Schiit Aegir Power Amp Impressions

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

  1. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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    bedroom speakers? why passive & separates? Vanatoo transparent one's, add a digital source and maybe a sub. done

    if you want to get fancy, a German tube radio from the 1960s, add any decent DAC or a bluetooth receiver. this is what I play in my bedroom:

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Evan Parker

    Evan Parker New

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    Got the Aegir today. More than satisfied with the purchase, and it is sufficiently loud for me in a small room. I can tell that the bass is more reserved, but oh how balanced and sweet the sound is. As others have previously said, the imaging/soundstage is quite incredible. Currently running through the Cambridge integrated as a preamp. I think the Freya+ will refine the highs a little bit, as I think the Cambridge is a little bright.

    Speaking of brightness, the mid-highs are somewhat fatiguing my ears a bit. Will this improve with burn-in, or should I consider my speakers mismatched for the Aegir? Could this be a symptom of under-powering, or would that only present in the bass?

    I have some questions about running the Aegir in dual mono. As I have said, I am auditioning a pair of Vandersteen 2Ce Sigs and am curious to know whether I can run the Aegir in dual mono (XLR) and run four wires into each of the Vandersteens. As I understand, XLR must be used to take advantage of the extra power. However, I have read in the Aegir manual that when in dual mono you connect speaker wire to two of the four binding posts. From this do I assume that one cannot connect four wires to an Aegir in dual mono XLR?
     
  3. scblock

    scblock Friend

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    If I’m understanding the question right if you wanted to run XLR into an Aegir then it would be running one channel as a mono amp in balanced mode, and you’d need two amps to run as a pair of monoblocks. In that case with two amps you’d run one amp to the left speaker and the second to the right, and choose whether to bi-wire the Vandersteens or leave the jumpers in place.

    The alternative with two amps would be to bi-amp the speakers, running the amps single ended and connecting left and right of one amp to the top terminals and left and right of the second amp to the bottom terminals (removing the jumpers at the speakers).

    With just one Aegir you would need to run single ended, and either bi-wire the speakers or just leave the jumpers. I bi-wire my old Vandersteen 2c speakers but make no claims whether that’s better than using the jumpers.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The upper mids mellow out after some use or it being left on a few hours. The warm-up period upon turn-on seems to get less and less over time.

    In dual mono with XLR, they are monoblocks and thus cannot biamp. Unless you do quad mono.
     
  5. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    You'd have to biwire to accomplish what you want here either with two separate two-conductor runs (e.g., one with banana plug and another with spade on the amp end) or a single four-conductor run (like Mogami 3104). Note this isn't really different from running a stereo Aegir with a speaker with four binding posts, as either way you're using two binding posts per channel.
     
  6. jello

    jello New

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    Sharing my impressions as a newb:
    After messing around with source components, thinking that my speakers were good, and my amp just fine, I was shocked when auditioning the Aegir. It was by far the biggest improvement I've made to my 2 channel setup. The first thing I realized was that my old Denon amp was V shaped, I was missing a lot of detail. Especially listening to an instrumental folk trio, I was able to discern the separation of instruments much better. On older recordings especially, a lot more of the room was coming through.

    I also feel that some recordings don't have as much to offer, perhaps they're more compressed. So some things didn't really improve through the Aegir, almost sounding flat by comparison.

    Since I listen to some of the same recordings on headphones, I did not expect a surprise waiting for me with a new power amp, but it seems like the two experiences are different enough that it's easy to compartmentalize them. I'll have to listen to different setups with this in mind in the future.

    Chain (more on this in another post): various flac & spotify > pi2aes spdif > bifrost 2 > aegir > b&w630i
     
  7. jello

    jello New

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    My impressions post is kind of a segue into a technical question that I wanted to keep separate. TBH I'm not sure if this question is particular to Aegir, but I'll start here.

    I was running my Aegir w/o a preamp, controlling volume through digital attenuation. I figured I would pick up a Saga or some other volume solution if I liked the amp well enough (I do).

    But, I quickly ran into issues bringing the amp out of standby. I got a flashing fault light, sometimes accompanied by a zzzmmm noise from my speakers. After a few rounds of troubleshooting the faults, and thinking blissfully that everything was fine, it seems I've broken my amp. Schiit support is backed up and pretty slow right now, so I'm hoping someone can point me to my mistake, or rather a technical reason for the failure I'm seeing. If I have really broken it, I'm going to need to figure out how to get it fixed.

    edit: I don't need to clog the forum for tech support. Please delete unless someone finds this useful.
     
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2020
  8. Evan Parker

    Evan Parker New

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    1. [​IMG]
      "I posted way back in regards to JBL 4698b, but will succinctly recap. x2 mono - tiny bit more heft, moderately better control. Stereo - warmer, sweeter mids and highs. I didn't need the power and I was willing to trade for the sweeter sound at the expensive of softer lows.

      I might go back to x2 mono using Freya S (Nexus) as pre. Or maybe I will wait for a higher-end Aegir 200Wpc monster monoblock with Nexus."
    I have to second your observations. If it were not for the mediocre sensitivity of my current speakers I would switch back to stereo Aegir. Not bad by any means, though. Not immediately apparent that there is a little sweetness and sparkle missing from the mids and highs. As you said, though better control, and the power lets me play loud for the neighbors ;)

    I am willing to try biamping my system, especially since I am auditioning those Vandersteen 2CE Sigs I mentioned, but even after all of the kind help I am still baffled at how to match gain between an Aegir and, say, a Vidar.

    I am definitely Schiit obsessed. Maybe it's the marketing, maybe it's the consistency of product. They are doing something right.
     
  9. DignifiedAndOld

    DignifiedAndOld New

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    While awaiting my Aegir and Freya+ to ship, I've been shopping for new furniture to place them in. Could I realistically place either/both components in this 5" tall open space or am I asking for overheating?

    Edit: would that same piece of furniture with the entire back cut out, in a cool basement, provide enough ventilation? Or do both components run too hot?
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2020
  10. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    I would not recommend it. The back is enclosed, and you're looking at about 0.5-1" of space above both units, one of which is not a cool-running amp (manual: "Ensure there’s plenty of space on either side of the amp and good ventilation above.") and the other which runs four tubes.

    Think you're limited to putting both on top of that piece or getting a different piece.
     
  11. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    Or, ventilate the top of the furniture. The slick solution would be to cut out the top, use a trim router to make a rabbet, then put in a piece of mostly open and heavy gauge perforated metal. You could even drill out your own pattern in flat stock... something creative like these:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    the redneck solution would be to ventilate the top of the furniture with a shotgun (or drill)...
     
  12. dBel84

    dBel84 Friend

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    Aegir doesn't run that hot. You could create a little airflow with a couple of ultraquiet fans. (I have done this for my Pass DIY amps and it works well - my cabinet space is 7" x 19" ) Amps run at same temp as they do when left out in free air.

    ..dB
     
  13. monkuboy

    monkuboy New

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    Hi all, my first post in SBAF! I joined because I'm interested in the Aegir. Question on spacing for those of you with a side by side monoblock configuration - how far apart are they? I sent an inquiry to Schiit asking for the distance when placed on an open shelf. Jason responded, saying 5" minimum. I've seen various pics of a pair of Aegir that look like they are just an inch or so apart so I was wondering what your actual distances are on your racks?
     
  14. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    Hey man! Probably best to introduce yourself here:

    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/new-members-introduce-yourself.17/

    then take a look at this thread:

    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/what-is-sbaf-10-articles-for-behavior.5555/

    To answer your question, I've got mine about and inch apart side-to-side, but I normally listen at 65-85dB through relatively efficient speakers (claimed 93dB/W). I'd guess that if you're running less than 90dB/W speakers keeping the Aegirs closer to the recommended 5" spacing will keep the thermal load low enough to not run them into overload protection/thermal protection.
     
  15. monkuboy

    monkuboy New

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    Thanks for the advice! Actually I've got three pairs of speakers I use in rotation, two not very efficient. The KEF LS50 Meta, Ascend Sierra 2, and the Klipsch RP-600M. They're driven by a VTA SP14 preamp and ST120 amp, and I'm very happy but just wanted to try something different. I'm planning on keeping the VTA stuff and "rotating" that with the Freya+ and Aegir(s) if I decide to make that purchase. Based on what I've read here and elsewhere it sounds like dual Aegir's are a better idea for my speakers than running one in stereo mode. That's why I was asking about the distance between the amps.

    As far as listening habits, I listen primarily to jazz, along with pop/rock (nothing real loud, Steely Dan is normally as loud as it gets though at times I go for something louder like The Who or Allman Bros) and classical. At my 10' listening position the loudest parts hit about 85db so I don't listen really loud.
     
  16. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Hey @songmic did you end up getting your speakers/amp yet?
     
  17. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    Not yet, still contemplating on what I should get.
     
  18. Luigi Pichardo

    Luigi Pichardo New

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    I am curious if you don't mind me asking, what made you choose the Veracity over say the Song 3 Beat which is similar price? I am looking for something like Salk for speakers.
     
  19. bmwgeo

    bmwgeo New

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    Hello Evan in Morro Bay! This is bmwgeorge down the road from you in Ventura. I am curious; what are you doing with your Aegirs and how is it working out for you? Did you try biamping? I have been using 2 Vidars in mono to my old Fortes and new Cornwall IIIs with what I might describe as moderate success. Sounds good. Not great, but good. So, in pursuit of something even better I ordered an Aegir because, like you, I seem to be Schiit obsessed. (You know, they're almost local - I spend considerable time in Woodland Hills and they are just a stone's throw away - and I feel almost patriotic buying their American made California Schiit. Besides, I expect all my Schiit to work and play well with my other Schiit). So, sending the Aegir through the Freya+ SE RCA outs - the Vidars get the balanced outs - just did not sound good at all, even using a Loki (yeah, more Schiit). So, having experienced the problem you described; matching gain between an Aegir and a Vidar, or two, I thought you might like to know I think I have resolved that issue using a Valhalla (yeah, I know, more Schiit) as a preamp for the Aegir and leaving the the Vidars to the Freya+ balanced outs. Sounds better to me. By the way, it also works with a Saga but I think I'm going back to the Valhalla so I can try it's higher gain. Right now I'm listening to an old SuperSession CD, sending the Aegir through the Saga tube buffer stage to the Cornwall mids and highs while the low frequency posts get the balanced Vidars from the Freya+. It sounds better to me.
    How is your system coming along?
     
  20. Boops

    Boops Friend

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    Fwiw @bmwgeo a single Aegir with a passive pre in front is pretty great with Forte 3s. I would imagine you’d get similar results with the Cornwalls.
     

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