Schiit Amp Compendium - Guide to Schiit Amps (headamps)

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Oct 22, 2016.

  1. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    Reading the specs of the new Magni 3 is ridiculous. THD of 0.001%, 0.3 ohm output impedance and +/-17V for $99. The O2 can eat Schiit at this point. The only thing going for it is portability.

    Which I wonder why JDS still sells completed O2 amps using through-hole components? Automating the process with SMD components would be far cheaper with the volume they sell and they could get a more compact amp out of it. Is it because NWAVGuy had that CC license clause insisting on no changes?
     
  2. Mithrandir41

    Mithrandir41 Friend

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    Probably. Look at all the hoops they had to jump through Just to open up the power supply hole a little bit...
     
  3. samuelngsh

    samuelngsh New

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    Seriously considering the Ragnarok after having great experience with the Yggdrasil. HDVD800 -> HD800 has too much width but not enough depth; WA2 -> HD800 has a natural enough stage but a little too intimate and silky for orchestral pieces. Seems like Ragnarok could be a good replacement for HDVD800 given the impressions here?
     
  4. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    There's a dedicated thread to HD800 amp pairings. I think general consensus is OTL tube amps go better with the HD800, but I've never heard one out of a Rag. Prolly better asking in that thread unless you're dead set on a Schiit amp.
     
  5. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I'm wondering why some Chinese company hasn't cloned the O2 but with smd and kludged it with an obvious take on the name like the Adjective3. Fit it all into something the size of a deck of playing cards with a battery, sell it for $50 and call it a day. Heck, make it $70 to fit in an R2R volume control because those words make it cool and maybe help with the screwy topology.
     
  6. samuelngsh

    samuelngsh New

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    I'd be grateful if the Rag proves to be a good pairing so I can stack it nicely on top of the Yggdrasil, but not completely set if there are better options. I'll check out the amp pairing thread, thanks!
     
  7. SnowPuppy

    SnowPuppy Facebook Friend

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    I can only speak to the Ragnarok and the HD800S. I think the Ragnarok is an excellent combination with the HD800S. At 300 Ohms the Ragnarok delivers 1.7 watts of class A power and even more class AB. That is a good thing for the HD800S and HD800. To me the Ragnarok is neutral and transparent. The highs are smooth and not harsh at all compared to other SS amps I have heard. The highs are not as smooth and wet as my Mapletree Ear+ HD SET tube amp. However the highs are wetter than my Asgard 2. I preferred a neutral transparent sound though so keep that in mind. I heard details I have never heard before in my music with the Ragnarok straight out of the box and no break in. I think it may have improved with breakin though. Also I have displaced a 225 wpc NAD power amp with the Ragnarok for my Paradigm Studio 100 v.2 speakers. The Ragnarok just sounds better with my speakers.
     
  8. aufmerksam

    aufmerksam Friend

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    They would also provide the sales page with more keywords that enable some rando searching for an amp / dac to accidentally fall into the pit of "knock-off parts list bewilderment". How many times have I wondered if AGD's website is actually a reverse engine for determining google's page rank algorithm?
     
  9. samuelngsh

    samuelngsh New

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    Thanks for posting your impressions on the Rag + HD800S pairing. I'll actually have a HD800S coming in at some point, definitely reassuring to hear that such pairing works well! Maybe I haven't heard many good SS amps but amongst the ones that I own or have demoed, they're usually accompanied with harsh highs that scratch my ears to various extents when paired with the HD800. What I've read about the Rag indicates that its highs are smooth without compromising details, really glad to see confirmation!
     
  10. SnowPuppy

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    Your very welcome. I am glad that I was not scared away from the Ragnarok for my HD800S. I want to also call out that the Ragnarok does not roll off the highs. I would not like it if it did. Nor would I want over smooth highs. Highs seem neutral to me which is what I am looking for. The highs are just refined and not as dry as other SS amps. I listen to vinyl and my multibit DAC (Bifrost Multibit) and those sources stay away from glare and artificial etch. Having sources like that is important for any higher end SS amp IMHO. And since the Ragnarok will always be in class A with your headphones you will get that nice tone and timbre that you get with the Asgard 2 but with more power, detail, and refinement. The first track I played on my Ragnarok was from Nils Lofgren Acoustic live. I had been listening to that one a lot on my old heaphone amp. With the Ragnarok I immediately noticed all kings of voices from the crowd I had never noticed before and it revealed depth to the soundstage that was missing with Asgard 2. The guitars also had better texture and were more liquid. Not as liquid as my SET tube amp but definitely more transparent than my SET. When I let my Dad hear it he noticed an increase in soundstage depth as well. He was very impressed at how much better that recording sounded. That is with no break-in.

    Another thing I like about having the Ragnarok is the flexibility. I may get some other high end cans to complement my HD800S like a pair of Ether Cs for example or a pair of HE1000 v.2s. I like knowing that the Ragnarok with makes those headphones sound amazing as well.
     
  11. samuelngsh

    samuelngsh New

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    Yup the point that highs are closer to neutral than rolled off did come across well in the first post! I do already have the WA2 for rolled off highs, boosted bass and slower attacks, the next SS amp has to be smooth but not lazy. Switching from HDVD800's internal DAC to the Yggdrasil already took out some of that digital glare, but it's still pronounced enough on the HDVD800 that takes the enjoyment out of it for classical recordings that I have.

    I actually have an unbranded turntable at home that I got as a factory sample, it's not good with the HD800 though. The constant hiss in the background becomes quite scratchy through HDVD800 -> HD800, or even WA2 -> HD800. Not so pleasant with Deckard -> LCD-X either. The one system that I have which plays well with that turntable is a Stax SRM-727A -> SR-507 system, but I've since sold the SR-507... I've long contemplated the option of getting a better turntable to really find out how good vinyl records sound like, but I don't think I'm the type of person who could patiently clean the records routinely, search for good records in stores, etc. To each their own I suppose, perhaps I'll learn to appreciate the experience when I get older (and find vinyl record prices going even higher up).
     
  12. AppleheadMay

    AppleheadMay Friend

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    The new Loki EQ peaked my interest and I would like to take my first baby steps into the Schiit world.
    I am thinking of getting the Loki together with either the Lyr 2 or Asgard 2.
    Reasoins for those two: like some warmth (see my amp and phones preferences), have no use for balanced at all and I need toi be able to put the Loki between the Dac and amp.
    Not willing to buy a Schiit Dac just yet.

    Some info regarding amps I like: Zana (had the DE and S) but I stopped using tubes (manic collecting syndrome with tubes) and kept to SS only.
    SS amps I loved most, in order: Black Widow and Violectric V281.
    SS amps I hated: GS-X MkII and Japanese Bakoon.
    The cans I like in no particular oder: HD600, HD650, HD800S, Pioneer M1, Pioneer M5, ZMF Eikon and Atticus.
    And an LA-900. Ok, you can crucify me for that as long as you grant me one last wish: use ropes, no nails please! ;)

    So: Lyr 2 or Asgard 2? Any and all opinions are welcome. And yes, I browsed this whole informative thread anbd much more around here.

    PS: sorry if I didn't make an introduction post here yet but I did make one on Changstar long ago. My name here is the same as on HF.
    I don't post much on HF anymore but I still find it an informative site for new products and great for classifieds.
    I don't post much here as well but I read here a lot to get more reliable info and opinions I trust.
     
  13. SnowPuppy

    SnowPuppy Facebook Friend

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    Vinyl is a bit of a rabbit hole. The phono stage is very important. The record and stylus cleaning is very important. By the way the Record Doctor V is a very high value option. And then there is the challenge of finding a good pressing. Sometimes the original pressings can sound better than 180gram reissues and digital even with the background noise of an old not properly cared for record. Other times the new reissue will sound best as I am finding is the case with Jethro Tull. The Steve Wilson remixes on vinyl sound better to me than the original pressings. I do have several records that have a very low noise floor and they will stay that way because I know what to do. Some records with some micro scratching from cardboard (bad) sleeves sound great on speakers but when you hear on the HD800S it reveals all warts. Sometimes it is still worth it when the music plays because the tone and stage of the pressing is so great despite the higher noise floor. I have some pressings with a low noise floor that sound excellent on the HD800S and their Tidal M counterparts just are not as good. They sound more artificial in comparison. The HD800S reveals all including how truly amazing a quality vinyl pressing is. However some digital is done so well that I can't hear much of a difference and would give the edge to digital because the noise floor on vinyl is always higher.
     
  14. samuelngsh

    samuelngsh New

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    To avoid taking the thread off track I've replied to you through PM :)
     
  15. AppleheadMay

    AppleheadMay Friend

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    No advice for me before I get myself deep into s(c)hi(i)t? ;)
     
  16. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    I can see you're trying to avoid tubes for whatever reason, but honestly, if your favorite cans are HD650/800 and Atticus/Eikon, the Valhalla 2 will probably serve you better than Asgard 2 or Lyr 2 SQ-wise.
     
  17. samuelngsh

    samuelngsh New

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    I've only ever used software EQ (not often) but I personally would not consider the Loki if I were to get a hardware EQ. The Loki only has 4-band adjustments, so you can't make fine adjustments to fix specific flaws or to emphasize specific fortes of your system. One exception to the above is if you just want to make crude adjustments to spice up the music a bit, like boosting the bass a little or something like that - essentially using it as a toy.

    Don't get me wrong, I like Schiit's way of delivering great audio quality at reasonable prices, and the Loki isn't particularly pricey either. It comes down to how serious you are with the EQing - just crude adjustments for fun, or to actually fix specific problems!
     
  18. AppleheadMay

    AppleheadMay Friend

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    Yep, trying to avoid tubes but interested why you would advise me the Vali over the Lyr or Asgard where I can have both tubes and SS.
    Not that I need the option of switching between tubes and SS but curious as to why the SQ of the Vali would serve me better.

    I think the crude adjustments would serve me fine, the more complicated it gets the less I would use it. I do wonder if the Loki would be useful to me though since I use Roon and I (briefly) noticed it has EQ now as well. Haven't used it yet, probablyu because it's too well hidden enad complicated to use, which is why the simple Loki appeals to me.
     
  19. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Not Vali 2. Valhalla.
     
  20. AppleheadMay

    AppleheadMay Friend

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    Yes, that's the one I meant, Vallhalla 2, sorry for abbreviating it, didn't notice there was one called Vali.
    So still very interested why you recommend me the Valhalla 2 over the Asgard or Lyr.
     

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