Gumby vs Yggy


So I recently tried a Schiit Gumby and was somewhat disappointed that it really didn’t sound much better than my Arcam irdac. I’m sending it back and was wondering if the Yggy would be a more significant upgrade. Perhaps my system isn’t revealing enough to appreciate the difference. I’ve downsized from B&W 801 S2, Threshold amp, Theta pre to my current setup: SVS Ultra bookshelves, Parasound amp and Schiit Saga pre.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
treynolds155

Showing 6 responses by gdhal

You haven't mentioned whether or not your Gumby was the multibit version. Either way the Yggy is an upgrade. If your Gumby was multibit, I'm relatively certain the power supply is the biggest part of the upgrade to Yggy. 
@treynolds155

You’re very welcome.

Shadorne’s suggestion is perfectly valid, and in fact Benchmark does offer the consumer a much better trial period/policy than Schiit.

But we’ve beaten the Yggy/DAC 3 comparison to death and ad nauseam, most recently in the following threads. Besides, if you’re insistent on multi-bit (and why not be?) then the DAC 3 is out of any contention.

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/new-yggdrasil-first-and-second-impressions

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/schiit-yggdrasil-21-bit

EDIT:

If you’re able to get a hold of this album https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elegant_Gypsy in digital format it can become very easy to discern a difference among DACs.

Sorry, thought Gumby implied multibit. I’ve read several reviews comparing the Arcam as being very close to the Gungnir ds so I was actually thinking they mislabeled this as a Gumby.

@treynolds155

BTW, welcome to the forum! No need for an apology, but I'll gladly accept it! 

If "Gumby" implies "mulitbit" this is something I wasn't aware of. I thought is was just a "nick-name", like Jggy. I merely looked at the description on the Schiit website and noted there is a delta-sigma and multibit option.  http://www.schiit.com/products/gungnir

To your point about reviews indicating the Arcam and Gungnir are very close, while I haven't read those reviews (I own a Yggy), I do know that it *can* be difficult to discern a difference between DACs. Moreover, even if there is just a "slight" improvement/difference as *you* perceive it, then it may (your decision) still be worth the upgrade/change. If your system prior to Gungnir already sounded very good, it can be challenging to make improvements that are readily noticeable. I've always argued that if a change is introduced that is *obviously and immediately better*, then the level of sound quality to begin with should be called into question.
But seriously, shouldn't a good computer with good software be a "good" source.

Yes, it should. Many here on the forum though will site the fact that it isn't necessarily "good enough". However, I personally am in the camp of "relying" upon the Schiit DAC (Gungnir or Yggdrasil) to essentially "do their job correctly" and, therefore, negate the need for an optimized source. In fact those Schiit DACs have an indicator referred to as the "buy better gear" light. If it's off during playback, what's the issue?
There is just something about the sound that I can’t put my finger on....smoothness...air...less fatigue??

Right. I’ve found myself using the word more "authentic" sounding, albeit I have the Yggy. :)
ya got to keep rubbing it in about the Yggy gdhal lol
@treynolds155

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Only because I cannot say/write with first hand experience about how the Gungnir sounds and you wrote "...something about the sound that I can't put my finger on", did I mention the Yggy sounding authentic. And, I have little doubt your Gungnir also sounds authentic. I was merely "piggybacking" on your experience. I apologize if anything I wrote offended you in any way.