[Barry S]

It would be nice to hear from a few head-fiers that auditioned the Rag at the SoCal meet. Did anyone compare the Rag with the Mjolnir?

 

[tomlink]

Is this an image from the OC meet Jason mentioned? Any more?

 

[mangler]

Is this an image from the OC meet Jason mentioned? Any more?

I believe so. The only impression I've read so far is that it is so transparent that the amp "sounds" like its not even there.

 

[TwoEars]

I believe so. The only impression I've read so far is that it is so transparent that the amp "sounds" like its not even there.

 
That's the way it's supposed to be isn't it?
 
Now... how does the yggdrasil sound then...

 

[eugenius]

I highly doubt you can tell any difference between the Ragnarok and the Mjolnir at a meeting.

 

[Barry S]

  I highly doubt you can tell any difference between the Ragnarok and the Mjolnir at a meeting.

And you're basing that statement on what, exactly? Were you at the SoCal meet, perhaps?  It's not hard to tell the difference between the GS-X and the Mjolnir at a meet.

 

[eugenius]

Yes, they look different.

 

[estreeter]

  Will it be possible to run Ragnarok in some kind of preamp only mode?  This would be nice for sending audio to an external amplifier when not wanting to use the speaker/headphone amp built in.  If you have to power up the power-amp section, it would be cool to be able to disable the speaker outputs and then put open-load protection on the headphone out.  This way, you can still use the amp as a preamp/source selector only.  I know this could easily be done with a dedicated preamp, but it would be really cool to find an integrated amplifier that I could use to power my speakers, but also be able to send audio to my Woo with or without speakers enabled (basically, I want to rely on my speakers to power my headphones or vice-versa; I wan't to be able to have one on, or both on in any combination I might want at a given time).

 
It's going to come down to how good the preamp is, but Marantz let you do this in a number of models, from their entry-level HT amp to their Reference series 2-channel amps. Unfortunately, in the space between those two the only 2-channel integrated seems to be the PM8004 - from memory, more expensive than the projected price of the Ragnarok.
 

 
 
I would be very surprised if Jason is willing to add 'Pre Out' functionality to the Ragnarok, but then Schiit has surprised us all in the past.

 

[Barry S]

I would be very surprised if Jason is willing to add 'Pre Out' functionality to the Ragnarok, but then Schiit has surprised us all in the past.

 
Unless the specs have changed, the Rag is slated to have balanced and unbalanced preamp outs.

 

[Jones Bob]

Exciting year for Schiit fans ahead.

-Daniel

Yeah, can't wait until the Schiit hits the fans.

 

[Jason Stoddard]

   
It's going to come down to how good the preamp is, but Marantz let you do this in a number of models, from their entry-level HT amp to their Reference series 2-channel amps. Unfortunately, in the space between those two the only 2-channel integrated seems to be the PM8004 - from memory, more expensive than the projected price of the Ragnarok.
 

 
 
I would be very surprised if Jason is willing to add 'Pre Out' functionality to the Ragnarok, but then Schiit has surprised us all in the past.

Ragnarok has full preamp outputs--balanced and single-ended. As well as 5 inputs, two balanced and three single-ended. And single-ended and balanced headphone outs. And three gain levels--20, 7, and 2 in balanced, 10, 3.5, and 1 in SE.

 

[estreeter]

Apologies for muddying the waters - per Stalker's OP from Dec, 2013:
 
RAGNAROK:
 
"Ragnarok is the world’s first universal amplifier, fully capable of powering everything from ultra-sensitive IEMs to loudspeakers. With 100WPC RMS into 4 ohms, 3 selectable gains, a relay-switched stepped attenuator volume control, and Crossfet™ circlotron-style output topology, Ragnarok befits its name—in Norse legend, Ragnarok was the “end of the world.”
 
Power Output: 100W into 4 ohms, 60W into 8 ohms, 15W into 32 ohms, 9.6W into 50 ohms, 1.6W into 300 ohms, 800mW into 600 ohms
Inputs: 2 balanced, 3 single-ended stereo inputs
Outputs: speaker terminals, 4-pin balanced XLR headphone, TRS unbalanced headphone, balanced and unbalanced preamp outs
Gain: selectable gain of 20, 7, or 1
Volume: (64) 1.25dB steps via relay-switched stepped attenuator
Topology: Fully discrete Crossfet™ circlotron-style stage with no caps in the signal path and no DC servos, all solid state
Management: microprocessor control of quiescent current and DC levels, with monitoring of all fault conditions
Power Supply: 400VA transformer with 4 separate circlotron output rails, over 100,000uF filter capacitance total
Size & Weight: 16 x 12 x 3.875”, 30 lbs
Estimated Price & Availability: $1400-1600, late 2013"
 
No need to dash down to a Marantz dealership just yet 

 

[BournePerfect]

Nobody's buying the Marantz for a universal/balanced/se headphone amp either. :/

-Daniel

 

[Jason Stoddard]

Maybe this will clear some things up:

 

[swspiers]

Nobody's buying the Marantz for a universal/balanced/se headphone amp either. :/

-Daniel

I love Marantz, and I believe you are 100% correct...