[michael2v]

So if I use a sub and listen in "headphone only" mode does the sub get the lower frequencies instead of the headphones?

No, there is no internal crossover.

 

[thefitz]

So if I use a sub and listen in "headphone only" mode does the sub get the lower frequencies instead of the headphones?

The idea there is that the HD600 has a very famously rolled off bass, and anybody hardcore enough to do this kind of thing would have a subwoofer with an LPF on it. Set the LPF and subwoofer volume to taste.

 

[MacMan31]

Well maybe this amp just isn't for someone like me. Would be nice to have a "one and done" solution for both speakers and headphones. But I'll just have to keep those two separate.

 

[thefitz]

Well maybe this amp just isn't for someone like me. Would be nice to have a "one and done" solution for both speakers and headphones. But I'll just have to keep those two separate.

With this between the amp and sub:
https://www.schiit.com/products/sys

You have a one and done solution.

If this is somehow more of a pain in the ass than two solutions, I will be shocked.

However, as always, the choice is yours.

 

[bagwell359]

Well maybe this amp just isn't for someone like me. Would be nice to have a "one and done" solution for both speakers and headphones. But I'll just have to keep those two separate.

It's a great dual purpose amp, just not for your specific needs - unless @thefitz got the right answer for you.

 

[valkyrieorion]

So I snagged the just an amp and have had it about a week now. I have a Bifrost 2/64 and Triangle Comete 40th speakers. First of all I love the volume precision of this amp. The last few amps I’ve had and have seem to go quiet to loud quickly, build is great as well. I think I’m having a hard time adjusting though to the transparency perhaps. I feel vocals have really taken over compared to my quad vena 2 amp. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I feel a bit of magic is gone from some songs I really like. One of my favorite bands the war on drugs I’m having a hard time detecting the synth in the background was the first thing I noticed on the song under the pressure. I’m gonna keep going with it for a few more days as it’s a major hit to send it back when I paid in Canadian.

 

[bagwell359]

So I snagged the just an amp and have had it about a week now. I have a Bifrost 2/64 and Triangle Comete 40th speakers. First of all I love the volume precision of this amp. The last few amps I’ve had and have seem to go quiet to loud quickly, build is great as well. I think I’m having a hard time adjusting though to the transparency perhaps. I feel vocals have really taken over compared to my quad vena 2 amp. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I feel a bit of magic is gone from some songs I really like. One of my favorite bands the war on drugs I’m having a hard time detecting the synth in the background was the first thing I noticed on the song under the pressure. I’m gonna keep going with it for a few more days as it’s a major hit to send it back when I paid in Canadian.

This is w speakers only? If comparing headphones, please if possible use the XLR output vs the SE output, it specs and sounds well better - esp on power hungry planars.

I bought my Rag 1 in 2016 after a long face off with my then Pass X-150 amp. The Rag 1 had a slightly narrower stage, and slightly less impact in the bass, and a whitish/washed bit around 6k - but these were all minor. The Rag 2 has more power, better bass impact, and a more coherent treble than the Rag 1. Between '16 and '23 I used my Rag 1 with Triangle Celius 202's (w/ ribbon tweet I installed along with lowering treble output) - and it was very nice.

Quad has been known to make some very excellent amps - not to mention speakers - I have a friend looking for a small high quality Integrated and this Vera 2 seems like a good choice to look into.

 

[valkyrieorion]

This is w speakers only? If comparing headphones, please if possible use the XLR output vs the SE output, it specs and sounds well better - esp on power hungry planars.

I bought my Rag 1 in 2016 after a long face off with my then Pass X-150 amp. The Rag 1 had a slightly narrower stage, and slightly less impact in the bass, and a whitish/washed bit around 6k - but these were all minor. The Rag 2 has more power, better bass impact, and a more coherent treble than the Rag 1. Between '16 and '23 I used my Rag 1 with Triangle Celius 202's (w/ ribbon tweet I installed along with lowering treble output) - and it was very nice.

Quad has been known to make some very excellent amps - not to mention speakers - I have a friend looking for a small high quality Integrated and this Vera 2 seems like a good choice to look into.

I have pretty basic HP with the drop 58x. I didn’t have any real complaints with them but I rarely use them. I don’t even think there is a real issue other then I think the amp is just maybe not quite the match with my speakers which lack bass somewhat. The quad (and the little SMsL ao200 I had) both seemed just to help out more. The vocals sounds great. I’m gonna try out my other speakers with the amp later.
Thanks for your insights. I do like the quad amp, my only real complaint is it will suffer from interference when my phone is around. Whenever I get texts, messages or emails phone calls it will buzz annoyingly so I had moved it to a vinyl setup.

 

[bagwell359]

I have pretty basic HP with the drop 58x. I didn’t have any real complaints with them but I rarely use them. I don’t even think there is a real issue other then I think the amp is just maybe not quite the match with my speakers which lack bass somewhat. The quad (and the little SMsL ao200 I had) both seemed just to help out more. The vocals sounds great. I’m gonna try out my other speakers with the amp later.
Thanks for your insights. I do like the quad amp, my only real complaint is it will suffer from interference when my phone is around. Whenever I get texts, messages or emails phone calls it will buzz annoyingly so I had moved it to a vinyl setup.

Yes, very interested in what you report going forward - I'm a fan, but, reasonable and well considered opinions always welcome.

 

[valkyrieorion]

Yes, very interested in what you report going forward - I'm a fan, but, reasonable and well considered opinions always welcome.

Spent afternoon yesterday with no distractions comparing as best I could. Loves the Rag 2 with my headphones, easily the best they have sounded. Again with my speakers though I just kept coming back to feeling that vocals were dominating tracks and I was missing some bass I guess. I also fired up some games on my pc and felt the same that it sounded off. Maybe it’s just retuning my brain after hearing he speakers a certain way for a while. I feel like the soundstage is bigger with the rag 2, and definitely it destroys the little Smsl amp for clarity and not getting harsh once I got past 70db. The quad vena still just sounds more enjoyable and instantly could hear synths in some of the war on drugs songs I really like, as well as more engine noise in some of my pc games with racing or airplanes. However the vocals are not as defined. Anyways again I think it’s mostly just a sound signature thing then anything else. The rag 2 destroys the Hp output on the quad amP also.

 

[valkyrieorion]

So a small update on my madness. Had my partner (and kids came for a bit) come down and listen between the amps. All 3 preferred the Ragnarok 2 with the BF2/64. While my partner agreed that the bass ( and whatever you would call synth) in some songs was different they all liked the clarity, vocals, and overall sound of the Rag 2. So rather then lose a bunch of cash selling or returning it's probably better to just let my ears get used to it (Or buy speakers that have more bass which got me sleep on the couch look).

 

[Voxata]

So a small update on my madness. Had my partner (and kids came for a bit) come down and listen between the amps. All 3 preferred the Ragnarok 2 with the BF2/64. While my partner agreed that the bass ( and whatever you would call synth) in some songs was different they all liked the clarity, vocals, and overall sound of the Rag 2. So rather then lose a bunch of cash selling or returning it's probably better to just let my ears get used to it (Or buy speakers that have more bass which got me sleep on the couch look).

I'm finding Ragnarok 2 incredibly detailed, engaging and it has a great tone. The staging, depth and layering is exceptional. I'm using low gain primarily listening nearfield with my LS50 Metas. I also have 2x Dynamo 300 subs which are blended well after some adjustment as this amp has more grunt across the FR. Combined with the prowess of the new Yggdrasil MIB I'm rather enjoying what I am hearing.

I've never heard an amp yet that pushed past my trusted modded Akitika GT-102 Z4. The Akitika stages closer with a lack of depth that Rag2 has, and is not nearly as detailed. The ability to retain engagement with such detail/depth is quite a feat on this amp. At closeout price, the Rag2 is pretty nuts. Headphone performance is also quite excellent.

Quick question though, can anyone else hear relay movement through headphones only in high gain? It is soft sounding/very low level and makes no noise at all once I'm dialed in, just during adjustment. So it's pretty much a non issue. Guessing it's a side effect of the admittedly intense level of power this thing can push in that mode.

 

[Hawson]

My Rag 2 just came in today and I'm liking it a lot so far. But have a question for anyone else with one. I hear a noticeable hissing on medium gain with the volume knob past 3:00 and on high gain past 12:00. Maybe I'm just using too sensitive headphones (HD 660s)? These volumes are wayyy to high for normal listening with these headphones anyways just curious if this is normal.

 

[Hawson]

My Rag 2 just came in today and I'm liking it a lot so far. But have a question for anyone else with one. I hear a noticeable hissing on medium gain with the volume knob past 3:00 and on high gain past 12:00. Maybe I'm just using too sensitive headphones (HD 660s)? These volumes are wayyy to high for normal listening with these headphones anyways just curious if this is normal.

Actually when I really sit down with it, the sound is noticeable at normal listening levels, just very quiet. Does this have something to do with the single-ended output?

 

[pofofo]

That shouldn`t be. I can`t hear any hiss with my HD600, single ended, at mid gain and max volume (some ambient noice in the room may cover it, but it sounds dead quiet).