[adias]

My Yggy has undergone many upgrades over the years, from OG A1 to OG A2 to Yggy+ (chassis) and also to USB5 and then Unison.

I also bought LIM boards and listened to them for 6 months. I then switched back to OG A2 after 6 months and, to my taste, OG A2 is vastly superior to LIM. LIM sounds deeply veiled in comparison. I don't imagine I'll ever listen to LIM again.

My impression too having heard LIM at the Schiittr (even though I would not say LIM is veiled, I would think it is more HiFi like) and then deciding to order a Yggy+ OG without having heard it. My decision was based on the many opinions of owners of the top Yggy model (OG). What I hear sounds right, instrument timbre is correct and spatial cues are natural. I noticed that when other people hear it they instinctively tap their feet or start directing the ensemble with their hands; that tells me that it sounds real to them. Same recording played digitally through the Yggy or LP version played by my TT sound very similar - very close tone balance and sound field presentation. That tells me both are pretty right.

I am a believer in instantaneous differences gain, catastrophe theory. When 2 items are different their differences are emphasized in one's mind. When I hear that MIB has a distinct treble region that worries me - it may be very nice, very clear, but it should not stand out. To be real nothing in the sound field should stand out.

In any case, no FOMO here. I knew MIB was coming and still decided to get the OG. I suspect this MIB is an interim product as it does not have discrete balanced analog stages, a de facto requirement in all Schiit Audio top tier products. We will see what the future brings, but honestly I hear nothing missing in what I hear now.

Thanks to all who wrote about their MIB impressions and especially to @dstrimbu, someone I particularly respect!

Edit: clarification of 'top Yggy'.

 

[jonathan c]

I was told by a Dealer, back in Theta Digital days, when I asked, that there is no such thing as Gen 4, the number 4 having somewhat odd characteristics.

There is also this...

 

[Orange5o]

My impression too having heard LIM at the Schiittr (even though I would not say LIM is veiled, I would think it is more HiFi like) and then deciding to order a Yggy+ OG without having heard it. My decision was based on the many opinions of top Yggy owners. What I hear sounds right, instrument timbre is correct and spatial cues are natural. I noticed that when other people hear it they instinctively tap their feet or start directing the ensemble with their hands; that tells me that it sounds real to them. Same recording played digitally through the Yggy or LP version played by my TT sound very similar - very close tone balance and sound field presentation. That tells me both are pretty right.

I am a believer in instantaneous differences gain, catastrophe theory. When 2 items are different their differences are emphasized in one's mind. When I hear that MIB has a distinct treble region that worries me - it may be very nice, very clear, but it should not stand out. To be real nothing in the sound field should stand out.

In any case, no FOMO here. I knew MIB was coming and still decided to get the OG. I suspect this MIB is an interim product as it does not have discrete balanced analog stages, a de facto requirement in all Schiit Audio top tier products. We will see what the future brings, but honestly I hear nothing missing in what I hear now.

Thanks to all who wrote about their MIB impressions and especially to @dstrimbu, someone I particularly respect!

What is a "top Yggy owner"?

To be fair, I'm a LIM guy, and also installed and removed the 2/64 card in my Bifrost 2, so I am in the "flavor change" department as opposed to "upgrade" or not..

 

[jonathan c]

For those longing for a tube DAC… https://allnicaudio.com/product/d-10000_otl-ocl_dac/?ckattempt=1
.

too bad that it does not have R2R topology ...

 

[adias]

What is a "top Yggy owner"?

To be fair, I'm a LIM guy, and also installed and removed the 2/64 card in my Bifrost 2, so I am in the "flavor change" department as opposed to "upgrade" or not..

Need to clarify that... top as in top Yggy model.

LIM is a great DAC.

 

[theveterans]

Eight tubes in a DAC?...phooey.

It needs that much cascading tubes to lower the impedance enough to not cause damping issues with certain amps since it doesn't have a transformer being an OTL DAC

 

[Paladin79]

There is also this...

Traditionally, 4 is unlucky because it is sometimes pronounced shi, which is the word for death. Sometimes levels or rooms with 4 do not exist in hospitals or hotels. Particularly in the maternity section of a hospital, the room number 43 is avoided because it can literally mean "stillbirth".
This is in Japan.
I had to learn both Japanese and Chinese protocol at one point. How to bow, make toasts, use of chopsticks etc.

. The number 3 is an unlucky number in relationships. In Mandarin, the number 3 can sound like the word “apart,” so it's bad luck if it involves weddings or romance in general. However, apart from situations regarding relationships, the 3 is considered neutral or even positive.

My son performed a wedding in Japan (most anyone can) and if money is given as a wedding gift you should avoid the number 3, unless you disapproved of the union. Give say 333 dollars and you really dislike the couple.

 

[Orange5o]

Kreuz Market (about 20 miles east/south-east of Austin Airport
Any of the Coopers locations
Yeah - Franklin (good luck)
The Salt Lick (driftwood).

Dang, man, you can’t swing a stick in hill country without hitting excellent barbecue…

This (February) is the time of year I *miss* Texas (being in NH and it’s only 9F this AM)

In line at Franklin, probably should have brought a book.

 

[Ripper2860]

I'm confident it will be worth the wait.

 

[sixergixer]

There is the factor of my ever-practical wife: Kitchen and bathroom renos looming, acquiring a car in the Spring, travel this year, my Gumby stack giving me audio-pleasure surpassing anything I've had before it every time I fire it up...

Let's see....how to treat my FOMO after just squeaking a used Yggy OG A2/Unison into the budget before retiring and hearing how wonderful the MiB is. Do I ration the cat treats until I've saved enough for a MiB (or MiB++ by that time) or just take a deep breath and realize how much I enjoy the current Yggy? Give me a minute to make a latte, add some Irish Cream, toss on the headphones and cogitate.

I think both of you boys need to just settle DEEEEEEEP into some excellent tunes and forget that fraction-of-a-fractionally 'better' Yggys even exist.

 

[Ripper2860]

I think both of you boys need to just settle DEEEEEEEP into some excellent tunes and wonder how much better it would sound on a fractionally 'better' Yggy.

FTFY.

 

[Ohno Schiitizen]

I wonder why my Aegir is only luke warm .......

 

[corndog71]

I suspect this MIB is an interim product as it does not have discrete balanced analog stages, a de facto requirement in all Schiit Audio top tier products.

I’m pretty sure it’s still a balanced DAC.

 

[belgiangenius]

I’m pretty sure it’s still a balanced DAC.

His point was that it isn't discrete. It uses opamps.

 

[Ripper2860]

If I recall correctly, MIB uses opamps because to implement in a discrete fashion would have required reworking the Yggy power supply. Jason commented on this in a prior post.