Schiit Ragnarok 2

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Vtory, Feb 12, 2019.

  1. tranq

    tranq Friend

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    I keep hoping Jason will realize this preamp implementation isn't the best. It might be alienating as many potential customers as it is drawing in new ones. I hope this will bring about an early revision in regards to how the pre amp is selected. Both privately and on a couple of forums Im seeing people either happy they own rag 1, or comment that rag 2 isn't for them because preouts are always active when using HP's. Ultimately sales will probably dictate it. If sales goals are met it won't matter if one subset of folks are left disappointed.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    What's wrong with line outs active when in headphone mode? Don't understand the downside.
     
  3. StanT

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    For me, at least, it's an issue that they are off in speaker mode, rather than on with heaphones. Using speaker & headphone mode means that I have to be 100% effective in pulling the headphone cables when using speakers. Not particularly wife or alcohol friendly.

    Swapping out a Rag1 with a Rag2 would be a matter of convenience for me. I'm fine with the sound, it's a matter of regaining some desk space. Having to yank cables with the threat of blowing headphones if I screw up is worse than occupying my desk.

    Again, I'd be fine with the preamp on all the time. Anything I attach to it can be powered off (and would be, by default).
     
  4. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    The downside is that a person cannot use headphones only without manually turning off the device connected to the Ragnarok 2 preouts. This makes no sense for a living room amp, as the most common use case is going to be as a speaker amp. Someone using headphones is likely doing so at night or because they otherwise need to be quiet, so having their subwoofers or external amp receiving signal in headphone-only mode makes no sense. It's also inconvenient to have to turn off the subwoofer amp or external amp every time one wants to use headphones. It was a feature requested by folks who for some reason use headphones with subs, which I imagine is a small subset of the users.

    With Ragnarok 1, someone could hook up speakers to the Ragnarok speaker outs and subwoofers to the preouts (using auto-off mode on the plate amp for convenience), and have both of those active in the speaker-only mode or the "both" mode. But if they want to listen to just their headphones, they can go to headphone-only mode, the preouts are inactive, and the subwoofers won't turn on.

    Not to mention the headphone preservation concern mentioned by @StanT above.
     
  5. HotRatSalad

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    I don't understand why someone would want subs with headphones ? Who's this amp for ? Makes no sense to have pre outs off in speaker only mode... In all the reading I've done I don't think I've ever come across this request. Would suck to have to unplug headphones all the time...
     
  6. tranq

    tranq Friend

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    -deleted
     
  7. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    Duh: https://subpac.com/
     
  8. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    Moved.
     
  9. HotRatSalad

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  10. tranq

    tranq Friend

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    I think the whole subwoofer with HP thing is interesting, but rag2 leaves out a fair number of users in it's current implementation.

    As such I am calling for...
    Learning how to upload gifs..

    Bah epic fail. Supposed to be a gif of Belushi from animal house shouting toggle switch toggle switch.
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2019
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Ohh, that's a major change. I guess a workaround is this:

    Split off speaker outputs and use speaker level inputs on the subwoofer plate amp (if it accepts speaker level inputs). I actually think using the speaker level inputs into a sub's plate amp results in better sub-mains integration.

    By doing this, we get two modes: [speakers/sub] and [headphones only]. Of course, those who want to use headphones with a sub, or use Rag 2 as a preamp to a power amp (and wanting a headphones only option) are SOL.
     
  12. Mrip

    Mrip Friend

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    I usually cross off any amp that makes me manually turn off my powered monitors to use headphones. I have heard tell of these people who use subs with headphones but am not totally convinced they actually exist. Has anybody met one of these people in the flesh?
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Why would you buy an amp for powered monitors that don't need an amp?

    Why would you use powered monitors from an integrated amp?
     
  14. Mrip

    Mrip Friend

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    By amp I just meant anything with a headphone amp+preamp combo. I'd consider something with a speaker amp because the headphone output + preamp are good enough to justify not using the speaker amp function. Not claiming this is because I have no idea. Also gives me the option to swap between powered or regular speakers.
     
  15. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    On if Rag 2 is missing details or blurring reverb....to quote Robert Mueller, I'm not certain I agree with your characterizations. That being said, maybe there is some veracity.

    Rag 2 doesn't have to my ears quite as much presence as MJ2 and I think that's what might be considered missing. It's still there though, and at a much more survivable level. You can say Rag 2 is not as well delineated, but you could also say MJ2 is over delineated. If you want to shove as much as air as possible between instruments then yes, I'd say MJ2 is going to do that a lot better.

    Listening to Hot Natured's "Reverse Skydiving" on HD800's on MJ2, you can clearly hear the overdubbing technique. Each different layer of Anabel Englund's vocals are obvious, and MJ2's wider staging shows up here beautifully. That's all great, except it comes at a cost that the cymbals are also imbued with an overly metallic and sheeny quality. This was what compelled me to buy Rag 2 in the first place. Was that a good choice? I go back and forth. I often plug MJ2 back in and go "Yup. It's more detailed," and then unplug it and and go back to listening to Rag 2. It's more pleasant.
     
  16. StandUp713

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    I think the functionality of going back and forth between line outs and headphones functionality is done on the SPL Phonitor X and some other of their products.

    https://spl.audio/professional-fidelity/phonitor-x/?lang=en

    I would apricate the same functionality, as I have headphones, and nearfields at my desk. Currently I just use a power strip to turn on and off the near fields, while unplugging and plugging in the headphones. Not a major pain, but a simple switch would be nice.
     
  17. roshambo123

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    Worth noting that I sent Ragnarok 2 back to Schiit yesterday.

    It's not that there was anything wrong with it, it just didn't represent a large enough benefit over MJ2 to warrant keeping at $1500. I also had plans to move into a condo that would've supported full-size speakers but that isn't happening so I don't need an integrated amp.
     
  18. neogeosnk

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    That's one of the reasons I returned the Rag 2 and ordered a Phonitor X. Schiit should fix the pre-out or give an option. Their Freya S is fantastic so I'm sure they can make a small change to the preouts.
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2019
  19. abasia

    abasia New

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    Any one know how the Rag 2 stands up against mono Aegirs?
     
  20. Aelms

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    @abasia

    There’s a comparison post from Purr1n after a Schiitr meet not too long ago.
     

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