Yggdrasil: A (P)review - Two days of paradise

[Maxx134]

MF owns the combo. I've heard from quite a few happy customers.

I have mixed speaker/headphone usage and my HD800s are top priority so the Ragnarok makes sense. It's also by far the most resolving SS amp I've heard. The SE out is about on par with my Klone, which I prefer to the balanced output of my previous balanced dynahi which I rank above the GSX MK2. The balanced out on the Ragnarok is a clear step up over the Klone.

Members personal rankings mean more to me than any reviews.
I really thank you for sharing.

Abyss arrives with me on Monday, will be interesting with regards to your last comment zero (as I run a speaker setup also).

If possible I would like to know two more things not asked yet, if you or anyone who had opportunity with the Yggdrasil can comment on:

1-Does it run slightly warn, warm or hot to the touch?

2-I presume it can handle the weight of the Ragnarok on top?
Any comments appreciated..

I think "some" of the topics so far here are both interesting and on point,
in that once you have a good dac& at this level you need to concentrate on your source wich is laptop for me...

 

[Maxx134]

....

I only hear Music from the Theatre Pipe Organ....

I did listen this Music over HD800 and LAu and I could tell you, that nothing happens, its so one dimmension and dull in the bass section. No feeling and emotion, no live sound.

What the hell of diffrent when I did listen to TO Music with the Abyss ...
...

Ralf

Sounds to me you like big planar bass and should here the LCD X & 3 as well as new he1k coming soon.

The bass on the hd800 is very fast/refined/articulate which I can also concur that it can be a bit airy or lacking in impact pressure(depending), but what you like in planar bass is an almost exaggerated quality in planars...
I like and prefer that bass as well..

 

[FiftyKilo]

Yes, the sound of big magentic planars is beutiful and very special. Concerning the coming He1K, he looks so flimsy and simple ! I trust the sturdy  and rigid construction of Joe's Abyss. Thats fine workmanship from people who knows what they are doeing. His aspect of the construction was to build the best, doesn't matter it will cost. 
I like this thinking !
Regards Ralf

 

[reddog]

+1 That is a good suggestion, I have a old 1976 Kenwood Reciever and some other audio stuff, I could sell off.

 

[Yoga]

I can't wait for this DAC.
 
I'm well and truly strapped into the hype train - front row, center seat, hands gripping the bar, white knuckles...

 

[bearFNF]

I know this is a few days late but here it is anyway (back side of the yggdrasil):

 

[conquerator2]

Did anyone have chance to compare using Yggy's balanced vs single-ended outputs?
How much difference there is?
Thanks

 

[zerodeefex]

Did anyone have chance to compare using Yggy's balanced vs single-ended outputs?
How much difference there is?
Thanks

I used the SE outputs with the Klone and it was still the best DAC I've heard with the Klone. The Yggy > Klone was better than the PWD MKII > Rag FWIW.

 

[conquerator2]

How was Yggy - Ragnarok?
Purely as a headphone amp, how do you like it?

 

[zerodeefex]

  How was Yggy - Ragnarok?
Purely as a headphone amp, how do you like it?

 
It's a great amp. With the rug liner only from the Anax 2.0 mod, it was a phenomenal pairing.
 
Last night, CEE TEE heard the TransDAC > Ragnarok > HD800 modded and he was suitably impressed. 

 

[Yoga]

I'd love to know how the LAu pairs with the Yggy!

 

[mulder01]

SOUNDS GOOD, but I don't see how it can be super revealing but a little warm and how it can bring out every imperfection in a bad recording but still be great to listen to and show you everything you've never heard before without being too in your face.  Don't those things kinda contradict each other? It almost seems like you've just listed every favorable quality that the general market is looking for and said it has all of them at the same time.  Don't get me wrong, I'd like to believe that somehow you're right, but it sounds almost too good to be true.

 

[zerodeefex]

  SOUNDS GOOD, but I don't see how it can be super revealing but a little warm and how it can bring out every imperfection in a bad recording but still be great to listen to and show you everything you've never heard before without being too in your face.  Don't those things kinda contradict each other? It almost seems like you've just listed every favorable quality that the general market is looking for and said it has all of them at the same time.  Don't get me wrong, I'd like to believe that somehow you're right, but it sounds almost too good to be true.

 
Real, live music has all kinds of detail and yet sound cohesive and musical at the same time. I've never heard little cues like a scuff of feet on the floor during a live performance and thought "damn, that ruins this feeling for me." 
 
The Yggy is crazy revealing while maintaining a spot on tonal balance. Super enjoyable to listen to. I've never ever had a system get out of the way as much as my chain did with the Yggy in it. You can be disbelieving if you want, but the proof will be in the pudding when it is released. Ask some of the folks like jazzfan or Bill-P who got a listen at my place what they heard. Tons of folks with tons of different preferences (Bill-P likes things warm and a little bassy while I tend toward liking a little more top end air) all loved the thing.

 

[reddog]

Real, live music has all kinds of detail and yet sound cohesive and musical at the same time. I've never heard little cues like a scuff of feet on the floor during a live performance and thought "damn, that ruins this feeling for me." 

The Yggy is crazy revealing while maintaining a spot on tonal balance. Super enjoyable to listen to. I've never ever had a system get out of the way as much as my chain did with the Yggy in it. You can be disbelieving if you want, but the proof will be in the pudding when it is released. Ask some of the folks like jazzfan or Bill-P who got a listen at my place what they heard. Tons of folks with tons of different preferences (Bill-P likes things warm and a little bassy while I tend toward liking a little more top end air) all loved the thing.

Every time I hear such positive impressions of the mighty Yggdrasil, I want to happily sell my kidney to pay for this dac of the norse gods.

 

[Stillhart]

   
Real, live music has all kinds of detail and yet sound cohesive and musical at the same time. I've never heard little cues like a scuff of feet on the floor during a live performance and thought "damn, that ruins this feeling for me." 
 
The Yggy is crazy revealing while maintaining a spot on tonal balance. Super enjoyable to listen to. I've never ever had a system get out of the way as much as my chain did with the Yggy in it. You can be disbelieving if you want, but the proof will be in the pudding when it is released. Ask some of the folks like jazzfan or Bill-P who got a listen at my place what they heard. Tons of folks with tons of different preferences (Bill-P likes things warm and a little bassy while I tend toward liking a little more top end air) all loved the thing.

 
This is the kind of thing I found myself saying after listening to the HE-1000.  I can't say enough good about them and people just don't believe me.  Well the proof will be in the pudding.  Many others have heard them and agree.
 
Hearing this about the Yggy makes me really interested now.