Schiit Magni+ and Magni Heretic :: Impressions Thread

[NotJeffBuckley]

Took advantage of the current sale to get a Magni+ Heretic to complement my Magni+!

I like the Heretic a lot, it's very accurate in the lows and highs. The Magni+ sounds a bit different. I described it elsewhere as the Magni+ having somewhat looser lows but an overall high frequency character that is a bit more forgiving, where the Heretic has extremely tight lows but also really "tight" highs too. A bright recording with bright headphones can be fatiguing where the Magni+ would be a bit less so. They're both fine amps, but I think the Heretic is a bit more to my tastes with the headphones I've tried so far. Nonetheless I reckon it's over for the Heretic, discontinued and no more op-amp Schiit... But the new Magni+ Unity seems like it's trying to bridge the gap there somewhat, with measurement specs almost as good as the Heretic but with their preferred design approach.

 

[adydula]

Took advantage of the current sale to get a Magni+ Heretic to complement my Magni+!

I like the Heretic a lot, it's very accurate in the lows and highs. The Magni+ sounds a bit different. I described it elsewhere as the Magni+ having somewhat looser lows but an overall high frequency character that is a bit more forgiving, where the Heretic has extremely tight lows but also really "tight" highs too. A bright recording with bright headphones can be fatiguing where the Magni+ would be a bit less so. They're both fine amps, but I think the Heretic is a bit more to my tastes with the headphones I've tried so far. Nonetheless I reckon it's over for the Heretic, discontinued and no more op-amp Schiit... But the new Magni+ Unity seems like it's trying to bridge the gap there somewhat, with measurement specs almost as good as the Heretic but with their preferred design approach.

If its too tight just loosen the screws a quarter of a turn, problem solved!
:>)
Alex

 

[TinearedOne]

Took advantage of the current sale to get a Magni+ Heretic to complement my Magni+!

I like the Heretic a lot, it's very accurate in the lows and highs. The Magni+ sounds a bit different. I described it elsewhere as the Magni+ having somewhat looser lows but an overall high frequency character that is a bit more forgiving, where the Heretic has extremely tight lows but also really "tight" highs too. A bright recording with bright headphones can be fatiguing where the Magni+ would be a bit less so. They're both fine amps, but I think the Heretic is a bit more to my tastes with the headphones I've tried so far. Nonetheless I reckon it's over for the Heretic, discontinued and no more op-amp Schiit... But the new Magni+ Unity seems like it's trying to bridge the gap there somewhat, with measurement specs almost as good as the Heretic but with their preferred design approach.

What are your thoughts on the comparison? There are times I enjoy the more detailed sound of my Magni 3+, and times I enjoy the less detailed and more laid back sound of the Vali 2. I'm actually thinking, given the closeout pricing, that a Magni Heretic may fit in there, as a more accurate, more resolving, less "bad recording tolerant" amp to round out the set. Hard to pass up, but I don't want to throw the money away.

 

[NotJeffBuckley]

What are your thoughts on the comparison? There are times I enjoy the more detailed sound of my Magni 3+, and times I enjoy the less detailed and more laid back sound of the Vali 2. I'm actually thinking, given the closeout pricing, that a Magni Heretic may fit in there, as a more accurate, more resolving, less "bad recording tolerant" amp to round out the set. Hard to pass up, but I don't want to throw the money away.

Well, my Magni+ has basically become my backup amp because I like the Heretic so much. It's not a huge one-sided beatdown or anything, the Magni+ is a great headphone amp that sounds like way more money than it costs (based on my past experiences with amps from the 2000s, 2010s) but the Heretic is so pristine, really feels like I'm getting close to "the recording itself" with it. Of the two, it sounds *exactly* like I intended when I track and mix my own material, which gives me confidence that it is doing a good job with other listening material (also, it sounds great, which - before confidence even - is the important thing, haha).

 

[SchwizzelKick66]

Well, my Magni+ has basically become my backup amp because I like the Heretic so much. It's not a huge one-sided beatdown or anything, the Magni+ is a great headphone amp that sounds like way more money than it costs (based on my past experiences with amps from the 2000s, 2010s) but the Heretic is so pristine, really feels like I'm getting close to "the recording itself" with it. Of the two, it sounds *exactly* like I intended when I track and mix my own material, which gives me confidence that it is doing a good job with other listening material (also, it sounds great, which - before confidence even - is the important thing, haha).

Well, with the ridiculous sale price starting today of $59 for heretic and $69 for magni+, I decided to grab a magni+. I'll see how it compares to my magni heretic.

If anything, for $69 the magni+ will serve as a backup in case anything ever happens to my heretic.

I find the heretic to sound ever so slightly sharp/clinical, so I may like the magni+ more from what you describe. Will be interesting to check it out.

 

[NotJeffBuckley]

I had a "decent" Chinese amp that I was using for a while, put a nicer op-amp in it and it's done great, still sounded good when I sent my Magni+ in for a needed repair (the 3-way gain switch failed) - not going to lie, I'm kiiiinda wishing I'd have waited because the deals here are outrageous! But, ultimately, I had great sound from my Magni+ for a year, and I don't think $79 for the Heretic was a bad deal at all. It's just crazy good now. I wish I merited that deal then. Oh well!

 

[TinearedOne]

Well, my Magni+ has basically become my backup amp because I like the Heretic so much. It's not a huge one-sided beatdown or anything, the Magni+ is a great headphone amp that sounds like way more money than it costs (based on my past experiences with amps from the 2000s, 2010s) but the Heretic is so pristine, really feels like I'm getting close to "the recording itself" with it. Of the two, it sounds *exactly* like I intended when I track and mix my own material, which gives me confidence that it is doing a good job with other listening material (also, it sounds great, which - before confidence even - is the important thing, haha).

Well, for $59 + tax and shipping, I figure it's a no risk purchase, so I'm adding a Heretic to my stack. Thanks for the feedback. That's what I was hoping to hear. Now, we'll see if it's what I "hear" when it arrives. Ridiculous closeout deal on that amp.

 

[NotJeffBuckley]

Yeah, I thought I was getting in on the ridiculous closeout deal already at $79! $59 is true no-brainer price for it, wonder if it also shows just how much is in them for costs - getting down to actual bottom dollar, or is there still even at that $59 some margin built in? Idle curiosity only, they're great amps at the usual price IMO.

 

[TinearedOne]

Yeah, I thought I was getting in on the ridiculous closeout deal already at $79! $59 is true no-brainer price for it, wonder if it also shows just how much is in them for costs - getting down to actual bottom dollar, or is there still even at that $59 some margin built in? Idle curiosity only, they're great amps at the usual price IMO.

Well, I certainly couldn’t even build a garbage project amp for that price, so… I suspect they’re losing money or breaking even. Just trying to move on.

 

[NotJeffBuckley]

Wow, I just checked on Amazon and I see several reviews with people talking about the overcurrent protection kicking on unexpectedly. I want to note I have not had that issue one time with my Heretic, and I'm driving 600ohm cans in high gain mode frequently.

I'm very tempted to get a backup while the getting's good, but at the same time, the usual price range for these isn't crazy and Schiit continues to improve them over time, would I definitely rather have more Heretic and not the next Magni iteration or whatever in time? I don't know. But $59 is a screaming deal for that amp, and the Magni+ ain't bad either!!

 

[TinearedOne]

Wow, I just checked on Amazon and I see several reviews with people talking about the overcurrent protection kicking on unexpectedly. I want to note I have not had that issue one time with my Heretic, and I'm driving 600ohm cans in high gain mode frequently.

I'm very tempted to get a backup while the getting's good, but at the same time, the usual price range for these isn't crazy and Schiit continues to improve them over time, would I definitely rather have more Heretic and not the next Magni iteration or whatever in time? I don't know. But $59 is a screaming deal for that amp, and the Magni+ ain't bad either!!

Really makes me wonder what they're doing when that happens. I have read of it happening, but I'm going to chalk it up to operator error until it happens to me.

 

[BS5711]

Wow, I just checked on Amazon and I see several reviews with people talking about the overcurrent protection kicking on unexpectedly. I want to note I have not had that issue one time with my Heretic, and I'm driving 600ohm cans in high gain mode frequently.

Current limit protection is not going to occur with 600 ohm headphones because they don’t need a lot of current they need voltage from the amplifier.

I don’t have the Heretic or Magni + anymore, having sold them to thin down equipment, but with 13 ohm and relatively low sensitivity Dan Clark Aeon Noire it was possible to trip the current limit protection on the Heretic and Magni + because the very low impedance load and low sensitivity require high current output rather than the high voltage required by a high impedance load.

Of course the volume was louder than is likely to be listenable for anything but a brief moment.

That is fine, that is what the protection is there for. It certainly isn’t something that is peculiar to the Schiit amps, I have had several amps that will go into current protection if pushed hard with the Aeons.

 

[NotJeffBuckley]

One review mentioned having an issue with HD-600s, I've used HD-650 and HD-660S with it without any issues at all. I've enjoyed them very much with headphones down to 42ohm impedance, but nothing lower than that.

Perhaps the person listening with HD-600s and triggering it was trying to listen very, very loud or something. I work with audio professionally, I'm careful about my hearing, I don't push it on volume so if it's something that only happens when the thing is some way to cranked I might not know. I don't think I listen especially quietly either, though, not one issue with any of my cans, but that doesn't mean it can't happen with others I understand.

 

[Hofy]

I bought a Heretic Wed night and it was here today already. Breaking it in tonight and I am impressed. I had a Magni3 in 2018 before I moved up to the Asgard3. From what I can remember, the Heretic is way better. Tomorrow I compare it to the Asgard3 and the Valhalla2.

 

[TinearedOne]

I bought a Heretic Wed night and it was here today already. Breaking it in tonight and I am impressed. I had a Magni3 in 2018 before I moved up to the Asgard3. From what I can remember, the Heretic is way better. Tomorrow I compare it to the Asgard3 and the Valhalla2.

Please do post. I am quite curious about your comparison.