Schiit Asgard: Unboxing and First Impressions

[kite7]

 
Quote:

The Asgard is an excellent match for the HD600.  They were made for each other!

This is probably true as they did most of the testing on the Asgard with Sennheiser headphones as mentioned on their site. I had a modded HD580 that sounded great with the HDP but I don't have it anymore, they probably sound great on both.
 
 
http://schiit.com/schiit-faq/faq/
Quote:

... if you’re listening with low-impedance headphones, and especially if you have Sennheisers. Asgard loves Sennheisers, for whatever weird reason.
 
Are you serious about the Asgard-Sennheiser thing?
Yep. We don’t get it either. Though we should mention most of our listening was done on HD650s/600s/555s.

 

[scs999]

My Asgard has almost 100 hrs so far and it's magnificent with HD600's [using an Apogee Duet as DAC.]   Ditto with the GS1000i
 
The sound of my LP conversions [using the Duet ADC] are amazing in their clarity and harmonic detail.  Since I'm a tube kind of guy, I'm looking forward to hearing the Valhalla -- but the Asgard is superb and definitely a keeper.

 

[Maxvla]

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I'm about to buy some sennheiser HD600's (I currently have HD570's and Grado SR60's) and am looking for an amp an DAC to match.  Someone suggested that the DACmagic and Little Dot MK VI were a great match with the 600's so I've been looking into the DACmagic and a Little Dot MK VIII, Asgard, Valhalla, and just about any other amp sub 800$.
 
I really dont know what to get because I dont have the option of listening before I buy.
 

That was me regarding the DACMagic, MKVI and HD600. So far I haven't found any solid state amps that really got me into the music. If what is being said about great synergy between the Asgard and HD600 is true, it would certainly be cheaper.
 
I do suggest if you are considering a Little Dot that you make sure which one you want. The MKVI is more powerful, and runs hotter (same temperatures as the Asgard). The MKVIII SE is less powerful, but supposedly more refined and runs cooler and about $100 more. Don't think that just because the MKVIII SE is an 8 and the MKVI is a 6 that the 8 is automatically better. Also, the MKVI was tuned for HD600/650 and K1000. The MKVIII SE is tuned for the HD800. I don't know how that might affect the sound on HD600 (likely not much) compared to the MKVI, but that's another thing to consider.

 

[aspenx]

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Thinking about buying one to pair with AD2000 and W1000X. Any idea on synergy with these phones? 

Anyone with information how the W1000x sounds with the Asgard? (Even typing the name makes me feel awkward........)

 

[Clayton SF]

Quote:

 
I do suggest if you are considering a Little Dot that you make sure which one you want. The MKVI is more powerful, and runs hotter (same temperatures as the Asgard). The MKVIII SE is less powerful, but supposedly more refined and runs cooler and about $100 more. Don't think that just because the MKVIII SE is an 8 and the MKVI is a 6 that the 8 is automatically better. Also, the MKVI was tuned for HD600/650 and K1000. The MKVIII SE is tuned for the HD800. I don't know how that might affect the sound on HD600 (likely not much) compared to the MKVI, but that's another thing to consider.

Maxvla,
 
Are the fans in your MKVI quite silent? I guess with headphones on they should be.

 

 

[mmayer167]

just my two cents, but my hd600 (650 cable) driven by the asgard and fed by a uDAC and flacs is the best ive heard, period.
 

 

[Maxvla]

Quote:

Maxvla,
 
Are the fans in your MKVI quite silent? I guess with headphones on they should be.

 

They are. I've replaced the ones that came with it because one of them developed a buzz. They are wired in series so it drops the voltage. I found that using 'silent' fans was actually too slow and the amp got super hot. I then used some higher speed, but still on the quiet side fans (normal 12v ratings) and they turned out to be silent when wired in series, but have enough flow to keep the amp merely warm.
 

 

[Maxvla]

Quote:

just my two cents, but my hd600 (650 cable) driven by the asgard and fed by a uDAC and flacs is the best ive heard, period.
 

Can you qualify your statement by listing other setups you've heard with the HD600? This is one of those dramatic statements that needs references to be taken seriously, no offense.

 

[mmayer167]

haha sorry, it was a quick post. my opinion wont matter much because i've only heard the 600 out of the asgard, indeed hybrid (sylv.7308 rolled), fiio e5, and headphone-out of the uDAC. 
my point of that post was just to confirm that the hd600 does pair with the asgard like schiit said it does. whether its better than other setups or not i dont know, i just know that the hd600 and asgard is the best setup ive heard. thats why it was my two cents. i should have just kept it to myself, sorry.

 

[Maxvla]

Your impressions are certainly of value, but they could have been stated in a better way. I had a feeling this was about the only setup you'd heard these headphones with so I posted that to make sure.
 
If someone like Skylab, etc. came in and posted what you did these things would be flying off the shelf. Maybe even one to my house

 

[kwkarth]

 
 
Quote from Maxvla:

Can you qualify your statement by listing other setups you've heard with the HD600? This is one of those dramatic statements that needs references to be taken seriously, no offense.

 
 
Try one for yourself, then you won't have to ask endless what if questions, and still not have your curiosity satisfied.

 

[Nebby]

Given the 15day guarantee it's not difficult to give it a try

 

[Maxvla]

Quote:

 
 
 
 
Try one for yourself, then you won't have to ask endless what if questions, and still not have your curiosity satisfied.

I haven't been asking what if questions. I asked for a picture for size reference and impressions from that same person. I don't really need another amp right now. I'm merely guardedly curious. My last couple of posts were only to rein in a bit of exuberance.

 

[kwkarth]

Quote:

I haven't been asking what if questions. I asked for a picture for size reference and impressions from that same person. I don't really need another amp right now. I'm merely guardedly curious. My last couple of posts were only to rein in a bit of exuberance.

I really wasn't referring specifically to you alone.  "We" collectively have been asking over 250 posts worth of questions in this thread alone.  It's never been easier to find out for one's self the answers to our questions.
 
The questions you can't answer by trying the Asgard for yourself is stuff like "How well regarded" is the Asgard going to be around head-fi?...in other words, "what will other's think about me if I buy one?"  If you care about that question more than you care how the amp sounds, it might not be the amp for you.
 
Cheers!
kwkarth
 

 

[Lester Mobley]

I think their FAQ means that, when testing Sennheiser headphones with the Asgard, they mostly used HD650/600/555, and not other Sennheiser headphones.  The pairing of those three Sennheiser headphones with the Asgard is where their statement that "Asgard works well with Sennheiser headphones" is coming from.  So naturally other Sennheiser headphones might not pair as well as those tested.
 
Quote:

 

This is probably true as they did most of the testing on the Asgard with Sennheiser headphones as mentioned on their site. I had a modded HD580 that sounded great with the HDP but I don't have it anymore, they probably sound great on both.
 
 
http://schiit.com/schiit-faq/faq/