Schiit Ragnarok Amplifier

[magiccabbage]

Yes, it controls both.

Brilliant thanks

 

[bagwell359]

I have a Jotunheim 2 which I’m happy with so decided to buy the Ragnarok2 amp only for another system.

There is obvious noise on Gain 2 and Gain 3 when you go past 12 o’clock. Can get to about 2 o’clock on gain 1. I’m trying to run Monitor Audio Apex A10 speakers so if I want noiseless I end up with gain 3 12 o’clock which is low noise but also too low volume for my PC setup which I described a few posts above..

So that’s not useable so have to limit myself to using as a headphone amp in another system in low gain which is doable but not what I intended.

I am in the UK and bought in the knowledge that I wouldn’t be sending back to the US. Gamble didn’t pay off and I now have a limited use amp. Very disappointing and obviously not recommended even at the lower price.

I've run 3 sets of speakers on the Rag 1.5 and 2. 92 db, 88 db, 86 db @ 1 meter @ 1 w - in small, medium, and large rooms, and the only combo that I could hear noise on was the 86 db speakers at Gain 3 at 4:00, and it wasn't obtrusive. At any setting on Gain 2, and any other Gain 3 (up to 3:30) nothing.

Are you using XLR or SE interconnects? Can you move the wires around, and try a different plug? Just doesn't jibe with my experiences.

 

[bagwell359]

Hey guys. Been a while since I was on here. So I will be using the Ragnarok 2 today with speakers for the first time. I have a set of zu druid 6 which are very sensitive @ 101db 1 watt.... So I'm just wondering if anyone here can tell me if the gain stages / switches work for the speaker setting as well as the headphone setting?

Yes, being a non bass/loud volume guy I tend to stick in Gain 2 for both speakers (efficient) and headphones. Gain settings same for both choices.

 

[bagwell359]

For those that don't read back in threads - for headphones you get way more juice out of the XLR then the SE outputs.

 

[mtenga]

I've run 3 sets of speakers on the Rag 1.5 and 2. 92 db, 88 db, 86 db @ 1 meter @ 1 w - in small, medium, and large rooms, and the only combo that I could hear noise on was the 86 db speakers at Gain 3 at 4:00, and it wasn't obtrusive. At any setting on Gain 2, and any other Gain 3 (up to 3:30) nothing.

Are you using XLR or SE interconnects? Can you move the wires around, and try a different plug? Just doesn't jibe with my experiences.

I was using RCA, the same as with my previous Yamaha amp which was noiseless. I’ve just ordered some powered speakers so will be using the pre-outs and not bothering with the noise from the Rag amps. I’m also going to connect up a streamer via XLR so we will see how that plays out.

 

[magiccabbage]

Hey

So I'm using a woo audio wa5 300b amp and a rag 2 to power the zu audio druid 6.

The druid is 16 ohms and both amps are 8 ohms. So as I understand it that haves the power of each amp. Luckily the speaker are very efficient @101db so volume is not an issue.

My question is why does the 300b amp that will put 4 watts into the speaker sounds louder than the rag 2 on the low gain which would be putting 7 watts into the speaker?

As far as I know the rag is 60 watts into 8 ohms. And the 3 gain stages are having each time so .... 60 on high gain 30 on medium gain and 15 on low but because of the ohm mismatch it should work out as 30 .. 15 and 7 right.

Even on the high gain the tube amp still has an easier time powering the speaker. Is there something I'm missing. Maybe it's the high voltage of the tubes?

Sorry for the convoluted question

Paddy

 

[bagwell359]

Hey

So I'm using a woo audio wa5 300b amp and a rag 2 to power the zu audio druid 6.

The druid is 16 ohms and both amps are 8 ohms. So as I understand it that haves the power of each amp. Luckily the speaker are very efficient @101db so volume is not an issue.

My question is why does the 300b amp that will put 4 watts into the speaker sounds louder than the rag 2 on the low gain which would be putting 7 watts into the speaker?

gain 1: 6 db
gain 2: 18 db
gain 3: 28 db

gain 1: into 50 ohms is about 1 wpc. Schiit doesn't describe what goes on, but gain 0 seems like pure class a 1 wpc, with the pre-amp being run with no active gain - hence the pure delicate sound with slight drooping at the freq extremes (much like a 300B with much lower THD). Note these numbers are with the XLR out, can't see any case except not able/wanting to move from SE. Its got much higher output impedance (not desirable) and the gain is more like 3/9/14 db.

gain 2: adds the active gain, and still seems fairly pure - perhaps 4 wpc into 50 ohms

gain 3: is a classic class AB sound, lacking certain subtle details compared to 1 or 2. But putting out a mammoth 24 wpc @ 50 ohms.

I've run the 6 screw HE-6 and 6 SE on my Rag 1 and some hours on 2 different Rag 2's and I never found the need for gain 3. Gain 1 is great for super pure mid oriented recordings, but 95% of the time Gain 2 is the answer

Note Rag 1 and Rag 1.5 has slightly lower power output - 15 wpc@50 ohms vs 24, but runs up to 4 wpc pure class A before it slides into class AB - the Rag 2 is just 1 W.


Not addressing you - but for someone that's owned many classic amps from tubes like ARC D-52, Jadis, Dyna VI; SS: SAE 30B, Threshold Stasis 3, Dyna 410, Pass X-150/Aleph 3, Aleph 5, Classe CA-100/200/400, pre-amps such as the ARC 3/6/10/11/15, Pass P, Adcom GFP-750, Dyna PAS 3X - the Rag 1 and Rag 2 outclass many of them, and come quite close to the Pass X-150/P combo which was the best of the bunch - I'm suprised to read some of the critiques - outside of actual QA issues. The current deal on the Rag 2 is an outstanding value (just stay away from the added phono or DAC (not so much the quality as the increased complexity and chance of wanting an upgrade in short order). But if those items are you mid/long term choices - then go ahead.

As far as I know the rag is 60 watts into 8 ohms. And the 3 gain stages are having each time so .... 60 on high gain 30 on medium gain and 15 on low but because of the ohm mismatch it should work out as 30 .. 15 and 7 right.

Even on the high gain the tube amp still has an easier time powering the speaker. Is there something I'm missing. Maybe it's the high voltage of the tubes?

Sorry for the convoluted question

Paddy

Those numbers are for XLR out, not SE

 

[magiccabbage]

gain 1: 6 db
gain 2: 18 db
gain 3: 28 db

gain 1: into 50 ohms is about 1 wpc. Schiit doesn't describe what goes on, but gain 0 seems like pure class a 1 wpc, with the pre-amp being run with no active gain - hence the pure delicate sound with slight drooping at the freq extremes (much like a 300B with much lower THD). Note these numbers are with the XLR out, can't see any case except not able/wanting to move from SE. Its got much higher output impedance (not desirable) and the gain is more like 3/9/14 db.

gain 2: adds the active gain, and still seems fairly pure - perhaps 4 wpc into 50 ohms

gain 3: is a classic class AB sound, lacking certain subtle details compared to 1 or 2. But putting out a mammoth 24 wpc @ 50 ohms.

I've run the 6 screw HE-6 and 6 SE on my Rag 1 and some hours on 2 different Rag 2's and I never found the need for gain 3. Gain 1 is great for super pure mid oriented recordings, but 95% of the time Gain 2 is the answer

Note Rag 1 and Rag 1.5 has slightly lower power output - 15 wpc@50 ohms vs 24, but runs up to 4 wpc pure class A before it slides into class AB - the Rag 2 is just 1 W.


Not addressing you - but for someone that's owned many classic amps from tubes like ARC D-52, Jadis, Dyna VI; SS: SAE 30B, Threshold Stasis 3, Dyna 410, Pass X-150/Aleph 3, Aleph 5, Classe CA-100/200/400, pre-amps such as the ARC 3/6/10/11/15, Pass P, Adcom GFP-750, Dyna PAS 3X - the Rag 1 and Rag 2 outclass many of them, and come quite close to the Pass X-150/P combo which was the best of the bunch - I'm suprised to read some of the critiques - outside of actual QA issues. The current deal on the Rag 2 is an outstanding value (just stay away from the added phono or DAC (not so much the quality as the increased complexity and chance of wanting an upgrade in short order). But if those items are you mid/long term choices - then go ahead.



Those numbers are for XLR out, not SE

Hey

Thanks for the reply. I feel a bit stupid.... I forgot the volume wheel need to be turned up to 2 or 3 o'clock on gain 1 to get close to full power. It's because I've been using the other amplifiers so often and not the rag. So my original worries were unwarranted. I just need to remember how the volume wheel actually works ... Duh.

So even on gain 1 there's more that enough power. Looking forward to a weekend full of listening with the druid 6 and the rag. I must post some pics when I get home

Cheers

Paddy

 

[mtenga]

Now have testing with external powered speakers and have further problems. When RCA preouts are attached I get the following results:

Speaker Mode - No audio
Speaker and Headphone Mode - Audio to both speakers and headphone
Headphone Mode - Audio to both speakers and headphone

I’ve contacted Schiit for comment but have already wasted much time and effort on the Ragnarok 2 and I’m not happy.

 

[michael2v]

Now have testing with external powered speakers and have further problems. When RCA preouts are attached I get the following results:

Speaker Mode - No audio
Speaker and Headphone Mode - Audio to both speakers and headphone
Headphone Mode - Audio to both speakers and headphone

I’ve contacted Schiit for comment but have already wasted much time and effort on the Ragnarok 2 and I’m not happy.

This is by design for the Ragnarok 2; the pre-out is only active when headphone or headphone + speaker is selected.

It’s counter-intuitive, but evidently there was a lot of demand for this functionality.

 

[Astral Abyss]

This is by design for the Ragnarok 2; the pre-out is only active when headphone or headphone + speaker is selected.

It’s counter-intuitive, but evidently there was a lot of demand for this functionality.

For hooking up a sub with headphones

 

[mtenga]

This is by design for the Ragnarok 2; the pre-out is only active when headphone or headphone + speaker is selected.

It’s counter-intuitive, but evidently there was a lot of demand for this functionality.

I don’t get that. It means that if I have the preouts active then I can’t have the headphone alone mode. The external speakers will always be active and speaker alone mode has no meaning in this case. That’s nuts.

 

[MacMan31]

This is by design for the Ragnarok 2; the pre-out is only active when headphone or headphone + speaker is selected.

It’s counter-intuitive, but evidently there was a lot of demand for this functionality.

For hooking up a sub with headphones

This is perhaps THE reason I would not get the Rag 2. I'm not against the feature for those who want it. But there should be a way to turn it on or off for those who want only headphones.

 

[mtenga]

This is perhaps THE reason I would not get the Rag 2. I'm not against the feature for those who want it. But there should be a way to turn it on or off for those who want only headphones.

Yes I agree, now that I understand the architecture. For those of us who want to use it in a more conventional manner, i.e. external speakers or headphone discretely, there should be an alternative option. It appears the only option is to buy another amp and had I known it worked in this way I’d never have bothered. Unfortunately turning the external speakers off every time I want to use the headphone alone does not work for me.

My fault for inadequate research but not my fault that the amp is noisy past 2 o’clock volume. I’m taking it out of my PC setup and putting the Jotunheim 2 in. At least that works in a more conventional manner.

 

[MacMan31]

Yes I agree, now that I understand the architecture. For those of us who want to use it in a more conventional manner, i.e. external speakers or headphone discretely, there should be an alternative option. It appears the only option is to buy another amp and had I known it worked in this way I’d never have bothered. Unfortunately turning the external speakers off every time I want to use the headphone alone does not work for me.

My fault for inadequate research but not my fault that the amp is noisy past 2 o’clock volume. I’m taking it out of my PC setup and putting the Jotunheim 2 in. At least that works in a more conventional manner.

Well if there is nothing connected to the pre-outs than it would just be headphones only. But in my case I would use the pre-outs for a sub with my speakers. I don't want to have to disconnect the sub every time I want to use headphones.