USB input: Unison 384™, up to 32 bits/384kHz supported, full UAC2 compliance

 

D/A Conversion: Schiit Mesh™, a unique combination of our time- and frequency-domain optimized digital filter and a standard delta-sigma modulator, in this case via an ES9028

 

Analog Stage: Based on LME49724 and OPA1656, with precision thin-film resistors and film capacitors, DC coupled 

 

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20KHz, +/-0.02dB

 

THD: <0.0003%, 20Hz-20KHz

IMD: <0.0004%, CCIF

S/N: >122dB, referenced to 2V RMS

 

• Volume control
• Balance control
• 3-band parametric EQ
• Loudness setting
• NOS mode
• Phase inversion
• Sample rate reporting

We don’t like 4s.

 

Nah, we did that back in the Theta days, like, decades ago. That’s old hat.

 

Yes. The design that became Asgard X was a huge departure from Asgard 3. It also was our shot at trying to replicate a lot of the sonic qualities of Mjolnir 3, but without the insane heat and desk-hogging size. Hence, it was eXperimental. Hence Asgard X. The earliest versions of this design have always had this name screened on them, and it stuck. 

 

The gain topology is basically the same—heck, Asgard X pretty much uses the same parts and same layout as Mjolnir 3. That means, like Mjolnir 3, it’s a zero-feedback design. It also has the same kind of high-voltage, discrete-regulated power supply as Mjolnir 3. But it doesn’t have chokes (no space), and it doesn’t have Mjolnir 3’s single-ended, current-source-biased Class A output stage. Instead, we chose to develop something new—Continuity A, a variation of Continuity that focuses on keeping both NPN and PNP devices conducting all the time, on both positive and negative rails of the supply. 

 

In many ways, yes. It’s as close as we could get, after 5 iterations that included current-sourced Class A, standard Continuity, push-pull conventional Class A, and sliding bias schemes. 

 

Like the first amp we introduced in 2010, this Asgard is Class A and zero feedback. We’ve also simplified the chassis to hearken back to the original Asgard, while providing the heatsinking needed for Class A. In many ways, this more of a successor to Asgard and Asgard 2 than Asgard 3.

 

In our chapter on Class A, it is affectionately known as “none of the above,” though it is closest to “most Class A amps.” As in, it has high standing bias, and can go out of Class A. However, notice how there’s only one NPN device on the positive rail and only one PNP device on the negative rail of most Class A amps? Yeah, that’s where things get wayyyy different. Continuity A actually has 6 NPN and 6 PNP devices on either side of the rails, with 4 conducting the same all the time. This is significantly different than the original Continuity approach, and, as far as we know, it’s the only Class A amp that addresses the NPN and PNP device mismatch. You could call it "Class A+," har har. 

 

You should be happy we speak engineerese too much. This is how you get new cool audio things. And, believe me, we’re happy you can speak financese or lawyerese or doctorese or whatever you speak, because we need that too.

 

A bit. Here’s the thing. Most amps use what are called “complementary” transistors—two different types, one for each side of a voltage rail. NPN usually goes on the positive rail, PNP on the negative rail. The problem is that calling these devices “complementary” is, ah, being a bit polite. They’re made with two entirely different physical processes. So their properties are not exactly complementary. And, if you can’t get exactly complementary devices, the best way to make them work that way is have them both running at the same time, all the time. Which takes some trickery. 

 

Sorry. Maybe just think of it as the most optimized Class A on the planet, making things better than any other Class A. We could have called it Class A+, LOL.

 

Yes, we agree. 

 

And Midgard!

 

Because all 3 amps have plenty of power for virtually any headphone. Midgard is the best-measuring and least expensive. 

 

Yep, in absolute numbers. But look at the shape of the curves! No Class AB hump, no squashed-flat-by-feedback knife-edge clipping, hell, no "ESS hump" in the Mesh DAC card. And this is exactly what you’d expect for a no-feedback, discrete regulated design. A more complex discrete stage, like Magni or Midgard or Jotunheim, is necessary for better measurements. However, plenty of people like low- or no-feedback designs and believe they sound better. We make both high- and low-measuring designs intentionally, so you can experiment and decide for yourself. 

 

Yes.

 

A lot of people think we like or dislike a lot of things, usually for no reason.

 

We think they make a lot of sense, especially for IEMs, and we love the fact that we don’t have to have a galaxy-sized connector on the front of the amp to go balanced. We still don’t like the proprietary aspect of the connector, and we still think the Neutrik 4-pin is a better overall connector, but there’s definitely a place for 4.4mm in our designs.

 

Halo X allows you to put your headphone in the feedback loop of the amp, which may enhance measured acoustic performance of some transducers. 

 

It creates a feedback loop when you plug in via the balanced connector. The separate ground returns of this jack allow us to sample the back EMF of the driver.

Both gain settings have no feedback. Gain is adjusted by changing the degeneration of the front differential amplifier.

 

Yes, using the front switch.

Mesh is our way of bringing our unique, time- and frequency-domain optimized digital filter to more affordable products. You see, all Schiit DACs from Bifrost on up (and Modi Multibit) have all used our own unique math, developed over decades, implemented on a costly Analog Devices DSP. That’s the filter that Mike has called “megacomboburrito” for a long time, and it’s an important part of how our DACs sound. Now, we’ve figured out a way to bring this filter to more affordable gear, by combining it with a standard delta-sigma modulator (in this case, based on an ES9028.)

 

Yes.

 

Yes. 

Yes. Including 3-band parametric EQ, loudness, balance, NOS mode, phase invert, and volume.

 

How many times have you wanted a handy remote control for your desktop? This gives you that. Plus it’s completely defeatable if you don’t want to use it.

 

A relatively new iPhone or iPad. See here: schiit.com/forkbeard

 

As soon as we can! Working on it!

Nope. Maybe eventually. Bug [email protected] about it. We listen.

 

Well, it’s parametric, so that’s not really fair—you get 3 bands including frequency and Q adjustments. Also, this is all being done on the Unison 384 microprocessor, together with the burrito filter. There’s only so much that fits.

 

Yes, you can defeat EQ, volume, everything…you can have a pure DAC if that’s what you want.

Loudness provides a frequency response compensation that varies by how people tend to hear things. At low levels, it boosts bass and treble, to compensate for our natural perception. Of all the silly buttons and lights on 80s gear, Loudness was actually pretty good. It’s also based on real science. See the Fletcher-Munson curve.

 

Yes.

 

Like a lot of what we do, it’s not off the shelf. It’s our own USB interface designed to do a single thing well: to interface seamlessly with modern UAC2-compliant devices. It’s really just for getting audio from your streamer or computer to this DAC.

 

Actually, the question should be “What platforms support your USB input?” since our USB input is 100% UAC2 compliant (that is, USB Audio Class 2, the accepted standard for USB audio transmission.) So, here you go:

Those have been discontinued, replaced by the Mesh DAC card. We have some still available for purchase separately under Upgrades, and Jotunheim will continue to offer them while we have stock.

 

Phono yes, DACs maybe. Let’s break it down:

In Schiit’s case, Asgard was our first product. A high-value, Class A, no-feedback headphone amp, Asgard launched in June 2010. The first 1000 Asgards were made in our garage. In Norse mythology, Asgard is the land of the gods. In crappy movies, this is a place with really uncomfortable looking stone furniture and massive gold statues and pretty much no place for people to really hang out, which is probably why the gods went and screwed around with Midgard (Earth) so much. Or so we think.