Schiit Asgard 3 Headphone Amp with Continuity Output Stage

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Vtory, Aug 28, 2019.

  1. Sherm

    Sherm Acquaintance

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    Did you try it with your 6XX? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that pairing given what you said about the treble.
     
  2. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    Matrix X-Sabre Pro MQA.

    It pairs well. Asgard 3 has good control over the driver. Treble and midrange have a hint of sweetness and lushness. Bass bloat is reigned in a bit. I could be happy with just this.

    It's not nearly as good as Euforia + HD6XX but that pairing is just ridiculously synergistic. I haven't found a bad pairing with the Asgard 3 yet; also enjoyed HE-560 out of it. **addendum: also makes a good pairing with Focal Clear. Again, not as synergistic as Euforia, but honestly more than good enough (and I actually like it better than Clear + DNA). I hypothesize that Asgard 3 + Elex would please those who enjoy the Focal sound at a lower price. Frankly, at this point I'd be more surprised if there was a bad pairing (although some headphones definitely synergize better than others)

    It almost sounds like a tube amp. Not quite, but almost.

    Edit: I should mention a few things:
    • It gets warm, but in my experience doesn't get toasty. Not quite "where was this in winter" status.
    • Pot feels good. Smooth and no noise. I don't notice much, if any, channel imbalance at the very low side.
    • Wish it had a 4-pin XLR output, but I can understand why it doesn't.
    • Desktop-friendly size.
     
    Last edited: Sep 2, 2019
  3. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    How is the quality of the preamp output on Asgard 3?

    Especially compared to the Jotunheim's preamp out, which is the other product I'm considering (SS headphone amps with preamp out to use with speakers).
     
  4. daniellistens

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    I'm curious about what the synergy with the Mr. Speakers Aeon Flow (Closed Back) might be. I bought this headphone with the eventual plan of buying an amplifier to power them with. I have been using my Chord Mojo/Poly unit for good results, but I want more, and I also want a stationary/non-battery powered headphone amplifier.

    Anyone have any idea on how this might work out?

    I've been waffling on a Headphone amplifier for almost three years now. Haha. :(

    I think the problem is that I listened to the Aeons with a AudioValve Solaris Amplifier which retails for >$6,000 USD. The Solaris took total control of the drivers and it was honestly a sublime experience. The Solaris ruined me.

    [​IMG]
     
  5. Wushuliu

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    Doing spec comparisons on Schiit's website, I see the Asgard 3 has the lowest SNR and Crosstalk of any of their headamps, with the exception of the Ragnarok 2. Interesting...
     
  6. Ice-man

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    Most good headphones will offer a reasonable degree of "scale" based on the potential of the driver design. Aeon has a modest degree of scaling up with better amp/dac. It will really come down to your budget. On a very modest budget the Asgard 3 seems a great pick. I haven't heard it though (the two together). I have heard the lyr 3 and Aeon together and it was an impressive match. Much more expensive though.

    Another consideration at a similar price point to the Asgard 3 would be the MCTH and Vali 2. Both good matches for Aeon.
     
  7. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    don't spend $ to put lipstick on a pig.
     
  8. dirt

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    4 minutes from order to shipping. Hope it is better than my Magni 3.
     
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Asgard3 tracking.png
     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2019
  10. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Received my Asgard3 (amp only, not DAC) today. So far so good. Not technically "excellent" in every aspect, but like most other Schiit stuff, it does a very good job for the price. Feed via Yggdrasil (Asgard3 is RCA input only).

    Bought as potential replacement for my rHead for C/IEM use. Tested with UE5 and UERR (will run UERM later).
    1) NO NOISE!!! All my other gear except for my Shanling M0 has background noise when I plug in UE5 CIEM. Quiet noise audible on high gain with pot all the way down. Noise disappears on low gain. rHead has noise even on "standby" volume.
    2) Channel imbalance only at impractically quiet listening levels. In other words, even with easy to drive IEM, I feel like I have enough adjustment in the volume, up AND down.

    Not sure if absolutely better or worse than rhead yet, will run them A/B soon. However, it does sound noticibly different than rhead. The biggest difference so far (<15 min) is Schiit house sound is immediately there. Schiit house sound from Yggdrasil being pushed into rhead is lessened a bit. Also that I lose on resolution (on Asgard3). Also lose some micro detail, plankton, a little macro detail, and a bit of microdynamics (ex: cello vibrato or a deliberately uneven string pull doesn't sound quite right. Some string instruments and opera vocals also don't sound realistic). All still at a perfectly acceptable/good performance level for $200 though. Keep in mind rhead is supposed to go for $600 on musicdirect (I got mine from the UK for under 200£, which at the time IIRC exchanged into 200 - 220 USD). Where the Schiit is possibly better is in some of the subjective stuff such as "musicality".

    All of the above written with only 30 minutes of listening so take this with grain of salt if needed. Can write better impressions if wanted later - I realize it's very light on "what I hear" in an absolute sense and rhead is probably a horrible baseline as most people here haven't heard on before.

    Edit: after 15 min more, while Asgard3 is more fun and has no noise, it may not be right for me for what I want to do with C/IEM (precision listening). But need more listening to be sure.
     
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2019
  11. Wushuliu

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    Give it a day to settle. I initially found the Asgard a little forward and hard, but it mellowed after 15hrs being on. I will post a more in depth review sometime soon.
     
  12. starence

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    I heard somewhere that the Asgard 3 sounds better on high gain, do you guys think there's any validity to that? I mean, with headphones that don't really need the additional power.
     
  13. Clemmaster

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    Yes, lower feedback on high gain. Same for Lyr 3.
     
  14. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    After leaving the Asgard3 on all weekend and listening tonight:

    Asgard3 sound changed a little after settling in more. A little more technicalities, a little smoother. I would say performance is overall dead even with rHead now. Differences are still the same - rHead is still a little more neutral sounding, a little more even-ness throughout, and maybe a tiny bit more detailed and resolving/revealing... or it may be placebo. Schiit has a little more musicality with the more forward Schiit house sound, and even the forwardness part has diminished a bit. Maybe a tiny bit more energy in the upper mids to lower highs. Maybe. Also yes, IMO high gain does sound slightly better due to lower feedback, but it's not a huge difference. (Once again,) you unfortunately get background noise, which is the whole reason I wanted an rHead substitute. Background noise is at about the same level...
    Edit: tried with UERM, 6xx, and Ether Flow as well. Feedback stands.

    For those who may be deciding, get whichever one is cheaper, arrives faster, or whichever one is easier to warranty, etc. Unless you absolutely need XLR inputs or just can't have an amp that runs hot, then go with rHead. If you absolutely need pre-amp out or just want made in USA, go Asgard3.

    And similarly, in conclusion, there is not enough of a difference between the two for me to keep both. But I'm not going to take a trip to the UK just to return the rHead (after a year + ...) so unfortunately unless something changes within this next week, the Asgard3 is going back. Also I'd get either of these over a THX 789 any day due to availability and price alone as I don't need the extra power of the THX789. Also they both sound slightly better to me. Slightly being the keyword.
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2019
  15. Sonorus

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    To my knowledge rhead is discontinued so this may be a factor for someone to decide.
     
  16. redrich2000

    redrich2000 Facebook Friend

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    What's the current thinking on the DAC modules? Is the multibit worth the extra? How close is it to the stand alone Modi Multibit?
     
  17. bengo

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    Both were already discussed in other threads. Short answers:
    • Multibit module (or Modi Multibit) might be less resolving than AKM module. It's not a straightforward case of better/worse, as you would know if you have compared good delta-sigma to good multibit DACs in general.
    • Modi Multibit is somewhat superior to Multibit module (but of course more expensive and less convenient)

    Edit: firsthand impressions from @purr1n
    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...otunheim-impressions.2700/page-80#post-228425
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2019
  18. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    DAC Cards, both AKM and MB, do not have SPDIF connections. USB only.
     
  19. dirt

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    Just plugged mine in a few minutes ago. Got a Modi d-s uber plugged in. Took the Magni 3 out. First impression is it is very quiet. Secondly, it seems to have a lot more "openness" than the Magni. And a lot of bass control. Currently listening with modded Fostex RP50, which can eat power. I will let it warm up a while and listen some more. Using a big power cord I had laying around.
     
  20. dirt

    dirt New

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    After listening for some time, I keep coming back to the term "honeyed". So, sweet, if you want to put it that way. Bass is well gripped and articulate. Mids are just as I said, "dripping" compared to the Magni 3. And the detail is just outstanding. Dire Straits "Love over Gold" just blooms with big piano overtones and decay. I keep hearing little details that I have missed, previously. Left it on overnight, so it has plenty of burn in time. i look forward to more time spent with the clamps on my ears. Still haven't tried the Senn 6xx yet.
     

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