Schiit Ragnarok - aka raggy

Just a quick follow up, I enquired Schiit whether there was anything I could have done differently to have prevented the failure. Like not stack my Raggy on top of Yggdrasil, or switch it off once in a while as it runs really hot.

Supposedly not. They looked up my file - it was classed a ‘premature part failure’. OCD relaxed.

 

Oh, I did not know that you should switch it off, but it does make sense given how hot it runs. I guess amps are not temperature sensitive like Yggdrasil is.

I know some Schiit FAQs acknowledge that their gear runs hot, but actually touching the hot unit does still make me a tiny bit nervous. I will look into moving some shelves around to give it space to breathe, since the power switch in Schiit gear is where it is.

 

If you REALLY want to join the audio nervosa crowd you can add a fan to the top of the Rok (like I did) and suck air out the top.
You want to use a really low CFM fan so as to not create cold spots internally.

I use the Noctua NF R8 1200rpm 9.1dBA with the low speed adapters (NA-SRC10) to reduce the air flow and reduce the noise even further.

JJ

 

My amps I always turn off. Minor exception for the HP tube amp; a few minutes to warm up, time to get coffee. It sounds fine to me.

Another way to look at it is my computer gets 0 warm-up time, and is operating on signals at much higher bandwidth than audio (i.e., far beyond 20Khz, or more like 12Khz to my ears), yet nobody worries that their computer will fail if it hasn't warmed up.

But agree, Yggdrasil sounds flat, congested and murky until warmed up. I can only guess the DACs need that warm up before the resistors are operating as intended (just a guess).

 

Well, it seems like my Ragnarok just died on me last night. I get orange LED's, relay clicks, gain light, then nothing.
I didn't smell any magic pixies from a output device, resistor or a cap, so not sure what's up there.

would pop her open to see whats up, but don't fancy voiding my warranty.
@schiit is there any other more "advanced" troubleshooting steps I could take to get more info to your support guys?

 

That sounds weird. If your lights are not continuously blinking after startup it hasn’t gone into the fault mode, which I would assume would be a case if a cap blew.

Sorry if this is obvious (it wasn’t to me) but have you checked that you haven’t set accidentally a different output mode? Ragnarok has headphones/speakers/both. Mine was set at ‘speakers’ as default when it came back from repairs and I had a minor panic as I heard nothing.

If that and reconnecting everything doesn’t work, I would send it in. It’s not a quick process but you’ll maintain your warranty.

 

Yes, it's in the correct output mode. I've already troubleshot for schiit via email, I sent the amp out a couple days ago.

Probably something related to the power supply or microcontroller is shot.

 

Raggy 2.. is it in the pipeline? I'd buy if it had a remote.

 

Suggest reading the thread, particularly the last two pages.

 

Pretty sure I saw Jason recommend against that over on HF.

 

I do remember reading something to that effect, but the caveat is to use a REALLY low CFM fan like a sub 10 CFM and then slow it down even further.
Most folks probably aren't familiar with the hows and whats to be able to accomplish this and just throw any old computer fan at it, and yes that would make for additional problems.

JJ

 

Yeah, assuming you're putting the fan up top sucking out warm air. You wil create negative air pressure which will result in dust being sucked in through every crack and opening. Which will create even more thermal problems over time since dust insulates.
Not something easily solved with dust filters and probably warranty voiding.

 

All true enough, but during my normal maintenance cycle I blow what little dust does accrue out of the amp.
The trick is to use a VERY LOW CFM fan.

JJ

 

I recommend an old man with asthma blowing through a straw. Make sure he was recently drinking organic mint tea for optimal cooling

 

I came across a great deal on the Ragnarok on r/AVExchange last week and pulled the trigger after reading this thread, the Schiit Amp Compendium thread, and additional reviews/comments on Head-Fi. It was $950 shipped and it just arrived. I've gotten it setup and am listening to a few NIN songs right now. It's only been on for about 5 minutes but it's already such a step-up over the Jotunheim it's kind of shocking. I notice no drop in clarity or speed and in fact think the wider soundstage (which was IMMEDIATELY apparent) in conjunction to an increase in the other areas the Jotunheim lags a bit in more than makes up for any drop in clarity and speed.

The Focal Clears sound wonderful and I feel like the Gungnir Multibit is able to show more of what it's capable of now that it's hooked up to this monster. I'm really impressed with this amp so far and am excited to see how it sounds as it continues to warm.

 

what type of DAC is incorporated in Raggy2 'fully loaded' ?
if i get the 'just an amp' with 3 rca inputs can i use one of the rca inputs for a schiit phono amp and run a turntable (i will use the other two RCA's for a new Gungnir multibit DAC and the other for my current Meridian Explorer 2 DAC) ?
will the Raggy2 comfortably run a pair of Legacy Audio HD Studio monitors(4 Ohm) and will I need a subwoofer? if so I have an ancient Cambridge Soundworks(Henry Kloss's old company) powered subwoofer think it will work with the Raggy? and I also have 2 pairs of Cambridge Soundworks passive subwoofers-- anyone have any idea how to hook them to/with the Legacy Audio HD monitors( I just don't remember how I did it with my original Ensemble set up!)
thanks hope this not too much to throw out there
bobbmd

 

@bobbmd -> https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/what-is-sbaf-10-articles-for-behavior.5555/