surprises that surpass what I can get out of my Yggdrasil for the same album - but it may just be that I’ve found a different mastering. And I’m not quite anal enough to figure out who did which mastering when & where and which one I have.

 

This.

I like having vinyl as an option in my system because there are some vinyl masters that are simply superior to their digital counterparts. One of my favorite examples is “Stadium Arcadium” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The digital versions are hot, compressed garbage, but the vinyl version shows that it’s a beautifully recorded album with interesting and innovative instrumentation.

But it’s impossible to say that vinyl is always better, or digital is always better, and depending on how much money you’ve sunk into one category, you may need to shell out a hefty amount to reach a level that matches your current expectations in the other category.

If you’re seeking technicalities, you may want to avoid vinyl altogether, but since my personal preferences favor tone and timbre, I find vinyl to be an enjoyable medium, even with the challenges that come with vinyl playback (cleaning records, cartridge alignment, etc.). And vinyl creates a soundstage that digital simply can’t touch, especially on a two-channel speaker setup.

@sp33ls For what it’s worth, the Technics SL-1200G is the turntable I aspire to buy. PM me if you want to talk more.

 

Is anyone using HQPlayer with their Yggdrasil LIM? If so, what filter/modulator combo are you using? Is there anything that works best with the Schiit filter?

 

I am playing around with HQPlayer embedded, using Sinc-M and NS9 upscaled to 192, dac bits set at 20, delay 100. Have also liked ext3.

 

Thanks @blubliss . I've been running through a bunch of options and Sync-M/NS 9 to 192 over SPDIF is a treat, indeed.

 

Here to report that this is also a treat over USB. Thanks for raising this topic... There are so many options to choose from with HQ Player.

 

I have been curious about this for a while. I've experimented a bit here and there. @purr1n alluded to HQ Player settings for the Yggdrasil on, I think, the Elex thread. I am wondering what he is using.

We're reorganizing the house right now which means I get the LIM in my office for a couple of weeks. I just picked up some Elex and am enjoying the combination. I feel like they're made for each other (Allo->S/PDIF>LIM>BAL>JOT2>BAL>ELEX) I'll try USB, too.

 

I think the LiM may be one of those rare pieces of gear which helps to relieve upgraditis for many suffering from this brutal condition.

 

There's always the second system to work on