Schiit Aegir is now online
https://www.schiit.com/products/aegir
What if we made a Class A version of the Vidar? No, wait, strike that. What if we made a better-than-Class-A-in-many-respects version of the Vidar? Well, here you go. Meet Aegir.
Continuity™: Benefits Beyond Class A
Aegir is our first Continuity speaker amplifier, extending a technology we introduced with the Lyr 3 headphone amp. Technically, Continuity is a way to eliminate transconductance droop outside of the Class A bias region, and extend the benefits of Class A biasing. It also solves the NPN and PNP device mismatch problem, since it uses both NPN and PNP devices on both rails. It’s still a very hot-running amp, though, with over 10W of Class A standing bias.
A True No-Excuses Design
Like Vidar, Aegir uses an exotic current-feedback topology, as well as a 100% linear power supply (with 7 separate voltage rails and 600VA transformer) and microprocessor oversight to eliminate capacitors and DC servos in the signal path. No Class D, no switching supplies, no fans, no compromises, nothing in the signal path but music—for a three-figure price tag.
Power That Scales
Aegir provides 20W into 8 ohms, doubling to 40W into 4 ohms. Run mono, and you’ll see 80W into 8 ohms and 120W into 4 ohms. Best of all, Continuity ensures you see Class-A-like performance at all these power outputs.
Convenient Standby Mode
On Aegir, we’ve added a front-panel button to put the amp into Standby mode. This de-biases the output stage completely and reduces standing power consumption from 200W to about 15W. This keeps the rest of the amp up and running, without massive heat output.
Designed and Assembled in USA
By “designed and assembled in USA" this is what we mean: the vast majority of the total production cost of Aegir—chassis, boards, transformers, assembly, etc—goes to US companies manufacturing in the US. Our chassis are made minutes from our facility. Our PCBs are done just over the hill from us, or done in NorCal. Our transformers are also made in California. You get the picture.
5-Year Warranty and Easy Return Policy
Aegir is covered by a 5-year limited warranty that covers parts and labor. And if you don’t like your Aegir, you can send it back for a refund, minus 5% restocking fee, within 15 days of receiving it.
SPECS
Power Output:
Stereo, 8 Ohms: 20W RMS per channel
Stereo, 4 Ohms: 40W RMS per channel
Mono, 8 ohms: 80W RMS
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, -0.1db, 3Hz-500KHz, -3dB
THD: <0.01%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 100W RMS into 8 ohms
IMD: <0.01%, CCIR, at 100W RMS into 8 ohms
SNR: >114db, A-weighted, referenced to full output
Damping Factor: >100 into 8 ohms, 20-20kHz
Gain: 12 (22dB)
Input Sensitivity: AKA Rated Output (Vrms)/Rated Gain. Or, 28V/22. You do the math.
Input Impedance: 22k ohms SE, 44k ohms balanced
Crosstalk: >105dB, 20-20kHz
Inputs: L/R RCA jacks for stereo input, single XLR for mono input
Topology: Fully complementary, all-BJT, current feedback, no coupling capacitors or DC servos with Continuity™ constant transconductance output stage
Oversight: microprocessor-controlled monitoring and management of critical operational points, including DC offset, with standby mode and relay shut-down for overcurrent, thermal, and other faults
Power Supply: 600VA transformer with dual mono main rails, plus boosted, regulated supply to input, voltage gain and driver stages, plus separate, isolated and regulated rails for microprocessor management.
Power Consumption: 450W maximum
Size: 9” x 13” x 3.875”
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https://www.schiit.com/about/news/aegir-continuity-speaker-amp-announced
AEGIR CONTINUITY™ SPEAKER AMP ANNOUNCED
Unique Constant-Transconductance Topology Offers Benefits Beyond Class A
April 2, 2019, Valencia, CA. Schiit Audio announced the immediate availability of Aegir, a compact, Class-A-like stereo or mono speaker amplifier with a unique constant-transconductance topology (Continuity™) that extends the benefits of Class A operation outside of Class A. Aegir is rated at 20W RMS x 2 into 8 ohms, 40W RMS x 2 into 4 ohms, and 80W into 8 ohms as a monoblock. Aegir employs no-compromise design—100% discrete, fully complementary, current-feedback, linear power supply, intelligent microprocessor management—with an affordable price of $799.
"Our first Continuity™ speaker amplifier extends the benefits of linear transconductance beyond Class A, resulting in a cooler-running, more affordable amplifier," said Jason Stoddard, Schiit Audio's co-founder. "Both Bob Cordell and John Broskie have long discussed the problem of transconductance droop in Class AB amplifiers. Our unique Continuity technology, introduced with the Lyr 3 headphone amplifier last year, addresses both transconductance droop and mismatch between NPN and PNP output devices."
Aegir is the first speaker amplifier with a constant transconductance output stage that is designed to operate outside of the Class A region. Unlike Class A designs, Schiit's Continuity output stage enables Class-A-like performance beyond Class A operation.
"This doesn't meant that it's a cool-running amplifier," said Stoddard. "It does run about 10 watts of Class A bias. The difference is that Aegir can deliver over 100 watts into a 4 ohm speaker when run as a monoblock, without the transconductance droop of a Class AB amplifier."
This additional efficiency allows Schiit to produce a more compact and affordable amplifier than traditional Class A designs. Aegir sells for much less than a typical Class A amplifier, has a smaller footprint, and runs cooler.
Aegir joins Vidar in Schiit's line of affordable speaker amplifiers. Like Vidar, it's a natural complement to Schiit's preamps and DACs, allowing customers to create complete electronic systems for not much more than $1000.
Aegir is available for sale immediately at schiit.com at $799.