Hi there friend and Welcome aboard!!
Before we get into the Magni 2 vs. Magni 2 Uber, grab a snack, sit back and relax because..
You’ve come to the right place!!
What I will bring you in this review
Today I will outline the Magni 2 and then compare it with the Uber version towards the end 🙂
- Ratings/Price
- Specifications
- Summary
- Pros
- Cons
- Video Review
- How to set it up!
- Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- Consensus/Conclusion
- Similarities & Differences
- Final Word
Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!!
Schiit Magni 2
The famous “Schiit Stack”
Specifications
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, -0.1db, 2Hz-200KHz, -3dB
- Maximum Power, 16 ohms: 1.8W RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 32 ohms: 1.2W RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 50 ohms: 1.0W RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 300 ohms: 260mW RMS per channel
- Maximum Power, 600 ohms: 130mW RMS per channel
- THD: Less than 0.003%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 1V RMS
- IMD: Less than 0.004%, CCIF
- SNR: Greater than 102db, unweighted, referenced to 1V RMS
- Crosstalk: -70dB, 20 Hz-20KHz
- Output Impedance: Less than 0.2 ohms
- Gain: 1.5 (3db) or 6 (15.6db), selectable via rear switch
- Topology: Fully discrete FET/bipolar, constant feedback through the audio band, Class AB, DC-coupled throughout
- Protection: Standard failsafe DC power input and muting relay
- Power Supply: “Wall wart” style 8VA 16VAC transformer, regulated +/- 15V rails with over 4,000uF filter capacitance
- Power Consumption: 4W
- Size: 5 x 3.5 x 1.25”
- Weight: 1 lb
Summary
I really love this little amp. I did a lot of research on it before purchase, and I can tell you without a doubt that it’s the best entry-level amp you can go with if you’re planning to power, well, pretty much any headphones. Because its output impedance is less than 0.1, it handles just about anything well. What is Headphone Impedance? Right now I have my Sennheiser HD600’s plugged in, and they’re a dream.
It’s got a low/hi-gain switch on the back which comes in handy if you want to blow yourself away. Truly, the sound has no problems getting loud and you will likely not even have to turn the volume knob past 2 o’clock to get a hearty experience. 12 o’clock is plenty for me on most occasions. Any more gain past this is playing with fire in my opinion. The bottom line is that the Magni/Modi combo drives the 600’s with authority, and will do the same with most anything you choose that needs amplification.
All in all, the Magni is a very nice piece of Schiit indeed! Sorry, I had to. Lol.
Pros
- Easy to use with USB.
- Provides great sound for your entry-level to mid-fi headphones.
- Rugged construction. The knobs and switches all feel really durable.
- Everything about it is really clean. The look, feel, and sound is all immaculate.
Cons
- When stacked on top of the Modi, it tends to move around a tad (nitpicking).
Video Review
How to set it up!
You will need:
- Magni headphone amp.
- Modi DAC (or another digital to analog converter of some sort). I would just go with the Modi to keep it fresh. 🙂
- The Sennheiser HD600’s, or another similar open-back headphone that requires good amplification. Because the 600 is the gold standard, I always recommend it first.
- A male to B male USB cable.
- I use the Monoprice RCA cables. They’re really rugged and of high quality.
Instructions:
- Run the RCA cables from the Modi to the Magni.
- Run the A male to B male USB cable from the Modi to a good USB port on your computer.
- Your computer will now recognize the device.
- When it installs successfully, go to Control Panel > Sound, and look for the Modi on that list.
- Right-click > Set as default device.
- Now flip the Magni’s On switch, and wait until you hear a little “tick.”
- You’re all set!
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
- What I like to do is rip WAV files (or FLAC) from my dad’s old vinyl and marvel at how great the sound is coming from the HD600’s. With FLAC, you’re going to get a louder and better-recorded song, but WAV is also pretty good. Just make sure you have something like VLC player to play FLAC files.
- The amp is made in America, which is admirable and super hard to come by these days.
- Takes a 1/4″ plug. Most headphones nowadays have 1/4″ adapters.
- Like the guy in the video said, there are headphones out there that require a lot more power than the Magni provides. However, that number is very low and he’s correct in saying that around 95% of headphones will sound phenomenal with this amp.
Consensus/Conclusion
A perfect starter amp for the small home studio. Fits on your desk quite snugly. Great, crisp sound, easy to use, and rugged. Love the white LED light.
Similarities & Differences
Similarities
- The sound is more or less the same.
- The look and feel are the same.
Differences
- The Magni 2 Uber has 24V transformer and aluminum chassis while the Magni 2 does not.
- The Magni 2 Uber has a complementary-input VAS while the Magni 2 does not.
- The Magni 2 Uber is more expensive.
- In addition to the RCA inputs (on the Magni 2), The Magni 2 Uber has RCA outputs meaning you can use it as a preamp to control speaker volume.
- The Modi 2 (commonly paired) has Toslink (S/PDIF) capabilities, which means you can use it for a home theater/console DAC. This is nice if you want to chill on the couch and listen to tunes.
Final Word
I would say if you need the extra features that the Magni 2 Uber provides, go for it. Otherwise, the Magni 2 is a phenomenal home studio solution that will work with nearly any headphones you pair it with. It has truly been a remarkable investment for my home studio.
SEE THE UPDATED HERESY ON AMAZON!!
Well that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on the Magni 2 vs. Magni 2 Uber.
Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Do you need the extra features that the Magni 2 Uber provides? I would love to hear from you. Until next time..
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
