Yggdrasil Refined - New Schiit Yggdrasil Analog 2 (Yggdrasil A2) Sound Impressions

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by drgumbybrain, Jan 16, 2018.

  1. Muse Wanderer

    Muse Wanderer Friend

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    The watermark can be heard when compared directly to an unadulterated file. I don't stream and have a good junk of classical music digital files that are quite 'old' and hopefully should not be watermarked. That said, I tend to prefer other labels that don't purposely f*ck up the music. Vinyl may be another option.

    P.S. Maybe we should continue discussion on the other thread though, rather than derail this one. There are links to sites that give you the chance to test all this.
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2018
  2. loplop

    loplop Acquaintance

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    Yeah, that watermarking is awful. Luckily, not everything on Tidal is watermarked. Sadly, ECM's catalog seems to be, which is a fav of mine. I stick with the vinyl there :)
     
  3. EraserXIV

    EraserXIV Friend

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    That's actually much slower than I anticipated. Definitely quicker to buy a new unit, but selling an old Yggdrasil seems difficult. There's been one on HF that isn't selling and it's going at quite a loss.
     
  4. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    Multiple upgrades (GenV USB + Analog 2) take two spots; one per upgrade. I'm hoping the current queue speed is due to vacation scheduling or some other short term processing delay.
     
  5. blubliss

    blubliss Friend

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    Have had my Yggdrasil back from getting upgraded a few days now. Before I sent it in for the Gen V upgrade (and got the analog upgrade since my unit was already there) I was thinking of selling when it returned, keeping the Holo Spring and SFD I MkII.

    Now I think I understand why Torq sold the Holo (which is the one I have now). The analog Yggdrasil (Yggdrasil A2?) is sounding very nice. I would say it has sweetened up just that little bit which I was missing, and what the Holo did for me. Haven't gone back to the Holo yet, the Yggdrasil is holding my attention and not annoying me. I only listen to headphones. The non-analog Yggdrasil would irritate me after awhile, unlike the Holo. Now the Yggdrasil A2 has all the detail like before but the sound is slightly more solid/thicker in a good way, with a tinge of warmth/sweetness. The highs are still intense at times, but so is the recording.

    My system: Yggdrasil A2/Holo/SFD>Freya (tube)>T2/Susy Dynahi/Carbon/L2>SR-O/009/007Mk1/Utopia/HD800

    I've listened to the T2/SR-O, Dynahi/Utopia, Carbon/SR-O, 007 to develop the above impressions.
     
  6. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    @blubliss Thanks for the impressions.

    There is a touch of electronica sound for me from the Yggdrasil. I enjoy the lively sound, but just looking for a subjective impression. If you heard that, does the new analog section sound a bit more natural (again, just subjectively)?
     
  7. blubliss

    blubliss Friend

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    I would say yes, it is a bit more natural now. Still lively though.
     
  8. Drifterxny

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    just wanted to update/correct my post from last fri, i was numbered in the 30s and didn't move for 2 weeks besides 1 spot and actually got the email to send the unit in today so looks like they do take in a large amount of units at once and probably doesn't have that long of a wait for the upgrade.
     
  9. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    @blubliss This is exactly what I want, thanks for the impressions!

    Now I just need to hold out for a Black Yggdrasil Analog 2.
     
  10. Jozurr

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    Thank you for the impressions. Can you please share what you like with the Yggdrasil Analog over the Holo? Are you running Holo in NOS or OS mode? Also, would you be able specifically compare the sound staging/imaging between the two DACs?

    Thanks
     
  11. blankdisc

    blankdisc New

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    Received my Analog 2 upgraded Yggdrasil on Saturday. Must say that $550 upgrade price is totally worth it. One could certainly do MUCH worse in this hobby with that money. Agree with everything that has been said. Really enjoy the pitch black background and much-needed sweetness in the sound. I quite like my Yggdrasil since bought it almost five years ago. Now I feel like I can finally fall in love with it.

    Btw, Intona is releasing their first USB cables soon. I had a chance to beta test the entry-level model and the results are quite amazing. Definitely worth checking it out. It shows how a real technology company who specializes in USB protocol approaches cable making. I was never a true cable believer despite purchasing quite a few fancy cables in the past. I am now at least for USB cable.

    [​IMG]
     
  12. Pyruvate

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    Great to hear that you're in love. I don't want to change the topic of this thread, but do you mind posting your chain on the speakers thread? Looks like you have a serious rig.
     
  13. Mithrandir41

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    It reminds me of an old plate reverb sound that shouldn't be in the mix
     
  14. Comzee

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    Last night was the first night since I received the yggy2 that it didn't sound like hot garbage. That was 120hr in.
    Getting the same info from another yggy2 owner. Same standards hold true to this new unit, at least for initial burn in, it takes a long time to get normalized.

    Not sure how people are reviewing it after 2 days think it's good... but eh.
    Off impressions last night, a few things are finally starting to be clear for impressions.

    Most of this was said by Marv but:
    #1 More clarity, blacker background, no more grayness (although it's not 100% black, like 98%)
    #2 Better timbre
    #3 Better bass, more presence, accuracy, and subbass db level
    #4 Better detail (resulting from the better timbre)

    Right now, it's still a bit etched, forward, and needs to be a bit more laid back and liquid sounding.
    I'm pretty confident all those will be resolved with more on time.
     
  15. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    What input are you using?
     
  16. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    Always remember, use of the wrong input can lead to discomfort and soreness.
     
  17. schneller

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    First, what is "Metrum" sound? Has anyone who has heard Yiggy2 also heard the Onyx? I am considering these two as my next DAC at this time. Which of the two has the better mid-range presence? I should not that I'll probably be limited to using the SE outputs.
     
  18. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    Haven't heard the Onyx nor Yggdrasil 2, but having heard several Metrum DACs since their inception from the original dual-chassis Octave to the DAC TWO-equipped Amethyst, I say "Metrum sound" is NOS R2R sound done right. It won't be everyone's cuppa tea and will depend largely on the rest of your system, but they tend to have a somewhat smooth, forgiving and laid-back character while still being highly resolving without sounding rolled off to shit.

    I recently owned an Amethyst, which was excellent in its own right but proved to be too much of a good thing when paired with my Liquid Glass amp which is already a bit laid-back sounding. If I had a more exciting, aggressive amp like the Liquid Crimson, things might've been different. I currently use Gungnir Multibit Gen 5 (soon to be upgraded to Yggdrasil 2) with my LG.

    For what it's worth, Gungnir Multibit Gen 5 had better midrange presence than Amethyst (using SE outs).
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2018
  19. bengo

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    For what little it's worth, I felt the Pavane L2 emphasized mids a tiny bit more than Yggy1.

    Really though, if you never heard a good NOS DAC before, you should try to do that first. Either is an excellent choice, world-class really, so it comes down to preferences, and nobody else can tell you what your ears will like.

    My impressions of Pavane
     
    Last edited: Feb 8, 2018
  20. pavi

    pavi Almost "Made"

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    roon -> yggdrasil analog 2 -> ragnarok -> focal utopia/ lcd-4 -> joy!

    i wish i had the level of comprehension of the various domains involved - and the words - to describe this flow in the way it deserves, but i simply don’t.

    every component of the chain is pure wizardry. i'm incredibly grateful to all those masters and mages who magic these devices from dream to precise detail.
     
    Last edited: Feb 9, 2018

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