Schiit Announces Magnius Amplifier
It seems that 2020 is the year of headphone amplifiers. Competition has been non-stop, with companies offering more power, more features, better measurements. Less than two weeks ago, we announced the TOPPING L30, a small-sized amplifier that offered end-game performance. Today, Schiit announced the Magnius, a headphone amplifier that many could rightfully call their “balanced end game.”
Schiit surprised a lot of people for many reasons. First, two years ago, we would have never dreamed of seeing Schiit offering an op-amp based amplifier. The California based company always took pride in their discrete, class-A amps, and multibit DACs.
On the other hand, seeing that a segment of the market buying their equipment based on specs and measurements, the company wanted to participate. Schiit released its first 100% Op-Amp-Based Headphone Amp, which they aptly named, Heresy.
The Schiit Heresy was a massive success, praised by many headphone users and reviewers alike. So here we are today with the balanced and upgraded version of the Schiit Heresy, the Schiit Magnius.
Design & Build Of Schiit Magnius
Schiit is famous for its simple, industrial, all-metal designs, and Magnius is no different. The outer body is aluminum adorned by ventilation holes on top. On the right side, we can see the Swiss-made Neutrik XLR connector next to a 1/4 inch plug. The volume knob is in the middle of the amp, next to the gain and preamp switch button. On the far left, the word Magnius is clear in white next to the famous Schiit logo. On the back, we have the single-ended and balanced inputs and outputs.
5 Watts Of American Power
At 32Ω, out of its balanced output, the Schiit Magnius will put out 5 Watts of power; and over a watt at 300Ω! The Magnius achieves this level of power at an ultra-low THD+N level of less than -120dB.
Needless to say, this power is more than enough for over 99% available today. From IEMs to hard-to-drive headphones, the amp has enough power to drive them all with precision, authority, and low noise.
Blue Velvet
The star of the show is not the ultra-low distortion nor the monstrous power output; rather, it’s the legendary blue velvet volume pot. For those of you who don’t know, the Alps blue velvet (RK27114) is perhaps the best volume pot ever made. The pot is expensive and rare, due to its excellent tracking and buttery smooth (velvet) feeling. The pot never becomes scratchy and often lasts decades.
Schiit, including this volume pot in the $199 amplifier, is an unbelievable feat. It is tough to find a headphone amplifier that uses the Alps blue velvet, let alone a $199 amp.
Topology & Feedforward Buffers
The Schiit Magnius is a nested feedback composite amplifier. So the design relies on two amplifiers to amplify and correct the input signal. Input buffers are OPA1688; the Magnius also uses the fully-differential LME49724 from Texas instrument.
The current feedback design revolves around TPA6120A2 with feedforward output buffers and DC coupling. The Magnius is capable of instantly delivering high amounts of power and current; distortion is almost non-existent due to the feedforward and current feedback design.
Schiit Magnius Amp Includes Preamp Outputs
On the back, you can see the single-ended and balanced preamp outputs to connect your desktop powered monitors or power amp. Schiit Magnius is therefore an excellent headphone amplifier and preamp.
Power supply & Schiit Magnius Matching Stack
Schiit officially announced that to cut down costs, the new amp will be available only in black. Users who bought the Schiit Modius DAC didn’t mind, though, as the end-game desktop stack costs less than $398. If the color mismatch bothers you, then perhaps you should wait, maybe Schiit will change their minds and release a silver-colored Magnius. The power supply is an external AC adapter that is easily replaceable.
Conclusion
We’ll give the last word to Jason Stoddard. He stated, “I mean, think of it: for the same price as an Asgard 3 (which may still go up in price), you get a full balanced amplifier with superb measurements, super-high-power, an completely-insane-unsurpassed-by-any-competitor potentiometer, solid parts, and a class-leading feature set. If you’d told me, 10 years ago, when we started, that we’d be able to do that, I would have told you you’re insane.”
For more information: Schiit Magnius
