• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Schiit Magni 3+ and Heresy Headphone Amp Reviews

600_OHM

Active Member
Joined
May 19, 2022
Messages
162
Likes
119
Heh, my gen1 LOKI and red/black Heresy definitely clash. Fortunately I usually reach over and operate them both in the blind.

What I truly desired was that really gnarly 1930's era black-crinkle!

So many decades have passed that I think it would no longer be passe or cliche, but a fashion brought back to those who have never even used black-crinkle gear!

I guess it's why I don't work in the marketing departments. :)
 

Doodski

Grand Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
20,749
Likes
20,759
Location
Canada
Received my new Schiit Magni Heresy amp today and connected it with my new JDS Labs Atom DAC+. The ASUS motherboard EQ did not work with USB digital output and so I installed EQ APO and Peace Equalizer. I had instant sound afterwards. EQ APO with Peace EQ sounds a bit better because it has more gain on the sliders and I like lotsa treble so added that I did. A bit of extra bass seems better than before with the ASUS EQ and the ASUS onboard sound amp was a bit boomy sounding with the bass turned up; either that or maybe the added Peace EQ bands allowed more accuracy in the adjustment for better sound. Overall with the additional Peace EQ adjustments and much more power in the headphone amp it goes louder and sounds better.

Total expense for the Schiit Magni Heresy bought from the USA and shipped to Canada.
CDN $182.85 including Fedex shipping + $17 customs fee and taxes = CDN $199.85

The components have been placed far back behind the monitor where the dust bunnies live near exhaust port of my desktop PC power supply and where I will never touch them from now on. The JDS Labs ATOM DAC+ has auto turn ON and OFF so no need to access them by hand.

NOTE: The Schiit Magni Heresy does not have a red power ON LED! I miss that.

*Packaging w/shipping time to delivery @ my door was July 15 to July 18. Spread over a weekend's time frame.
 
Last edited:

Doodski

Grand Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
20,749
Likes
20,759
Location
Canada
Update on the Schiit Magni Heresy that I bought a few days ago. Much more power to crank it up a bit more than usual but not deafening. I think I can exceed the headphones physical abilities when really cranking it. Snappier mids/snares, more and better bass guitar and higher highs all around mostly due to the EQ APO and Peace EQ but with the extra power it's just icing on the cake. Seems to run at about room temperature when placed on top of the JDS Labs Atom DAC+. No more worries about a expensive motherboard audio output. Now I need to figure out how to get 2 sets of headphones connected. My headphones are 50 Ohm. No need to match headphones although I like that idea for cool factor and repair reasons and because it's one stop shopping.
 

chilis

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2022
Messages
10
Likes
0
Noob here. I'm a little confused by the review. What exactly is the problem with the volume control position with the Heresy and what does that mean? In the graph it says good performance until -40dB. How will that affect practical usage?

Then this part:
If the volume control is the same, and you have sensitive ears/headphones, then may have to sift through some units to get one with the right match.

This is one drawback of getting an external headphone amplifier versus a combo DAC and Headphone Amp. The latter almost always uses the volume control in the DAC and hence has near perfect channel match.

What does that mean "sift through some units to get one with the right match"? You mean keep buying and returning the same amp until you get one that doesn't have this problem?

He gives a strong recommendation for the Heresy but then says he personally wouldn't use it which makes it sound like it's not a good recommendation. How serious is this volume control/channel imbalance flaw?

I want an amp that can drive any headphone so I don't have to worry about power requirements. I was considering this or the JDS Atom+. This amp has twice the power of the JDS Atom+. But if it has this volume problem maybe I should get the Atom+? However, if any external non-combo amp can potentially have channel imbalance then it's possible the Atom+ could have it also?

Finally, how much better/worse would it be to use a home theater stereo receiver as your headphone dac+amp? I always see used stereo receivers for cheap. Is that a good budget way to go?
 

Dana reed

Active Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2018
Messages
244
Likes
245
Noob here. I'm a little confused by the review. What exactly is the problem with the volume control position with the Heresy and what does that mean? In the graph it says good performance until -40dB. How will that affect practical usage?

Then this part:


What does that mean "sift through some units to get one with the right match"? You mean keep buying and returning the same amp until you get one that doesn't have this problem?

He gives a strong recommendation for the Heresy but then says he personally wouldn't use it which makes it sound like it's not a good recommendation. How serious is this volume control/channel imbalance flaw?

I want an amp that can drive any headphone so I don't have to worry about power requirements. I was considering this or the JDS Atom+. This amp has twice the power of the JDS Atom+. But if it has this volume problem maybe I should get the Atom+? However, if any external non-combo amp can potentially have channel imbalance then it's possible the Atom+ could have it also?

Finally, how much better/worse would it be to use a home theater stereo receiver as your headphone dac+amp? I always see used stereo receivers for cheap. Is that a good budget way to go?
For me, the channel imbalance isn’t really an issue unless you’re trying to use IEMs or something really really sensitive with it.
Any amp with a small sized analog pot will have these imbalance issues at like 8-9 o’clock on the dial. Usually you just use the gain switch to avoid that area, but with really sensitive transducers you can’t. One option is to reduce the volume digitally if your source is a DAC. Another is an attenuator like the IEmatch that you put between the amp and IEMs to bring down the level in analog.
Amps like the (now discontinued) IEMagni have a third gain position that’s actually negative gain, for IEMs. The other amp I have with an IEM gain is the THX AAA 789. I don’t know what the cheapest current available product with three gain settings is. Generally, I use my Chord Mojo with a Poly when using my IEMs since the volume control is all digital and there are no imbalance issues.

For using a home theater amp’s headphone out, it’s probably fine if you’re using high impedance headphones like HD600 or 600 Ohm Beyerdynamics, but not if you’re using lower impedance dynamic headphones. The home theater headphone out is usually made using a resistor and the output impedance is really high.
 

staticV3

Master Contributor
Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
7,535
Likes
12,002
I don’t know what the cheapest current available product with three gain settings is.
The cheapest headphone amps with three gain settings including one negative gain are the Topping L30, L30 II, Sabaj A10h all at $150.
The latter having no channel imbalance at all, no matter the volume due to using a relay based volume control.
 

Oscarilbo

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2021
Messages
20
Likes
3
So wait. The Heresy has channel imbalance? How obvious is that and how can you tell?
 

Jimbob54

Grand Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Oct 25, 2019
Messages
11,066
Likes
14,697
So wait. The Heresy has channel imbalance? How obvious is that and how can you tell?
These 2 charts in post no 1.

Assuming the volume pot is same in the Magni 3 and the heresy and how lucky you are in the one you receive, it could be pretty noticeable.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20220820-152808.png
    Screenshot_20220820-152808.png
    520.6 KB · Views: 84

Oscarilbo

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2021
Messages
20
Likes
3
These 2 charts in post no 1.

Assuming the volume pot is same in the Magni 3 and the heresy and how lucky you are in the one you receive, it could be pretty noticeable.
So the recommendation would be to use preferably low gain in order to turn the volume way up?
 

Jimbob54

Grand Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Oct 25, 2019
Messages
11,066
Likes
14,697
So the recommendation would be to use preferably low gain in order to turn the volume way up?
If the unit you had suffered from it, yes. Or attenuate before the amp (in player or dac)
 

T.M.Noble

Active Member
Audio Company
Joined
Dec 3, 2019
Messages
277
Likes
1,704
New version is out. Schiit Heretic; (And modi)


Dunno how they measure, but they sure look nice!
Amir received his units last Friday. I imagine he will get to them when he has time.
 

Doodski

Grand Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
20,749
Likes
20,759
Location
Canada
New version is out. Schiit Heretic; (And modi)


Dunno how they measure, but they sure look nice!
Yes, they moved the volume control and headphone jack to opposite sides so they are not too close to each other now. Great move on Schiit's part.
 

T.M.Noble

Active Member
Audio Company
Joined
Dec 3, 2019
Messages
277
Likes
1,704
I hope they have not improved too much because I will have to sell my Heresy and get the new model. :D
Better performance, new chassis, better ergonomics, more protection for your headphones, negative gain for IEM's.

They are better products. We are really happy with the results.
 

gitaarwerk

Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2022
Messages
45
Likes
28
Yhea! They look great! Sorry, I’m defintely also about the looks. If I may be upfront; this is an amazing stack. I would not buy them. I would love to get the Magnius and Modius with a newer chip; and Magnius with a relay based volume and 2 balanced outs and a single ended. And the both the height of the valhalla/bitfrost. Just for the looks of course.

Hard crowd to please, huh. But seriously, i can’t wait to see them or hear them irl.
 

Doodski

Grand Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
20,749
Likes
20,759
Location
Canada
Better performance, new chassis, better ergonomics, more protection for your headphones, negative gain for IEM's.

They are better products. We are really happy with the results.
With the present disgruntled peeps due to Topping reliability and it's weird-dysfunctional after sales service I think there is a opportunity for Schiit and even JDS Labs to fill a void in the headphone amp and DAC market. I have ceased recommending Topping due to the ongoing issues and the literally illegal return terms and I am now the the proud owner of a Schiit Heresy and a JDS Labs Atom DAC+. I would have bought the Schiit DAC but the 5 minute auto off feature on the Atom DAC+ swayed me to purchase the Atom DAC+. My Schiit Heresy headphone amp has gobs of power and does what it is supposed to do which is sit behind the monitor gather dust and just work properly which it does well. I emailed Schiit weeks ago and recommended that the Heresy and the Magni headphone amps have their own separate web pages. I think that would be easier to use when I am recommending either of those headphone amps. :D
 

Joe Smith

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Jan 4, 2019
Messages
983
Likes
1,027
With the present disgruntled peeps due to Topping reliability and it's weird-dysfunctional after sales service I think there is a opportunity for Schiit and even JDS Labs to fill a void in the headphone amp and DAC market. I have ceased recommending Topping due to the ongoing issues and the literally illegal return terms and I am now the the proud owner of a Schiit Heresy and a JDS Labs Atom DAC+. I would have bought the Schiit DAC but the 5 minute auto off feature on the Atom DAC+ swayed me to purchase the Atom DAC+. My Schiit Heresy headphone amp has gobs of power and does what it is supposed to do which is sit behind the monitor gather dust and just work properly which it does well. I emailed Schiit weeks ago and recommended that the Heresy and the Magni headphone amps have their own separate web pages. I think that would be easier to use when I am recommending either of those headphone amps. :D
I think both companies do really good work. I just have the regular Magni 3 (as well as an older Magni 2 I keep as backup) and they are very reliable. My only gripe about the Atom series is their plastic cases just due to weight issues - my DAC+ keeps wanting to tip up when the cables are attached. Minor gripe for a great unit and good price point!
 

Doodski

Grand Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
20,749
Likes
20,759
Location
Canada
my DAC+ keeps wanting to tip up when the cables are attached. Minor gripe for a great unit and good price point!
I purchased the JDS Labs 6 inch long RCA cable with the memory for bending and it holds the Heresy and the Atom DAC+ together pretty good. Schiit would be wise to offer such a RCA cable too.
 

Veri

Master Contributor
Joined
Feb 6, 2018
Messages
9,596
Likes
12,036
My only gripe about the Atom series is their plastic cases just due to weight issues - my DAC+ keeps wanting to tip up when the cables are attached. Minor gripe for a great unit and good price point!
I'm 99% sure you can ask them(JDS) to put weights inside when ordering!
 
Top Bottom