Schiit 'Magnius' - new $199 fully balanced headphone amp

[xkamran]

I have some impressions
First I will explain how I have been using my maginus
The first two days I owned it, it was used in SE mode ie RCA to RCA from dac to the magnius used with a DT880 250ohm and Grado 325 goldie
as mentioned before my play list in this thread my songs where played through Foobar and waspi event turned on.

Impression time.
DT880 This headphone required high gain settings to be turned on, and the volume to about 12-1 o'clock this produced a comfortable loud listening situation for me.
For the classical songs on my play list. This I can say has produced a rich and full experience sound wise. The instruments from what i heard sounded like the actual instruments and you could tell the difference between them even if they were in the same family. By rich I mean to me it is not fatiguing the treble is sparkly enough and the bass provides enough thump, but there is nothing that makes me want switch back another amp. I attribute this an amp that can control the headphone adequately enough to not produce fatigue.
325 Goldie, The headphone was ran with the low gain and volume around the 10-11 o'clock position. This headphone has always been known to be a trebly headphone and slightly weaker in the bass notes. However with this amp though the highs are sparkly they are detailed and controlled, I believe is driving these headphones very well with the lower impedance thus commanding control over the headphone instead of letting it perform badly. The songs that sound amazing where the rock and pop songs on my list of songs. The voice from Little dragon where some of the most controlled I have ever heard from most of the amps I have tried. It did not do well with the lower punches from NIN, massive attack or the prodigy, however again the bass was controlled present just not nearly as low as the dt880 is. (this is just the headphone not the amp).

Then yesterday I got to borrow a very well broken in pair of HD650 and balanced cable from a great guy on here.
Things changed drastically here. I went to a CD, Balanced out of the dac to balanced in on the Magnius and balanced out to the HD650.
Here are the cds or songs I have listened to so far.
Vivaldi - all 4 seasons, Sony essential classics
Ani Defranco - 32 flavors, fire door, Righteous Babe Records release
Live - lighting crashes BMG release
tool - the patient, BMG release ( side note yes I have everything intact)
Foals - my number, Wb records release
Nirvana - smells like teen spirit DGC maxi-single Universal International

Now here is where the fun begins.
I listened to the entirety of the Vivaldi selection, I am not sure what instrument that was doing this clicking sound at the end of each note.. but i could hear that. I have heard this cd several times actually more times then I could care to count. But it was a very pronounced almost inaudible click after each note. Maybe woodwind or something of that nature. This caught me guard and sounded amazing, it was not detracting at all like almost meant to be there. The HD650 as we all know are known to be VEILED. This is the case but the amp seemed to up the ante some how. The treble seemed a bit more lifted and and the lows even more detailed the normal, not a lot but to my ears it was there.

The rock songs, omg the guitars, thats all I really have to say about it. They sounded like a guitar was supposed to sound, i know it sounds weird, I dont know how to put into words or if there is a word or sentence that could explain it. Just everything sounds like it should not clinical sounding just sounds right.

Ani Defranco's voice wow I liked her on the grados before but this HD650 and Magnius my my its just really nice sounding her voice that is. creamy almost.

These are my ears and how I have experienced this amp, is it the amp is it the dac is it the cd transport. IDK but So far only thing i would say i liked better was an HD800 and Mjolnir 1 balanced or LCDx and Woo audio WA6-se those two setups would top the magnius but the price difference is a huge though.

There goes my whole believe system I got HD 660s
1. I ordered Modious and Asguard 3.
2. Changed it to Modious and Magnius.
3. Last night again i changed it back to Modious and Asguard 3.

PS i was hoping to run the balanced out all the way to headphones. I really wish people giving their impressions mention if they are using xlr or rca.

 

[xkamran]

Mate, I’m thinking if getting the same Modius+Asgard3 very soon, also shipped to Oz for that price (unless additional funding becomes available for Lyr3 in the meantime). I'll be keen to get your impressions!

That is amazing. I want a good sound which is warm, easy to listen to and less fatigue. I think this combination is my safest bet.
My other option was: costing $2100 Aus (this is the ultimate combo if you like nuteral.
SMSL m400 dac
Topping A90 amp

 

[lord_tris]

There goes my whole believe system I got HD 660s
1. I ordered Modious and Asguard 3.
2. Changed it to Modious and Magnius.
3. Last night again i changed it back to Modious and Asguard 3.

PS i was hoping to run the balanced out all the way to headphones. I really wish people giving their impressions mention if they are using xlr or rca.

How is it changed?

 

[xkamran]

How is it changed?

I have been reading reviews. Since this is a new product there aren't actual reviews on youtube.
I think most people ran the RCA output with SE, this is not an amp for SE, even disclosed by schiit team.
There were two reviews where Modius was paired with Magnus (XLR) and there wasn't a big difference compared to Asguard 3.

In my humble opinion the difference made in your case is because you are using a different DAC? which happens to be in perfect harmony with Maginus and the 650s.

 

[xkamran]

I have some impressions
First I will explain how I have been using my maginus
The first two days I owned it, it was used in SE mode ie RCA to RCA from dac to the magnius used with a DT880 250ohm and Grado 325 goldie
as mentioned before my play list in this thread my songs where played through Foobar and waspi event turned on.

Impression time.
DT880 This headphone required high gain settings to be turned on, and the volume to about 12-1 o'clock this produced a comfortable loud listening situation for me.
For the classical songs on my play list. This I can say has produced a rich and full experience sound wise. The instruments from what i heard sounded like the actual instruments and you could tell the difference between them even if they were in the same family. By rich I mean to me it is not fatiguing the treble is sparkly enough and the bass provides enough thump, but there is nothing that makes me want switch back another amp. I attribute this an amp that can control the headphone adequately enough to not produce fatigue.
325 Goldie, The headphone was ran with the low gain and volume around the 10-11 o'clock position. This headphone has always been known to be a trebly headphone and slightly weaker in the bass notes. However with this amp though the highs are sparkly they are detailed and controlled, I believe is driving these headphones very well with the lower impedance thus commanding control over the headphone instead of letting it perform badly. The songs that sound amazing where the rock and pop songs on my list of songs. The voice from Little dragon where some of the most controlled I have ever heard from most of the amps I have tried. It did not do well with the lower punches from NIN, massive attack or the prodigy, however again the bass was controlled present just not nearly as low as the dt880 is. (this is just the headphone not the amp).

Then yesterday I got to borrow a very well broken in pair of HD650 and balanced cable from a great guy on here.
Things changed drastically here. I went to a CD, Balanced out of the dac to balanced in on the Magnius and balanced out to the HD650.
Here are the cds or songs I have listened to so far.
Vivaldi - all 4 seasons, Sony essential classics
Ani Defranco - 32 flavors, fire door, Righteous Babe Records release
Live - lighting crashes BMG release
tool - the patient, BMG release ( side note yes I have everything intact)
Foals - my number, Wb records release
Nirvana - smells like teen spirit DGC maxi-single Universal International

Now here is where the fun begins.
I listened to the entirety of the Vivaldi selection, I am not sure what instrument that was doing this clicking sound at the end of each note.. but i could hear that. I have heard this cd several times actually more times then I could care to count. But it was a very pronounced almost inaudible click after each note. Maybe woodwind or something of that nature. This caught me off guard a bit and sounded amazing, it was not detracting at all like almost meant to be there. The HD650 as we all know are known to be VEILED. This is the case but the amp seemed to up the ante some how. The treble seemed a bit more lifted and and the lows even more detailed the normal, not a lot but to my ears it was there.

The rock songs, omg the guitars, thats all I really have to say about it. They sounded like a guitar was supposed to sound, i know it sounds weird, I dont know how to put into words or if there is a word or sentence that could explain it. Just everything sounds like it should not clinical sounding just sounds right.

Ani Defranco's voice wow I liked her on the grados before but this HD650 and Magnius my my its just really nice sounding her voice that is. creamy almost.

These are my ears and how I have experienced this amp, is it the amp is it the dac is it the cd transport. IDK but So far only thing i would say i liked better was an HD800 and Mjolnir 1 balanced or LCDx and Woo audio WA6-se those two setups would top the magnius but the price difference is a huge though.

Out of Curiosity which DAC did you use with Magnius ?

 

[lord_tris]

Out of Curiosity which DAC did you use with Magnius ?

An older little dot dac_1 bit hard to find for decent price but they were pretty nice back in the day

 

[cgb3]

Schiit themselves have said that if you aren't intending on running this thing balanced, get the Heresy 3 and save $100. The entire point of this amp is its balanced output. So buying it and evaluating it on its SE output is akin to buying Porsche and evaluating it by how it handles going over speed bumps in a parking lot.

Really? Shouldn't all functions of a product be evaluated? Should Porsche only be evaluated on the autobahn, or should in-city driving be considered? How about braking vs acceleration?

I'm flummoxed with people apparently cosigned with products.

I like Schiit products. My Modius DAC, and Asgard 3 Amp are seriously good schiit. They've been vetted by audio lovers world wide, and have great reviews to prove it.

If the Magnious doesn't pan out as a great amp, SO WHAT? I'll lose no sleep (and I doubt Jason Stoddard will either), and neither should you.

 

[lord_tris]

Really? Shouldn't all functions of a product be evaluated? Should Porsche only be evaluated on the autobahn, or should in-city driving be considered? How about braking vs acceleration?

I'm flummoxed with people apparently cosigned with products.

I like Schiit products. My Modius DAC, and Asgard 3 Amp are seriously good schiit. They've been vetted by audio lovers world wide, and have great reviews to prove it.

If the Magnious doesn't pan out as a great amp, SO WHAT? I'll lose no sleep (and I doubt Jason Stoddard will either), and neither should you.

Get where you are going, but like most things like a car or an amp, if you flip a switch or use it in a different mode. Something happens and it makes it better. Here is one of those products. Schiit wanted a way into a cheap balanced amp however they didn't want people to be stuck there or have to buy a balanced dac right off the rip. I would not say this amp is perfect or great but this in Balanced mode is something different then in pure SE mode. This is an amp that is good for that one trick and its a great trick but thats all its got.

 

[xkamran]

Get where you are going, but like most things like a car or an amp, if you flip a switch or use it in a different mode. Something happens and it makes it better. Here is one of those products. Schiit wanted a way into a cheap balanced amp however they didn't want people to be stuck there or have to buy a balanced dac right off the rip. I would not say this amp is perfect or great but this in Balanced mode is something different then in pure SE mode. This is an amp that is good for that one trick and its a great trick but thats all its got.

I Love Schiit products and i 100% agree with you. This DAC is only ment for balanced input. This fact has been admitted by schiit correspondents as well.
Can't wait for my Asguard and modious dac

 

[hiImGrant]

Really? Shouldn't all functions of a product be evaluated? Should Porsche only be evaluated on the autobahn, or should in-city driving be considered? How about braking vs acceleration?

I'm flummoxed with people apparently cosigned with products.

I like Schiit products. My Modius DAC, and Asgard 3 Amp are seriously good schiit. They've been vetted by audio lovers world wide, and have great reviews to prove it.

If the Magnious doesn't pan out as a great amp, SO WHAT? I'll lose no sleep (and I doubt Jason Stoddard will either), and neither should you.

Have you listened to the SE output? And somehow heard a difference?
Also, most sports cars a miserable in traffic, calm down over there buddy

 

[Seazer]

I'd like to see some comparisons against the Topping A90. I'll wait for more impressions to come in

 

[adydula]

MIne will arrive tomorrow with a Modius and will compare to the Jot and B2 balanced pairing....as well with Lyr 3.

Alex

 

[volly]

Good old Steve's review -

 

[adydula]

Fedex was supposed to deliver a Magnius and Modius and it never went to Out for Delivery...called and they have to trace, but today they havent found the package.
I thought USPS was bad....never had any issue with FEDEX shipping stuff from Schiit....wierd.

Oh well sent a note to Schiit, Fedex states they have to file a claim...waiting hopefully this will resolve itself soon...

Was anxious to compare but this will have to wait until most likely next week?

Alex

UPDATE: Fedex found the missing parcel!! Yeah re-sched for tomorrow!!!
UPDATE: Fedex re-sched for Monday....guess the Fedex boys are having some overload issues for sure....

Rumor is with all the stuff being ordered online with all this pandemic stuff has caused shippers a large increase in work and shipping delays etc....

 

[lord_tris]

Good old Steve's review -

Interesting that he mentioned the same thing I did with how it changed the sound of the headphones in a good way.