• 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 Heretic Headphone Amp Review

Rate this headphone amplifier:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 2 0.7%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 49 18.4%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 216 80.9%

  • Total voters
    267

dtaylo1066

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Jan 12, 2019
Messages
628
Likes
741

Doodski

Grand Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
20,745
Likes
20,756
Location
Canada
Good catch, as sheer diction heresy on my part, I meant to say the new Magni Hertic and Magini + would make a good stack.
I too find the naming convention confusing at times...lol. :D Otherwise the model names are kinda cool.
 

ItsJoshh

New Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2022
Messages
2
Likes
3
Easy - think about after sales support if the device goes wrong. What will it cost to return the topping to China for repair? How long will it take?
Good point. I just emailed their support about if the scratchy pot was fixed with the Heretic. (My friend warned me about his Heresy.)

If they ended up fixing it, I think I'll pick up the whole new stack.
 

solderdude

Grand Contributor
Joined
Jul 21, 2018
Messages
15,891
Likes
35,912
Location
The Neitherlands
Given the frequency response from DC to > 100kHz it looks like the pot is DC coupled and thereby running the risk of a scratchy pot.
It would also depend on the used opamp.
Opamp with FET input has lower bias current and thus lower scratch noise as opposed to transistor input.
Then again the addition of a simple resistor between the wiper and gain opamp can also lower noise. Lets hope they figured that out yet. Penalty is a bit higher noise level.
When the source has a little DC on it there will always be some 'scratch' noise when adjusting.
With listening tests it may well be detected (with sensitive headphones).
 

stunta

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 1, 2018
Messages
1,155
Likes
1,399
Location
Boston, MA
Good catch, as some sheer diction heresy and tomfoolery on my part; I meant to say the new Magni Heretic and Modi+ would make a good stack, and for less than $250.
Looks like a lot of us want a stack of schiit.
 
OP
amirm

amirm

Founder/Admin
Staff Member
CFO (Chief Fun Officer)
Joined
Feb 13, 2016
Messages
44,368
Likes
234,384
Location
Seattle Area
Arguably superior warranty support as well. The cost in international shipping to return a defective Topping unit for warranty work becomes a huge detractor especially at this price point.
For a $109 device, I would only worry about infant mortality. Get it from a place that allows free returns for the 30 days and after that, you are good to go. If it dies, you get another one. Keep in mind that Schiit charges you shipping both ways (when you buy and when you ship back for warranty). Unless you have a commercial shipping account, it is likely easier to just buy a new one that to mess with getting repairs, etc.
 

charleski

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 15, 2019
Messages
1,098
Likes
2,239
Location
Manchester UK
Gain options also very practical -8dB, 0dB and +14dB ! Progress..
But isn’t this just an IEMagni with slightly different gain values? They’ve got the same 50mV SNR and the dashboard plots look almost identical. That model was supposedly dropped because it wasn’t selling.
 

charleski

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 15, 2019
Messages
1,098
Likes
2,239
Location
Manchester UK
Spraying the pot with detox-it helps….. but then the issu comes back
My Heresy had a scratchy pot. But I took the top off and sprayed contact cleaner into the small hole on the side of the pot then thoroughly wiped the pot back and forth and it’s been fine for over a year. I decided against sending it back as any replacement would likely have the same problem.
 

solderdude

Grand Contributor
Joined
Jul 21, 2018
Messages
15,891
Likes
35,912
Location
The Neitherlands
But isn’t this just an IEMagni with slightly different gain values? They’ve got the same 50mV SNR and the dashboard plots look almost identical. That model was supposedly dropped because it wasn’t selling.

Different PCB layout, DC protection, selected volpots (which is indeed an issue). This isn't specifically for IEMs though. It is an improved Heresy (hence the naming)
 

escalibur

Active Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2018
Messages
236
Likes
161
Congratz Schiit! It's nice to see that you are back in the game with the new releases.
 

charleski

Major Contributor
Joined
Dec 15, 2019
Messages
1,098
Likes
2,239
Location
Manchester UK
Different PCB layout, DC protection, selected volpots (which is indeed an issue). This isn't specifically for IEMs though. It is an improved Heresy (hence the naming)
The IEMagni had dc protection, though the Heretic might offer additional protection. They both use the same opa1656 opamps. The pot scratching on my Heresy only became apparent after a month of use, so I don’t know how much value there is in ‘selecting’ at the time of assembly. Obviously moving the headphone port required a new PCB.

I suppose we’ll have to wait for some sort of tear down, but it does look like they decided to resurrect the IEMagni design for a new product.
 

Veri

Master Contributor
Joined
Feb 6, 2018
Messages
9,596
Likes
12,036
But isn’t this just an IEMagni with slightly different gain values? They’ve got the same 50mV SNR and the dashboard plots look almost identical. That model was supposedly dropped because it wasn’t selling.
It is very very similar indeed but the Distortion+noise is still a lot better on heretic:

index.php


index.php
 
Top Bottom