Schiit Magni Unity - Impressions Thread

[JonM78]

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

From Schiit: "Unison USB™ works with Windows 10/11, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux distros that support UAC2."

 

[Echalon]

Please could someone compare the Unity + DAC card to the Fiio K11 R2R? Wavetheory’s K11 R2R review said the Schiit was better, but I have not found any other comparison. My only real concern is for sound quality and tonality, not features.

 

[SchwizzelKick66]

For anyone who has the Magni Unity in black, is the volume knob silver or black? I've seen a few pics, including one in this thread, where the knob is black. Their website shows it in silver.

 

[eriktous]

It's silver. You can get a black one separately from Schiit if you'd like.

Or get creative and put on any other color and shape/size you like. Mine currently has a blue one with knurling and a bit larger diameter.

Have a look at the Vali 3 thread where knob rolling has become a bit of a thing.

 

[JonM78]

For anyone who has the Magni Unity in black, is the volume knob silver or black? I've seen a few pics, including one in this thread, where the knob is black. Their website shows it in silver.

It's silver. But you can order the black knob in addition and swap it out. That's why you see the picture I shared with a black knob. Be aware if you do that the silver knob is on there rather tight. So you can use a plastic prying tool and slowly pry up all the way around (not just one side) and eventually the knob will move and lose grip so you can easily take it off.

 

[shampoosuicide]

Quick early impressions:

Setup

• Apple Music on Mac
• Schiit Modi Multibit 2
• Schiit Magni Unity
• Beyerdynamic DT 150 [ EQ ]
• Hifiman Arya Stealth [ EQ ]

Other equipment

• iFi ZEN DAC 3 (with iPower X)
• Cayin iHA-6

Notes

• On high gain with EQ applied (-5.5.dB preamp gain) with the Arya Stealth, I’m at 2 o’clock listening to The Sundays’s Wild Horses (I listen relatively loud, >85dB).
• Very clean sounding, although not in an exaggerated manner
• No digititus detected. No glare or 'hardness' detected.
• Sounds relatively open and effortless. Not strained and constricted or “boxed-in” like with previous Magnis (Magni 3, Magni 3+, in particular; Magni Heretic to a somewhat lesser extent), and this was always my main complaint with the Magni line.
• Also vis the earlier Magnis, the Unity sounds pleasantly refined, displaying none of the ‘hardness’, bluntness, or 'etch' the earlier iterations sometimes could.
• Outstanding low-end grip and control
• I can’t detect any particular “character” to its presentation. I would describe it as uncoloured, but not clinical, sterile, dry, or “hyper clean” in the way the Magni Heretic or Atom or THX AAA 789 could be.
• Based purely on impression, the main difference I’m noticing vs the iFi ZEN DAC 3 (with iPower X) is the degree of separation, precision, dynamism, and low-end control displayed by the Magni Unity. The ZEN DAC 3 is mellow, mid-centric, warm, and inviting, but does display a relatively weaker perception of control, clarity, and slam, along with a more intimate and laidback character.
• Based on memory, the Magni Unity also comes across as less bright and lean than the Vali 3 (also paired with the Modi Multibit 2, and with the GE 5670 5-star tube installed). The Vali 3 had a bright, lean, airy, and pristine / "glassy" character. This made for a very open and effortless presentation, but also meant that it did not pair as well with more neutral / lean / bright sounding headphones.
• Added 27 February 2025. One more important point: the volume pot is much smoother and displays less resistance than the earlier Magnis. Also, no scratchiness thus far. A very welcome change.

Very pleased so far!

Update 23 April 2023
I have since sold the Magni Unity, but this is just an update to say that after extensive comparison between my Cayin iHA-6 and the Magni Unity, it became unfortunately rather clear that despite's the Unity's impressive grip, control, and precision, it still displayed the same tiny, narrow soundstage characteristic of all the past Magnis I have owned (and certainly quite unlike the other Schiit amps I've owned, including the Vali 3, Valhalla 2, Asgard 3, and Jotunheim 2).

 

[Hyde00]

Sounds relatively open and effortless. Not strained and constricted or “boxed-in” like with previous Magnis (Magni 3, Magni 3+, in particular; Magni Heretic to a somewhat lesser extent), and this was always my main complaint with the Magni line.

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed it. I found older smaller form factor Schiit gear also sound...... small.

I pointed that out and someone got offended LOL (forgot where).

Good to know they have since improved on that.

When you compared to Vali 3, did you get to try any other tubes? Since it seems to influence sound signature a bit.

 

[shampoosuicide]

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed it. I found older smaller form factor Schiit gear also sound...... small.

I pointed that out and someone got offended LOL (forgot where).

Good to know they have since improved on that.

When you compared to Vali 3, did you get to try any other tubes? Since it seems to influence sound signature a bit.

Thanks for highlighting that! Yes, I had the GE 5670 5-Star tube installed. I didn't compare them too closely, but the character of the Vali 3 seemed to remain consistent whether with the stock tube or with the GE 5670 5-Star.

Also - thank you for pointing out the thing about earlier entry-level Schiit gear sounding 'small'. This was something I had noticed for several years and I remember coming across your post a while back making the same point and feeling deeply vindicated by your corroboration.

 

[Hyde00]

Please could someone compare the Unity + DAC card to the Fiio K11 R2R? Wavetheory’s K11 R2R review said the Schiit was better, but I have not found any other comparison. My only real concern is for sound quality and tonality, not features.

I don't own the Magni Unity, but my interpretation from wavetheory's review is that as an all in one unit, Magni Unity + DAC card is better than K11 R2R.

Magni Unity has better amp while K11 R2R has better DAC. If you don't care about it being all in one, then you could take K11 R2R and line out to a Magni Unity for best of both worlds.

Thanks for highlighting that! Yes, I had the GE 5670 5-Star tube installed. I didn't compare them too closely, but the character of the Vali 3 seemed to remain consistent whether with the stock tube or with the GE 5670 5-Star.

To be honest, I currently own Lyr 3 but I've always want to try Vali 3 or Magni Unity just for fun.

Based from your review I might be leaning on Magni Unity lol.

Also - thank you for pointing out the thing about earlier entry-level Schiit gear sounding 'small'. This was something I had noticed for several years and I remember coming across your post a while back making the same point and feeling deeply vindicated by your corroboration.

Glad I was able to inspire you and now you're inspiring me lol.

Few years later we're going to find this post again and be reminded that why this community is great.

 

[shampoosuicide]

To be honest, I currently own Lyr 3 but I've always want to try Vali 3 or Magni Unity just for fun.

Based from your review I might be leaning on Magni Unity lol.

I know this is the Unity thread and I don't want to derail it, but just a few quick further thoughts on the Vali 3.

To be sure, I have since sold the Vali 3 and am unable to compare it directly to the Unity. At the time that I owned the Vali 3, however, I did also own the Jotunheim 2 and Magni Heretic. I compared all three with the Modi Multibit 2 performing DAC duty.

There was absolutely no mistaking: Even with the GE 5670 5-Star tube, the Vali 3 came across as being significantly leaner and brighter than the Jotunheim 2. Surprisingly, the Magni Heretic also displayed much less pronounced highs than the Vali 3, along with much better grip and control in the low-end.

With that said, however, I do think the Vali 3 has its merits, and has the most sonically interesting character and presentation of the amps discussed here. With certain headphones, it could sound positively sublime (Grado RS2x, Focal Clear, Senn HD 600). While I maintain that it is bright and lean, it also displays a wonderfully vibrant, vivid, and euphonic presentation with the right headphones. And while its highs can simply be too much with certain headphones and display some degree of glare, with other headphones it can also come across as "sparkling" and delicate. One standout characteristic of the Vali 3 is its quite remarkable sense of airiness, effortlessness, and spaciousness. Technically, I was also impressed by its clarity, separation, and layering, which I found frankly outstanding.

Personally, if you're looking for something 'different' and fun, I might actually lean towards to the Vali 3. The Unity, though, strikes me as the 'safer', more versatile, and more neutral option.

 

[misterpumpy]

First, these impressions are based on an imperfect audition at CanJam Dallas. That said, I listened to each amp at the Schiit table for ~5 minutes each. So grains of salt for what comes ahead.

The Magni Unity that I auditioned was a Unity with the 9018 DAC card included. I played songs from Qobuz. I do not have the exact playlist memorized, but know that I chose music from Plini, TOOL, and Ludovico Einaudi. My first impression was that I actually found the sound of the Magni Unity to be more subjectively enjoyable to listen to than the Midgard that was also on the table. The Midgard sound from the SE output sounded compressed, and while the detail was center stage, I just didn't get the most enjoyment out of it. The Magni Unity on the other hand was nice, smooth at lower volumes, quite dynamic when turning the dial past ~2pm on low gain. I can't speak to any longer term opinions or checking it against my Hel+ in a more objective way--my general impression is that I found the Magni Unity to be superior to the Hel+, but again that's using audio memory, which is flawed. My only real complaint, and it's more of a quibble: the USB C orientation being vertical instead of horizontal, I wonder if that is the best way to orient the USB C port. I can't say one way or another, but I prefer my ports horizontal, and I can't explain why beyond thinking that with the USB C port parallel and soldered to the pcb (such as on the Modius E) makes me think it would be more sturdy.

When considering the price point of sub 200 for a pretty damned good sounding amp/dac combo, I genuinely think this will make for a killer product from a sales perspective, but also a great choice for users who don't want a stack, but still want a discrete amp topology from Schiit. I hope to have more thorough impressions down the road when I may own a Magni Unity.

So, true story, I eventually upgraded my main listening station streamer, and I put the node x in my bedroom on my nightstand and I bought a Magni Unity and a Modi+. I really love listening to music in bed thanks to the schiit stack. I could have used the HP in on the node X, but I honestly dislike THX AAA amp sound signature (which is what bluesound node x and icon uses), so I quickly got the Magni Unity. Loving it. Just a powerhouse for the price.

 

[MindBreak]

It seems quite a few of you would agree with Jason's statement that "the Magni Unity is the only amp you need".

I guess I can continue recommending it to those looking for an amp in the sub $200 range.

 

[misterpumpy]

It seems quite a few of you would agree with Jason's statement that "the Magni Unity is the only amp you need".

I guess I can continue recommending it to those looking for an amp in the sub $200 range.

Yeah, I mean my asgard 3 and pietus maximus are better, but when listening with my magni unity i dont feel like i am missing out. i have an enjoyable listening experience. super easy to recommend for the price.

 

[MindBreak]

Yeah, I mean my asgard 3 and pietus maximus are better, but when listening with my magni unity i dont feel like i am missing out. i have an enjoyable listening experience. super easy to recommend for the price.

True enough, but once you go down that rout of which piece of Schiit is better than the other outside of a specific price range, then you can say that my Mjolnir 3 bests all 3 of those amps (in my opinion ). Schiit has good amps at various price points in both SS and Tube flavors.

 

[sofakingpunk88]

I have to ask because there is just way too much information. I am looking to get an amp/dac. It could be one unit.. aka magni with the internal dac or with the modi. I want to spend ideally under $300. What would you guys recommend is the best bang for your buck.