Schiit Audio’s Yggdrasil+ MIB Flagship DAC Improves Over Time

2023 has been a rather busy year for Schiit Audio; the company now manufactures its components in California and Texas and has introduced a number of new products including the URD CD transport, Hel+ gaming hub, Skoll phono pre-amplifier, and Midgard headphone amplifier.

A look look through the website reveals an expanded range of power amplifiers, headphone amplifiers, surround sound processors, pre-amplifiers and DACs.

On the DAC side, the flagship Yggdrasil is still offered in two different configurations (OG and Less is More), but all of that is about to change.

Schiit Audio has announced its Yggdrasil+ More is Better, or MIB for only $2,599 ($2,699 in the silver finish).

The new version of its best-selling DAC delivers the “best measured performance yet” according to Jason Stoddard, Schiit’s co-founder.

“These exceptional results are the result of Texas Instruments’ new DAC11001B IC,” said Jason Stoddard. “It has taken the precision DAC crown, across the entire audio band, from 20Hz to 20kHz.”

The DAC11001B IC is typically not used for consumer audio, but Schiit Audio is experienced at using its custom DSP-based digital filter to interface with ICs usually used in medical and defense applications. The Yggdrasil+ MIB uses 4 DAC11001Bs, one for each phase, in a hardware-balanced, differential application.

One of the benefits of buying from Schiit is that many of the products are easily upgradeable and that certainly applies to the Yggdrasil+ platform. According to Stoddard, the new MIB boards for existing Yggdrasil+ units will be available before the end of 2023.

The analog board upgrade cost is expected to be $800 USD.

“This highlights a key advantage of Yggdrasil,” said Jason Stoddard. “It’s the only completely modular, upgradable DAC, which makes it evergreen. Introduced 9 years ago, it’s perhaps the only DAC of its age that has grown and changed with the times, rather then being replaced by a new product.”

All Yggdrasil+

• Inputs: Unison USB, AES/EBU XLR, RCA SPDIF, BNC SPDIF, Optical SPDIF
  • Input Capability: up to 24/192 for all inputs
  • Input Receiver, SPDIF: AKM AK4113
  • Input Receiver, USB: Unison USB™,  based on Microchip PIC32 microprocessor
• Clock Management: Bitperfect clock management at all native sample rates via Adapticlock analysis and VCXO/VCO regeneration
• Digital Filter: proprietary Schiit time- and frequency-domain optimized digital filter implemented on Analog Devices SHARC DSP processor
• Output: One pair XLR balanced and two pairs RCA single-ended
• Output Impedance: 75 ohms
• Power Supply: two transformers (one for digital supplies, one for analog supplies) plus one input choke for discrete, dual mono, shunt-regulated analog +/-24V supply, plus 12 or more separate local regulated supplies for DACs and digital sections, including high-precision, low-noise LM723 regulation in critical areas.
• Upgradability: Fully modular architecture. Separate digital input board, USB input board, DSP engine board, and DAC/analog output boards.
• Power Consumption: 45W 
• Size: 16 x 13” x 2.875”
• Weight: 25 lbs

Yggy+ MIB (More is Better)

• Frequency Response, Analog Stage: 20Hz-20Khz, +/-0.1dB, 0.5Hz-100KHz, -1dB
• Maximum Output: 4.0V RMS (balanced), 2.0V RMS (single-ended)
• THD+N: -118dB referenced to full output (0.0001%), -96dB at 20kHz, 90kHz bandwidth
• IMD: <0.0002%, CCIF, at full output
• SNR: > 128dB, referenced to 4V RMS
• D/A Conversion IC: Texas Instruments DAC11001B x 4 (2 per channel, dual hardware balanced configuration)
• Analog Stage: Integrated, using LME49724 differential stage 

Yggdrasil+ MIB is available now at schiit.com for $2,599 in black, $2,699 in silver.

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