What a pile of Schiit


Sorry, most of us just can’t resist.

So I was looking at the Schiit Asgard and wanted it with a phono card. The web site does not provide the phono option on the drop down even though the owners manual clearly states this is an option. The only way to get it is to order it separately . When you do that, not only does it cost more but it voids the return policy even though Schiit installed it! Now if I ordered the phono card separately, and did a self install, I could return it. But, here again, you are not given an option on the site of purchasing it that way. Note the other preamps have drop downs that allow the option of factory or self installation of these cards at $50 savings either way. Insane.

So I emailed Schiit and Laura dogmatically states there is nothing that can be done, that’s the way it is.

 

Anyone else had similar experience with this company?

Has anyone listened to this phono card option on any of their modular headphone amps?

corelli

@borat-sagdiyev - I had a Lyr 3, and I upgraded the tube with another that was not very expensive, and it improved the sound significantly. So you might want to try a few as long as you don't have to fork out too much.

Very good amp and good value for money, as was the Quicksilver tube headphone amp I replaced it with, and that came in at a little under $1000. That Lokius is very good to have around, too! 

Greatly improve with another tube? Greatly? I mean its already pushing my cans to subsonic frequency with incredible control and the top end is like some kind of quantum microscope, every grain of billions of grains of sand, all perfectly defined. Toe tapping drive and verve and dimension. Describe how it would improve so much with another tube, greatly is a powerful word. This amp is jaw dropper as is. Thanks!

 

(I do plan on going on a tube spree, so I guess I'll find out.)

@borat-sagdiyev - Well, to ME it was 'greatly' - can't swear it will be for you! To me, what it mostly improved was the '3-D, holographic' aspects of the sound, especially through Utopia headphones. I don't need the utmost detail; that's why I like tube or tube-y sounding amps, like Lyr 3 and QS. 

And if you love the Lyr 3 as much as you do, I hope at some point you'll at least give a try to some other amps. Lyr 3 is a fine amp and a fine value, but it's just the beginning of a whole world of amplification out there that would REALLY blow your mind (and hopefully not your wallet!). 

Good luck with your tube experimentation! 

I was going to build a Crackatoa but I didn't want to wait three weeks and the guy at Bottlehead fell through on a kit I could just drop in and pick up.

 

Eventually a Crackatoa or a Mainline. Then call it a day. Headphones are my "3rd" system.

 

But yes, listened to it this morning, crazy crazy good. I'm sure the DAC has a lot to do with it, it is excellent.