[Ableza]

Very nice work on both devices, Mr. Moffatt.  Thank you.

 

[schneller]

I invited some Headfiers over to my place last weekend. We did extensive A/Bing of GMB and Yiggy on my system: HTPC source (JRiver/FLAC files from NAS; TIDAL HIFI, etc.) > DAC > NAIM SuperNait2 amp > Dynaudio Focus 260 speakers. 
 
The differences between the two were clear on such a resolving system. 
 
(SE output was used in each case.)
 
The Yiggy clearly...
-Was more resolving
-Was more nuanced
-Offered more insight and detail into the music
-Offered better "black" levels / lower noise
-Perhaps a tad better imaging
-Offers a detailed, yet non-fatiguing and addictive sound
 
The GMB...
-Offers less detail
-Sounds a tad "warmer" than Yiggy
-Is cheaper
-Has a more manageable footprint
-Is available in black
 
 
Other thoughts:
-I too wondered how much of Yiggy's advantages come down to its USB 3 implementation. 
-I prefer either to the Audio-GD 19 (10th Anniversary edition)
-Other DACs that fall in between the two GMB and Yiggy price points that still may be strong competitors: Ayre CODEX and Chord 2Qute
-By the time you spend $1250 on the GMB, what's another $800 for the Yiggy? 
-In hindsight, I still think the Yiggy is the one I want. It is addictive.

 

[prismstorm]

Speaking of which, will the GMB ever get upgrades to USB gen 3? I live overseas and am holding off buying waiting for the GMB to get this 'meaningful upgrade', since it will be a hassle to get it now and then having to send it back to the States just to get the USB upgraded once it's announced.

 

[Peaceofmind]

Yes the USB Gen 3 will be available for the Gumby as an upgrade once Schiit secures a larger quantity of USB Gen 3 boards. Right now the quantity at hand are being reserved for the Yggy. When that will be, I don't know.

 

[Peaceofmind]

By the way, the word "addictive" to describe the Yggy keeps popping up which has me leaning to buy that DAC.

 

[tjl5709]

By the way, the word "addictive" to describe the Yggy keeps popping up which has me leaning to buy that DAC.

Having moved from a bifrost/lyr2 stack to a gumby/mj2 stack I can tell ya the multibit platform is very addicting. Where as I enjoyed listening to the bf uber/lyr2, I am completly addicted to the gb/mj2. I can't get enough.
 
My music collection sounds completly different. I hear stuff I never knew was there. My old favorites that I have listened to for years are revealing new details.
 
Prior to getting the new stack, I never understood the benefits of a good dac and the impact it could play. But spending time here, and other forums, I kept seeing people list the upgrade path and impact as headphone>dac>amp. I now get it.
 
What ever one you end up with, you will not regret it.

 

[artur9]

Speaking of which, will the GMB ever get upgrades to USB gen 3? 

I thought either Jason or Mike said USB 3 is reserved for the Yggy.

 

[prismstorm]

  I thought either Jason or Mike said USB 3 is reserved for the Yggy.

Well here's to hoping that it trickles down just like the multibit thing did ... 
 
They also said Gungnir would be fully upgradeable and they would do so when 'meaningful upgrades' present themselves, certainly hoping that USB 3 is a meaningful upgrade ... 

 

[Peaceofmind]

Mike said once the circuits that go into making the USB Gen 3 become more availability, a USB Gen 3 upgrade will be offer.

 

[Dalgas]

I'm going to speculate the main difference between the two is the use of the USB Gen 2 on the Gumby vs USB Gen 3 on the Yggy.

Good point!
 
I have tried my Gumby with a Stello U3 USB/spdif converter and it totally blew the USB gen 2 out of the water!!! The sound via USB gen 2 was dull and boring and the soundstage a lot smaller than via the Stello U3.
 
The gen 2 USB is not bad but the Stello U3 is just a totally different beast!

 

[Dalgas]

I have been looking for an "outboard" USB/spdif for a while and have just settled for a Yellowtec PUC Lite. The Yellowtec should be better than the Stello U3 and even better than the Audiophilleo + purepower.
 
Only problem is that Yellowtec ONLY has AES output. But a simple XLR to RCA (or BNC) cable should do the trick. I contacted Schiit about it and Nick T. replied: "I  would recommend using the Neutrik or similar balance to single ended transformer to get the impedance correct.
 
Otherwise it should work."
 
Anyone tried the Yellowtec???

 

[artur9]

  I have been looking for an "outboard" USB/spdif for a while and have just settled for a Yellowtec PUC Lite. 

I'm using a wyred4sound link + wyrd.  Loving the sound.

 

[Peaceofmind]

I don't think AES and RCA/BNC are interchangeable, not only are the impedance different but the so are the voltage. The AES voltage can be 10 time higher.

 

[RCBinTN]

 
Having moved from a bifrost/lyr2 stack to a gumby/mj2 stack I can tell ya the multibit platform is very addicting. Where as I enjoyed listening to the bf uber/lyr2, I am completly addicted to the gb/mj2. I can't get enough.
 
My music collection sounds completly different. I hear stuff I never knew was there. My old favorites that I have listened to for years are revealing new details.
 
Prior to getting the new stack, I never understood the benefits of a good dac and the impact it could play. But spending time here, and other forums, I kept seeing people list the upgrade path and impact as headphone>dac>amp. I now get it.
 
What ever one you end up with, you will not regret it.

 
I have followed a similar path and arrived at the same conclusion about the importance of the DAC in my rig.
 
My progression was:  UberBi - Gungnir - GMB.  Every step improved the SQ.  The last one improved it so much that I realized the DAC plays a primary role in the rig vs. the amplifier.  I mean, I already had decent amps, but the MB upgrade made everything sound much better.  By much better, I mean more instrument clarity and resolution / lower floor / much better sound stage.
 
Net - the music sounds more realistic.
 
However, based on the Yggr posts, it may be time to take the next (final) step...
 
In the meantime, I am really enjoying my music.  That's what it is about.  

 

[tjl5709]

   
I have followed a similar path and arrived at the same conclusion about the importance of the DAC in my rig.
 
My progression was:  UberBi - Gungnir - GMB.  Every step improved the SQ.  The last one improved it so much that I realized the DAC plays a primary role in the rig vs. the amplifier.  I mean, I already had decent amps, but the MB upgrade made everything sound much better.  By much better, I mean more instrument clarity and resolution / lower floor / much better sound stage.
 
Net - the music sounds more realistic.
 
However, based on the Yggr posts, it may be time to take the next (final) step...
 
In the meantime, I am really enjoying my music.  That's what it is about.  

 
Yep. I cuncur. Mines on order..............