[SearchOfSub]

Any reason why I can't find a Ragnarok for sale? Schiit has a production date of 6/3 . Been trying for over a week now.

IDK. Is the Amp even good?

 

[kazsud]

Yes, maybe there is a new version coming...

 

[johnjen]

The Rok is a VERY good HP amp.
And a VERY good speaker amp.

In some ways it is still a SotA amp and can hold it's own against much more expensive amps.
And primarily being a balanced device (which can accommodate SE) it is somewhat unique because it handles both HP's and speakers.

But it's ability to handle HP's with authority due to its very low output Ω (0.03Ω) and it's high class A bias (4w/ch), means all but the most power hungry HP's are operating in class A mode with power reserves that keep the amp coasting along, with ease.

Yeah it's big, and heavy, and runs warm(er), and clicks when the big knob in front gets twisted, but it's sonic presentation is wonderful by any measure that matters to me.

And it doesn't come as much of a surprise to me that there aren't many on the used market, since it fulfills such a unique role and there aren't many other options, let alone better ones.

JJ

 

[Snowpuppy77]

The Rok is a VERY good HP amp.
And a VERY good speaker amp.

In some ways it is still a SotA amp and can hold it's own against much more expensive amps.
And primarily being a balanced device (which can accommodate SE) it is somewhat unique because it handles both HP's and speakers.

But it's ability to handle HP's with authority due to its very low output Ω (0.03Ω) and it's high class A bias (4w/ch), means all but the most power hungry HP's are operating in class A mode with power reserves that keep the amp coasting along, with ease.

Yeah it's big, and heavy, and runs warm(er), and clicks when the big knob in front gets twisted, but it's sonic presentation is wonderful by any measure that matters to me.

And it doesn't come as much of a surprise to me that there aren't many on the used market, since it fulfills such a unique role and there aren't many other options, let alone better ones.

JJ

I second that. I own a Ragnarok and I honestly can't imagine anything making my HD800S sound better. Does a great job driving my big 100 lb each 88db efficient Paradigm Studio 100 v.2 speakers. I no longer feel the need for my NAD separate that I was using with these speakers. Very nice to have my TT and Yggy going to the amp that beautifully drives both my headphones and speakers. Plan on getting a new pair of speakers for them to drive. My speaker short list so far is the Harbeth 7es3, Magnepan (0.7 or 1.7i), Focal Aria 926, ATC SM11 V2, or Golden Ear Triton 2s. If anyone here is familiar with how these sound with the Ragnarok or have any speaker suggestions I would appreciate your opinion.

 

[alpovs]

But it's ability to handle HP's with authority due to its very low output Ω (0.03Ω)

Unfortunately it's only for balanced output impedance. Ragnarok's single-ended output impedance for headphones is very high. You have to look it up in the manual. They don't even mention it anywhere else.

 

[johnjen]

Yes that's true.
But I don't consider the SE HP output to have the same SQ as the balanced, and to the degree that I never use(d) it.
In fact I have yanked the TRS connector out completely, in preparation for my mods.

To me this is a balanced amp which can accommodate some SE connections, but for me the HP SE output just doesn't cut it.

And I kinda wish I could disconnect the summers from the output stream altogether, as they offer nothing of value for me.
And I figure they might just improve the SQ from the balanced output if they were not being fed any signal.
But the only way to know would be to try it, but that would take a schematic, or perhaps knowing what component to remove to disable that portion of the circuit.

JJ

 

[kazsud]

I find the EMAC sounds better with the HD800 S than my Rag when I had it. I wonder how the Vidar does w/ headphones on the speaker taps or the Hifi Man adapter.

 

[matbhuvi]

I am using Yggy with Denon 3500 avr (Pure Direct mode) and Marantz mm7055 5 channel power amp, driving Polk RTi A5 speakers. The setup is exceptionally detailed and spacious. I feel I am missing some warmth in midrange. I have to raise volume to get the weight I love. Then I realize that I am entering into 90db+ range. There is no distortion. But, can cause fatigue over long sessions. Not so practical. Anyone else faced that?

 

[rkt31]

I am using Yggy with Denon 3500 avr (Pure Direct mode) and Marantz mm7055 5 channel power amp, driving Polk RTi A5 speakers. The setup is exceptionally detailed and spacious. I feel I am missing some warmth in midrange. I have to raise volume to get the weight I love. Then I realize that I am entering into 90db+ range. There is no distortion. But, can cause fatigue over long sessions. Not so practical. Anyone else faced that?

Toe out your speaker a bit

 

[bagwell359]

I second that. I own a Ragnarok and I honestly can't imagine anything making my HD800S sound better. Does a great job driving my big 100 lb each 88db efficient Paradigm Studio 100 v.2 speakers. I no longer feel the need for my NAD separate that I was using with these speakers. Very nice to have my TT and Yggy going to the amp that beautifully drives both my headphones and speakers. Plan on getting a new pair of speakers for them to drive. My speaker short list so far is the Harbeth 7es3, Magnepan (0.7 or 1.7i), Focal Aria 926, ATC SM11 V2, or Golden Ear Triton 2s. If anyone here is familiar with how these sound with the Ragnarok or have any speaker suggestions I would appreciate your opinion.

I agree with this in general but not the 800S part - all 3 OTL tubes (cheap) and Violectric v281 sounded better or well better on the 800 and 800S than the Rag 1 in XLR or SE

Rag is great for speakers and planars and not bad w the HD-600 and HD-800 just not as good as the others

 

[bagwell359]

Yes that's true.
But I don't consider the SE HP output to have the same SQ as the balanced, and to the degree that I never use(d) it.
In fact I have yanked the TRS connector out completely, in preparation for my mods.

To me this is a balanced amp which can accommodate some SE connections, but for me the HP SE output just doesn't cut it.

And I kinda wish I could disconnect the summers from the output stream altogether, as they offer nothing of value for me.
And I figure they might just improve the SQ from the balanced output if they were not being fed any signal.
But the only way to know would be to try it, but that would take a schematic, or perhaps knowing what component to remove to disable that portion of the circuit.

JJ

For sure Every can even ones I don't like do better on XLR over SE - not huge with lower end stuff like HE-4XX but big plus with the rest