Schiit Aegir Power Amp Impressions

Discussion in 'Power Amps' started by rlow, Oct 16, 2018.

  1. ampsandsound

    ampsandsound MOT - Ampsandsound

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    I have a pair set up as mono blocks and love the combo.

    McIntosh C2600/Aegir Monos into my homebuilt speakers (12" woofer/1.4" compression driver/Eliptical Horn.
    My speakers are 96db efficient and thee are dead silent. Bass was present but not overly tight... Very SE Tube amp, what was really surprising and enjoyable was the HF... super non fatiguing even with my horns.
    These are the first SS amps Ive owned in many many years and fully enjoy.
    In mono mode, Id love to know what the output is while in Class A. 80watts in class A/ABish... what's the class A part?
     
  2. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    Bias quiescent current will be the same, that allows for class A zone.
    It's a bit like connecting two batteries in series.
    Voltage doubles, but current capability is still the same. (also the reason 4 ohms is rarely spec'd with bridging)
    So the Class-A part should be same as with single SE channel.
     
  3. ampsandsound

    ampsandsound MOT - Ampsandsound

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    Priidik,

    I understood the topology but love bench details... its always the fun part.
    The bottom line for me is that its a lovely musical amp...
    Now my buddy who has B&Ws is about the power... the Vidars.
     
  4. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    Of course, that could be quite a bit different number.
    It could be difficult to detect from distortion spectra with the GM doubling out of the game.
     
  5. Soups

    Soups Sadomasochistic cat

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    Quick PSA: if you're thinking about ordering 2 Aegirs for monoblocking from Schiit.com - I noticed it was cheaper total S&H (ground) to order them separately (ie. 1 Aegir per order). Just how it goes I suppose when you're ordering something that heavy, but you might save enough to buy a decent lunch.
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2019
  6. hifiandrun

    hifiandrun Almost "Made"

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    Second to this. Plus, when you order two at the same time, they will be shipped double boxed - the two Aegir boxes were put into another big thick cardboard box. I love this company.
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Technically it's biased at 10W for Class A. Schitt claims their Continuity deal extends the Class A biasing behavior beyond the 10W to 20W. John Broskie has a set of articles on tubecad regarding methods to keep the transconductance constant past the class AB crossover area.

    So it's "Class AB" 20W biased high Class A 10W, but the "Class B" part has the same transconductance as the Class A region. Totally mindblowing. It took me a while to understand this (amplifier circuitry is not my forte).

    I did a close read today of Broskie's articles. That dude is brilliant. And Jason is brilliant for doing the nuts and bolts part and getting it to actually work. The downside (and there never seems to be a free lunch)? The Aegir still isn't that efficient and has limits on power (per weight / heatsinking). I don't think most people really appreciate what has been accomplished on a design and engineering level. The more I think about it, the more I am blown away.
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2019
  8. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    I second this, and made a similar point on Head-Fi a while ago.

    On January 25, 2018, Jason posted on HF:
    My response. Think that the bolded, utilizing Continuity, would be Odin if we ever see it.
     
  9. elmoe

    elmoe Friend

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    That would certainly be interesting! I'm very impressed with my Vidar so something as powerful with a class A design would be fun to see. I think it would sell more than Schiit thinks ;)
     
  10. dmckean44

    dmckean44 In a Sherwood S6040CP relationship

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    The fact it would cost $200 to ship such a beast would cut down on returns.
     
  11. elmoe

    elmoe Friend

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    Customers pay for shipping afaik. I don't think anyone willing to spend 2.5k on an amp will be put off by 200 shipping but hey, I'm happy with my Vidar and wouldn't buy one so what do I know...
     
  12. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

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    Hey all,

    Yep, I hear you about a more insane Continuity amp, but the reality is, we're gonna have to wait a bit on that one. There's a lot of stuff coming down the line right now, and I have to focus on getting that right. Ragnarok 2, yep, and Sol, yep (we just got usable platters yesterday, so it's really gonna be a thing now.), but also 4 other products launched next week, and two more coming this summer, and two or three this fall. Plus, now a balanced EQ can really be a thing with Nexus, so that's back on the table (but not for this year.) Sure, I'll eventually take a run at a bigger badder backbreaking nutball insane amp, but that's a ways off.

    Please bear with us if you want a super insane powerful crazy megaburrito choke-input Nexus Continuity buzzword-compliant amp, but also expect to buy two of them for stereo. And don't expect it to be a three-figure pricetag, either.

    All the best,
    Jason
     
  13. kongbakpau

    kongbakpau New

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    Hello friends ◡̈

    First off, thank you so much for sharing impressions and learnings. I deeply grateful and appreciative of all your inputs.

    I’m also happy to report that my single Aegir drives 85db/w Elac BS U5 speakers well in my 3.5m x 3.5m living room.

    The chain is a Cambridge Audio CXC CD transport -> Schiit Modi MB -> Schiit Saga -> Schiit Aegir -> Elac BS U5.

    The previous chain saw a Marantz PM6006 integrated doing pre and power duties.

    I’m seated 2.5m away from the speakers and generally listen at about 70db. The Saga in tube buffer mode and Aegir easily exceed that.

    Although I don’t have the vocabulary describe all I’m listening, I can confirm the non-fatiguing sound. Bass is present - a lighter but deeper presentation than the Marantz so much so that it makes me want to turn up the volume even more. Loving every moment of it.

    Thanks Schiit Audio!
     
  14. Bloom

    Bloom MOT: Bloom Audio

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    Holy smoke, Jason...am I reading you right...10-11 new products coming out this year? o_O
     
  15. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Yup!

    https://www.head-fi.org/posts/14681489/
     
  16. kevtn8

    kevtn8 New

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    I’ve refrained from posting my opinions online until I’ve sold my tube amp but now the lion is out of the bag.

    I auditioned Aegir monoblocks with the goal of just testing it out due to my curiosity with good well designed class A solid state amp. Well never in my wildest dreams did I realize that it would be this good and would persuade me to sell my beloved Mayer 45/ 2A3 amp but thats exactly what happened.

    Schiit has hit a major homerun with their Aegir Continuity amp. To my ears , it retains a lot of the great SET attributes I’ve come to love but with way less distortion ( especially IMD) way more dynamic headroom unraveling details I’ve never heard before with the Mayer amp.

    Let me remind people that the Mayer amp is no slouch at all. In fact I always thought that it may be the best pure SET power amp on the planet. Fully transformer coupled ( interstaged) and insane choke filtered power supply that cost over 10k but Aegir monoblocks will by my new reference amplifier.

    The best place to use tubes is in the preamp in my opinion. I’m using the Mayer 10y preamp to drive the Aegirs and it sounds great to my ears. Now I have way more speaker flexiblity and don’t have to worry about anymore tube maintenance or expensive power tubes.
     
  17. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    Any Aegir owners in the NYC area? Single loaner is in town and it would really be ideal to compare in mono mode.
     
  18. abasia

    abasia New

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    How do you think the single and dual aegirs fare against the Pioneer M22?
     
  19. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    Confirmed.
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Can someone Photoshop Jason with white hair and a beard now? Or give him horns.
     

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