BRAND NEW technology!! Schiit Midgard headphone amp review

A review of the Schiit Midgard balanced headphone amp including comparisons with Magni Plus, Asgard 3, and Geshelli Labs E2. Also includes discussion of the Halo technology and measurements.

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00:00 Introduction
00:29 Price & specs
01:41 Sound quality
02:04 6.3mm vs 4-pin XLR (with Halo)
03:41 Schiit Midgard vs Magni+
05:17 Midgard vs Asgard 3
08:46 Midgard vs Geshelli E2
10:52 Preliminary conclusions
11:32 Device tour
12:36 Halo technology
14:57 Halo measurements
16:20 Wrap-up

Reviews filmed using:

#audiophile #audioreview #headphoneamp

[PassionforSound]

My maths was a bit shabby when discussing the Magni vs Midgard pricing. The difference is $110, not $210 😊

[yogiwp_]

Just being clean, powerful, and balanced at ~$200 is a big selling point in itself, let alone having novel tech. This is hard for even Chi-fi to compete. Well done.

[Artemis_Prix]

Lachlan, thank you for the helpful review.

For 2024, I think a very interesting topic for you to cover relates to whether it would be worthwhile to add a preamp (tube vs. SS) to popular headphone/portable amps (Mojo2), in order to enhance what's already a wonderful package.

For example, would such a pairing add to increased dynamics, expanded soundstage, and if so, which order would you recommend (e.g., would it be better to use the Mojo2 as a preamp into a headphone amp, or vice versa).

This topic would be incredibly rich when you consider all of the possible pairings and the tonal flavor one may seek.

Thank you and wish you continued success in 2024!

[kbdvoid]

just purchased a pair of the hd660s2 as i found an advantage in the current sale, and this video has helped a lot with deciding which amp to chose. leaning toward the schiit fs

[AQUPAS]

I've been absolutely jamming lately to my Jotenheim 2 and RME ADI-2 PRO FS R. How does this compare to the Jot 2? An upgrade or downgrade in your opinion.

[Michael_mki]

It might be worthwhile to re-do the Midgard measurement with the Utopia. It has such a crazy impedance curve, shooting up to 300ohm @ ~60Hz before falling and then leveling off to remain essentially flat from ~700Hz-20kHz that there might be interesting data to be collected there.

[isaacmettle]

Hey buddy should I get the schiit midgard or the Asgard. Using to power my Sennheiser hd 800s. Recommend power of 500mw at 300 ohms.

[thelastrhino]

According to DMS - "This changes EVERYTHING". He put it in the title of their video. Anyone thinking that that was just clickbait is just not as excited about audio as he is, bless his heart.

[Michaelincontext]

Some reviews note that the Midgard is not balanced? While it has XLR inputs/outputs, it is still single ended? The 4pin headphone connector is only for the "halo topology?"

[Temperature]

I paired it with a Hifiman ef499 with a Ayra Organic-balanced from the 499 and balanced to headphones. Using usb to the 499 and on low NOS. 25 percent volume and the highs are not sharp, detailed and sounds good. The empty is black when directly to the 499 but the details are less. Going to dry the sen 660 s2 when I get the balanced xlr cable, but I don’t think it will be as good with the r2r dac.

[NexusSGIceJelly]

This thing is super clean and have texture for a very clean sounding amp

[NeilLavitt]

Super nice review. Where would it be on your list of headphone amplifiers to try in this price category?

Also, you have a minor typo on your channel name in the titles at the end. It says Thank you to all Passionate for Soud patrons.

[Alexandra-Rex]

I've been using my Creek OBH-11 headphone amp since the late 90s, and I'm thinking about upgrading to this one before I get a dedicated DAC so I can have it connected to my mixer where most of my PC sound comes from, but also a DAC (Schiit Modius) which will be used for music mostly. I was going to go for the Magni+, but then I can't switch between the mixer and the DAC.

[rajdash]

I have the Schiit Midgaurd. I use it w a Topping 30 DAC, Audrivana Origin. Headphones are AKG 701 and will soon Verum arriving in a few weeks. It's a nice sound. Great value.

[archerlink]

Aegir 2 will also have Halo. It'll be interesting to see if the results will be the same with speaker amp reviewers or not.

[Shozimus]

Do You plan a Mjolnijr 3 review, quite interested in one, after a Currawong review. But quite a hassle to get one in Europe, also not so greatly priced vs US.

[Firebottleman]

Hello Lachlan. How would you compare the Midgard and the Fiio K7's amp sections. Tonal and sound signature differences and such. Thank you for another excellent review.

[ScottoGrotto]

Lachlan :)
The shirts message so important!

Wobble, I think astrophysicists use that to detect planets ;)
Cool term in this case, great diagram too!

This halo thing has a bit of a ring of sound cancellation tech? If so it might be more of an unwanted sound cx which may or may not be a distortion?

Another way to think about this is the amp dampens or cancels non musical electrical impulses or feedback from the driver, and tries to optimize meaningful/musical driver motions?

I remember Jason discussing this tech :)

*Which phones benefitted the most from the 4 pin in your testing?* Synergy?

Looking forward to a modhouse tungsten review and which amps work from your collection!?

Have you tested the CanPur CP622B yet?

[martinfox]

I have a Magnius (and Modius)
. Is this more of an upgrade or lateral move?

[aRc-]

Does it run cool? I like alternatives to class A in the desert.