Schiit Aegir Power Amp Impressions

Discussion in 'Power Amps' started by rlow, Oct 16, 2018.

  1. hells

    hells New

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    Hmm Zu on their website rate the Omen Bookshelf down to 50, as does Gerrit who I contacted at Zu. I imagine 50 is pretty accurate, my current Omega's can certainly get there and lower (though at around 20hz distortion is heavy, even 30 is a little uncomfortable to watch the woofer go.) so since the Zu's driver is 4 inches larger, I'd imagine it can get atleast as low?
     
  2. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    @tranq was referencing the Zu Cube (ie., concentric bookshelf), which the website lists at 80hz.
     
  3. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    I had a Denon 4300 that I ran on the Klipsch Heresy, and briefly tried it as a preamp when I got an Aegir, (before replacing it with a Freya S). Nope, you lose the magic using an AVR as a preamp. If your intent is to keep the AVR, then maybe the Vidar would be good for more horsepower but I still wouldn't count on a major sound transformation. It might have a little more punch though.
     
  4. Maximum_Softness

    Maximum_Softness New

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    Thank you for the response. This is basically what I expected to hear. Could I keep the x3500h as a streaming source as well as DRC through Audyssey, and run that into external separates?
     
  5. StageOne

    StageOne Friend

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    For my HT system, I have a Denon X3400H feeding a pair of Elacs. A while back I added a Vidar with the Denon as the preamp and it did make a noticable difference. But as I learned when I took the Denon out of the mix, it is a bottleneck and adds quite a bit of warmth and softness. Removing it completely from the chain, there is more bass, more air and better layering/separation.

    So will adding an Aegir be an improvement, yes. Will it be bottlenecked by the Denon, yes. Is it still worth it.. if you listen to 2ch, then yes, but just for home theatre, probably not.

    Aegir or Vidar? If the Aegir will work with your speakers, it's probably the better choice. I have a pair of them in my 2ch room and they sound awesome. The Elacs are low sensitivity and require more power so I went with the Vidar for them.
     
  6. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    When you say “separates” do you mean seperate preamp/power amp or also a DAC? Either way, the question is whether Audyssey will work with either the line-level stereo pre-outs (if you’re going into an external preamp), or the digital outs (if you’re going into an external DAC). I think your AVR might only have HDMI digital outs (no specific digital audio outs) so that may be moot anyhow.
     
  7. Maximum_Softness

    Maximum_Softness New

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    By separates, I meant just a preamp and power amp. The intent would be to use the AVR as the source for HEOS, and still be able to apply some DRC. So if I understand correctly, the x3500h has the pre outs necessary to connect to an external power amp, but does not have the capability to pass the digital signal to a preamp? Bummer.
     
  8. Maximum_Softness

    Maximum_Softness New

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    Well, another user here said the Aegir worked well with his RP-600Ms, which 3rd party sites have found to be 89db sensitivity. Based on what I have read in this thread, the Aegir might not be the best for this sensitivity rating. This is all rather moot if I am not able keep the x3500h in the chain. If using the AVR as a preamp into a Vidar or Aegir (or any poweramp) will not produce much of an improvement for 2 channel listening, I guess I shall just live with the Denon.
     
  9. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Digital signal would have to pass to a DAC, but it doesn’t appear to have digital audio outs when I look at the pics of the back panel, only HDMI. Might be a way to convert that but not sure. Also not sure if DRC can be applied against those outputs, you’d need to read the manual or check out support info.

    I think it might have line level analog outs however, or at least they might be able to be configured as line level. By line level, this typically means they bypass the preamp in the AVR, although not necessarily a clean path like a true bypass. Then you control volume from your seperate preamp. Again however, I’m not sure if DRC can be applied against those outputs, so you may need to do some reading.
     
    Last edited: May 8, 2020
  10. Maximum_Softness

    Maximum_Softness New

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    Thanks for the information. Really appreciate the replies! Given my situation, it seems like I should just order a Vidar and an Aegir to audition using the x3500h as a preamp. If there is no appreciable difference, I stick with the AVR. Unfortunately, I cannot justify cutting the AVR out of the chain as its very new, and I need to drive the center and amp and use Audyssey for home theater.

    One day I'll have a separate 2 channel listening room.
     
  11. Maximum_Softness

    Maximum_Softness New

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    Ordered the Aegir! I'll report back once it arrives an I integrate into my chain with the x3500h as a preamp. I wish I had an external preamp as well to a/b test, but this will have to do for now. Thanks everyone for the input!
     
  12. Maximum_Softness

    Maximum_Softness New

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    Just wanted to throw out there that I spoke with Schiit and they recommend Vidar over Aegir for the RP600Ms. They said the x3500h would NOT bottleneck the system, and they believe the amplifier is the most important piece of the chain (between dac and preamp).

    Do with that what you will.
     
  13. moriya

    moriya Acquaintance

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    While I'm sure that's correct, I was just A/B testing a few integrated amps with my x3500h, and I can tell you that using the integrated amp as an amp and the Denon as a pre (eg volume at 100%, controlling volume from Denon's pre-outs) vs straight into the integrated amp, the integrated amp smoked the Denon. Even with Audyssey, there was no question - more detail, better soundstage, etc etc.

    It's definitely an upgrade, but I would consider adding a dedicated preamp at some point, to my ears honestly I thought it made a bigger difference than the amp.
     
  14. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Obviously it’s a matter of taste and what you want to get out of it.

    Coincidentally Darko just did a compare of the Vidar and Aegir using the RP 600Ms as well. His assessment seems to agree with most who have compared them:



    TL;DW: Vidar for more bass punch and forward dynamics; Aegir for sweeter more extended and refined top end, better tone overall, but a bit softer in the bass.
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2020
  15. moriya

    moriya Acquaintance

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    Side question - for those that have heard the Aegir vs the Ragnarok 2, how are the lows/highs from the Aegir vs the Raggy?

    One of the aforementioned amps I'm demoing is the Raggy, and it's great. Love love love the mids, detail, and the imaging/soundstage. That said, it's definitely not warm (it's not cold either, just very transparent), and with my very forward/detailed home theater-focused Paradigm 85f's it can border on harsh and fatiguing. I'm wondering if the Aegir would actually be a better match.

    First, hows the bass on the Aegir vs the Raggy? I think the Raggy almost has too much bass - it's pronounced, thick, and rich, but I don't find it as detailed as the mids, or "punchy" and "dynamic". How are the highs? This is the only part where I really find myself not digging the Raggy entirely - it's my speakers' fault, yes, but the combo can get to be too much of a good thing and slightly sibilant and overly bright.

    EDIT: Also worth noting I have a REL T5i that, while horribly undersized for my towers, does help quite a bit, I really like it with the Raggy to add some of the "punch" in the bass I actually find somewhat lacking.
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2020
  16. Maximum_Softness

    Maximum_Softness New

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    Thanks for the information. Yeah, I most likely will add a dedicated preamp at some point, but probably not until I move. For now, I am stuck with a 3.1 home theater system I also use for 2.0 audio. I'm just trying to squeeze out more from it with a better amp.
     
  17. Maximum_Softness

    Maximum_Softness New

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    Yeah I watched this the other day. Good stuff. I guess it also depends on the music you listen to and your living situation. I am a big heavy metal fan, but I live in an apartment and cannot play at loud levels and enjoy bass slam. Luckily, I have found the RP600m to be quite enjoyable and lively at lower listening levels.
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Tonally and emphasis-wise, between Aegir and Raggy, not too much different other than Raggy has more bass. Aegir is more resolving of microdetail and gets the microdynamics right. If Raggy is harsh on the high end with your speakers, I am not convinced Aegir will fix this.

    Aegir is less thick than Raggy with possibly less punch. It depends upon speakers. Aegir sounds soft with less than 4-ohms in the bass. Less power too, so that also be a disadvantage with the 85C which are just on the cusp.
     
  19. moriya

    moriya Acquaintance

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    That's what I figured, thanks! I listen at lower volumes, so I'm not super concerned with the power - frankly I can't listen too far above 75 dB with the Raggy anways because it gets to be too much - which was why I was hoping there might be some reprieve with the Aegir with everyone throwing around "sweet" when describing the tone. That all said, looking at the measurements of 95fs, there's a dip below 4 ohms in the 100-120hz range so that would probably not bode well for the pairing.

    I'm just having a really hard time committing to the Raggy. I'm testing an Arcam SA20 alongside it, which has the added advantage of an HT bypass (integrating it into a 5.1 HT system) - it sounds fine, warm and musical, but the details the Raggy can pull out of midrange (guitars and vocals, especially) are absurd. I could probably live with some recording-specific harshness if that was the only tradeoff, but having to turn up the volume to 100% for HT and then remembering to turning it back down before playing music has me spooked that eventually I'm going to forget. Separates would at least have the added benefit of being able to put a SYS between a dedicated preamp/my denon and the amp for easier integration into my system.
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2020
  20. Maximum_Softness

    Maximum_Softness New

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    I just had a revelation... I have an Audeze Deckard I use to drive some LCD-3s... couldn't I use this as a DAC/Preamp to pair with the Vidar/Aegir vs the Denon as the DAC/Preamp?
     

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