AvroArrow, please check your PM.

avroarrow said:

  I thought so.  fenderf4i, thanks for the tip for shipping. 

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I literally just picked up my Vali from the post office, shipped directly from Schiit via USPS, and again, no extra charges, not even tax. There is a chance that if the value of the package is high enough, that they might charge tax on it. I am fine with that in that if it was purchased locally, the tax would have to be paid on it. What I really have a problem with is handling and customs charges!

Just thought I would post real quick that I received my Asgard 2 on Saturday. I am highly impressed. I think I ordered it on Tuesday and it shipped on Wednesday. I live in MO and with it coming from CA, I expected it to take almost a week. They shipped it out to be delivered FedEx Home delivery on Saturday. For $12?! While a lot of companies seem to ripping people off with shipping these days, they are going above and beyond. Thank you!
 
Customer service aside, I love the amp. My main choice of HP are my K701's and it has no problem driving those even on low gain. I ran the volume up to about 3:00 and it was more than I could handle for much more than a minute or so. I don't feel like damaging my hearing. I tend to listen at a comfortable 80dB give or take depending on what I'm listening to and how long. If I am evaluating or only going to listen for a short while, I may run it up a few dB. As far as sound quality, it sounds great. I didn't necessarily expect a world of difference from my current setup. To be honest, I A/B'd it with my X3 and I couldn't tell the difference. I know that may seem like an insult. But, it isn't. I love my X3 and I think it has a pretty good built-in amp for driving relatively efficient headphones. It has plenty of power to drive my K701's, definitely enough for my Grados. If I were driving harder to drive or lower efficiency phones, I may notice more of a difference. I even went as far as running a response measurement on the amp and it is pretty darn flat. In my opinion, an amp should only add gain, not change the sound quality. And, the Asgard 2 seems to do just that.
 
So, anyway. I didn't intend on this being an in-depth review as I am not very articulate or elegant when it comes to that. Just wanted to give my initial impressions and share my excitement. I am now officially a Schiit-head. 
 
Dave

rocker66 said:

:
:
I am now officially a Schiit-head. 

 
Dave

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That means you're full of Schiit, like the rest of us.

stand said:

That means you're full of Schiit, like the rest of us.

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And you'll occasionally have to clean the Schiit out of your ears

rocker66 said:

So, anyway. I didn't intend on this being an in-depth review as I am not very articulate or elegant when it comes to that. Just wanted to give my initial impressions and share my excitement. I am now officially a Schiit-head. 

Dave

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Awesome man and welcome to the club!

stand said:

  That means you're full of Schiit, like the rest of us.

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gak27 said:

And you'll occasionally have to clean the Schiit out of your ears

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I call it wax.

stand said:

   
 
I call it wax.

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"Schiitin' on Wax"
 
*my new album*

change is good said:

   
"Schiitin' on Wax"
 
*my new album*

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Didn't they make records on wax cylinders at one time?

Well, I was pretty happy with my Asgard 2. Until tonight that is, and it is just a bit over two weeks old.
 
I'm still getting sound from it, but it doesn't sound anything like it did up until this point. It had run hot, like it's supposed to, but starting tonight it has been lukewarm at best. Nowhere near as hot as it was when new, and it just sounds really flat. I need to go to about 1 o'clock to get the volume I used to get at 9 o'clock or so.
 
I'm using a Modi for a DAC, and it sounds just fine if I'm using the output from it to my receiver's Aux connections. When I switch to the Modi ---> A2 it isn't very good.

jgreen16 said:

  I'm still getting sound from it, but it doesn't sound anything like it did up until this point. It had run hot, like it's supposed to, but starting tonight it has been lukewarm at best. Nowhere near as hot as it was when new, and it just sounds really flat. I need to go to about 1 o'clock to get the volume I used to get at 9 o'clock or so.

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Haven't you accidentally put it into low gain mode with a switch on the back?

Nope, I've double checked all settings.

jgreen16 said:

  Nope, I've double checked all settings.

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Bummer. RMA then, I guess..

Very nice!!!