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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
corelli OP
941 posts
 

Right, I know you can order it but at increased cost and the drop down does not allow the option of self installation/returnability.  Not an issue with the other amps. So just with this amp you have to pay more for the same card and give up your return option!  Seems like a web design oversight that no one wants to work around.  Brother!

Thought about the mani option but I really liked the idea of an all in one package and the fact the card option is MM only with specs to match my Ortofon cartridge.  Seemed like a perfect match on paper and wondered if it might even outperform the Mani in this case.  

Honestly, cost is not the issue-it's more the principal of the thing and a frustration. More importantly, I can find nothing in the way of a review on this phono card.  If I had some reassurance then giving up the return option probably wouldn't be as much of an issue.

sandstone
358 posts
 

"Honestly, cost is not the issue"

If that's actually the case, just buy the Jotunheim 2 with phono for a better, balanced headphone amp,  or get the Mani as suggested above by @pmm , and move on.  Full 5 yr warranty, etc.

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,251 posts
 

"Honestly, cost is not the issue"

I always thought it was the low cost that attracted people to this brand, no?

jim204
881 posts
 

Forget it and buy a better one if cost is no issue. Methinks thou dost protest too much.

corelli OP
941 posts
 

@sandstone  

@stereo5    When I said cost in not the issue that was in reference to the $50 upcharge incurred because their website does not function properly--not an unlimited budget for a piece of gear.  

The Schiit brand appeal is the high performance to price ratio IMO. Not just the budget price.

Having said that, this is going into a modest system: Project Xpression table with Ortofon OM20e Super cartridge, Sennheiser HD660s phones.  Currently used with Bellari vp 129 phono/headphone amp.  While I very much enjoy the Bellari,  I thought it would be fun to try a fully SS headphone amp that has different strengths as a complement to the Bellari.  

Sandstone, I have not used a balanced headphone amp in the past. What do you typically experience when going from unbalanced to balanced?  Worthwhile in a very modest system like this?

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