Yggy, Now in 3 "Flavors"

 

September 9, 2021, Valencia, CA USA. Schiit Audio announced today the availability of two new Yggdrasil variants, or “flavors,” as well as re-affirming the ongoing availability of the current Yggdrasil Analog 2. One new variant (Less is More) is the lowest-cost new-production Yggdrasil ever offered. Another new variant (More is Less) is the highest-measured-performance multibit DAC based on an integrated D/A converter, besting all “golden age” multibit converters from the past. All 3 versions will be sold concurrently.

 

“Once you reach this level of performance, it’s really about system synergy, or ‘flavors,’” said Mike Moffat, Schiit Audio’s co-founder and head of digital development. “This is based on doing 10 different versions of the Yggdrasil’s analog boards, evaluating them in Yggdrasil’s modular architecture, and getting feedback from early listeners. Due to this, we decided to introduce multiple Yggy flavors, rather than mandating a single upgrade path.”

 

Mike acknowledges this decision goes against standard industry practice of proclaiming the new model as an unquestioned “great leap forward,” or “birth of a new world,” but defends the decision with the fact that audio frequently doesn’t have linear paths of improvement. 

 

“We hear from people using 20- or 30-year-old DACs, who think they are better than new models,” Jason Stoddard, Mike’s business partner, added. “There are frequent ‘rediscoveries’ of older products—legendary Class-A amplifiers, specific tube preamps and power amps…and of course, turntables and tubes. The idea that the new model is perfect for everyone may not be, well, entirely grounded in reality.”

 

With the introduction of the new models, the Yggdrasil lineup looks like this:

All new Yggdrasil models are completely modular and fully upgradable, and include Schiit’s Unison USB input as standard. In addition, all current Yggdrasils, including GS and Analog 1, can be upgraded to any flavor, without having to come back to the factory. Upgrade costs are $450 for the Less is More, $550 for More is Less, and $750 for OG. However, availability of upgrades may be temporarily limited, due to short supply of critical components.

 

All new Yggdrasil models are fully DC coupled and include a choke-input, shunt-regulated power supply. Less is More and More is Less use integrated differential amplification and summing after the D/A converter, while OG uses discrete buffers and summers. 

 

All Yggdrasils were designed and built in California, with the vast majority of cost going to US companies making parts in the USA. Schiit’s chassis are produced at a partner in California, and its PCBs come from California, Nevada, or Utah. Schiit maintains production facilities in Valencia, CA and Corpus Christi, TX. 

 

All Yggdrasil flavors are available to purchase at schiit.com today.

 

Founded in 2010 by Jason Stoddard and Mike Moffat, Schiit has grown into a leader in affordable high-end audio, with a wide range of products spanning DACs, headphone amplifiers, and preamplifiers, from $49 to $2599. 

 

Denise Martin, [email protected]