Schiit Vidar Impression Thread - UPDATED WITH REVIEW (CHECK FIRST POST)

The problem with mixing amps may be that the voicing of the DWM might sound a fair bit different with a different amp (esp a class D amp) vs your main panels on the Vidars. My understanding is that the DWM are intended to overlap a lot more than usual with a subwoofer, and the DWM will play up higher and reinforce your main panels, rather than “take over”, from your main panels, correct?

 

Correct, designed to smooth out bumps and fill room nulls generaly between 40 and 200Hz; they are intended to integrate with sound signature of the Maggie mains and improve the accuracy of the lower frequencies while not necessarily extending them.

 

Then unless someone else has some direct experience doing this with good results, I would personally use all the same amp. You could probably get away with a stereo Vidar for the DWM maybe, but still need to gain match.

 

Thanks, Hmm I did think about an additional stereo Vidar, perhaps as an interim solution to spread out the cost a paired set; it was pointed out that there could be a 6db difference between the mono and stereo outputs does that make sense and would it be noticeable?

 

Yes, that’s the part I mentioned about gain matching. You will need to dial back the gain on the mono Vidars (attenuate/subtract 6dB) to match the stereo Vidar. What is your preamp?

 

Schiit Freya+ I suppose I could put some sort of resistor on the Maggie mains, seems hit and miss though

 

Did you consider and reject the route of going with one or two musical subs, like a couple Rhythmik F12G or similar? Would let you bypass all the DWM amp tomfoolery and gain more bass extension in the process.

Two DWMs cost at least $1600 (old pricing is $795 per; sure that's gone up since 2014), plus $699 minimum for another amp for approx. $2,400. Two F12Gs would cost no more than that brand new. Could also consider GR Research's open baffle servo sub option. Lots of folks in the Magnepan User Group on FB like these options; and I haven't read great impressions re: DWM (even from dealers, who typically try to sell REL subs).

Just a thought from a fellow Maggie user for 7 years (1.6QR).

 

Fair point, I did indeed do a lot of research, through groups like this, discussions with owners, etc. I fully realize the bass extension issue (or lack thereof) with DWMs though I wasn't necessarily going for deeper or floor-shaking bass anyway, more looking to improve the musicality and accuracy of Maggie bass. But this is my personal choice, I don't for a moment dismiss the value and preference many place on proper powered subs--saw a lot of good reports for RELS, for example. I am about 4 weeks into an order for a pair of DWMs ($1560 after shipping). I am by no means fretting about the need for an additional amp, but rather looking to utilize great resources such as this to get it close without having to go through multiple setups, thereby increasing the enjoyment of the journey I'm on.

 

Again, thanks for the responses.

Even before I have to deal with separate amp "tomfoolery" I believe I do have some choices to explore and measure (REW/UMIK):

1. Dual Vidar Mono, DWMs wired in parallel with pass-through to mains (as per Magnepan)
2. Dual Vidar Mono, DWMs and Mains fed independently (no pass-through)
3. Single Vidar Stereo to mains and 2nd vidar stereo to DWMs
4. Single Vidar Stereo, DWMs wired in parallel with pass-through to mains (as per Magnepan)
5. Single Vidar Stereo, DWMs and mains fed independently

that will be an interesting 'speriment!

 

I'm driving a pair of maggie LRS with a single Vidar. It's been working real well. I have made the amp shut down many times but only because I got stupid with the volume. The Vidar is always good and warm. That's just it's nature.

 

Man I just ordered 2 Vidars and a Freya S to power my Focal Arias. And after going through this thread I am worried I am going to be let down.

 

What specifically is your concern? I have dual Vidars and a Freya+ (using with Graham Audio bookshelf speakers) and absolutely love them. Have compared them to 7 or 8 other amps (combo of integrateds and other power amps) and preferred the Vidar.

 

So previously I had an emotiva XPA-2 that I was kind of happy with but the amp had problems since the day I got it and even when Emotiva sent it back still had random static and goes into protect mode.

I have a lot of Schiit headphone gear so I decided to give the Vidars and Freya a chance. I am slightly worried because even though my speakers are 8 ohms, they do drop to under 4 ohms at some frequencies.

And then on top of that this thread seems to believe they are not a true hi- fi amp.

I guess my main concern is the dual vidars don't sound at least as good as my emotiva did.

 

Not a true hi-fi amp? Lol, don’t buy into that Schiit. It’s a great amp and I’ve compared it to stuff costing a lot more and found it either equal or better.

Unless you are in a very large room and looking to run at super high volumes, I doubt you will have problems with impedance. People have run Maggies on mono Vidars, and those are some of the most demanding speakers out there. The Arias are also decently sensitive, so I can’t see you running into the limits of them at all.

As far as comparing to the Emotiva, I’ve not heard it, so I can’t really provide much there. But I’ve compared it to Hegel, Exposure, Cambridge, Kinki Studio, Belles Aria and others and found it either equal to amps costing more, or in most cases, better.

 

Thanks for the info. That does make me feel a little bit better.

 

There's also always the option of biamping the highs and lows all with Vidars.

I did this with my ATCs, one amp for the highs and one for the lows.

I went monoblocks in the end because the sound profile fits the ATCs slightly better, but it works pretty well if your preamp has 4 outputs or can drive 2 amps per output.

 

As far as them being 4 ohm speakers, is that based on your own test or going by the graphs from something like the Stereophile graphs?

I am not Obssessed with power. These speakers are used in my home theater which at often times is listened to for movies at much higher volumes then I tend to listen to straight music. I have tried my yamaha aventage receiver which is 100wpc and my NAD CB amp which is 50wpc and there is a noticeble difference between them and my emotiva when listening at a higher volume.

I am really hoping I don't have an issue with impedance dropping too low.

 

Sadly the focals do not have a biamp option built in.