Anyone seen this 3 way comparison between Theta V A, Schiit Yggdrasil and MSB Analog with Quad USB:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/msb-analog/reviews/13668
The MSB Analogs I've heard never struck me as more neutral and less warm than the Yggy. That's bizarre. More air and treble too? Weird. More resolving?? All I can surmise is most of those impressions were done via USB and that ifi USB/Coax converter and ESound CD player must pretty much suck. USB is the worst input on the Yggy, period, the end. Also, if that 2A3mkIV is only SE input then he is listening through the Yggy's summers. No 3-pin to RCA cable will be transparent to the Yggy's balanced output either. I've tried.
This is also the second time I've heard the Yggy fare more poorly compared to other DACs from someone using network streaming for critical evaluation. I've also never heard any MSB or any other DAC remove itself from the chain's digital signature as well as the yggy. The background simply melts away. Yeah, it's grey and less black from the FETs, but it leaves the digital information naked on it's own out there.
I don't doubt what they heard, but I doubt how definitive and comprehensive their test protocols are. Too many red flags to me that are easy to explain. I don't even know wtf the point of having that silly converter was.
Here's a laughable impression from 6moons on that CD player to prove my point:
"If you need to hear every single carbonation bubble burst, you might feel cheated here. Not me though. While knowing that more remains possible, I can live without out it especially considering long-term comfort. To boot, the treble isn't opaque. Rather, it's elegantly discreet to never run the risk of a digital alarm clock which can otherwise disturb the €1,000 range."
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/eastsound/eastsound.htmlTranslation? The CD player is no bueno. Why would you feed a 4 digit DAC that garbage to test for transparency?
I dare say that reviewer has not heard either of those DACs at their best. It's all about perspective and variables. Nice effort on their part however. I just wouldn't count it as authoritative.
Edit-One other point to consider. Use of language. Our uses of terms like 'warm' might not be the same.