Magni 3+ and Magni 3 Heresy released

I used my magni 2 with a resistor box adapting to speakers, keeping a higher impedance to prevent damage to magni.

 

If you're looking for a cheap tiny amp to drive cheap small bookshelf speakers, then just get a topping/tripath/smsl or whatever and call it a day. $50-100 will get you running, though if you haven't gotten the speakers yet then maybe just go with small powered monitors instead.

 

I just read this very detailed review/comparison involving multiple units and the new Magnis.
https://www.headphones.com/blogs/ne...-heresy-headphone-amplifier-review-comparison

2 questions for anyone that has heard them:

- Do you agree with this reviewer's opinion?
- I thought that both of the new units were not supposed to have LEDs. What is going on?

 

And one of the most brilliant strategic moves I have seen in some time. This is some Hannibal or Alexander the Great level Schiit. Jason must have read Sun Tzu recently.

 

Haha, bet they toned it down from the Magni Bite Me Edition naming.

 

How dare you say that on a public platform where just about anyone on the internet can see

Okay that's enough pooposting from me. Piqued my interest since I've been curious about a good SS amp for casual listening, might report back eventually-ish with comments about the one with unusably horrible measurements (this is a joke, measurements for both seem damn scary good)

P.S.
@bboris77 not sure if this was from before you signed up but @Torq used to hang around here. He's got loads of experience with some ridiculously pricey gear and has a decent set of ears besides (considering his age— yes I'm poking fun!); his impressions and reviews carry weight, kinda obvious if you're familiar with his Life After Yggdrasil threads on here and Head-Fi.

That said, even as a MoT for headphone.com he doesn't seem afraid to point out shortcomings, though he doesn't poop on bad gear as candidly as some on here might. Mind, I have no clue whether he's pooed on anything they actually sell on headphone.com; not casting aspersions, just genuinely something I have no idea about. His impressions are all accounting for tastes of course, so his reviews only have value if they are contextualised properly (as are any review).

 

@purr1n : -120 dBu isn't exactly sucking at mains rejection. When ZDT Jr shipped and hum was observed, threshold of hum audibility was established for Sennheiser HD6x0 and HD800 headphones at -75 dBu.

SW51+ mains hum measures lower than -85 dBu and is inaudible in my listening environment, ambient less than 20 dBA, with headphones noted above. For those that don't watch other threads, SW51+ is a favorite in my lab.

I've been ABX testing with 3+ and Heresy. My own evaluation generally agrees with Ian's assessment :



Note the red gaffers tape over Bifrost-2 IR receiver. That was to keep the DAC blind and not cheat either.
Actually, the DAC kept responding to the ABX remote.

*edit* Level matching to 0.05 dB with Keysight 34465A DMM and Schiit Load 300R for HD800-Jmod listening.

 

Tyler Noble from Schiit (finance director) actually joined ASR and offered to send them Magni 3+ and Heresy to test

Love the black/red colour scheme of the Heresy with a black anodized volume control. I never bought any black finish Schiit gear because the silver knobs detracted from the overall look. Actually brushed silver is starting to look a bit dated now it would be interesting to see more products that look like Heresy.

 

I interpreted the release of Heresy as Jason extending an olive branch to the nwavguy/asr acolytes. There are a bunch of people, especially those first getting into the hobby (i.e., 90% of reddit), that adhere to the measurement-first audio philosophy. Instead of trying to change their minds, why not give them something that sounds pretty good and aligns with their worldview? Then if they buy it and like it, who knows, maybe they pick up a DAC and a Loki later. I think it’s a brilliant idea, and one that I didn’t see coming. Schiit is pretty cool about treating everyone’s perspective as valid. If you are hardcore about measurements, that’s great. Here’s something you can enjoy too. The objective v. subjective thing is way overblown.

 

I think its great that Schiit released two Magni versions like this. I really love the idea of having magni 3+ versus Heresy blind tests all over the place. I think a lot of people haven't experienced the difference amps can make and having two affordable, similar (great) measuring amps that sound different would be a eye (ear?) opener for many people.

Might even spark blind tests becoming more of a regular thing at meets and such which would be great for gathering data as I think blind tests are really the best way to get a clear objective idea of which gear sounds the best to people. It would be quite fascinating to see if a pattern emerges from the gear people seem to like the most, perhaps there is some measurable quality that hasnt been identified yet.

I didnt believe amps could make as much of a difference as they do until I experienced it for myself and I am sure there are many others like that out there. I think Schiit is doing a great service for the community.

Also the black/red is awesome looking. Love the red led too, must admit I was tempted to buy one on looks alone but got a Asgard 3 instead as it looked the better buy!

 

FTFY ^

 

ASR just reviewed the Magni 3+ and Heresy. Heresy was the one recommended, no surprise there.

Mission accomplished Jason

 

But still he had to write a negative point even if he was going to invent one...

"Personally though I would not use it due to volume control position. Make sure you are OK with that before committing to it."

The guy is ridiculous.

 

Notice Amirs snark regarding the 3+ though. He just couldn't help himself, mocks the designing, mocks why anyone would buy it.... Pretty gross.


Oh hi first post btw