Schiit Magni Unity - Impressions Thread

[Miiksu]

Can you describe its sound signature? Neutral, warm, bright? Thanks!

Neutral warm. Analytical and joy level is high.

 

[dougq]

Can you describe its sound signature? Neutral, warm, bright? Thanks!

flat neutral.

 

[jclyle]

removed

 

[Miiksu]

Can you describe its sound signature? Neutral, warm, bright? Thanks!

First I had Topping L30 II. But I had one big issue with it. At high gain it goes protection mode when playing lots of low frequencies. It happens even with gaming when there is a sound. Then I started to search for alternatives and I found this Schiit Magni Unity. I didn't know what to expect. They are both similarly priced. Then I got it and hooked it to my system and I was immediately shocked how nice and warm the treble was. It's not overly done. You still hear all the details but you are now focusing more to the midrange.

I'm surprised if Schiit can make a better sounding headphone amplifier without price striking to stratosfar.

 

[JonM78]

First I had Topping L30 II. But I had one big issue with it. At high gain it goes protection mode when playing lots of low frequencies. It happens even with gaming when there is a sound. Then I started to search for alternatives and I found this Schiit Magni Unity. I didn't know what to expect. They are both similarly priced. Then I got it and hooked it to my system and I was immediately shocked how nice and warm the treble was. It's not overly done. You still hear all the details but you are now focusing more to the midrange.

I'm surprised if Schiit can make a better sounding headphone amplifier without price striking to stratosfar.

I am just shocked that Schiit made an under $200 amp/DAC combo that takes USB C, has RCA in and out and pushes up to 3W per channel. All in a nice, small metal package. They really upped the bar with this amp. Nothing else competes. I literally stopped shopping around for amps after I got this. I don't even look anymore. It gives me everything I need.

 

[Hyde00]

I am just shocked that Schiit made an under $200 amp/DAC combo that takes USB C, has RCA in and out and pushes up to 3W per channel. All in a nice, small metal package. They really upped the bar with this amp. Nothing else competes. I literally stopped shopping around for amps after I got this. I don't even look anymore. It gives me everything I need.

Oh so in the past I've noticed their smaller amps (Magni, Vali) always sounds..... small, and bigger amps (Jot, Lyr) sound..... bigger LOL.

As ridiculous as it sounds.

Has Magni Unity managed to sound bigger now?

 

[JonM78]

Oh so in the past I've noticed their smaller amps (Magni, Vali) always sounds..... small, and bigger amps (Jot, Lyr) sound..... bigger LOL.

As ridiculous as it sounds.

Has Magni Unity managed to sound bigger now?

I've never thought of describing an amp to sound "big" or "small". Definitely heard the terms "linear" "clean" "warm" or tube amps "wide". I had a Nitsch Pietus Maximus with ESS DAC and I wouldn't say it sounded "big". It didn't sound "big" compared to the Magni Unity.

I am not sure of your point in a reply to my comment. Don't focus on a single sentence. I'm talking about a $200 amp/DAC combo being nice and compact and having ample power for most headphones. You know the Jot and Lyr sure aren't $200, right? So why on earth are you bringing them up? The trip some people take these days....

 

[Hyde00]

I mean like.... say Magni Unity is the latest evolution of Magni, and each iteration it gets better and better, and so on and so fourth.

I'm just wondering has it reached a point where it's somewhat comparable to it's bigger brothers.

Another example is Midgard, it's cheaper than Jot and Lyr but it sounds like one might still prefer one over another depending on preference.

Just wondering if Magni Unity has reached that point yet.

Genuine curiosity, don't take my words the wrong way.

You know the Jot and Lyr sure aren't $200, right? So why on earth are you bringing them up?

I'm always interested in products that punch above its price point lol.

The trip some people take these days....

It's ok to have difference in opinions but don't need to be rude.

 

[schmalgausen]

Anybody really need 3 watt for headphones?

 

[Miiksu]

Anybody really need 3 watt for headphones?

I use pre-amp only. That's why high gain and volume always 100%.

 

[frkasper]

Anybody really need 3 watt for headphones?

Damn. And to think that I need to use an attenuator with my little Magni.

 

[Miiksu]

I am just shocked that Schiit made an under $200 amp/DAC combo that takes USB C, has RCA in and out and pushes up to 3W per channel. All in a nice, small metal package. They really upped the bar with this amp. Nothing else competes. I literally stopped shopping around for amps after I got this. I don't even look anymore. It gives me everything I need.

Some quotes from this site: https://www.schiit-europe.com/product/magni-end-game-headphone-amp-with-modular-dac-option/
"Why this rather than any other $1XX product?
Simple: Magni Unity is the only fully discrete headphone amp and preamp at this price. Fully discrete means no off-the-shelf op-amps; it means our own exotic current-feedback, low-loop-gain architecture that we’ve been perfecting for the last half-decade. And it’s designed to be modular, with an optional Unison USB DAC module, for a single-box, non-obsolescent desktop system."

"Argh why you go so hard?
We really don’t. Here’s the thing: we believe in what we do. We believe in it based on blind listening, testing beyond “one number to rule them,” and some of the most extensive engineering experience in analog audio design in the world. We believe in it enough that we killed Magni Heretic, an op-amp based design, because this measures within 2dB of that product—but with 30dB of feedback rather than 130dB, and because it was consistently chosen as sounding better."

 

[frkasper]

Is the output stage coming from the internal DAC card also discrete?

 

[Miiksu]

Is the output stage coming from the internal DAC card also discrete?

Nope it uses OPA1656. I use Burson Audio on my DAC and it's discrete op-amp design.

 

[SchwizzelKick66]

Anyone know if the dac has uac1 fallback support, or is it just uac2. Wondering if it can be used with the PS5.