Esoteric K-01X versus Schiit Audio Yggdrasil

[Dr Tone]

Originally Posted by JoyfulNoise

My original post omitted some important details, clearly. Glad my follow-up was helpful. Yes, the Mac Mini is the weak link in my system. I am considering several alternatives at the moment including the N100C from Aurender.

I have neglected to mention, thus far, that I really appreciate your reviews of the Yggdrasil. Great writing. I doubt I will ever experience a digital component the likes of your Esoteric in my listening room, but it is good to know that a less expensive DAC like the Yggdrasil can compete in the same arena.

I've owned 1028BEs in the past they were a constant battle when it came to my guilty pleasure music from the 80s-90s. I tried subs and various source components, EQing was ultimately the best solution.

The purple line is the 1028BE, it will give you an idea of what you are fighting against especially if you aren't in a perfectly treated room. Specifically 4k-12k.

https://www.soundandvision.com/conte...-labs-measures

Anyway, I don't think your mac mini is the issue and the more forward Yggy with your speakers might not be the best combination for the music you mention. Not knowing the real difference between the Analog 1 & 2, maybe the 2 will help a bit, but I have my doubts that it will help enough.


Jeff

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by saru

Sorry if this veers a bit off-topic, but if you're only using the Mac Mini to run your Roon Core, you may also want to take a look at the Roon Nucleus or Nucleus+ servers, which I believe are finally available for purchase. Or you could do what I did: build a Roon server from an Intel NUC kit, install the free Roon OS (ROCK), and power it with the LPS of your choice (the HDPLEX 200w LPS I have has four dedicated outputs... I'm using it for my server and a network switch right now). Works very well IMHO

saru.......You're right, that post is way off topic. Start a separate thread if you wish to about your topic. Kindly respect the original topic of this thread.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Dr Tone

Anyway, I don't think your mac mini is the issue and the more forward Yggy with your speakers might not be the best combination for the music you mention. Not knowing the real difference between the Analog 1 & 2, maybe the 2 will help a bit, but I have my doubts that it will help enough.

Jeff.......From what I have been able to determine with respect to any forward sound from a Yggdrasil, owners have reported that the original implementation of the USB input was the culprit for that outcome. When one of the SPDIF inputs (coax, Toslink, or AES/EBU) was used the bright nature experienced with the USB input disappeared. Making a blanket statement about the Yggdrasil being more forward doesn't present the true picture. Since the original Yggdrasil, there have been two USB upgrades, Gen 3 and the newest Gen 5 versions. My personal experience with the new Gen 5 Yggdrasil with the Analog 2 output boards clearly demonstrates a fully developed smoothness across the frequency spectrum on all inputs, and this was true for me while using the Yggdrasil in two different sound systems.

I will agree with you that each component, cables, and speakers in a system impacts the final results. I only wanted to point out that the Yggdrasil, especially the newest version, is an astonishing DAC that does not embellish any part of the frequency range that would leave one thinking it is forward or bright in any way.

[Higgens]

Dan - I just reread your review today when it floated to the top of ‘new posts’. Well written, un-biased, and very informative. Thank you.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Higgens

Dan - I just reread your review today when it floated to the top of ‘new posts’. Well written, un-biased, and very informative. Thank you.

Gary.......Thank you.

[chessman]

Dan, thank you for another informative and superbly written review.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by chessman

Dan, thank you for another informative and superbly written review.

Randy.......I appreciate that. Thank you.