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. EraserXIV

    EraserXIV Friend

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    Being 100% off the grid has produced the best results. Yggdrasil has more fluidity in the notes when watermill powered, however windmill power produces a better sense of space and airiness. Both are better than the grid and any AC regenerator, just depends on what you are looking for.
     
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  2. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    For the waterwheel power, the purity and temperature of the water is a significant factor. I've found that high-altitude springs, filtered through a few thousand feet of mountain rock elevated during the Laramide oregeny, gives the purest tone.

    The trick with windmill power is, of course, that you have to pay attention to the directionality of the wind.
     
  3. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Water can be noisy though. I would install a canal with constant flow rate if I were to go that route.
     
  4. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    I use Fedex for anything important. Drop it off directly at their main shipping depot (probably somewhere near YWG) for least hassle and competent employees. They will have you fill out the various forms. Fill out the customs form as audio accessory, warranty return. Total came to $135 with 2K CDN insurance being about $50 of the total.
     
  5. Velomane

    Velomane Acquaintance

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    Thanks Chris F. The Fedex depot is easy to get to for me. I also have an account with them, so maybe that will save me a couple bucks as well.
     
  6. Ei zuzaaat

    Ei zuzaaat New

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    Hello everyone! I'm interested in the Yggdrasil analog 2 version-may I know if it's more forgiving on bad recordings than the analog 1?
    Thanks,
    Andrea
     
  7. Pocomo

    Pocomo Friend

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    Depends on what you mean by a bad recording I suppose. I was listening to a bad recording last night on mine (Throwing Muses Live to Tape, a 1996 Live-in-Studio Promo CD) and it still sounded bad. Not grating, not painful but just bad. Only lasted about 5 minutes with that one before switching to something more pleasing.

    Any particular example you are thinking of?
     
  8. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    In my experience the phrase "forgiving of bad recordings" is usually applied to DACs or amps that are overly warm/syrupy, very laid-back and/or unresolving (or some combination of these elements).

    Yggdrasil, in any incarnation, is none of these things.
     
  9. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

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    Really bad recordings can be unbearable on a good playback chain.
    However, a good playback chain can also let you hear more detail.
    So if it is a bad recording because the treble is horribly piercing and uncomfortable, it will still be horrible on a great DAC.
    If it is a bad recording because it has tape noise, too much reverb, or was recorded on cheap equipment, a great DAC may let you hear more of what is there and appreciate it.
     
  10. Magnetostatic_Tubephile

    Magnetostatic_Tubephile Friend

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    If I find Modi Multibit to be forgiving of bad recordings, how does it fit to your description? Very laid-back, unresolving, or both?

    Apologies in advance for small offtopic... just curious about your view on this.
     
  11. winders

    winders boomer

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    I never found any of Schiit's multibit DACs to be forgiving of "bad" recordings. Nor should they be as that would mean they are hiding and/or adding to the recording.

    What I did find with Yggdrasil A1 especially, is that it could take a challenging recording and bring it to life. The best example I have is the iTunes or Red Book releases of "In the Year 2525" by Zager and Evans. With most DACs, this track sounds like I am playing it on a late 60's transistor radio. With Yggdrasil, it actually sounds like I am listening to a studio recording. Not a real high quality studio recording but much better than I heard with any other DAC. The DirectStream DAC I use now does the same thing.

    So this "forgiving of bad recordings" is or should be a myth for a quality DAC.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2018
  12. Ei zuzaaat

    Ei zuzaaat New

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    Thanks to everyone for the replies! It's an interesting matter and probably I don't have enough experience to comment properly on it...anyway I think that some audio devices inject a certain euphony in what we listen to...which can be a good thing with bad recordings (for ex poorly mastered ones with low dynamic range, or weak bass, fatiguing treble...) but at the same time distort good recordings. Anyway, for my next dac, I want something neutral in this aspect (neither too coloured neither too analytical) and the Yggdrasil seems a good match :)
     
  13. joeexp

    joeexp Don't ship this man FD-X1 ever

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    Garbage in >> Garbage out.
     
  14. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    It doesn't, since it's not my finding - it's yours.

    But ... "forgiving of bad recordings" in comparison to what? Specifically, what other DAC(s) are you comparing it, with the rest of the chain unchanged, to say that it's Modi MB that is "forgiving of bad recordings"?

    Looking at the chain in your signature, I'd be more likely to look towards the combination of Valhalla 2 -> LCD2C(V) as an area where resolution was potentially a question or for the source of anything sounding "laid back".
     
  15. Scott Kramer

    Scott Kramer Friend

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    IMG_1204.JPG
    Re: forgiving

    chain: pi/digione/bnc - y2 - gain cell pre (w/upgraded FETS/vishay foil resistors) - 2 mono ice 300as1's - adante

    My theory: hit it with extreme detail (y2) - and really time precise/athletic speakers (adante)

    However, I feel psaudio's gain cell is slightly tube flavor'd, the classd 300as1's are just transparent*.

    Bet a simple preamp like saga, plus nice classA or AB (firstwatt, anthem, something like that) amp may kill this setup and make it bit too precise-- right now tho 70's recordings sound amazing, 80's fun to listen to - weird extreme black but not threadbare, and well recorded stuff is just wild! Deep soundstage, drums hit hard and complex. Speakers are invisible.

    TLDR, need a slight, hmmmm, creative piece somewhere in the chain, a tube, a circuit, etc.

    *going really loud though... I think they are starting to be a limit, won't know until experimenting with a bigger amp.
    **also plying with digital front ends right now; digione, 502dac w/isolator, gen5 running off my own iOS app streaming flac directly

    PS; drive by post :D sorry
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2018
  16. Magnetostatic_Tubephile

    Magnetostatic_Tubephile Friend

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    Indeed those are my words. Consider it a general impression, nothing I would be fighting for.

    I am just puzzled by Modi Multibit a bit - enjoy its sonic character a lot but not sure where it stands in terms of transparency. Is it just more natural-sounding compared to typical DS DACs like Sabre or Wolfson I owned in the past? Or is it indeed a bit darker / more laid back / smoother like some people say (even when compared to Gungnir Multibit/Yggdrasil)? I owned several other solid headphones (including brighter ones e.g. HD800 or HE6) and few different amps but the impression of Modi Multibit remained - it sounded smooth and natural to my ears. Not bloated or muffled but maybe not strictly neutral and strictly (garbage in/out) transparent.

    Nevermind, I will just continue on my audiophile journey to eventually find out!
     
  17. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    I suppose it depends on which Sabre or Wolfson implementations you've had before.

    Assuming the rest of the chain is the same, the Sabre stuff (presumed 9018 series) has a tendency to exaggerated detail and top-end glare in the more basic, less considered, implementations. That'll generally make "bad" recordings sound worse, rather than Modi MB being "forgiving". Wolfson 8740 and 8741 data-sheet designs are generally warmer and smoother, but less resolving than the ESS stuff (typically, not in all cases). Modi MB is the "Goldilocks" DAC in such comparisons, sitting in the middle, generally just doing things right.

    Anyway "smooth and natural" is not what I'd describe as being "forgiving" ... "forgiving" for me would be down to relatively gross acts of omission (which are, at least, better than audible acts of "commission" ... which is what I find with the 9018 in most non-SOTA implementations) ... it'd be natural and "correct".

    It all depends on your frame of reference.
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2018
  18. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    What amazes me is the insane amount of people (including sound engineers) that think that an overly bright, thin sound is "neutral" and a "smooth and natural" (even if that piece of gear has stellar measurements) sound is colored and forgiving...too many deaf/or misinformed people I guess. The real problem is that some of them are audio reviewers and sound engineers, that's a real bummer.
     
  19. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    IMO "forgiving" implies "colored" and not in a good way. "Neutral" is also very subjective. Instead of thinking about neutral in terms of treble/bass balance I think of "neutral" as a system with smooth rolloff and no spikes or dips in the response. More treble, less treble, no problem. I'm OK with both as long as the curve is smooth.

    As I've moved up the analog/digital replay chain I find that the system imposes itself less on the recording and a wider spectrum of recordings become listenable and even enjoyable despite having obvious mastering/mixing/pressing issues. You simply hear the recordings as they are.
     
  20. Renekton

    Renekton Acquaintance

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    I don't know about fancy dacs, but HD600 is the most forgiving headphone I've heard BECAUSE it's uncolored AND ultra finely detailed. It's so damn organic that both terribly recorded flacs and all sorts of 128kbps mp3s are inoffencive on it. Edgy, digital and with fucked highs, yes, but never harsh. Even a corrupted audio file I have with digital nonsense noises sounds musical on HD600. Then again that might be because my wyrd - modi 1 - magni 1 are forgiving and I haven't heard a real sharp, transparent system? Also, for referance, HD6XX sounds terribly boring with 95% of my music and great with the other (well recorded) 5%, so... Does that mean it's more forgiving, since the badly recorded stuff bores me to death and puts me to sleep with that ethereal softness, or is it unforgiving because it only sounds well on well recorded stuff with actual spacial info in it? BTW weird how HD6XX is both smooth/soft overall AND articulated in bass and delineated in treble AND dark AND fatiguing (yes, I'm just weird, it fatigues me in 10 minutes while I can blast HD600 on any volume for hours)... HD6XXabsolutely cancerous 21st century German black magic. Also, my ultra cheap IEMs that always sound bad arent forgiving at all for being very colored and resolution capped, no, quite the opposite - they sound bad BECAUSE of those, they do NOT make them forgiving... Oh, wait, I get it about the cheap IEMs, they add all kinds of distortion which, as Torq put it, is a sin of commission, so it's not about forgiveness, it's about offenciveness.
    Sorry for offtopic, pls ban me for a few months, I seem to be repeating myself too much about how HD6XX is transgender. You fall for it, but then you realise it's a trap and your body says hell yes while your mind says hell no.
     

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