Schiit Amp Compendium - Guide to Schiit Amps (headamps)

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

  1. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    I didn't. @songmic did. I was just correcting the Vali/Valhalla mistake. With that said, I agree with the recommendation.

    From my experience, OTL amps pair very well with the headphones you listed (as does their cleaner sounding cousin, the SET amp) and I'll assume that's why the Valhalla 2 was recommended. Better synergy.

    If you are looking for alternate recommendations, then get a BHC+SB. Love mine, including it's deficiencies. Just so much character in that amp.

    Or perhaps a Project Sunrise (and build one of AtomicBob's power filters for it). Although I haven't heard it myself, it was recently reviewed and recommended by @Luckbad and @Marvey as being very good/extremely decent.

    But honestly, I like the Valhalla 2 as a recommendation because it's a good solid amp that plays well with those cans and gives you Schiit's return policy if you end up hating it. Just don't go crazy rolling tubes.

    Back to you songmic.
     
  2. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Shit, I thought this was gen advice thread. Best to go to PM or have your questions moved as not to clutter the compendium.
     
  3. SnowPuppy

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    Have not heard the Valhalla 2 so I can't comment on the sound. I can say that while the Asgard 2 sounds very good with the HD800S I always felt that it was a little under powered for them when it comes to reaching their potential. By power I do not mean how loud they play but how well they are controlled and a relaxed effortlessness to the sound. For a 300ohm headphone like the H800S the Valhalla 2 has way more power (800mW) than the Asgard 2 (380mW). Inversely for a headphone with a lower impedance like the Grados at 32ohms, the Valhalla 2 has way less power (less than 180mW) than the Asgard 2 (1000mW). My Asgard 2 really makes my Grado RS1s sound their best for example. OTL amps like the Valhalla 2 have higher output impedance which is why they have this inverse relationship with power and headphone impedance to a normal SS amp with low output impedance. In fact for 300ohm headphones the Valhalla 2 has almost as much power as the MJ2. Of coarse the Ragnarok has more power than any schiit amp at 300 ohms because it is massive.
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2017
  4. Grattle

    Grattle Friend

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    Looking forward to hearing how the Magni 3 stacks up.
     
  5. loki993

    loki993 Facebook Friend

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    How often is black schiit released? Ive seen a black Minby for sale used but never on the schiit site.

    Honestly though if I can get something black I suppose I could just pop the covers off and cerekote them.
     
  6. captkirk

    captkirk Khan's BFF

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    If I recall correctly, the black chassis stuff only becomes available after they've accumulated enough "b-stock" silver to have them powder-coated (I think that's the proper finish), so it's never consistently offered. Ya just have to keep checking...
     
  7. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    Just to had that it only happens on schiit us site, at least i never seen it happen on the EU site.
     
  8. Resolve

    Resolve MOT: Headphones.com

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    After reading countless hours of reviews and impressions of different amps, it seems very difficult to find consensus on them, to the point where I can only assume that the various differences in impressions are largely due to the variety of different headphones being tested on them in addition to the subjective nature of the experience.

    I really appreciate resources like what's been put together here, however I'm still at a loss for which one to get. I currently have the Magni 2. If I'm looking to increase soundstage... do I go for another schiit product? or do I look elsewhere? I hear the Asgard 2 has a slightly wider soundstage (and then promptly contradicted from other impressions that say it's narrow). Where would that amp fall on this chart?

    So many confusions.
     
  9. PoochZag

    PoochZag The Shadow knows - Friend

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    You may be right that different experiences can be caused by users using different headphones, but then you failed to mention what headphone(s) you are using with the Magni 2...?

    Staging on Schiit amps in general is often narrow, but IME both Valhalla 2 and Mjolnir 2 are ok with stage width (but not depth). If soundstage is really your priority, it may make more sense to change headphones than amps, unless you already have something like the HD800
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The comparisons were arrived at over time using a variety of headphones, but same source (Gungnir Multibit) and sets of recordings, over several years. In this time, there was also some one vs one comparisons. Final comparisons were made at the Schiitr, where I brought modded HD650 and HD800s to try everything out.

    As far as soundstage, it's all pretty much the same more or less among the Schiit solid state amps. The most expansive soundstage with greatest depth among the Schiit amps is the Valhalla 2, followed by the Vali 2. Mjolnir and Lyr are wide, but not as deep as the former.

    If you want soundstage with headphones, you go SET with DHT directly heated triodes. Not cheap, but just the way it is.

    As far as what you are being told being confusing, can you cite examples of such confusion?
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2017
  11. Resolve

    Resolve MOT: Headphones.com

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    I'm mostly just drawing impresions from what I've read in various places, where reviews state things that contradict what's said in forums (headfonics vs head-fi vs this forum etc.).

    I should have mentioned I'm using pretty much the only headphone that I've ever found to be comfortable for long sessions: the AQ Nightowl. I like it better than the hawk because the bass is tightened up quite a bit, but I feel like on my magni 2 the closed nature of the cans makes it just slightly too close and personal. I heard it on the lyr 2 and it was slightly improved, but then people also have said that the lyr is tight compared to other amps too, hence the confusion. So the question on my mind is do I go tubes? If so do I stick with schiit? Or do I go with something like the MCTH?
     
  12. Sonorus

    Sonorus Facebook Friend

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    Please any comments between Valhalla 2 and mjolnir 2 for the HD800 sdr?
    I have Valhalla 2 is there any point to upgrade to mjolnir or no?
    Schiit tech replied that the Valhalla 2 is the better amp for the HD800.
    My source is Gungnir Multibit.
    Any comments will be appreciated.
     
  13. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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  14. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Vahalla 2. Take money you save and get Eitr or Gen 5 USB board for Gungnir Multibit.
     
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    MCTH might be a good match with the Nightowls. Clear, articulate, open sound, wide stage. Not necessarily deep stage though. If you have a standard Magni 2, tonal balance shouldn't be much different.

    I've never heard of Headfonics or Head-Fi.
     
  17. Resolve

    Resolve MOT: Headphones.com

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    Good answer ;)

    Yeah, currently I'm deciding between the MCTH and the Valhalla 2. I also have the Hifiman EF5, but it doesn't sound much different from the magni 2, maybe a bit wider.
     
  18. SnowPuppy

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    Heard the Magni 3 with a pair of Fostex Wood Mass Drop headphones at RMAF 2107 Canjam. I thought the Magni 3 sounded incredibly good. Really surprised me for a $99 amp.
     
  19. SnowPuppy

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    At the RMAF Canjam 2017 I heard a pair of HD800 (possibly modded) on the Valhalla 2 w/ Bifrost Multibit. I thought the combination was as good as anything I heard at the show. The Valhalla 2 really pumps out a lot of power at 300ohms. The pairing sounded lively, natural, and liquid. Was also transparent and open. If the original HD800 had trouble with harsh highs I certainly did not hear it with the Valhalla 2. I was so impressed that I think I will eventually get at Valhalla 2 for my HD800S after I get a Yggdrasil for my Ragnarok. That will free up my Bifrost Multibit to pair with the Valhalla 2. Ragnarok also sounds terrific with my HD800S. Use the Ragnarok perhaps 60-70% of the time with speakers.
     
  20. Sonorus

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    Thank you for the reply , i already have the gen 5 , must be the first EU citizen to install it and the joke is that i don't need it , i am old school
    spinning cd''s from a yamaha transport!!!

    Thank you , so it seems that i will be sticking with Valhalla 2 as i cant afford high end tube amps!
     

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