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. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    I have tested several DACs, most of them Delta Sigma ones, and when I had a chance to test Schiit MB tech, I discovered the best sound that i was looking for in the moment. Because of that I consider this upgrade very important, and want to respectfully start a thread about sound impression and consciousness. As several people cannot send their yggdrasil overseas to upgrade due costs, friendĀ“s impressions will help many to decide the next step.
     
    Last edited: Jul 7, 2018
  2. Comzee

    Comzee Facebook Friend

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    The weakest point of the Yggdrasil has always been the output stage. I ordered mine immediately when I found out it was offered, I'm position 26.

    I've talked to people about how I'd love if Schiit offered an upgrade to the output stage too, I thought it was just kinda wishful thinking. It's actually happened though, couldn't be happier.
     
  3. iDesign

    iDesign Almost "Made"

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    Interesting. While I am happy to see Schiit keeping their promise of supporting upgrades to the Yggdrasil, I hope they explain more about the technical improvements in lieu $550 price of admission. Certainly not an insignificant amount of money for an upgrade and the press release and product page are vague.
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2018
  4. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Patience.
     
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Oh gawd. This has been the hardest secret to keep. This is the DAC that brought me from exclusively vinyl back to digital. Vinyl is still better, but Yggdrasil Analog 2 is close enough that my second system is exclusively digital. LOL, I actually told Jason I was going to call it the Analog DAC. I see that he's inserted the "Analog" moniker. Hopefully MSB doesn't get too upset.

    As usual, I'm going to be brief, and also because since I've been able to live with it for a while so the newness has worn off.
    1. Much blacker background, on the level of the the JFET active stage of the Freya. Not quite as inky as the Holo Spring DAC 3, but close enough. With this, increased articulation and bass textures. I think those people who felt the Yggdrasil had a bit of haze or grey background would be extremely happy. The balanced outs do better than SE outs. I actually prefer the SE coupled with decent balanced to SE transformers (Cinemag) than the SE out - sounds cleaner and clearer.
    2. Don't expect a Metrum sound. The Yggdrasil still has its bold incisiveness, so those wanting a more relaxed and easygoing sound should go elsewhere. This isn't a $1000 Rega table type of sound.
    3. However, there are denser tone colors, timbre, body, along with more fluidity and smoothness. Sort of how some R2R DACS like Master 7 or SFD2 have it. Not quite to the exaggerated extent of those DACs, but say two-thirds there.
    4. Even more microdetail and better sense of microdynamics.
    5. More localized depth around instruments, less cutout like, a la NOS. Not quite to that extent, but say 50% there.
    6. Slightly larger soundstage, but with stronger center soundstage and imaging precision.
    7. Maybe the best part: a hint of sweetness. The Holo Spring 3 has a similar kind of sweetness in the upper registers. The Yggdrasil Analog 2 has sweetness in the mids.
    8. More slam, a la Theta Gen V.
    That is all.

    P.S. It's my understanding that it wasn't just the output stage.
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2018
  6. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    Yggdrasil Analog 2 upgrades are available now for $550

    Any word if this can be upgraded by yourself like with the Gen 5 update?
     
  7. winders

    winders boomer

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    No, you cannot upgrade this yourself. Check the release info on the Schiit web site.
     
  8. Ziva

    Ziva Friend

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    How does the sweetness compare to the Theta Gen Va? This was my only (relative) gripe with the Yggdrasil.
     
  9. Neal

    Neal Facebook Friend

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    How much does Analog 2 increase the gap?
     
  10. Xecuter

    Xecuter Brush and floss your amp twice a day

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    Been waiting a long time for this upgrade. @Marvey can you confirm that balanced out now has 0 issues with studio load?
     
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Sweetness is one of those terms that it hard to define and could mean different things to different people. I would say that the sound of the Yggdrasil Analog 2 does seem to "revert" more to the Gen V sound. It brings a lot of elements reminscent of the Gen V, the denser tone, the slam, etc. Not quite as thick as the Gen V, but I was never a fan of the thick sound - this keeping in mind there are variants of the Gen V that do sound slightly different (I didn't have the teflon board version).

    The gap is significant. I think a proper comparison would be to be a Gungnir Multibit Analog 2, which does not yet exist. The Yggdrasil Analog 2 jump from Yggdrasil v1 is as huge from Modi Multibit to Yggdrasil v1 - keeping in mind that when we talk about DACs, we are splitting hairs.

    A few of you may remember @Torq's cryptic profile last year: "Oh Schiit, this changes things." Evidently, he was referring to an early prototype of the Yggdrasil Analog 2 (my access to this DAC came much later) and how this would change the order of this DAC comparison thread where the Yggdrasil Analog 2 leaped back to the top. I'll let him speak (will post on this behalf) if he happens to read this thread and texts me something to say.
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    It should have no issues with the Studio load. It drives 600 ohm dummy loads fine. Inability to drive 600 ohm loads was one of the things noted in Stereophile / JA measurements with Yggdrasil v1. Let me test with the exact Studio transformers to be 100% sure.
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2018
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I should mention that if the serial # starts with a B, then you got a Yggdrasil Analog 2. They've actually been on sale for a while without being announced.
     
  14. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

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    Wow, that big. I have to get my ears on one now.
     
  15. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    No, it would be coded as a repair/return so no customs fees. Look at the FAQ.

    This is great news. Tbh I thought the old output stage struggled a bit driving a 14k load, so this just what I have been waiting for.
     
  16. k1arg

    k1arg Facebook Friend

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    Was that calculation and customs worry for shipping to the USA or to Electromod in the UK?
     
  17. iDesign

    iDesign Almost "Made"

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    Now that it the A and B serial number designation is known, can someone or you post measurements of the Analog 1 vs Analog 2 spec Yggdrasil's (and preferably not JA at Stereophile)?
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The glitch at the FFFF.... to 0000.... crossing was fixed a while ago. Maybe more than a year. Someone at Computer Audiophile spilled the beans on the fix. Either way, it's an easy firmware fix.

    There is no DSP board upgrade. The upgrade only involves the two boards with the $$$$ AD5971 chips + output stage.

    Basically, if you send it it, you will get everything upgraded except the Gen 5 USB, which is all together a different upgrade, which makes sense because people may want to run their own USB to SPDIF converters or transports.
     
  19. joeexp

    joeexp Don't ship this man FD-X1 ever

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    Does NOT YET exist ....

    So there is going to be a Gungnir Multibit Analog 2 upgrade, later this year !!?!
     
  20. Aklegal

    Aklegal Friend

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    Done and Done. I'm #35 in a queue of 35 lol. I wished I saw this sooner. The output stage has always been the only thing I disliked about the Yggdrasil but even with that its still the best dac I have heard.
     

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