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

Discussion in 'Power Amps' started by Rotijon, Jul 17, 2017.

  1. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    is she a midget?

    edit: sorry... "little person"
     
  2. deserat

    deserat Acquaintance

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    More "not" production problems ;) This time an email went out, which is nice. Was kinda expecting this one given Schiit offices are right near Santa Clarita fire - but linkage is just conjecture.

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    Thank you for placing your order for Vidar. Unfortunately, I have some disappointing news. We have experienced an unexpected production delay on the board production line where the next Vidar build is scheduled to run. This has pushed the arrival date of the first batch of boards back from the end of this week (12/15) to the end of next week (12/22). There will not be enough time to properly build, configure, burn-in, and test your Vidar and ship in time for Christmas. I apologize for this delay. I am working with our board house to see if we can get the boards a few days sooner but honestly, I don’t expect there to be much chance for an earlier delivery. I do anticipate shipping in the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Once the boards are delivered to Schiit, we will get them out to you as quickly as possible. Please accept my personal apologies.
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  3. xtreme4099

    xtreme4099 New

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    Was just about to bug them via email too, thanks for the update !
     
  4. deserat

    deserat Acquaintance

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    The Vidar did not ship on the delayed schedule. Dates on the website now point to the 9th. 2-3 days is now 5 weeks. I guess it would make sense to say that my impressions of the Vidar is that it fails to deliver on the hype, but has the greatest extension of any piece of audio gear I've ever owned. While many SS amp attempt to achieve perfect gain on wire clarity, the VIdar has the more of a euphonic sound of a Vacuum Tube amp - though Schiit's implementation is special - it forgoes the tube and delivers only the Vacuum. This implementation of Vacuum technology allows the listener to hear right through the speakers into the most holographic environment I've heard. It's like there really are children playing in the yard, a fan running in the corner, cars driving up and down the street. I like the Vidar so much that I'm thinking of recommending it to my neighbor so that he can enjoy the same Vacuum technology with the Banda he likes to play at 2 am. ;)
     
  5. JohnnyCanuck

    JohnnyCanuck Acquaintance

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    I know how frustrating it is when shipping is delayed like that. I believe that you'll agree that it was worth the wait when you finally get it. I've had my Vidar since September and IMHO it's a very good amp. I've already sold the Parasound A23 that it replaced.

    Hang in there.

    JC
     
  6. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    She has to be:p
     
  7. deserat

    deserat Acquaintance

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    Got shipment notification today! For those of ya'll waiting they are finally on the way.
     
  8. xtreme4099

    xtreme4099 New

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    Yep same here :)
     
  9. deserat

    deserat Acquaintance

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    Got recall notification today. Am starting to feel like Fenrir. Only I didn't kill Odin, I promise. There is nothing to avenge. ( Vidar kils Fenrir after Fenrir kills Odin at Ragnorok ).
    Delivered 6 weeks late, recalled less than a week after arrival. Well at least they caught and recalled based upon whatever "Glitch" it is they found. And here I was getting ready to say how much I'm enjoying it.... siiiiggghhhhh......
     
  10. xtreme4099

    xtreme4099 New

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    Yep same here, musta been the same batch, looks like they'll be ready to ship the replacement as soon as we reply that they're on their way back via fedex. Will get that done tomorrow.
     
  11. deserat

    deserat Acquaintance

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    Timed shipping my vidar out so as to minimize impact, Shipped it out last friday, new one was on it's way the following Monday, Arrived same day as I returned today on Tuesday. In system, and running. Anybody figure out what the issue was?
     
  12. deserat

    deserat Acquaintance

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    ...
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2018
  13. deserat

    deserat Acquaintance

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    OK final report.

    Vidar sounds great. It's my take that the flaw in the original delivery was audible, but who knows. They ain't saying Schiit.

    Anyway Vidar has over 100 hours of music run through it now. I'd say the sound difference during burn in was quite noticeable, it's good but unnatural when freshly plugged in, but everything seems to have settled now.

    I can't compare this to other speaker amps because I've never owned any. I will say that my 2 channel rig is now the only thing I like listening to more than my headphone rig and the Vidar is an essential component in that. For reference my Headphone rig is:

    Yggdrasil > Mainline with Mundorf Supreme Capacitors > HD800

    speakers are

    Yggdrasil > Freya > Vidar > LS50 ( as near field )

    The speaker system is almost as detailed as the headphones, which is saying quite alot. What it lacks in detail it more than makes up for in sound stage and energy. I'm very happy with the sound.

    The amp is pretty to look at. The heat sinks will cut your skin, but it's not something you'll ever touch, so it doesn't matter. It is quite warm but I expected that. It and the Freya are the only Schitt products I don't leave on all the time, really wish the power switch was more accessible. Feel sorry for anybody putting this in a cabinet.

    I'ts been a few weeks and I'm still pretty pissed about the order fulfillment. Hands down the worst online purchasing experience I ever had, and I've been buying things online since 1995. If I hadn't already bought many things from Schiit I'd have cancelled my order. I fee like this purchase was more stressful than getting and building my Mainline, and I built my Mainline. There is a fair bit left for Stoddard and Co to learn about Customer Management.

    That said, as long as you email them and make sure they actually are in stock before you buy, I'd recommend the amp.
     
  14. xtreme4099

    xtreme4099 New

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    Running 3x Vidars in Mono at the moment in LCR(LR Maggie 3.6r), haven't yet had time to play with the biwire, althought i do have extra cable for it. I have a CC3 combined with a DWM bass panel doing center channel duties, all in all, everything is more seemless, one big wall of sound. I have B&K Reference 200.7 just running the 2 Mini Magnepan surrounds next the couch, and the Rhythmik F18 sub getting the low low stuff. Movies have an enveloping IMAX quality to them but with more detail, running Tri-vidars definitely helps that low end integrate better with the sub.

    Ill probably snatch back that center channel vidar and connect it back up to the PMC IB1's i have as my personal room monitors, the midrange on those are astounding, gotta love the ATL bass :)
     
  15. Thomas Crown

    Thomas Crown New

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    Sorry for returning on this topic after so much time, but has it never been disclosed the reason of the recall? Just wondering as I'd like to buy a second vidar and I don't want to incur to any issue (buying from a dealer he may have an old batch), thanks!
     
  16. hifiandrun

    hifiandrun Almost "Made"

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    I understand that your question was basically about the quality control at the schiit.com. The recall itself has shown they are very good at quality control and customer services.

    On the other hand, because Vidar can be configured as mono block (balanced input), whether buy two Vidars together or buy one now and get another one later is another question. I had this question for a while. Based on my limited DIY experiences in audio gears, I do appreciate the differences that electronic parts can make - most fellows in this forum would agree that tube-rolling can change the sound of a system, for example. But I must say that the circuit design and engineering has the biggest effects on the final sound signature. The next goes to the parts selection (different material, different manufactures, etc). The least goes to the different batches of parts or the differences within a batch. I question myself: how good my ears are? Can I hear the differences between a 99.5 ohm resistor in one Vidar and a 100.5 ohm resistor in another Vidar?
    If we were talking about those things, either we are full-time philosophers or we have a little degree of OCD. Thus I pulled my trigger to get one Vidar recently. Still waiting for shipment notice...

    (The speakers usually better to be serial number matched, but that is a different topic.)
     
  17. deserat

    deserat Acquaintance

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    As one of the people who had a recalled vidar, my guess is that all of those recalled were shipped to people who'd been waiting for the backorder. The kind of mistake you make on the assembly line when you are rushing delivery for people who've been waiting. My guess is you could contact schitt directly and validate that no dealers have recalled units.

    Also if I was planning to go dual mono-blocks, i'd probably buy both at the same time. If for no other reason then to not experience the annoyence and doubt associated with having a burnt in channel and a non-burnt in channel. Though honestly the opportunity to compare pre-post burn in could be fun too. :)
     
  18. Thomas Crown

    Thomas Crown New

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    Qc it's indeed a concern, consider that I live 11k km far from the source, shipping costs are pretty high, not to mention customs fees and so on. So far I already had to return a Vidar (loud vibration from the power supply), the new unit I received is still far from perfect but for the overall cost I'm not complaining: being this amp pretty prone to buzz, hum and noises, I was actually wondering if there has been a recall for any of those reasons and if so, which one. My local dealer buys in stock and he may have some old unit, still showing the defect.
    Regarding the different sound between the units, well that would be a really cool experiment. Would I be able to spot the differences? Burn in would be immediately audible? I doubt it, considering that everything goes through a Freya :D
     
  19. Wilhelm E Vormer

    Wilhelm E Vormer New

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    Hmm slightly disheartening to read QC issues. I hope they nail these humming issues quick.

    My reason for posting was to ask if anyone has modded or upgraded parts of their Vidar amps?
     
  20. Thomas Crown

    Thomas Crown New

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    To be honest, I own a few pieces of Schiit, and so far it's the first time I had to return one, so I wouldn't be so concerned about the QC.
     

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