Giga Stack vs Integrated amp ($8k-ish)

@v-fi The people comparing the Gugnir (latest) to the Yggi+ are saying that the sound is in between the Yggi+ LIM and the MIB, sounding more towards the MIB. There are also supposed to me new features in that Gugnir that the Yggi+ does not have.

I am in the upgrade list for the Schitt Byggi in Sept 2025, Jason Stoddard is saying that it is the best DAC they ever made. If it is as good as my Yggi+ OG then I am done DAC shopping. Actually, need a 3rd DAC, but that is when I move home in a few years. If the Byggi hype is real then the 3rd DAC will be a Byggi.

Wotan looks great, I have zero need for it but still want it.

Btw I would disagree with anyone who says the Gugnir 2 is better than your Yggys. It's nice but Yggy is nicer, in any of its forms (imho of course).

Thanks...

Jason Stoddard, the designer of both amps, said on Head-fi that the Tyr are a more relaxed sound. While the Wotan has more bite to it. I think he said the bass was stronger on the Wotan.

A new version of the Tyr is coming out soon, so that is why the clearance prices on the current Tyr.

I went with the Wotan based on Jason's comments.

Did you compare the Wotan to the Tyr ?

I will eventually replace the Kara F preamp with a second Benchmark HPA4 preamp. I tried it on the setup, and it improves the sound a lot, but the $800 Kara F preamp is good enough for a few more years (a bit of faint praise).

I also tried the Schitt Mjolnir v3 preamp. This is a better preamp than the Freya+ and warm sonically and to the touch (actually Class A hot). The Kara F is more convenient since it has a remote.

BTW - the Wotan amp took 30 days of very hard playing before some top end hardness went away. Now it is totally fatigue free and a keeper.