Schiit Midgard Balanced Headphone Amp Review

[Brian Hall]

I may have missed it in my read thru, but are the dimensions of the Midgard the same as the Modius? More specifically, can one swap out the Midgard for the Modius when using the Snake Oil XLR Mini Link?

well, looked at the Mini Link page and they are apparently listed together. So, for anyone else too tired to look, there ya go!

The Midguard and the Modius, along with the Lokius are all the same size and stack well together.

 

[dufferdan]

The Midguard and the Modius, along with the Lokius are all the same size and stack well together.

Ya, I have the Snake Oil XLR and it is awesome as my computer desk is packed with my old Late 2015 27” iMac, two other 27” monitors whitch I have connected to the iMac AND my work laptop. Modius/Lokius/Magnius and my older Valhalla 2 all stacked. The Snake Oil connector lets me push the stack to the very back of the desk. More the risk was the XLR connections would not be spaced identically to the Magnius. Then the SO wouldn’t fit.

 

[Jefrpol]

Anyone have any thoughts (even better if based upon actual use) as to how well this amp would match up with the DCA ÆON RT? I may be misunderstanding the Midgard review but would the low impedance of the ÆON RT cause troubles for the Midgard?

 

[staticV3]

Anyone have any thoughts (even better if based upon actual use) as to how well this amp would match up with the DCA ÆON RT? I may be misunderstanding the Midgard review but would the low impedance of the ÆON RT cause troubles for the Midgard?

Amir's measurements indicate no issues driving the Aeon RT to extremely loud levels.

 

[EJ3]

a can of warms is also known as sterno.

That's what the band "Canned Heat" was named for!

 

[EJ3]

Them having a sister company is news to me.

iFi is Abbington Music Research's entry level gear, Kind of like Toyota & Lexus.

 

[Svperstar]

What headphone do you want to use that needs that amount of power.
40% more power is only 1.5dB louder and basically insignificant.
When you want to go noticeable louder than you need at least 500% more power, not just 40%

Sorry to necro and old post. Does this also apply to electrostatic energizers?

I recently purchased a Blue Hawaii, it hasn't been delivered yet. The only real difference between it and the legendary BHSE from HeadAmp is the BH I got is 1500v stator to stator and the BHSE is 1600v stator to stator.

By my math that is only 6.75% more power from the BHSE.

Am I right?

 

[solderdude]

Just 0.6dB more headroom (6.75% higher voltage, not power).
That said... it could me that both amps react differently near the max. output voltage (clipping) point which could tip the max un-distorted output voltage to either side (amp).

 

[Svperstar]

Just 0.6dB more headroom.
That said... it could me that both amps react differently near the max. output voltage (clipping) point.

So the math is no different between regular amps and electrostatic amps? Interesting. I figure the Blue Hawaii if not the peak of amps is close enough for me.

What tis the equation of power to volume?

 

[solderdude]

Power to volume = 10*log(diff), voltage or current is 20*log(diff).
With electrostatic amps calculating power is a biatch because of the phase difference between voltage and current due to the load being capacitive.
The voltage levels are what's important here (just like with regular amps).
When the amp cannot supply the needed current (under actual load) then it also cannot reach the (intended) output voltage.

 

[Ahmonge]

So the math is no different between regular amps and electrostatic amps?

As long as the electrostatic transducers respond linearly to power over the voltage range of the amplifier, yes.