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Schiit Yggdrasil DAC, why did they change it ?

Back in 2017 Schiit Audio introduced a DAC they called a Yggdrasil. It was well received to say the least and The Absolute Sound said after a break in period it sounded as good as any DAC. Some time ago they changed it and right now there are 3 versions available on their website. They are Less is More, More is Better, and GS2 (Garage Sale 2). The prices are $2299, $2699, $1699 respectively after the recent price increase. The difference is the first 2 use gen 2 cards and GS2 uses gen1 cards. Each DAC has 4 of these cards and the gen 1 cards cost a lot more ( Schiit says Uber expensive ). The GS2 uses cards they got when people upgraded to the new DACs and they kept the gen 1 cards. Mike Moffat said in an interview he did not want to have a product that cost more than $2500. I think the original just became too expensive to build and that’s why they went with much cheaper TI cards. They claim the new DACs sound better after they did complicated math and engineering. I think the original sounded better and the GS2 is at least as good as the new ones. I’ve seen "want to buy" ads for the original. Having said all of the above I want to say I’m a big fan of Schiit Audio and use their Freya+ preamp and the GS2 DAC. The rest of my system is a PSAudio S300 Amp and Herbeth 30.2 XD speakers.

carl292
decooney
1,972 posts
 

@moonwatcher not dark, that's for sure. I had come from some warmer dacs prior, and including an upgraded tube dac [different cap and tube options] too which was open but warmer too if that makes any sense. I needed a fill-in dac to use while I was deciding and eventually having another dac built a certain way (in the meantime) is how I ended up with the Schiit Bifront 2/64 multi-bit dac for a year or so. Also, I just wanted to try it for the entry price, and used it as a backup reference dac to other dacs. I found it to be quite neutral, open, with added nuance to the depth of detail in fact. Was not lush though.  Just plain neutral maybe. I'd rotate it in/out, and would say it's a bit more detailed than some dacs, coming with that newer TI multi-bit chip set in it, even with the filter switch.  Agree, if you want that extra finesse to the sound, I could see where many step to the Yggy. For me, I did want a little more warmth with a bit more lushness to the sound, and moved on. 

mike4597
89 posts
 

For Moonwatcher,  I have the Bifrost 2/64, and my hearing also rolls off at about 12.5 to 13 kHz.  I love the Bifrost, although the only other DAC I have experience with are those in my iPad Pro, the AQ Cobalt Dragonfly, and the ESS DAC in my Schiit Jotunheim.  Perhaps due to my hearing loss, I don’t notice a roll-off.  My  LPs—such as Sheffield LPs of the 1980s do sound more “brilliant” when the appropriate content is there, but the Bifrost, IMO, does a very good job.  I am particularly pleased with the imaging/soundstage (both lateral and depth) and tonal qualities of the instruments.as reproduced by my Rogue RP-7 tube preamp, Odyssey Kismet (upgraded almost to Kismet) SS monobloc amps, and Fyne F-702 speakers, augmented by a pair of Rythmik F12 subwoofers.  I’ve considered stepping up to the Yggdrasil MIB, but I wonder how much improvement I would get for three times the price.

katzenjammer27
39 posts
 

heading to Capital Audiofest this weekend and plan on auditioning several DACs. Not sure the Yggy will be there, but do know Geshelli Labs will be there, very interested in hearing the different versions of their Dayzee. I've been researching the Yggy, Dayzee and the LTA Aero. I'll listen to a bunch of others, will be hard to really tell due to all of these will be running different systems in different rooms, but I hope to determine their nature and help me decide which one I will order for home trials. Should be a fun weekend.

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