Schiit Gjallarhorn objective review

[40th Anniversary]

Totally subjective here...just wanted something small and well built...to try something different. I'm saying well built because when the Ghorn arrived I was Shocked
at the weight of the amplifier: Volume weight wise it's close to my AHB2 in ratio terms of size to weight.

My equipment consists of RME ADI-2 DAC FS and these can feed either an AHB2, Muscial Fidelity A1 or Neumann KH150.
My pleasure speakers are a pair of SEAS A26 clones so to speak (with birch ply handmade cabinets).

So the good in stereo (there is more good later): runs cool; runs quiet. Provides good detail and soundstage. Excels at low volume; me stating that even at low volume you hear the dialogue and details very well. I like that.

The bad in stereo: it certainly goes loud enough for casual listening but if you push it to far, the sound compresses and distortion sets in. It is what it is and there is a limit to its dynamics.
It's also a bit forward with the midrange but the overall sound is quite nice.

So the good in Mono: well, it's not really the same amplifier I'm happy to report. I'm saying this as in stereo it has limits and in Mono those limits are not reached at the sound levels for which I listen to music. The Mono Ghorn sounds more...effortless, open and dynamic. It's also very quiet and dare I say a bit smoother but with a hint of that midrange forwardness. And again at low volumes, the voices and soundstage remain intact = I like that 2.0. And note that they still run somewhat cool even in mono....

Hey, it's not perfect but for the price it is a good deal in my pocketbook. I've listened to some Class D stuff (short of NAD C298, M23 or M33) and I always feel like there is something missing and I cannot put my finger on it.
I'm familiar with Class A and Class AB amplifiers, may as well throw in Class G-H and these Ghorns sound similar to them with the exception of that forwardness in the midrange. They are no match for higher end amps, but for the asking price they certainly don't shortchange you.

And that's all I have to say about that. And now I'm looking for a second GHorn for Dual Mono operation.

 

[Joe Smith]

I think for louder volumes, yes, the mono configuration works best. I was thinking of getting a second one, but instead got another Aiyima A07Max for $80. The Maxes are a cheap, decent way to implement mono blocks when paired with a basic preamp like Saga 2 or Fosi P4. I do like the Ghorn form factor and build quality, a lot. If they were a bit lower priced, I think they would sell like hotcakes.

 

[antcollinet]

but if you push it to far, the sound compresses and distortion sets in.

It is a 10W amp - what do you expect? Even in mono it only delivers 30W. This is not an amp you want for room filling sound.

I've listened to some Class D stuff (short of NAD C298, M23 or M33) and I always feel like there is something missing and I cannot put my finger on it.

Almost certainly perceptive bias.

 

[40th Anniversary]

It is a 10W amp - what do you expect? Even in mono it only delivers 30W. This is not an amp you want for room filling sound.




Almost certainly perceptive bias.

Well, the Ghorn sound way better bridge at 30 watts. I was not expecting much with 10 watts, but in some ways it exceeded expectations. In the low wattage category, my new Musical Fidelity A1 (class A) rated at 25 watts has lots of drive!

Further to this, A friend of mine is now actually powering a pair of Diptyque planar speakers with an A1 after we tested my amp on his speakers..and what did I expect? Not what transpired: the A1 has idled a Bryston 4B3.

Watts may be one unit of measure. Maybe we should be paying attention to how much capacitance is on board?

 

[mlsstl]

Here we are 2 1/2 years from my last post and am still using the Ghorn in my sunroom system and still very pleased with it. No urge to move to anything with more power. (And I say that having a class D Vibelink in my main system.)

 

[40th Anniversary]

Here we are 2 1/2 years from my last post and am still using the Ghorn in my sunroom system and still very pleased with it. No urge to move to anything with more power. (And I say that having a class D Vibelink in my main system.)

If I was listening only at low levels, I'd be ok with then Ghorn in Stereo.
Out of curiosity I bridged it in Mono and had a listen and it really opened up and felt effortless (to a point I guess, but I never reached the point where I was pushing it).

Bridged into mono, If I feel like turning up the volume, I won't feel like I am limiting my audio enjoyment.
I have the advantage that I drive it via my RME ADI-2 DAC FS with XLR output; and keeping in mind that low impedance speakers will most likely be a no-no and that is the downside.

I do love the small footprint.

Alternatively, If I moved to Aegir at 30 watts a side, then it would be fed via RCA only (stereo mode) but 4 ohm speakers could figure in the mix.

 

[Joe Smith]

Paired with the Saga 2 preamp (on gain level 3), and running with 6 ohm nominal 87 db sensitivity type of bookshelf speakers, I think the Ghorn in stereo is fine for a small to medium sized room. For a larger room, dual mono Ghorns are still more cost effective than a Vidar amp for low to moderate listening level type folks.

I wish Schiit had something at the $400 - 500 level in stereo - it's quite a big jump from the $300 Ghorn to the $800 Vidar 2F.

I'm in the use case of having all small to medium sized rooms, and low to moderate listening levels for the most part. So I don't really need even 100 wpc, really. That's why the Fosi - Aiyima - SMSL amps are deployed in so many of my setups. Small footprint, low cost, good enough specs.

I do think the Ghorn amp is a "pretty good" value overall. It works in stereo mode for smaller rooms, and makes a nice monoblock that works in many situations and still would be $200 less than a Vidar amp.

 

[40th Anniversary]

Paired with the Saga 2 preamp (on gain level 3), and running with 6 ohm nominal 87 db sensitivity type of bookshelf speakers, I think the Ghorn in stereo is fine for a small to medium sized room. For a larger room, dual mono Ghorns are still more cost effective than a Vidar amp for low to moderate listening level type folks.

I wish Schiit had something at the $400 - 500 level in stereo - it's quite a big jump from the $300 Ghorn to the $800 Vidar 2F.

I'm in the use case of having all small to medium sized rooms, and low to moderate listening levels for the most part. So I don't really need even 100 wpc, really. That's why the Fosi - Aiyima - SMSL amps are deployed in so many of my setups. Small footprint, low cost, good enough specs.

I do think the Ghorn amp is a "pretty good" value overall. It works in stereo mode for smaller rooms, and makes a nice monoblock that works in many situations and still would be $200 less than a Vidar amp.

Maybe they should run a special: $299 each. $500 if you purchase a pair!

 

[Joe Smith]

Maybe they should run a special: $299 each. $500 if you purchase a pair!

I think that package would do well. And...dare to dream...maybe a $700 package with the Saga 2 added in?

I have to hand it to them, though, the Ghorn F is already $50 cheaper than the one I bought a year ago. Schiit does not always raise their prices... And even when they do, as with the Magni/Modi series, the price increases have been not too bad...

 

[40th Anniversary]

A bit of an update as I geek out over comparing amplifiers. I hooked up the GJHorn in stereo mode to my Kef LS 50 Metas. As with other speakers, it's ok at low volume, but dynamics hit the wall as the volume increases. Desk top, sure ok. In my living room, nope as I may want to play music at louder levels at times.

I then used my AHB2 on the right; GJHorn in Mono (bridge mode) on the left to power the Metas.
I had to adjust the gain on the AHB2 to the highest level to more or less match the levels on the GJHorn.

Let the music play: the little Schiit hung in there. In Bridged mode it can more than hold its own. It got a little warm, never hot.
Being in 'bridged' mode with the KEF LS50 Meta, a rather difficult load I had doubts, but it all worked out.
I let the music play at low levels for a couple of hours and all went well.

I'm kind of impressed with this little amplifier as I purchased it used in mint condition for less $$ than new.
I'm now trying to find another one to run them in "mono" to the Kef speakers...and see how they perform over time.

 

[Joe Smith]

Thanks for your info! I thought they would be quite good as mono blocks. At $600 now for a pair, they kinda fill that gap between a mini amp and the Vidar (or equivalent).

 

[40th Anniversary]

Thanks for your info! I thought they would be quite good as mono blocks. At $600 now for a pair, they kinda fill that gap between a mini amp and the Vidar (or equivalent).

Although the AHB2 was in the comparo in my living room, we mostly compared the GJHorn to a newer Bryston 2b LP pro.
We all know that the Bryston is massively over built (like a tank) and easy to service.
It also has a unique sound; plump rich bass, a forward midrange and a wide enough soundstage.
Now keeping the volumes at acceptable listening levels, the GJHorn in 'mono' held its own. It has a bit of that forwardness that the bryston has, but the bass is more
resolved and has a deeper soundstage. Can't comment on the width since I only had one to test.
The only other comment I can throw out there is that at times the Bryston surprised me by resolving low level detail in the midrange & higher registers that seems to go missing from other amplifiers.
The Schiit GJHorn needs more playtime but I can absolutely hear bass deeper in the soundstage than with the Bryston.

I get that same feeling from my Musical Fidelity A1.

Schiit claims 30,000 uf of capacitance and I've seen claims of 40,000 uf for the Musical Fidelity A1 (and as high as 70,000, but can't find the source of that info tonight).
Even with low watts, does capacitance come to the rescue?

For the record, Bryston quotes 6800 uf x 2 for the power supply.

 

[antcollinet]

Although the AHB2 was in the comparo in my living room, we mostly compared the GJHorn to a newer Bryston 2b LP pro.
We all know that the Bryston is massively over built (like a tank) and easy to service.
It also has a unique sound; plump rich bass, a forward midrange and a wide enough soundstage.
Now keeping the volumes at acceptable listening levels, the GJHorn in 'mono' held its own. It has a bit of that forwardness that the bryston has, but the bass is more
resolved and has a deeper soundstage. Can't comment on the width since I only had one to test.
The only other comment I can throw out there is that at times the Bryston surprised me by resolving low level detail in the midrange & higher registers that seems to go missing from other amplifiers.
The Schiit GJHorn needs more playtime but I can absolutely hear bass deeper in the soundstage than with the Bryston.

I get that same feeling from my Musical Fidelity A1.

Schiit claims 30,000 uf of capacitance and I've seen claims of 40,000 uf for the Musical Fidelity A1 (and as high as 70,000, but can't find the source of that info tonight).
Even with low watts, does capacitance come to the rescue?

For the record, Bryston quotes 6800 uf x 2 for the power supply.

The audiophile obsession with comparing capacitance between different amps is another part of the mythology. Once an amp is able to deliver rated power without clipping, then it has enough capacitance. It doesn't matter if that is 100uF or a million.

And no - high capacitance is not needed at low power - nor does it "come to the rescue"

 

[40th Anniversary]

The audiophile obsession with comparing capacitance between different amps is another part of the mythology. Once an amp is able to deliver rated power without clipping, then it has enough capacitance. It doesn't matter if that is 100uF or a million.

And no - high capacitance is not needed at low power - nor does it "come to the rescue"

Not an obsession at my end, more like trying to discern the difference between amplifiers (I've only recently taken note of capacitance as a specification).
I'm guessing a bigger reserve is good dynamically. An amplifier that is able to deliver rated power without clipping is one thing; but soundstage is also a thing, whether wide or deep, power notwithstanding ...

 

[AaronJ]

Not an obsession at my end, more like trying to discern the difference between amplifiers (I've only recently taken note of capacitance as a specification).
I'm guessing a bigger reserve is good dynamically. An amplifier that is able to deliver rated power without clipping is one thing; but soundstage is also a thing, whether wide or deep, power notwithstanding ...

Soundstage is a thing in the stereo recording. Only broken amplifiers mess it up. Anybody who claims to hear soundstage differences between amplifiers is just making sh*t up.

 

[40th Anniversary]

Schiit Gjallarhorn! LoL

But sh*t aside, it's no contest between the AHB2 and my Musical Fidelity A1: the A1 offers more (perception wise) depth. AHB2 resolves key bass notes better.

 

[antcollinet]

Schiit Gjallarhorn! LoL

But sh*t aside, it's no contest between the AHB2 and my Musical Fidelity A1: the A1 offers more (perception wise) depth. AHB2 resolves key bass notes better.

"Perception wise" is almost certainly a result of your human "perceptive biases".

Were you to test properly controlled and blind I'm confident you'd not percive those differences you are describing. You probably wouldn't even be able to demonstrate hearing a difference at all with any degree of confidence, assuming both amps are operating within specified power.

 

[40th Anniversary]

"Perception wise" is almost certainly a result of your human "perceptive biases".

Were you to test properly controlled and blind I'm confident you'd not percive those differences you are describing. You probably wouldn't even be able to demonstrate hearing a difference at all with any degree of confidence, assuming both amps are operating within specified power.

Ok. Going forward we can all purchase Fosi V3 amplifiers for $199 (Canadian) and call it a day. Simple.

 

[antcollinet]

Ok. Going forward we can all purchase Fosi V3 amplifiers for $199 (Canadian) and call it a day. Simple.

Pretty much - if you swap the example to the V3 mono*, and it has the power you need, and all you are concerned about is the quality of the sound. But for most of us sound quality is only part of the purchasing decision.

*The V3 has no PFFB so has a load dependent frequency response that can cause audible issues with some speakers.

 

[40th Anniversary]

New testing coming up; not an A-B test, but just a "hook it up and see how it sounds like" subjective test.

Hey, if Amir can listen to music via a pair of Neumann KH-150 (which I also own) and make appreciative comments, I'll venture with an opinion in time.

Amp #1: Benchmark AHB2 (living room amplifier) driving a pair of KEF LS 50 Meta.

Amps #2: 2 x Schiit Gjallarhorn in mono-bridged-balanced mode driving the same pair of KEF LS 50 Meta.

I'll be running the GJHorns for 1 week to see if I am satisfied with what I hear.

Source: Jriver playlist (DSD) connected via USB to an RME ADI-2 DAC FS - XLR outs to my amplifiers.