Schiit Yggdrasil DAC Arrived

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I have been asked if I use the same music during break-in as I used at the start. The answer is yes, I do use the same tracks during the first 30 minutes of each listening session. I have a playlist saved on the Aurender music server that includes a solo piano track, a solo acoustic guitar track, a jazz female vocalist, and a blues band track (Liz Story, Mike Howe, Diana Krall, Ronnie Earl and The Broadcasters). I know each track intimately so it is relatively easy for me to identify whether aspects of the frequency range, dynamic range, soundstage, and resolution are less than reference level compared to the same tracks played on my studio system. I listen for clarity as a whole and clarity of individual instruments and voices. I listen for harmonics in upper octaves of acoustic guitar strings. I listen closely to the sounds of single and combined notes and chords on solo piano. The broad frequency spectrum of a grand piano can be extremely revealing. I listen to vocalists, particularly female vocalist, and pay special attention for sibilance, which can be a natural sound in support of vocals or an exaggerated sound that is distracting if over-emphasized. I listen to a blues track to ensure there is robust and rhythmic bass, separation of lead and rhythm guitar sounds, and space that separates vocals from instruments and drums. I pay close attention to the creation of a realistic sound stage. Listening to this 30 minutes of music every time I audition the state of a component's break-in can be quite telling. It also lets me know when the time has arrived where no additional changes are taking place, that the sonic signature of the audio component in question has become permanent. Once I have this 30 minute audition exercise behind me and a few notes written to ensure recall, I then randomly play whatever catches my eye as I browse my library.

Sounds like a sound and thorough approach, Dan! May as well stream music through it from your Aurender server since it doesn't come at any cost. When I was breaking in my C-J CT-5 preamp, I had to be playing music through it to burn in the Teflon caps, but of course, all those hours consumed tube life as well.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Sounds like a sound and thorough approach, Dan! May as well stream music through it from your Aurender server since it doesn't come at any cost. When I was breaking in my C-J CT-5 preamp, I had to be playing music through it to burn in the Teflon caps, but of course, all those hours consumed tube life as well.

Stephen.......Streaming Tidal from the N100H to the Yggdrasil DAC is a good idea. Playing files that are cached from the Aurender hard drive that is then put to sleep and the music files played back from solid state drive doesn't wear anything out, either. I do like the idea of getting some hours in using streaming from the Internet. Thanks for that suggestion.

[John49]

Originally Posted by bart

Foot tapping and head bopping not likely on that new age Serge.

Dan, I like the way you're describing your journey with this seemingly wonderful piece of equipment.

I think Schiit will have quite some business amongst our members.

Bart... I think Schiit has already had quite some business amongst our members, before all this latest praise.

[Formerly YB-2]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

When I was breaking in my C-J CT-5 preamp, I had to be playing music through it to burn in the Teflon caps, but of course, all those hours consumed tube life as well.

The small signal tubes in a preamp generally are good for 5-10,000hr, so running-in those caps for 2-400hr isn't that big a deal.

Based on the excellent feedback on AAf, I'm planning on the Bifrost multibit & Asgard 2 next year. Schiit should give us a volume discount.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Formerly YB-2

The small signal tubes in a preamp generally are good for 5-10,000hr, so running-in those caps for 2-400hr isn't that big a deal.

Based on the excellent feedback on AAf, I'm planning on the Bifrost multibit & Asgard 2 next year. Schiit should give us a volume discount.

Will be a good looking, good sounding tabletop "stack". (same size)

[jdandy]

I just finished listening to my new Yggdrasil DAC and the Aurender N100H music server for the past two hours. Tonight I used the headphone output of my McIntosh C2300 preamp and the Sennheiser HD800 headphone. It was an up close and personal, intimate and involving listening session. With 124 hours of active break-in on it at this time, plus the 72 hours of burn-in at the factory before shipping, the Yggdrasil DAC is opening beautifully. It is already proving itself to be a remarkably revealing DAC, the kind you don't want to stop listening to.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I just finished listening to my new Yggdrasil DAC and the Aurender N100H music server for the past two hours. Tonight I used the headphone output of my C2300 preamp and the Sennheiser HD800 headphone. It was an up close and personal, intimate and involving listening session. With 124 hours of active break-in on it at this time, the Yggdrasil DAC is opening beautifully. It is already proving itself to be a remarkably revealing DAC, the kind you don't want to stop listening to.

Yeah Dan, I know what you mean. My headphone listening sessions into the we hours of the am are seriously interrupting my sleep patterns.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I just finished listening to my new Yggdrasil DAC and the Aurender N100H music server for the past two hours. Tonight I used the headphone output of my McIntosh C2300 preamp and the Sennheiser HD800 headphone. It was an up close and personal, intimate and involving listening session. With 124 hours of active break-in on it at this time, plus the 72 hours of burn-in at the factory before shipping, the Yggdrasil DAC is opening beautifully. It is already proving itself to be a remarkably revealing DAC, the kind you don't want to stop listening to.

Dan, that's really great to hear. I'm confident with another 100 or so hours on the clock that Yggdrasil will continue to open up and become more and more musical.

[jdandy]

Consensus, subjective opinion, and personal bias can be powerful influences but none of that carries the weight of direct hands-on experience with a particular audio component in your sound system. Purchasing factory direct can be intimidating, especially when a purchase decision has been colored by subjective views of others without additional proof source. There is little doubt my point of view about the Yggdrasil DAC purchase was governed to some degree by the personal testimony of other respected Schiit Audio Yggdrasil owners, Gungnir Gumby owners, and a number of positive reviews published in popular audio magazines. What eased my apprehension about purchasing the Yggdrasil DAC unheard was Schiit Audio's 15 day return policy. It's not too scary dropping $2299.00 when you have a promise to get it back if you are less than satisfied. Had it not been for that option I may have held off buying a Yggy until I had some real face time with one. It is now day seven of my 15 day return window. I can safely state that this DAC will not be returned to the factory. I believe I can also stick my neck out far enough to say I would be quite surprised to hear of anyone getting several hundred hours on their Yggdrasil and deciding to return it. With only 172 hours on mine at this point, I am heartily impressed with its performance.

All claims aside about how the Yggdrasil may stand up against competitors irrespective of price, I did not make my purchase to secure any kind of bragging rights. I bought the Yggdrasil because I needed a DAC for my new Aurender N100H music server that would satisfy my very picky nature with respect to authentic hi-end sound quality. I also wanted to satisfy my curiosity about the difference I might hear between the delta sigma DAC's I have intimate experience with and the ladder DAC, as well as the Mike Moffat designed and refined Closed-Form digital filter. The newly designed Gen 5 USB input is remarkable as well. The overall circuit topology of the Schiit Audio Yggdrasil DAC offers several unique and ingenious electronic designs and parts choices I find fascinating. It is the dissimilarity from the norm that intrigues me.

All the positive comments in the world, or negative ones for that matter, are no substitutes for real world experience. I have been fortunate enough to have hands-on experience with quite a few high quality DAC's and have auditioned several others in passing. Listening to the Yggdrasil slowly gain its permanent voice is not my first cup of tea. Consequently I am confident I can recognize the qualities I wish to be present from a DAC in my system. Whether the Yggdrasil DAC can go head to head with pricier DAC's or outperform cheaper DAC's is not my concern. I want a DAC that simply steps out of the way of the digits and leaves nothing but music in its path. What I have determined to this point is the $2299.00 price for the Yggdrasil is an absolute bargain. I am equally positive their is additional performance to be gained as the break-in progresses.

[Cohibaman]

Good post. It’s great to hear that you are you liking your new Yggdrasil. It’ll only get better too.