Schiit Midgard Review, Impressions, Measurements, Science

It's a hum, sounds like a ground hum.

@jeromeof could you post a photo of the power supply / wall wart? Just so we can see if we have the same one.

 

I was wrong, the buzzing is there on my unit as well. It's faint and only there when I touch the volume knob. On my unit, the buzzing starts around 9 o'clock and continues to increase in volume until around 12. After that, it decreases in volume until max volume where it's completely silent.

To be clear, the buzzing is only there while I'm touching/holding the volume knob. There is no buzzing when the volume is set and audio is playing.

My listening level with an HD650 is below 9 o'clock, so I've never noticed the buzzing before.

On my unit, it doesn't sound like a ground hum, it's just a faint buzzing noise.

 

Ok, interesting.

So the unit just buzz or hums when you touch the volume knob.

That's three people across US, EU, and Asia Pacific.

 

I recall this used to be common in DIY amps if the volume pot itself wasn't grounded. Usually not a safety or design issue, just a bit weird.

 

This is the UK power supply - the Midgard needs between 14V-16V and between 1A -2A hence why I was thinking I might try some alternative power supplies.

 

If you're having trouble, just contact us and have it swapped out. It's a cost-free swap if it arrived like that.

 

Thanks, have done just so. But is it working as intented if 3 people here are reporting the issue?

 

Ah yea, that's the one I have too. Maybe this one will work and benefit of not being a wallwart:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004067801580.html

 

That's still just a step down transformer. It's not going to change anything in relation to grounding or hum.

And wallwart vs box is not really any different. The point is just to keep the stray magnetic field from the transformer away from the amp.

 

I got a rep[acement for the Midgard and the problem with the volume pot has disappeared, I would guess possible an early batch had a problem but they have fixed the problem now.
Anyway, excellent customer support from @schiit as normal

 

I've had mine for a couple days now. I listen pretty much exclusively to Planars such as LCD-X and Edition XS
and I find I prefer the Midgard SE output with some phones. My initial impression with the Halo especially with the XS was that it sounded a bit whooshy and stretched. If i have time on the weekend I will dig out some dynamic driver phones and see where that goes.

I did a quick comparison to the Bakoon HPA-01 current output which is my gold standard for Planars and feel I prefer the Midgard SE. It's very close.

 

@Sanlitun I've never seen/heard whooshy and stretched be used as audio terminology. Do you mind elaborating?

 

The Edition XS have a very wide soundstage and I felt they sounded diffuse and unnatural with the staging the Halo output seems to provide.

The more intimate LCD-X on the other hand take on a whole new character and I really enjoy them with Halo.

Interestingly I could tell the difference between Halo and SE outputs with the very low impedance LCD-X

 

Same with mine (EU)
But I have the noise on my xlr output too.
Also the wall wart make so much noise

Pls check these 2 videos https://imgur.com/a/IDIcKyh

 

@micr0g Interesting, my wall wart doesn't make any noise. Someone with greater expertise and knowledge of electrical components or Schiit themselves might be able to tell you what's going on with your situation. I don't have any noise from the XLR either, other than the buzzing/hum when the volume knob is touched.

Maybe contact Schiit and show them your video of the wall wart to see what they say.

 

Thanks for the answer
Did you try to put Midgard on high gain and touch the vol knob?

 

I've had the same problem with that wall wart on my Magnius and Midgard. Schiit sent me replacements for both, they had to replace them twice until I eventually got one that was silent.

The Schiit marked wallwarts for something like the Modi Multibit is silent, or at least the ones I've had. It's these ones with the red writing on the label that gives me problems.

Anyways, Schiits good about sending stuff for replacement even if you're international.

 

I have Midgard in high gain at all times and as I said in my original post, the buzz/hum is only apparent when the volume knob is being touched.

 

Yes this is what you said but now I'm talking for the hum coming out of my speakers, it's more noticeable when you have the Midgard on high gain.
I still don't understand if the amplifier work like this or if it is defected but as @jeromeof said Schiit exchanged his amp with a new one and there is no hum.
Do you plan to keep it as it is?Doesn't it bother you?

I like so much the sound that it comes from Midgard that I want to keep it forever lol