Define "better".
I've switched my T1 work amp with my home Magni/Modi, and for me the big lines are; modi/magni is neutral & more detailed, T1 is colored & warmer. So imho it depends on the headphone... And even then, it can be a tradeoff... For instance, with the hifiman HE400i, do you want the extra warmth of the T1 or added detail/speed of the Schiits?
thendawg mentionned the Beyers 990s.. I have the Premiums 600ohms, and imho, the Schiit stack wins hands down, for some reason, with the T1, the highs of the 990s sounded
really weird... Likely because colored amp + similarly colored headphone = overdose of coloration... I'll have to listen again, but my 1st reaction was.. Errr... That's not good...
But, T1 seemed to give quite a jolt to Senns HD598 and AKG Q701s, as in, kinda seemed to enhance the headphones! I was surprised that the T1 seemed to improve them quite a bit, so in that case, imho T1 wins. At work, the AKG K550s already seem to me as being warm headphones, so the Schiit seem to improve (make them bit more neutral) them in that sense, and because they're closed/dynamic (do well as having a beefy/meaty sound with impact, solid bass), I think I'd rather have the Schiit with them & make them a bit more neutral & tad bit more detailed, as they're not the most detailed out there... But that said, it's quite close vs the T1, I really don't mind either, T1 on some tracks would likely do better... Almost a toss up.
And to go back to the HE400i, because of their somewhat new for me & seem to be a big step up of my other headphones, I'm liking the bit of extra weight the T1 gives them, but at the same time, I'm somewhat feeling like they're not driven as well as with the Schiits and I'm missing layer of detail/realism/musicality/clarity (whatever you want to call it) of the Schiits... It's not
huge, and I've not directly compared them, but the Schiit in that case, with a tiny bit of EQ would, IMHO, edge out the T1... For these cans, I think the T1 sounds a bit more 'lowfi'; not quite as resolving, so holds back the 400i more than the Modi/Magni...
So what is it... Two to two? Schiit wins AKG550 & HE400i and T1 wins AKG Q701 and HD598? A draw? Fine with me! I think my recommendation would vary depending on the headphones! Oh... All that is with the original tube though! Oooh... oh crap.. 990... Oh well whatever quite close overall imho..!