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. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    I saw Marvey's post, and it appears this update is what I was hoping for. The Yggdrasil has been a great upgrade, but my one minor gripe is there still a bit of that digital haze (the grey zone). If this update reduces that I'll send mine in after the first wave. I definitely do not want an update that subtracts from the lively, energetic presentation (because live music is lively and energetic, so not looking for an overly romantic DAC).

    Looking forward to reading other's impressions.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Basically Gumbfreya just cleans up the haze. The Yggdrasil Analog 2 is not quite as "black" as the Gumbfreya, but close enough. The cleaner sounding output stage of the Analog 2 is just a small part of the improvements. Where the Analog 2 improves upon Gumfreya (or Yggyfreya) is the smoother more liquid presentation, the denser tones, increased body, focus, slam, resolution, microdynamics. The tonal and timbral presentation shifts toward the Theta Gen V or classic R2R DACs of the 90s. Slighter bassier warmer, thicker almost, althought I hesitate to use the word thicker because that can have some negative connotations. It's still a modern sound and as TAS puts it best: go elsewhere for a more relaxed or easygoing sound. I think the tonal and timbral presentation is what most people will notice at first. The improvements in technicalities are not huge, they are incremental of top of what was already there.

    The unit I had took about three weeks to fully stablize its sound. Unlike Yggdrasil 1, the Yggdrasil Analog 2 sounds decent when first turned on. The Yggdrasil 1 was just plain nasty sounding when cold, the Analog 2 is listenable, although quite congested and muddy. The congestion clears up by three weeks, with sound quality see-sawing between good and not-so-good. Just leave the DAC on and you will already start hearing hints of what it can do within a day or two.
     
    Last edited: Jan 17, 2018
  3. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    I noticed they made sure to emphasize that this new output stage is Class A whereas I don't remember reading anything similar with the original Yggdrasil. The long warmup time of the DAC chips must have been something the Schiit engineers were thinking about and going to Class A is likely to dissipate enough heat to shorten the warm up time significantly. Especially since the chips and analog output are on the same board.

    It would be interesting to see warmup times compared between the two versions.
     
  4. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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    Well now, if your goal was to get my undivided attention I think you've succeeded. Wide awake over here. Might have to get my hands on this DAC, maybe later this year.
    Can't believe how awesome Schiit as a company are, they just keep improving and tuning and offering upgrades.:bow:
     
  5. Andre Y

    Andre Y Friend

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    I'm 78-79/79 as of this posting time: decided to do both Gen 5 USB and the Analog 2 at the same time, so it's around $800 all in with shipping and tax. I just hope my number doesn't come up when I'm out of town!

    Not knowing anything about Schiit's analog design, I don't think it would be a good idea to separate the output stage from the DACs on a separate PC board from a noise injection POV in general, but the 5791s may have better and more robust outputs than normal audio DACs. And there are ways to do good inter-board connections, but that may open the door to more audiophile nervosa since such connections are done with ... cables!

    We also sometimes desolder and harvest expensive ICs from our own boards, like big FPGAs, but the cost-benefit ratio has to work for the product and its cost structure.
     
  6. Ali-Pacha

    Ali-Pacha Friend

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    I keep mine as is. In a few years, audiophile crowd will pray the unmatched pure sound of original Yggys, so scarce by now as the warmfag hype wiped out the market with analog 2 boards.
    Or not :D

    Ali
     
  7. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    My problem with Yggdrasil, and now especially with this upgrade, is this:

    I have Gungnir Multibit now, which I love. Every once and a while I see a used DAC out there, read the reviews and think "hey, maybe that it one will be better" - so I throw out a grand or so (Canadian) and bring a new DAC in to do some comparing. Its fun to do that kind of thing once and a while, and I can report back here my thoughts on the challenger. And then I inevitably flip it when it loses to Gungnir Multibit (hopefully for no loss of cash). No harm/no foul, and not too much out of the bank account for any significant amount of time.

    But if I make the move up to Yggdrasil (esp the new version) what the hell and I going to be able to affordably bring in that even has a chance???!!!*

    *Guess maybe at that point I won't give a shit about DACs and will just listen to the beautiful music??
     
  8. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    Oh, that's easy. Be completely irresponsible and get a $15k limit credit card dedicated solely to buying (and subsequently returning, on merit against Yggdrasil A2 I'm guessing) "true SOTA hifi" DACs. It's like the midfi merry go round, but using borrowed money!
     
  9. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    I think someone, can't remember their name, has compared a couple of DACs against Yggdrasil with Yggdrasil always edging out the competition. Hmmmmm the name is on the tip of my tongue...Psal....something? Nah, must be someone else.
     
  10. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    "New-production Yggdrasils have been shipping with Analog 2 boards since October 2017, so recent purchasers have already been enjoying Analog 2 for some time. Yggdrasils with Analog 2 boards are designated with a serial number prefix of “B,” rather than “A.”"

    Oh wow. That is pretty cool so there is really only a small hike in price. I'd love to hear one. I am sorry if someone shared that already. A slightly warmer sound on the Yggdrasil is much appreciated.
     
  11. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    I thought that was the Modi 4396?
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    To add / correct, probably bassier than warmer, though both, and only slightly more. It's still an Yggdrasil.
     
  13. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    My turntable turned my Yggdrasil into a PS4 decoding machine, but maybe after this upgrade that'll change! Or, well, if nothing else, the timbral textures of Darksiders II will be much better.
     
  14. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    I think a good reference point would be how does this new Analog 2 board make Yggdrasil sound in comparison to Gungnir Multibit? I know Yggdrasil is technically better but is warmth now on par, maybe better bass, and clearer treble?
     
  15. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    It's unfortunate that Yggdrasil 2 remains as forward sounding as it always has - probably my only complaint.

    Impressive that microdetail is even better than before. I think this is one of Yggdrasil's strength by a significant margin compared to my DirectStream Jr.
     
  16. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    [​IMG]
     
  17. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    Maybe it's just brilliant marketing, but that excerpt from Mike makes it sound like you get what is essentially (or could have very well been if this were a lesser company, ahem, LH Labs, ahem) Yggdrasil 2. They have my total appreciation for making it an upgrade instead.
     
  18. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

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    It's pretty much only Head-Fi that started screaming the sky is falling. In other more 2-channel audiophile oriented sections of the web, news of the upgrade was met with the expected excitement from current owners.

    I wish Schiit would have designated it the Yggdrasil 2 so the press would have an excuse to review it again.
     
  19. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    Here’s an idea. Everybody calm down some. This is exciting, but it’s not a life changing upgrade as
    I can tell. Nor a Schiit rip off. Get it later if you are not sure. Wait for more impressions. This is not a Massdrop deal with a time limit. No slam on Massdrop, you guys are doing some amazing things. Just a thought.
     
  20. Darren G

    Darren G Friend

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    LOL at the HF thread whining the upgrade-able Yggdrasil is not a free (or at cost) upgrade.

    From the Schiit FAQ -

    You guys are crazy!
    Yes. We know that. And so are you. You're considering a $2,300, 25-lb product that does the same basic thing as a $0.32 chip in your iPhone.

    Really who bought a Yggdrasil, and thought upgrades were going to be free, and did you pay $5000, $10,000, multiples of tens of thousands for a DAC that cannot be upgraded? Anyone bought a car, house, TV, computer part recently? You getting free upgrade options?

    Whining over nothing.
     

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