Asgard 3 vs Saga + for Speaker Preamp

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Seaner, Nov 20, 2020.

  1. Seaner

    Seaner New

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    Hello SBAF's, looking through the specs of these two, it seems like the Asgard 3 could be superior as a speaker preamp (Class A continuity vs tube buffer). I don't need the remote feature or multiple inputs of Saga.

    It can't be this easy though. What am I missing? Why is the Saga + double the price? Are the remote and tube buffer a big expense or is the Saga preamp itself just better designed for speakers?

    Is the Saga a better impedance match for a power amp such as Aegir or Vidar than an Asgard 3?

    Do the sonic qualities of a headphone amp translate over to the variable output when used as a preamp?
     
  2. monacelli

    monacelli Friend

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    Welcome, @Seaner. Check out these posts to get a feel for the board:
    As for your question, Asgard 3 vs. Saga+ is really apples and oranges. Asgard 3 is a headphone amp that happens to have preamp outputs for convenience. They are really intended for space-constrained desktop setups, not dedicated two-channel rigs (your home stereo). For example, if you're running active monitors with single-ended inputs on your work desk, Asgard 3 would give you a convenient way to control them. The Saga+ is a different animal, a dedicated preamp that can be operated in either passive or active mode (tube buffer). For volume control, the Saga+ uses a custom relay-stepped attentuator that offers super precise channel matching that the potentiometer on Asgard 3 can't match. Whether Saga+ is a good choice really depends on the rest of your chain. It would be a good candidate if you know you'll only ever have single-ended sources and you're not interested in running monoblocks that take XLR inputs. So to summarize, if you want a headphone amp with pre-outs for your desk, I'd say go with the Asgard 3. But if you're looking for something for your two-channel system, you'd be better off with a dedicated preamp such as Saga+. Of course, this depends on the level of performance you're trying to reach. If you're just goofing around, or want something for the garage, then the Asgard would be fine too.
     
    Last edited: Nov 20, 2020
  3. Seaner

    Seaner New

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    Thanks for explaining. I have always looked at headphone amps and active preamps for speakers as tiny amplifiers. I am curious though, is the variable output of the Asgard 3 or Vali 2 passive or is it using the headphone amplification?
     
  4. monacelli

    monacelli Friend

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    The preamp outputs on Asgard 3 and Vali 2 are active. They are derived from the same circuit as the headphone outputs, but with a 75-ohm resistor in series. To my knowledge, this is true of all of the Schiit headphone amplifiers with the exception of Jotunheim R, which is a specialty amp used only for RAAL ribbon headphones. On the Jot R, the preamp outputs need to be passive because the amplification circuitry is designed for extremely low impedance loads.
     

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