Schiit Ragnarok Amplifier

[michael2v]

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.

Someone else made the suggestion of putting something like a Schiit Sys between the Rag 2 and the sub to switch off the connection when using headphones. Slightly inconvenient, but that’s probably what I’ll end up doing if I ever get a sub for my Ragnarok.

 

[mtenga]

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.

Well they seem to have catered to your use case, which I’ll assume is the minority given how most amps are designed. I want to use either powered external speakers via the preout or headphones but not both at the same time. That goes against the whole point of using a headphone. None of this would be an issue but for the fact that the internal amps on my unit are not good so I’m forced to use externals.

 

[superultramega]

Well they seem to have catered to your use case, which I’ll assume is the minority given how most amps are designed. I want to use either powered external speakers via the preout or headphones but not both at the same time. That goes against the whole point of using a headphone. None of this would be an issue but for the fact that the internal amps on my unit are not good so I’m forced to use externals.

Can you return the amp? Mine wasn't noisy past the 2pm point or anywhere else. Using the Rag 2 with powered speakers seems like overkill (underkill?).

 

[mtenga]

Can you return the amp? Mine wasn't noisy past the 2pm point or anywhere else. Using the Rag 2 with powered speakers seems like overkill (underkill?).

I’m in England not USA and no longer can be bothered about this amp. I took a risk with the distance due to the low price and lost so I just accept that.

It was initially intended to run my PC speakers and also act as a headphone amp. But I’ve downgraded it to headphone only and put it in a secondary setup and it’s ok there at reasonable volume.

 

[MacMan31]

I came across this and wondered if it was a good deal. https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/650130852-schiit-ragnarok-2-just-an-amp/

Otherwise I was thinking of either a Schiit Aegir or Vidar with a preamp with volume control. I have a couple of cables to accommodate headphones connected to speaker terminals. Or I was thinking of a Topping LA90D.

 

[jim723]

Hello head-fi,

I just found this thread and wanted to ask for some advice. I recently purchased a fully loaded Ragnarok 2 to pair with the HE6se (v2). The HE6se sounds much fuller and richer on the Rag compared to my other headphone amps. However, I’ve noticed that I need to turn the volume knob to the 1 or 2 o’clock position to achieve a moderate sound level on the HE6se, even while using the highest gain setting. Is this normal?

I appreciate any advice or comment you can offer.

 

[michael2v]

Hello head-fi,

I just found this thread and wanted to ask for some advice. I recently purchased a fully loaded Ragnarok 2 to pair with the HE6se (v2). The HE6se sounds much fuller and richer on the Rag compared to my other headphone amps. However, I’ve noticed that I need to turn the volume knob to the 1 or 2 o’clock position to achieve a moderate sound level on the HE6se, even while using the highest gain setting. Is this normal?

I appreciate any advice or comment you can offer.

This is surprising. Running from a Modi Multibit (which should be putting out 2V) and playing through my Diana V2's (which have a fairly similar impedance and sensitivity to the HE6Ev2), I'm at a decently loud volume (about as loud as I would ever listen) by 12:00 in gain 2, and more like 10:00 in gain 3. The stepped attenuator in the Rag 2 is more linear than most, so it does take more of a turn to get comparable loudness, but this still seems like a lot.

I would expect the output of the internal DAC card to be comparable (based on my experience with the ESS card in my Pietus), but it might be worth trying with an external DAC or other line-level source as well if you have access to one.

 

[jim723]

it might be worth trying with an external DAC or other line-level source as well if you have access to one.

Thank you for the advice, and yes, I’ve considered this as well. I have several external DACs with XLR outputs that I can experiment with. The built-in DAC on the Rag 2 appears to be the multibit version, as recognized by my computer, which is quite impressive.

 

[ufospls2]

This is surprising. Running from a Modi Multibit (which should be putting out 2V) and playing through my Diana V2's (which have a fairly similar impedance and sensitivity to the HE6Ev2), I'm at a decently loud volume (about as loud as I would ever listen) by 12:00 in gain 2, and more like 10:00 in gain 3. The stepped attenuator in the Rag 2 is more linear than most, so it does take more of a turn to get comparable loudness, but this still seems like a lot.

I would expect the output of the internal DAC card to be comparable (based on my experience with the ESS card in my Pietus), but it might be worth trying with an external DAC or other line-level source as well if you have access to one.

Diana V2 are 92db/mW (or 91?,) HE6seV2 are 83db/mW. Huuuuuuuuuuge difference. Every 3db difference requires double the power IIRC. Though, that being said, "loudness" from a given amp does more so depend on the gain setting than power available.

1-2 o'clock on Ragnarok is normal for the HE6se, depending on volume needed, and also if the person is doing any EQ boosting (requiring subsequent gain reduction to avoid clipping.)

 

[jim723]

1-2 o'clock on Ragnarok is normal for the HE6se, depending on volume needed, and also if the person is doing any EQ boosting (requiring subsequent gain reduction to avoid clipping.)

Thank you, this information is very helpful. Initially, I thought the Rag 2 was malfunctioning because there was no sound until the volume knob reached the 1 o'clock position. However, once I could hear the music, it was clear that the HE6se has never sounded this good before.

 

[ufospls2]

Thank you, this information is very helpful. Initially, I thought the Rag 2 was malfunctioning because there was no sound until the volume knob reached the 1 o'clock position. However, once I could hear the music, it was clear that the HE6se has never sounded this good before.

Well, no sound on high gain until 1 o’clock is unusual. I’d speak to schiit for their opinion if that is the case.

 

[michael2v]

Diana V2 are 92db/mW (or 91?,) HE6seV2 are 83db/mW. Huuuuuuuuuuge difference. Every 3db difference requires double the power IIRC. Though, that being said, "loudness" from a given amp does more so depend on the gain setting than power available.

1-2 o'clock on Ragnarok is normal for the HE6se, depending on volume needed, and also if the person is doing any EQ boosting (requiring subsequent gain reduction to avoid clipping.)

Thanks for clarifying, my quick search returned a result that had the HE6SEv2 at 90db/mW, so if they are indeed 83 the difference in the volume dial would make perfect sense.

Edit: I must have been looking at the HE1000 somehow...otherwise I can't 'splain it!

 

[bagwell359]

I am of the firm opinion that unless you are a very loud listener, that Gain 2 offers a better sonic experience with any HE-6 vs Gain 3. I've written why a few times in this thread, its bedtime. I'll stop by and add those comments later.

Later: post #2077

 

[tutetibiimperes]

When I was using my Rag2 and HE6se I always used the mid gain setting and had way more than enough volume range on the dial.

I was using the RME ADI-2 DAC via the XLR inputs, usually setting the volume level of the RME at -15db to give headroom for EQ curves.

 

[michael2v]

I thought I would consult the brain trust before reaching out to Schiit support, but when I went to turn off my Ragnarok 2 yesterday it was scorching hot (enough to cause a burn, no exaggeration). In the past it's only ever gotten moderately warm on the top of the case, and I can't remember the heat fins ever being that much above room temperature. Normally I'm just running a pair of RP600-M2's in gain 2, so I thought perhaps running it in high gain through the XLR output might be the culprit (normally I'm using headphones from the SE out), but I couldn't replicate it today.

The only other thing I'd done was to have two sets of headphones plugged in at once, but the second pair had been unplugged for a bit before powering off. Before I try that again to test (for fear of damaging it), is this something that's known to cause trouble with the amp? Or is this something others have experienced otherwise?