Thoughts on a bunch of DACs (and why delta-sigma kinda sucks, just to get you to think about stuff)

[negura]

   
That makes no sense.  $1000 is less than half of the cost of a Yggy.  You can get 2-3 vintage Thetas for that price (backups in case one burns out from being old) and have something that's close to the Yggy for a fraction of the cost.  
 
I'm sure the Yggdrasil is a wonderful DAC... I have heard it and very much enjoyed it... but the hype train needs to take step back and listen to itself once in a while.  Lord!

 
I have two Theta Gen V/VAs. At 2300$ if the Yggdrasil sounds at the same level of the Theta or very close, it's a worthy buy. Why:
 
1. You get USB (that saves cost - which can be A LOT; if it's any good that is - I don't know. Yet. It also saves OCD time with interfaces/cables)
2. You get warranty
3. It shouldn't give you stress tomorrow it might die (for a long long time to come).
4. You can get it serviced easily
5. Good luck finding a Theta these days. I have it in my daily searches and haven't seen a Gen V in months now.
 
There is something going for the Theta too:
1. IF power failure, a few minutes is all it takes to get my almost optimal sound quality back
 
That said, my Thetas' aren't likely going anywhere in a rush. They're too darn good, an amazing piece of vintage gear that does teach a lesson or two even today, and I have multiple rigs. If the Yggdrasil is really good, I may decide to sell one at some point.

 

[purrin]

  So if I want to buy a current model DAC, my two choices are: 
1 - Buy a Yggy
2 - Be anally penetrated
Am I reading that right?

 
option 3: wait for Yggy trickle down.

 

[Sonic Defender]

   
option 3: wait for Yggy trickle down.

I know I'm lurking around curious about such a thing. We have seen Valhalla 2, Asgard 2, Modi and Magni 2. Me thinks a Gungnir 2 has a nice ring to it. Time will tell of course.

 

[Currawong]

My thoughts so far are if you get an SD DAC, get one with 384k USB input and use software on your computer, such as Audirvana (Mac) which has iZotope built in. Then use that to up-sample all music 2x/4x/8x to 352.8/384k. That will bypass the crappy built-in filters on many DACs. It had a very positive effect on the Aurender Flow, which is ES9018K2M-based. Still not R2R, but if you've never experienced what is possible (remember that Purrin has ruined himself) then you'll probably find the results very satisfying. 

 

[freddy1201]

  My thoughts so far are if you get an SD DAC, get one with 384k USB input and use software on your computer, such as Audirvana (Mac) which has iZotope built in. Then use that to up-sample all music 2x/4x/8x to 352.8/384k. That will bypass the crappy built-in filters on many DACs. It had a very positive effect on the Aurender Flow, which is ES9018K2M-based. Still not R2R, but if you've never experienced what is possible (remember that Purrin has ruined himself) then you'll probably find the results very satisfying. 

So i should put iZotope off with Yggy?

 
 
Edit: it was already off

 

[EraserXIV]

 
So i should put iZotope off with Yggy?

 

[Clemmaster]

 
So i should put iZotope off with Yggy?

You can try and see how it compares to Mike Moffat's mega-burrito filter.

 

[Currawong]

Would be an interesting comparison, but not necessary. iZotope appears to be much better than what is in a regular DAC, but the Yggy isn't a regular DAC.
 
I should add: Some "regular" DACs have DSPs or the like where the company has designed their own filter, eg: Berkeley Alpha, Cambridge and others. They tend to be be a bit better.

 

[freddy1201]

 

Ok i will test it for you guys 

 

[Stillhart]

  I think the point is that if you are looking and willing to spend $1000+ on a DAC at all....you are probably looking for the best your money can buy, and if you can hold out, you might as well save for, what some say, is the best offering in recent history.
 
I get it and I used the same thought process. I was going to by Gungnir, but thought, 'I'll probably end up wanting Yggy.....might as well just go for it!'    If you cant swing it.....then don't....simple as that.

 
Hype Train = calling the Yggy "the best your money can buy" when it's been out for less than a week.  You are proving my point.
 

   
You're looking at this all wrong.  Buying the Yggy is saving you $9,000 US over the price of a dCS Debussey.

 
Buying a Theta for (conservatively) $500 on eBay is saving you $1800 US over the Yggy.  See, I can do that too!
 

   
I have two Theta Gen V/VAs. At 2300$ if the Yggdrasil sounds at the same level of the Theta or very close, it's a worthy buy. Why:
 
1. You get USB (that saves cost - which can be A LOT; if it's any good that is - I don't know. Yet. It also saves OCD time with interfaces/cables)
2. You get warranty
3. It shouldn't give you stress tomorrow it might die (for a long long time to come).
4. You can get it serviced easily
5. Good luck finding a Theta these days. I have it in my daily searches and haven't seen a Gen V in months now.
 
There is something going for the Theta too:
1. IF power failure, a few minutes is all it takes to get my almost optimal sound quality back
 
That said, my Thetas' aren't likely going anywhere in a rush. They're too darn good, an amazing piece of vintage gear that does teach a lesson or two even today, and I have multiple rigs. If the Yggdrasil is really good, I may decide to sell one at some point.

 
Again, for the price difference, you can afford several Thetas (or Monarchys or whatever), a nice USB transport and have money in your pocket.  Why stress about a warranty or service (points 2, 3, 4 are all basically the same) when you can just replace it when it breaks and STILL have money left over?
 
And your point 5 is fallacious as I (not to mention several people I know) picked up a Theta only a few weeks ago.
 
My point here is that the Yggy isn't the only game in town.  Yes, it sounds good.  No, it's not the only R2R DAC you can get.  Even if we ignore the vintage stuff for a minute, there's still the Audio-GD DAC-19 which can be purchased brand new for $800, with all the accompanying warranty and service.  Will is sound as good as the Yggy?  Probably not.  But it's 1/3 the price and it's R2R.  

 

[freddy1201]

   
Hype Train = calling the Yggy "the best your money can buy" when it's been out for less than a week.  You are proving my point.
 
 
Buying a Theta for (conservatively) $500 on eBay is saving you $1800 US over the Yggy.  See, I can do that too!
 
 
Again, for the price difference, you can afford several Thetas (or Monarchys or whatever), a nice USB transport and have money in your pocket.  Why stress about a warranty or service (points 2, 3, 4 are all basically the same) when you can just replace it when it breaks and STILL have money left over?
 
And your point 5 is fallacious as I (not to mention several people I know) picked up a Theta only a few weeks ago.
 
My point here is that the Yggy isn't the only game in town.  Yes, it sounds good.  No, it's not the only R2R DAC you can get.  Even if we ignore the vintage stuff for a minute, there's still the Audio-GD DAC-19 which can be purchased brand new for $800, with all the accompanying warranty and service.  Will is sound as good as the Yggy?  Probably not.  But it's 1/3 the price and it's R2R.  

Ok we get it, you don't want Yggy, but some people are willing (like me) to pay more to have a better sounding and reliable product. Good for you and your wallet if you're ok with a vintage theta or a lesser sac! 
 
Different people, different needs
Cheers! 

 

[estreeter]

  So if I want to buy a current model DAC, my two choices are: 
1 - Buy a Yggy
2 - Be anally penetrated
Am I reading that right?

 
You're assuming this has to be an either/or proposition. 

 

[Stillhart]

 
Ok we get it, you don't want Yggy, but some people are willing (like me) to pay more to have a better sounding and reliable product. Good for you and your wallet if you're ok with a vintage theta or a lesser sac! 
 
Different people, different needs
Cheers! 

 
My issue is with those who are advising people that they should "just save up" for a Yggy no matter what budget we're talking about.  
 
By all means, spend your own money however you like.  But when advising others on how to spend their money, I take a more conservative stance.
 

 

[EraserXIV]

Thetas aren't in production anymore, you can't guarantee a unit will be easily obtainable when your unit breaks. But for the sake of argument let's say there is one on the auction site when yours goes kaput... The hassle of waiting 7-days for the auction to end, going through a bidding war without an guarantee that I will win it, and the time without a DAC while I'm waiting for said replacement to arrive is worth $1300 to me.

 

[Stillhart]

  Thetas aren't in production anymore, you can't guarantee a unit will be easily obtainable when your unit breaks. But for the sake of argument let's say there is one on the auction site when yours goes kaput... The hassle of waiting 7-days for the auction to end, going through a bidding war without an guarantee that I will win it, and the time without a DAC while I'm waiting for said replacement to arrive is worth $1300 to me.

 
And others don't have that $1300 to spend, whether they value it or not.