Schiit Midgard Balanced Headphone Amp Review

[staticV3]

have been thinking of moving the Midgard on and my E50, in favour of an ADI-2 dac.
how can i be sure i wont have the same issue powering the HD800s with same eq?

Measure the output voltage with a basic multimeter.

The ADI-2 DAC's output voltage is stated in the manual, so you can compare to what you have currently.

 

[Oldson]

Measure the output voltage with a basic multimeter.

The ADI-2 DAC's output voltage is stated in the manual, so you can compare to what you have currently.

just measured and i am getting 0.7 v out of my E50.
max vol, high gain from Midgard 2.6v

to compare i measured the output of my HP8 tube amp = 19.4v

bypassed eq and Midgard jumps to 6v, so i am guessing the level of eq is too much for Midgard

"Output level at 0 dBFS, High Power, load 100 Ohm or up: +22 dBu (10 V)" from RME ADI-2 manual.
can i assume 10v is constant up to 300 ohm? if so then it should play louder than Midgard? or am i missing something

 

[RayDunzl]

Every time I see this thread in the New Posts list my brain (such that it is) wants to read the title as

Schiit Mudgard Balanced Headphone Amp Review​

Which might not be a bad name...

 

[staticV3]

just measured and i am getting 0.7 v out of my E50.

You should be getting ~4.2V out of the E50 and about 16V out of the Midgard before it clips audibly, so in good working order the ADI-2 will not be any louder.

 

[Oldson]

You should be getting ~4.2V out of the E50 and about 16V out of the Midgard before it clips audibly, so in good working order the ADI-2 will not be any louder.
View attachment 430688

i'm using single ended.
should i see 2v from playing just a 60hz tone?

also, i thought Midgard converted balanced input to single ended output, so there would be no benefit from using balanced in.

 

[Jimbob54]

i'm using single ended.
should i see 2v from playing just a 60hz tone?

also, i thought Midgard converted balanced input to single ended output, so there would be no benefit from using balanced in.

The e50 is at fixed output / max volume isn't it ? Also your source device at max ?

 

[Ahmonge]

should i see 2v from playing just a 60hz tone?I

I would use pink noise instead. Closer to music than a bass tone.

 

[Oldson]

The e50 is at fixed output / max volume isn't it ? Also your source device at max ?

yes i believe so.

 

[staticV3]

i'm using single ended.
should i see 2v from playing just a 60hz tone?

About 2.1V, see Amir's test:

Topping E50 Review (Balanced DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the new Topping E50 balanced USB DAC. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $269. I just reviewed its companion headphone amplifier, the Topping L50. The E50 takes my favorite orange LED display and makes it even nicer! It is a gorgeous...

www.audiosciencereview.com

also, i thought Midgard converted balanced input to single ended output, so there would be no benefit from using balanced in.

Balanced between E50 and Midgard will be 50% louder.

I would use pink noise instead. Closer to music than a bass tone.

For measuring a DAC's or Amp's output voltage using a multimeter, you want to use a 60Hz sine. Not noise.

 

[Oldson]

About 2.1V, see Amir's test:
View attachment 430744

Topping E50 Review (Balanced DAC)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the new Topping E50 balanced USB DAC. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $269. I just reviewed its companion headphone amplifier, the Topping L50. The E50 takes my favorite orange LED display and makes it even nicer! It is a gorgeous...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Balanced between E50 and Midgard will be 50% louder.


For measuring a DAC's or Amp's output voltage using a multimeter, you want to use a 60Hz sine. Not noise.

its looking like a faulty dac then as i only get 0.7v with the 60hz tone.

 

[staticV3]

its looking like a faulty dac then as i only get 0.7v with the 60hz tone.

I can all but guarantee you that this is a setup or measurement error.

The way your playback software is set up, you're likely not sending 0dBFS Peak to your DAC and giving away headroom as a result.

On PC, try using foobar with the ASIO component installed: https://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_asio

Just for testing purposes, you can also install Room EQ Wizard, in the Soundcard menu set the output to Java *EXCL*: Topping E50, then open the generator, set it to Tones->60Hz 0dBFS and press play.

 

[Ahmonge]

For measuring a DAC's or Amp's output voltage using a multimeter, you want to use a 60Hz sine. Not noise.

I see. Is that because the voltmeter incorrectly measures frequencies above 60 Hz?

 

[staticV3]

I see. Is that because the voltmeter incorrectly measures frequencies above 60 Hz?

It is because multimeters are inherently unsuited for measuring noise amplitude, and noise is a stimulus inherently unsuited for confirming full-scale output voltage.

 

[Ahmonge]

It is because multimeters are inherently unsuited for measuring noise amplitude, and noise is a stimulus inherently unsuited for confirming full-scale output voltage.

So, another frequency pure tone would be valid, like 1,000 Hz?

 

[staticV3]

So, another frequency pure tone would be valid, like 1,000 Hz?

As long as the multimeter's frequency response is wide enough, sure.

Mine can handle about 2k before dropping off:

 

[Oldson]

toned down my eq levels to gain a bit of headroom.
may consider upgrading the Midgard to Jot 2 as it has more gain and power

 

[Ahmonge]

toned down my eq levels to gain a bit of headroom.
may consider upgrading the Midgard to Jot 2 as it has more gain and power

Could you share with us the EQ parameters?

 

[Oldson]

Could you share with us the EQ parameters?

i use to use the parameters that Amir suggests on his HD800s review.
have now started using the oratory option, stock pads, harman target.

 

[Ahmonge]

Thanks!

 

[Ahmonge]

i use to use the parameters that Amir suggests on his HD800s review.
have now started using the oratory option, stock pads, harman target.

How many dBs of negative headroom did you use? 6 or more?