Should I sell my accuphase for this schiit

@georgehifi so if I use the schiit in mono, you say I’ll take a big hit. What does that mean?

If you bridge an amp for mono, yes you gain much more wattage, but all other measured parameters become worse (take a hit)

Distortion is higher
Output impedance is higher
Damping factor is worse
Not as stable into low impedance’s
If it was just stable into 4ohms it won’t be bridged
Current output is worse
And there are a few others I can’t think of at the moment.
I jokingly say when you bridge you turn what may have been a good amp into a P.A. amp

Also, I asked the speaker designer at ascend acoustics about bi-wire when I had them made, and he swore to me that it’s a scam (bi-wire), it has no benefits, and was just created as marketing. So I believed him and didn’t get that option.

He was full of it, not only can you bi-wire, but you can also bi-amp as in this case, how can that be a scam? If you had the option then take them back and get the bi-wire version if they have them as they would also be later models most likely. 

Cheers George

I recently spent several days "auditioning" a Schiit Aegir...it's a great sounding amp (I have very efficient speakers so one is enough), and although I had trouble with the first amp they sent me...it's "protection" kept shutting it off...the second amp works fine (great service at Schiit...they got the new one to me immediately). After a while I put the Aegir aside and my Dennis Had Inspire SE Firebottle HO (high output...supposedly 10 to 17 watts per channel depending on tubes) went back in the system. The Had amp sounds better in every way...the Aegir has a hard to describe "sheen" of Technology At Work or something that renders its sound seemingly artificial-ish...nice detail and tonally very nicely done...but the single ended Had tube amp just sounds better to my ears, which are the ones I use to listen to things. In any case, I still recommend the Aegir to the "efficient speaker" crowd although I'm shipping it back to Schiit. An interesting experiment but my brain must simply be accustomed to tubes and their inherent harmonic palette and musical rightness that clearly fits my tastes...oh well. Note they charge a re-stocking fee AND return shipping's on you...but to satisfy my curiosity it was worth it.

@georgehifi According to the "audiofool"’s comprehensive comparison ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRK-8Z714BQ ... the Aegir does not seem to suffer much from bridging. In fact, power aside, a pair of Aegir mono blocks sounds better than a stereo Aegir. And he agrees with you that bridging *normally* has negative consequences. just sayin ...

that said

@wolf_garcia interesting to hear your comparison. I have been toying between a pair of monoblock Aegir’s and Freya + vs a Line Magnetic 805ia SET integrated amp (48 wpc) for my Spendor A7’s ... $2800 all in vs $4500 ... but I think I know what’s going to sound better. The LM seems to have amazing synergy with the Spendors/A7’s. Haven’t heard the Aegirs but did have a Vidar in house that was pretty good.

According to the "audiofool"’s the Aegir does not seem to suffer much from bridging.

It is only 20w, "he talks about bass driving" and says "seem".
It was probably stressed in stereo mode and bridged just gave him more ooph!
There is no magic way of bridging an amp without the pitfalls.
Better comparison would have been on >100db speakers. then the stereo would surely have shone through.

Cheers George

I would suggest that the ascend acoustics sierra 2ex are on the inefficient side, so that may be a consideration.  I found the Sierra 2 a little boring, I guess I prefer a little more personality in my speakers, Ascend usually voices their speakers boring ruler flat, but that may be your thing...

I'm wondering how much time the Aegir needs to break in.  I'm at 70 hours on the Freya + and it's changing my mind on Schiit Audio break in requirements.  YMMV.