Schiit Asgard 2

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by vegaracer1

I sure like my Hd650 Senns,I bet they will be quite special with the
Asgard. 2

So far, the initial impression is excellent.

[jdandy]

Serge.......Another thoroughly enjoyable review.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Serge.......Another thoroughly enjoyable review.

Thank you Dan. Brings me pleasure sharing my opinion on products that I feel represent great value and great sound. Asgard 2 happens to be one of those cases.

[Puma Cat]

Good to know that Asgard 2 works well with higher impedance headphones like the HD-series. Seems to be a very verstatile amp; how does it compare to the Bryston?

The HD650 is such a good headphone; it's one of the "reference standards" at the headphone site I hang out on from time to time. Seems that it's popular for modding, as well.

One of the site's founders lives in Southern California, and is part of Schiit's "trusted listener" panel and often evaluates prototypes.

To the Gang: Sorry for the short off-topic digression on the cats...

[Puma Cat]

Senn just released an update to the 650 this last week, the new 660.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Good to know that Asgard 2 works well with higher impedance headphones like the HD-series. Seems to be a very verstatile amp; how does it compare to the Bryston?

The HD650 is such a good headphone; it's one of the "reference standards" at the headphone site I hang out on from time to time. One of the founders lives in Southern California, and is part of Schiit's "trusted listener" panel and often evaluates prototypes. Seems that it's popular for modding, as well.

To the Gang: Sorry for the short off-topic digression on the cats...

Yes, the Asgard 2 works extremely well with HD600/HD650 but I want to spend some time with tubes that will be in the proper "gear ratio" (automotive analogy) with these 300 ohm + headphones before my final comments. This is still "initial impressions" stage.

The Asgard and the Bryston are pretty equally matched at 380 and 390mW of power into 300 ohms so there is very little difference. The Bryston pulls away at 80 ohms of my Focal headphones putting out a 1.35W while the Asgard is slightly behind just shy of 1.0W. This however is no where near my listening level since that would blow my eardrums out. Having said that, we all know all too well in audio that "reserve power" is absolutely necessary for proper dynamic contrast and accurate transient reproduction. Saggy power gives you saggy, mushy dynamic response. Headphones are no different but Asgard is proving to be more than capable of keeping up with Bryston from the dynamic drive point of view.

While the Asgard is still breaking in, some sonic differences are starting to become more evident. Where the Bryston absolutely slams the bass notes with incredible resolution and drive, be it Double Bass, Acoustic Bass, Keyboard Bass or even synthesized bass (I don't listen to music with synthesized bass much) Asgard falls ever so slightly behind. I still think resolving, well articulated and "musical" bass is still much more important than sheer slam and Asgard is very capable here, no less so than Bryston. This came out of the Focal Elear and Utopia listening sessions. It would be much more difficult to pinpoint these differences with HD600/HD650 to my ears.

Mids are equally great with Asgard and Bryston. Both are stunningly accurate and convey the emotional content of vocals as well as all instruments played on any of my headphones. Bryston's mids are ever so slightly darker sounding but again, only my what I now call "Reference" Focal Utopia allows me to appreciate that difference. Utopia/Bryston are stunning as are Elear/Asgard because they tend to compliment and balance each other out. Asgard being more neutral a perhaps a touch sweeter in the mids (probably just my preference here) and Elear being a touch darker than Utopia. In absolute terms only, not a significant difference. Where there is a difference is the price of Asgard vs Bryston!!!

[Puma Cat]

Really nice comparison, Serge. Something one does not get in the magazine reviews anymore.

BTW, I found some comments by one of the founders of that headphone site that is on Schiit's trusted listener panel on the Bryston; these comments are regarding it's use for driving HD800s, which I've read is a tricky headphone to drive properly. Might be useful for reference.

"Delineated treble attacks, but actually works well with HD800. Neutral sound. Some reports of MOSFETS getting hot resulting in bass mud galore. Recommended if you live in a cool climate. Do not stack on top of anything else and make sure there is good circulation. This amp does not like heat. Good staging for solid-state compliments HD800. Flatter than the better amps, but if you want solid state, one of few choices."

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Really nice comparison, Serge. Something one does not get in the magazine reviews anymore.

BTW, I found some comments by one of the founders of that headphone site that is on Schiit's trusted listener panel on the Bryston; these comments are regarding it's use for driving HD800s, which I've read is a tricky headphone to drive properly. Might be useful for reference.

"Delineated treble attacks, but actually works well with HD800. Neutral sound. Some reports of MOSFETS getting hot resulting in bass mud galore. Recommended if you live in a cool climate. Do not stack on top of anything else and make sure there is good circulation. This amp does not like heat. Good staging for solid-state compliments HD800. Flatter than the better amps, but if you want solid state, one of few choices."

Thanks for the info Stephen.

[Puma Cat]

Serge, this info was from Super Best Audio Friends, a headphone oriented site that is a spin-off of Changstar, which was a spin-off from Head-Fi. A rather unique group of individuals with a set of interesting but idiosyncratic set of "ground rules". Very nowledgeable guys, but a bit quirky. They are big on maintaining a high "signal to noise" ratio in posts, for example.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Serge, this info was from Super Best Audio Friends, a headphone oriented site that is a spin-off of Changstar, which was a spin-off from Head-Fi. A rather unique group of individuals with a set of interesting but idiosyncratic set of "ground rules". Very nowledgeable guys, but a bit quirky. They are big on maintaining a high "signal to noise" ratio in posts, for example.

I'll be sure to stop by. Thanks Stephen.