Schiit Vidar Impression Thread - UPDATED WITH REVIEW (CHECK FIRST POST)

With the amps having different sound signatures, wouldn't there be an issue with cohesiveness and integration between the speaker drivers?

 

Thank you Mr Puma Cat, yes it is, the sony works like player, I send to you the videos links on PM or conversation! I have a new video with vinyl performance!

 

Agreed, and one of the reasons I really like REL subs. Small side-note: I performed a DOE some years back to optimally integrate my REL sub into my speaker-based system. I should put that up in the Measurements section soon so folks can see the approach.

 

Do you mean because of speaker level inputs? Does REL handle it differently from other subs?

 

REL uses leads which connect directly to the output taps of the power amplifier to the sub. In RELs view, this is the best way to do this, and personally, I would agree. Many other Sub mfrs use an interconnect from the preamp to the sub.

 

Those of us HT guys with top-end processors can also route the full-range signal without any LPF/HPF or bass management to the sub via the LFE output when listening to stereo content, so it's effectively the same thing without speaker inputs.

 

REL makes some great subwoofers, but speaker level input is a common feature. I've been researching subwoofers for a possible purchase, and all of the ones I've seen (across different brands) have both line level and speaker level input jacks.

 

While I can appreciate why you might want to do that, to me it's a rather strange approach. I have significant doubts that anyone can hear the "character" of the amp behind the subwoofer's amplifier, as frequency decrease we get worse and worse at determining subtle differences.

IMO, it is of far greater importance to manage your bass integration in the time and frequency domains (which we are very sensitive to, particularly time) - and as many hifi systems as I have heard that use the sort of setup you are describing (a couple dozen), I've yet to hear one where I wouldn't consider the bass integration "meh" at best compared to a well optimized/integrated line level subwoofer that's been properly EQ'ed and delayed.

 

Have there been any impressions posted of anyone running dual mono Vidars with 8 ohm, lower sensitivity speakers? I'm running ATC SCM19s with a single Vidar, but in a fairly small room, so wondering if there would be much benefit other than more potential volume, which I don't need.

 

The SCM19 is most definitely bi-amp friendly.

 

Hmm interesting - what kind of improvements did you hear from this setup? I assume it's as simple as just running one set of SE outs from Saga into each amp?

 

Do you guys think the Vidar will be enough amp for a pair of Magnepan .7s with the DWM bass panel? I'm in an apartment so I don't plan on playing them super loudly. I'm having a hell of a time trying to pick an amp.

 

You'll be just fine.

 

I'd really like to know as the issue seemed to be quite unusual.

 

This was already explained by Jason over on the CA forum:

What’s weird is that we can’t reproduce the problem on any of the Vidars we have currently in stock.


Because of this, I dug into Chris’ amps some more:

Tested the Zobels to make sure they were connected and not fried—they were fine
Replaced the Zobels with current production parts—no change
Changed the compensation capacitors to current production parts—and that fixed it

Now, this makes no sense. Changing a like-for-like part shouldn’t make any difference. Unfortunately, I didn’t keep the comp caps I took out of Chris’ amps to measure (and you can’t measure them in circuit, they’re tiny, low-value 0805 SMD parts.)


So what happened? I’m not completely sure. Perhaps some amps got the wrong comp caps in them, even though they are surface-mount and robotically placed, and you’d think that would be very unlikely. The parts are unmarked, and most small SMD caps look the same, so they can’t be identified visually.


Because of this, we’re adding a new stability test to the Vidar production process, using an RLC network that mimics the cable Chris sent us. This is in addition to the standard process which includes automated instrumented test, load testing, 1 day burn-in, and a listening test. We’ll also notify Vidar owners in the same batch as Chris’ amps that if they are experiencing operational oddities, we’ll swap them out at our cost.


But, in any case, if you have Vidars that are behaving oddly, contact us and we’ll get you taken care of. ​

 

Ah, I must've missed that. Thanks!

 

For speakers with 89dB spl (2.83VRMS, 1m), would you recommend one Vidar or 2 used as monoblocks?