Yggy first impressions

[80B]

The Yggdrasil arrived a couple days ago and I finally got my "stuff" together today and put it in the rack. This is a key part of a series of upgrades that includes a new room.

The Yggy is replacing a Benchmark DAC1, 2008 vintage, connecting my Mac Mini to the McIntosh MC2500 preamp. The MC2500 has a very good DAC already, but a pre without a DAC is in my future. The Benchmark had been in storage for a while, and is still a fine piece of equipment, leading to the topic at hand...

The Yggy straight out of the box sounded more "full" - not putting down the Benchmark here, but the best way I can describe this is that the old DAC sounded somewhat thin by comparison. I also hear more detail, especially in the mid range. Have had it on just a couple hours, and only once has it sounded a bit edgy, which might have been more detail showing up on that track. This DAC is widely reported as needing something like a couple days' continuous running to settle in. I look forward to that.

The final test was the WAF - Boss Girl walked into the room and while I was playing the second track with the Yggy, asked "Sounds good, what changed?".

I'd like to thank Tom (W9TR) for his sage advice, and Dan posthumously for his influential review.

Here's a picture of the unit with a little something we picked up in Roskilde years ago that I found when unpacking.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by 80B

The Yggdrasil arrived a couple days ago and I finally got my "stuff" together today and put it in the rack. This is a key part of a series of upgrades that includes a new room.

The Yggy is replacing a Benchmark DAC1, 2008 vintage, connecting my Mac Mini to the McIntosh MC2500 preamp. The MC2500 has a very good DAC already, but a pre without a DAC is in my future. The Benchmark had been in storage for a while, and is still a fine piece of equipment, leading to the topic at hand...

The Yggy straight out of the box sounded more "full" - not putting down the Benchmark here, but the best way I can describe this is that the old DAC sounded somewhat thin by comparison. I also hear more detail, especially in the mid range. Have had it on just a couple hours, and only once has it sounded a bit edgy, which might have been more detail showing up on that track. This DAC is widely reported as needing something like a couple days' continuous running to settle in. I look forward to that.

The final test was the WAF - Boss Girl walked into the room and while I was playing the second track with the Yggy, asked "Sounds good, what changed?".

I'd like to thank Tom (W9TR) for his sage advice, and Dan posthumously for his influential review.

Here's a picture of the unit with a little something we picked up in Roskilde years ago that I found when unpacking.

Yes, the Yggy is really good. Robert Harley of TAS wrote an outstanding review of it a while back (2018, IIRC?). I know a number of members here really liked it very much as well. Be mindful that it may sound a bit "uncomfortable" for a while as it burns in; IIRC, it needed something like 200 hours or more to burn in.

[rushca01]

You hit the nail on the head as to why I bought a C2300, 100% completely analog. I love my C2300, MC402 and Yggy; I’m looking at new speakers right now, primarily Spatial M3. I’m also looking to upgrade my streamer to a Auralic. I contemplated trending my MC402 for a 452 but I think I’m going to stay.

I love my Schiit so much I thought about buying one of their garage sale Yggy’s.

[US Blues]

As @Puma Cat mentions above the Yggy will change during it's settling-in period. If you can drop in with your impressions during this process I'd be interested in hearing about your experience.

One day, in a few weeks, it will all come together sonically and you'll know it.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by rushca01

You hit the nail on the head as to why I bought a C2300, 100% completely analog. I love my C2300, MC402 and Yggy; I’m looking at new speakers right now, primarily Spatial M3.

Yes!

Let me know what you decide. We had Clayton Shaw of Spatial Audio on as our guest at the last SFAS meeting, and it was great hearing him talk.

I am seriously interested in the new Spatial Audio M3 or M5 Sapphires.

[kmmd]

Originally Posted by rushca01

You hit the nail on the head as to why I bought a C2300, 100% completely analog. I love my C2300, MC402 and Yggy; I’m looking at new speakers right now, primarily Spatial M3. I’m also looking to upgrade my streamer to a Auralic. I contemplated trending my MC402 for a 452 but I think I’m going to stay.

I love my Schiit so much I thought about buying one of their garage sale Yggy’s.

I just received my Auralic Aries G2.1 a few hours ago, and it is the perfect mate for the Yggy. It is just unbelievable. My SSD comes tomorrow, and I can’t wait to transfer the files from my external HD to it.

I remember when I received the Yggy (1st Gen) and turned it on the first time. I was disappointed as the sound was thin and veiled. After leaving it on 24/7, everything bloomed over 3-5 days or so. Give it some time, and you will be rewarded. Mate it with a quality streamer/server, and you will be very happy. It does run a bit warm though.

[George Prentice]

Originally Posted by kmmd

I just received my Auralic Aries G2.1 a few hours ago, and it is the perfect mate for the Yggy. It is just unbelievable. My SSD comes tomorrow...

I am sure you will enjoy your Aries... I do mine. I’d be interested in hearing how easy the SSD install goes. My Aurender has a couple tb but I did not put any in my Aries... might be nice when the wifi is a bit wanky.

[kmmd]

Originally Posted by George Prentice

I am sure you will enjoy your Aries... I do mine. I’d be interested in hearing how easy the SSD install goes. My Aurender has a couple tb but I did not put any in my Aries... might be nice when the wifi is a bit wanky.

Hi George,

The install was quite easy, but then I can take my Yggy apart with one hand behind my back. There are instructions on how to install an SSD into an Aries G2 on a dealer’s website. The G2.1 has a copper enclosure around the entire circuitry and power supplies. All you need is a Torx T8 screwdriver to remove the bottom cover and hard drive holder. For the copper cover in the G2.1 you use a Torx T10. Initiation was easy and file transfer took time of course. I’ve read that an EVO 860 4TB works as well.

As for the sound, well for those who think that a Mac Mini is a decent server, you don’t know what you’re missing (cuz you’re not hearing or experiencing it) even with a hefty LPS.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by kmmd

Hi George,

The install was quite easy, but then I can take my Yggy apart with one hand behind my back. There are instructions on how to install an SSD into an Aries G2 on a dealer’s website. The G2.1 has a copper enclosure around the entire circuitry and power supplies. All you need is a Torx T8 screwdriver to remove the bottom cover and hard drive holder. For the copper cover in the G2.1 you use a Torx T10. Initiation was easy and file transfer took time of course. I’ve read that an EVO 860 4TB works as well.

As for the sound, well for those who think that a Mac Mini is a decent server, you don’t know what you’re missing (cuz you’re not hearing or experiencing it) even with a hefty LPS.

I would agree the problem with the Mac Mini as a music is the SMPS inside; and you're correct that these SMPS cause a lot of problems as music servers. One way to fix the Mac Mini is to get the Uptone Audio internal power supply upgrade and then power it with the Uptone JS-2 linear power supply.

[80B]

We had the Yggy on for several hours yesterday, and it seems like the settling in won't be a linear progression. Seems more like a stock index graph where it improves, but has some ups, downs, and pauses along the way. I am pleasantly surprised by the improvement.