Introduction:
The Magnius is Schiit's first ever ultra-budget balanced headphone amp. They're marketing it as a measurement amp, meaning the main focus was on making it measure extremely well over balanced. But this really does feel like Schiit trying to satisfy a section of the market that is growing as of late, the measurement focused budget balanced amp market kinda exploded as of late with everyone and their grandma making one, but how does Schiit’s offering hold up?
Specs:
Full specs listed below after this review I think I'll switch back to not putting all of them. Link Here
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, +/-0.01dB
- Balanced Headphone Output:
- Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 6.0W RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 5.0W RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 3.2W RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 1000mW RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 500mW RMS per channel
- Single-Ended Headphone Output:
- Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 2.2W RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 2.0W RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 1.3W RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 300mW RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 150mW RMS per channel
- THD+N:
- Low Gain, Balanced Output: Less than 0.0001% (-119dB) at 4V RMS into 32 ohms
- High Gain, Balanced Output: Less than 0.0003% (-110dB) at 4V RMS into 32 ohms
- Low Gain, SE Output: Less than 0.003% (-90dB) at 1V RMS into 32 ohms
- High Gain, SE Output: Less than 0.004% (-87db) at 2V RMS into 32 ohms
- IMD:
- Low Gain, Balanced Output: Less than -112dB at 4V RMS into 32 ohms, CCIF
- High Gain, Balanced Output: Less than -110dB at 4V RMS into 32 ohms, CCIF
- Low Gain, SE Output: Less than -73dB at 1V RMS into 32 ohms, CCIF
- High Gain, SE Output: Less than -72dB at 2V RMS into 32 ohms, CCIF
- SNR:
- Low Gain, Balanced Output: Greater than 125dB, unweighted, referenced to 4V RMS
- High Gain, Balanced Output: Greater than 115dB, unweighted, referenced to 4V RMS
- Low Gain, SE Output: Greater than 105dB, unweighted, referenced to 1V RMS
- High Gain, SE Output: Greater than 110dB, unweighted, referenced to 2V RMS
- Crosstalk:
- Less than -90dB, 20 Hz-20 kHz, either gain, 300 ohm load
- Less than -70dB, 20 Hz-20 kHz, either gain, 32 ohm load
- Output Impedance: Less than 0.1 ohms at either gain
- Input Impedance: 50k ohms
- Balanced Output Gain: 1 (0db) or 5 (14db)
- Single-ended Output Gain: 0.5 (-6dB) or 2.5 (8db)
- Topology: Composite amplifier with OPA1688 input buffers, LME49724 differential amplifier, TPA6120A2 current feedback output stage, DC coupled.
- Protection: Standard failsafe DC power input and muting relay
- Power Supply: “Wall wart” style 24VA 15VAC transformer, linear regulated +/- 13.5V rails with over 6,000uF filter capacitance
- Power Consumption: 6W idle, 21W max
- Size: 9 x 6 x 1.5”
- Weight: 2 lb
- Price: $199USD
Third-party measurements for this were posted so quickly, Everything looks fine. The single-ended measurements don’t look as good as the balanced but all fall into the acceptable range. Balanced measurements are unreal given the price. I see nothing to worry about here, unless your a hardcore objectivist then the single-ended will disappoint you.
What's included:
Inside the box, which is also the box it ships in, you get:
- 1 Magnius
- 1 AC-AC Wall Wart
- 0 Licensed Technologies
- 0 License Fees
- 0 9mm potentiometers (you get a 27mm Alps RK27114 balanced pot instead, for super-fine control and great channel matching)
- 0 Non-Neutrik XLR connectors (they’re the real Austrian deal, same as the pros use)
Seriously shots fired at many other sub $300 balanced amps and at many other products in general. It gave me a good chuckle.
Build/design:
Build/design:
The Magnius design kinda threw me off at first. While there is nothing weird about it, but the thinner housing and smaller knob just looked kinda off at first. It really does look like a Magni all grown up. Like all Schiit products they use an all metal chassis designed and made in the USA with the vast majority of parts being sourced in the USA. It has the exact same footprint as the Modius.
Following the trend of the Magni Heresy it only comes in one colour, this time there normal Black and grey design (unlike the Black and Red on the heresy). I can see many people wanting the silver, but this was most likely been done as a cost savings effort, and considering this thing is an all metal $200 balanced amp made in the USA I think we can forgive them.
The design like pretty much all of Schiit’s designs I like, the only thing I would have changed looks wise is either a bigger knob or just a different one. As the one included is attached via a hex screw so you have a small hole on it that looks kinda strange.
As for outputs, inputs, and everything else you get:
Front:
- Input switch
- Gain switch
- Volume Knob: Slightly small and the hole where the screw locks it in is kinda odd, not my favorite volume knob ever.
- ¼” Headphone Jack: This is the Single-Ended Headphones Jack.
- XLR Headphones Jack: This is the Balanced headphone Jack.
Rear:
- XLR Balanced Input
- RCA SE Input
- XLR Balanced Preamp Output
- RCA SE Preamp Output
- On/Off Switch: I still love how these feel, but wish it was on the front.
- AC Power Input
Sound/Power:
Sound/Power:
Sound-wise I was a little surprised and it took me a while to really understand what was going on. So a few words before I get to the subjective sound. After the amazing sounding Modius I had high expectations for this. So when I got it and hooked it up to the modius and started listening I was honestly disappointed at first. Not because it is bad sounding but more so because it wasn't mind-blowing like the modius. With the Modius I went “wait what” because of how resolving it was, but with the Magnius I went “oh…...ok”. It took several days before I realized the issue here.
- My expectations were too high.
- The market they're targeting is different from what I had expected.
Once these facts set in, things started to make sense. I was expecting a Jotunheim, THX killer, like how the Modius was an “any DAC under $500 killer”. I was expecting an Asgard 3 but balanced, which was just unrealistic. Looking at the marketing more I kind of understood what this amp was. It's a lesson in how easy it is to do a measurement first amp, and when you look at the balanced measurements that all checks out. It's one of the best measuring amps on the market, and when you take price to measurement performance into account it is maybe the best value balanced AMPs full stop. So then this is an AMP targeted at objectivists but then why does the single ended measure so poor in comparison, well that's just cost saving (I assume). Their marketing even takes jabs at other AMPs for using ultra low end vol pots. But after I checked my rather unreal expectations at the door I really was impressed by this for what it was.
Now to the subjective portion, overall nothing sounds bad, it's a perfectly fine sounding amp, but when I was able to pick out both Magni’s from a blind listening test I was kinda confused. I had most of this review done at this point but was still so stuck and confused when it came to how it sounded, but then all of a sudden like I didn't even have it on properly, it just switched into gear and everything made sense. I can't explain why this happened. I assume I just had an off week, so I decided to rereview everything I did that week, just in case.
At first all I could hear was a worse heresy then all of a sudden it clicked, it was a very different sounding amp, not a worse or a better heresy, but its own thing. The staging was a little more flat and while not being super forward projecting like I remember the Jotunheim sounding, it lacked that full grandiose staging of the new magnis and the likes of the Asgard 3, but still offers a full stage. It even started to sound a little more rich and textured. Treble isn't forward but it almost has a bit of glare, or some extra aggression. It's a little soft sounding in terms of dynamics, but not too bad.
But most of all this is a very clean and clear amp, very transparent. It does have the measurement first sterile slightly bright sound to it but the richness kinda offsets it just enough. There really isn't anything to complain about for its price, but even after it started to make sense it still never blew me away sonically. It really does to me sound like a very good sounding $100-$150 Headphone AMP, and considering its balanced and $200 that kinda makes sense.
Small Note: The single-ended sounded just as good as the balanced honestly, not a giant difference.
Power:
Balanced Headphone Output:
Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 6.0W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 5.0W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 3.2W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 1000mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 500mW RMS per channel
Single-Ended Headphone Output:
Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 2.2W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 2.0W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 1.3W RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 300mW RMS per channel
Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 150mW RMS per channel
Single ended puts out more than enough power, slightly less than the Magni’s. The balanced puts out a very respectable amount for a balanced AMP. This will easily power 99% of everything you throw at it.
Conclusion
Pros/cons:
I'm still not a fan of Pros and cons lists but I do know people really do find them helpful so I will give one.
Pros:
- Crazy Good Value
- Great Balanced Measurements
- High amounts of clean power
- Very Good Sound
- Great build
- Great look and design
- Great volume POT
- Gain Switch and Input Switch on the front
- 2 Year Warranty
Cons:
- Doesn’t Blow away the competition in terms of pure sound quality
- Hot Thick Power Brick
- No front LED to tell when on
- Rear Mounted Power Switch
Conclusion
I would treat this as a Balanced Magni. It's very much its own thing but for most that's how it will really be used. This won't replace the good over $300 balanced amps on the market, it just won't. But for anything under that price point, this offers a value perspective that won't be beaten. If you're not planning to ever go balanced then of course don't buy this, stick with a magni or asgard 3. But there are many people who this will do exactly what they need.
If you're someone who isn't too fussed about source gear and thinks it all sounds the same, boom just buy this now. At $200 this will be perfect. Great build, very good sound, single ended and balanced all for $200. Back when I got into Audio, the idea of this type of product seemed like a fantasy, yet here it is on my desk and im nitpicking first-ever it, budget audio has come so far and it's crazy.
But honestly, the main people who will be buying this are people who want balanced on a budget or just want a more “functional” Magni, or people who just love any gear that measures so well.
Personally I would still grab the Asgard 3 over this at the same price, then save all that money you'd spend on balanced cables and spend that on the matching DAC. But this fits a hole in Schiit’s product line (yuck) and is a welcome product. This imo should be the go to budget balanced amp moving forward.
This gets my recommendation for sure and will make it onto my guides, it's not the be all end all balanced amp that some people hoped for, but it's 100% a fantastic value and a great amp overall.