Schiit Vidar.... Anyone heard one yet?

@aberyclark 

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, the Schiit Freya would appear to be a perfect match for Vidar given the balanced design of this preamp.

As per the Schiit website, this is an impressive list of “key features” for a $699 mono block amplifier.  

1. Power supply to output stage is dual mono—and this is where it matters. Modulation on one supply won’t affect the other.
2. Massive overkill power supply topology—separate regulated HV rails to voltage gain and driver stages (not stacked, so no modulation with P/S load).
3. No caps in the signal path, no DC servo in the signal path, nothing but music in the signal path.
4. Current feedback topology is amazingly fast (-3dB above 1MHz before input filter) and measures well, especially for such a simple stage.
5. Linear supply, not switching supply, no high-frequency noise to deal with.
6. Class AB output stage, not D. Again, no noise or noise-shaping applied.
7. 3 pairs of outputs per channel—1.5x more than typical for this power output.
8. Rated power output doubles into 4 ohms.
9. Microprocessor oversees all important aspects of amplifier operation: current, DC offset, temperature.
10. Protection system uses a “least invasive methodology”—no active devices in signal path, no current limiting, no crowbars—just resistors and relays.  
11. No fan, just a massive amount of heatsinking.

the salesman there said it sounds identical to the speaker taps 60W output from the back of the (more expensive) Ragnarok headphone amp.

I doubt this, as, I believe, much of the development delays had to do with the new topology (not using the same one in the Rag) and the best way to dissipate heat and meet chassis size/cost goals. I'm looking forward to a chance to hear this amp.

A new owner on Audiokarma started a thread with a Vidar review, comparing it to an Emotiva A-300.  The Vidar was superior in every way according to the owner.

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/amateur-review-of-schiit-vidar-power-amps-in-single-a...