Yes, 10 watts is not a lot of power but it’s not made to shake the walls or fill a big room. It’s meant for near-field / desktop listening. I picked up a single Gjallerhorn to drive my NHT Superzero 2.1 which are 86dB sensitive. I used a Modi Multibit dac along with Vali 2+ as preamp. At 1 meter or 3-4’ away the G-horn provides more than enough volume from even these insensitive speakers. And it sounded better than I expected with plenty of air, dynamics and detail.
Don't forget, it's also only $299. I don't think you're going to find many amps with .004% thd 20Hz-20KHz @ 1v RMS in this price range either. Most amps will be chineseium and claim 100w when they're actually 20w and it's at 1% THD.
I just got mine a couple weeks ago, and last night completed my Schiit eco system. I don't know what the hell I'm doing other than building my first stereo and I 100% absolutely love the way this stuff sounds. Modi+ DAC, Saga+ pre-amp, Lokius eq, Lyr+ HP amp, G-Horn, decorative Douk Audio VU throwing out musical Zen & Metal through my JBL Stage A130's...I dig it, man. Of course even I know there's "bigger better stuff" out there, but the stuff Schiit is making for me definitely fits the bill for aesthetic appeal on my console table and sonic pleasure punching me in the face.
I bought the Gjallarhorn the moment it came out, since it was the product I was waiting for ever since I built my 9" wide Stack-o- Schiit. Was kinda surprised it took them this long to make an amp that fit with all those other products. Using it to finally get away from powered speakers on my desktop rig, and I've been quite happy with it. (I only wish there was a better selection of good desktop speakers out there that actually fit in my space, as most things in the "bookshelf" category, even those that look small, are just a little bit too big.)
I have an SMSL VMV A1 Class A biased amp its and it runs with 10w per channel. I run Klipsch RP600MIIs on my desk and it runs them perfectly with zero noise. I do use an RCA to Balanced cable as everything balanced in my desktop. I wonder if 2 of these would be better. The price when the SMSL goes on sale is about what 2 Gjallarhorns go for. Since I love buying made in America, had these been out, it would have been a no brainer. But already owning the A1 already probably makes buying these a waste.
I use the Gjallarhorn in my study connected via USB and a Modi DAC. Wow, the sound. I've had my Kef Q150 bookshelf speakers hooked up to my amps but never have they sounded so good. I'm also using a software EQ. I keep going back to the specs but it says 10W. At 50% output from my computer playing lossless music it's too loud but very clear and it shakes the room. I'm no noob either. I've been building and running high power home and car audio for decades. It's fit for my purpose. I am also looking forward to this rumoured 5-channel amp to go with a Syn and get away from my disappointing Denon receiver. Hopefully it will drive the Q900 mains nicely.
I got my Gjallarhorns about a week after they were released. I've thoroughly enjoyed them in dual mono configuration. I'm also running the Freya N preamp. I've run them through Focal Chora 826's and KLH Model 5's. Both sound wonderful with them in different ways. The KLH are 6 Ohm and I've had no issues at all with shutdowns. And in terms of real world loudness, if you've got a 91db sensitive speaker like the Focals, you can do 85db listening. I don't anyways, but it's technically attainable. Less sensitive speakers will only do 80ish at best. For desktop and low volume listeners, it's a sweet amp.
I tried using the Gjallarhorn in a living room setup, but sent it back to Schiit. Agreed that it is much more useful as a desktop setup. But at that point, there are a lot of more affordable possibilities in a desktop setup. I'd lean towards the Arylic B50.
I just got the much touted Fosi TB10D hooked up to a Schiit Modi + with a pair of old Def Tech Mythos 1 floor standing speakers in my office set up. Amazingly I get MORE than enough power from the Fosi, and I only spent $60 on it. Can't imagine a need to increase that cost five fold, but who knows.
@@jawixom I've tried 3 different units from Fosi and all of them had atrocious hiss that could be heard from 10+ feet from the speakers. Def Tech Mythos are very inefficient so maybe it doesn't matter in your scenario, but folks with highly efficient speakers(klipsch, zu audio, etc.) would benefit from the lower noise floor.
I’ve been using these in mono balanced mode with a balanced preamp and they perform very well, and sound great. I was looking for some compact balanced mono amps for a long time so these were a revelation.
I have the baby brother Rekkr, with a Modi, Loki Mini, and Vali 2++ into OSD Nero MB5 speakers and can make things nice and loud in my home office. Especially if I flip the high gain switch on the Vali.
And in typical Schiit nomenclature, (from the all knowing wiki) In Norse mythology, Gjallarhorn (Old Norse: [ˈɡjɑlːɑrˌhorn]; "hollering horn"[1] or "the loud sounding horn"[2]) is a horn associated with the god Heimdallr and the wise being Mímir. The sound of Heimdallr's horn will herald the beginning of Ragnarök, the sound of which will be heard in all corners of the world. Gjallarhorn is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional material, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson.
The GAL-a-horn (??) is the same size as the Bifrost, as well I think? The IEC socket also means it has an internal power supply - and I believe it is a linear power supply.
I'm a big Schiit head, but why would anyone get this over say the BasX A2 mini for $279. A more capable amp with volume control and a kick ass headphone out.
Hi Randy! Slightly off topic but as a somewhat comparable company to Schiit (being American made and affordably priced), do you have any experience with Bellari Audio products? I own both their EQ570 and SE560 Sonic Exciter (not for everyone, but I love it) and I recently noticed they now produce a PA253 42W stereo power amplifier. I’m not sure if this is a brand new product because I can’t seem to find any info or reviews at all outside of their own website. Do you or any of your community have any further information/reviews/thoughts at all on this and how it sounds? Sells for $299 and maybe I’m just being shallow but I really like their unique red and gold look and would love to get a nice little stack going.
Thanks for the candid review, Randy. If budget is $600, there are many amps to evaluate, with more power and more features. S***** products have their place, depending on needs and overall preference. Believe it or not, I have 3 of their products, of which I find all serve a purpose for me, but I don’t know if I’ll ever see another one that I would purchase. Also, whatever I have (dac, preamps) is not unique and can be easily replaced if required . 🥳
BUT……..Made in CHINA. COMMUNIST China. OUR ENEMY. Any money you pay to Chinese companies goes DIRECTLY to companies that are owned by that SUPERSTATE of AUTHORITARIANISM, and benefits the CHINESE MILITARY. Don’t forget, China has sworn to destroy the US AND OUR capitalist system. They are a direct threat to our liberty and the safety and well being of our children and their posterity. DON’T BUY CHINESE MADE!!!!
I've been using a single Gjallahorn in my home office for a month or two now with my Dali Spektor 1's (4inch 2 way speakers). No complaints. (Except for the crappy PC audio that's bleeding in EMI from my GPU but that's not the Gjallahorn's fault.) At some point I need to get a proper DAC and maybe some tone controls as well (just because).
Love the channel! I think an interesting shoot out might be 2 Rekkr vs 1 Gjallarhorn since both would be 300$. Also please let the good folks at Schiit know, now that the Rekkr exists, we need a Sys with two outputs. One output for a Rekkr that is controlled by the volume knob and one clean output for a Magni. Unplugging and replugging in the headphones on the Magni every time I switch from headphone to speaker listening is a pain in the butt, and potentially reducing the life of my headphone cable.
Thanks, I've been waiting for this one. I can't afford a Vidar right now, so I got a Gjallarhorn. I've been using it to drive a pair of RSL CG5s in my living room (i.e., not on a desk). The RSLs are 86 dB and "6 or 8 ohms (whichever is higher)." Whatever that means. Anyway, it sounds really good at any volume I ever use. But then, I never push it very hard and I'm not an "audiophile." For the record, I'm running Modi MB 2 -> Lokius -> Freya N -> B&W sub -> RSLs. Also, a minor correction: a pair of Gjallarhorns is still $200 less than one Vidar.
@@john26262 well thanks for saying so. And I did get a Vidar 2 after all, LOL. And I found a deal on a Gumby that I could not refuse. And now the sub is an RSL Speedwoofer 10S Mk2. I'm done now.
Dolby AC4 is coming........................... There's a new streaming format coming & it is NOT backwards compatible. Always keep your digital front ends separate from your analog! 🔈🔉🔊
I recently purchased the Schiit REKKR desktop amp that puts out a whopping 2W rms at 8 ohms and is FINE for my application. I’m working at my computer - not throwing a party. Also, if you’re using your computer volume controls you can download an equalizer app that has set programs for rock, jazz, classical, etc. as well as manual adjustments and improves the quality significantly.
I have the Rekkr running a pair of Sony Css5 in a small room and am super happy with the sound. Loud enough for the wife to chime in. Lol. Want to get the Gjall to run a pair of Polk RT55 speakers. I think they are 6 ohm and 92dB. Stereo to start, maybe mono down the road
Ive been running running these through mono balanced R2R balanced preamp balanced reel to reel stereo hard mono mono to stereo preamp balanced audiophile thingy whatchamacallit =. Sounds great. Thanks1
Great take, Randy! I was considering these for my entry into balanced monoblocks but maybe I should just start with a Vidar. I sometimes like to listen to 80-85 db.
In mono mode these can hit those levels easily if the speakers are reasonable efficient. I’m using some 90db sensitive towers and can’t even begin to push these. With some 87 db sensitive monitors it was also louder than I could tolerate. I’m not sure if that helps, but you are stuck with balanced.
Well done, Randy. You mentioned using a Lokius for tone controls, and your setup includes Wiim Pro. Is there a benefit to Lokius that the Wiim EQ doesn't cover?
Randy I also prefer a bit of humidity in the low end and have found it with the Parasound 275 amplifier. If you get a chance to review one I think you'd like it too.
Just a thought, Could you show pictures of the gear you use to test? Some of us are gear addicts and love that type of stuff. Also, people might benefit from seeing how the gear is connected.
@@crazyprayingmantis5596 Randy is great. Sometimes we, as the audience, get to play, "What's in Randy's beard?" Seriously though, I love his reviews, just miss some of the older format. The wobbly table, the crazy coffee mugs, the weird little schiit he does.
Nice video bud. I'm running a Digital Amplifier company ( maraschino stm) Amplifier. They were nice class D amps, but sadly the owner/ engineer died recently. While it's a nice amp, very powerful, but not too dynamic. I bought and built Css criton 1Tdx. After you and many other bloggers recommend them so highly. Love the speakers Randy,.no matter how heavy the music I listen to they don't distort. And yet jazz is massively crisp and articulate. So what would you recommend for an amp with some gusto. Can't afford tubes too pricey.
Thinking about trying a single G-horn with my Cornwall III's. Those are 102dB sensitivity, so I think listening levels could approach room filling levels. Any thoughts on this idea...
I have similarly efficient speakers, the Tekton Lores at 98db/w/m, being driven by a single Gjallarhorn, in a traditional non-nearfield setup. I have no problem with volume at all. I think most reviewers who say that the Gjallarhorn is just a desktop amp are not taking high efficiency speakers into consideration. I have not measured my listening volume but I am able to get volume that most would consider loud at about 3/4 of max output on my preamp sitting around 8 feet away. Volume aside, I find the tonal properties of the Gjallarhorn to be very neutral and, to my ears, high quality. In truth, I am looking to add a second Gjallarhorn to run them in mono, but I think you'd be quite okay with a stereo Gjallarhorn and Cornwall combo.
IEC C14 connector without voltage range indicated? Wide range from 100V up or 230V or 120V only. Should always be indicated, not just be printed in the manual.
Got a Gjal to go with a Jotunheim running Martin Logan 35XT's and it is a really lovely amp. Very clean, resolving amp. 10 watts in more than a lot of people think, and with reasonably sensitive speakers (I'd say 87db and up) it is MORE than enuf. Excellent amp that is VERY reasonably priced. I think Randy's description on how to use this amp (near-field, which is it's primary design use) was spot on. You need a room filling amp? Buy a higher power room filling amp. Near-field? I doubt you will find anything any better
Check out the BRZHIFI 3255XLR. You might like this one Randy, the TI3255 chip with Neutrik balanced inputs. Sounds decent out of the box and can be upgraded in every dept...op amps, op amp decouplers, internal power supply, caps etc. Build quality is solid. Peace.
So I can run these as mono blocks coming out of my Pioneer DJM450 mixer? It has XLR outputs. Hook up a powered subwoofer with the RCA Outputs. The mixer of course has volume control.
Nice review! I have the Lokius and Modius in a desktop headphone setup and they are nice products. But, Schiit should use a much heavier metal as I was disappointed in how cheap the boxes felt. They look fine but need a little more "beef" to them.
Needing balanced output for mono mode is a deal breaker for me. I wanted to use 2 of these with my Asgard and add multibit card. I hope they fix this in the future.
I don't understand those low powered mono amps... Why? I thought mono amps were good if you had hard to drive speakers with low impedance and/or low efficiency?!
I would like to see Schitt make a 3255 amp. It would be really cool if it had an integrated power supply. I would be totally fine with it being an SMPS too, I trust they could filter it really well.
You should review high end amps like the Roksan K3 because they're so often on the used market, thus a smart budget option, and sound way better than this.
I wonder what my old University 16 ohms speakers would sound with this? They can't handle a lot of wattage but are super sensitive. I like the idea of solid state with a low watt output, just like they made in the late 60's and early 70's. How's the bass?
i just picked up a pair of Jamo c93 ii considering this amp and ditching my $130 SMSL. would love to know how they sound together and if a single Gjall has the power to run them
Seriously, being deaf in left ear, and only 80% left in my right ear, will that Mono work well to bring all the sound into my right ear if I use my headphones ? or am I not even close to Mono ?
I just got this product about a week ago for my home office. So near field listening purposes for Spotify and RUclips of course. I have to say, I was impressed. I use the basic Modi DAC. I think it is a great setup. I agree that it needs time controls which is on my short list and maybe an upgraded DAC like the J2. But I highly recommend this for a home office setup as I typically do not like Class D amps. Nice job. Keep up the good work. PS - if I needed more power, I’d skip the mono block approach and try the Vidar. Granted, never actually heard them but that is where I’d go.
I returned it. To be honest, you have done excellent review wink wink... I paired with bifrost and sega. IMO this is way beyond budget and you can get better deals in that amount. I moved back to marrantz integrated. You can have better choices.
The only thing keeping me from buying the Gjallarhorn is that they don't sell it in silver. I have piles of silver Schiit and I'm not adding this to the stack until they offer it silver.
What about a 12 ohm speaker, like Zu DW6? Would you effectively have a higher output then? Like more than 10watts? Or the amp would just have an “easier “ time driving them? (Maybe that’s the same thing) lol, still a little fuzzy on that one
I’m getting the DW6 eventually and I’m trying to decide between the G-horn or the Vidar 2. The high sensitivity would play nice with the G-horn…but the oomph of the Vidar 2 I think is where I’ll end up.
Feels you didn't like that Schiit Amp. I'm been waiting for something like this for loonnng time. I have in my closet a vintage Technics F Series silver color speakers that was my dream when i was a teenager. Its difficult to find the Technics mini series amps of that time. I used those speakers with Damps and the D amps are not my taste on these speakers. I'm an audiophile, but i like the equipment to looks PRO not like kid toy even sound beautiful. I have a reisong amp, i used sometimes, but really its love to hate, 6w is weak and noisy. I want to have a mini system in my bedroom but I have to wait for the silver color of this G Amp. I remember on the late 70's most of the home audio systems average power were around 15wpc, and really sounded loud.
I like your show, but for those who never used any of these components, it is hard to follow what are you talking about. Show some cable options and sound. I still can't understand how AMSR artists get the best microphones in existence, but HiFi guys never heard about them! lol
I don’t think this amo is good for desktop or 2 channel. I’m sure it is well built, but there are more inexpensive options than this amp. I think this channel should start thinking about changing its name from Cheap Audio to Sometimes Cheap and other time Expensive Audio Man.
Yes, 10 watts is not a lot of power but it’s not made to shake the walls or fill a big room. It’s meant for near-field / desktop listening. I picked up a single Gjallerhorn to drive my NHT Superzero 2.1 which are 86dB sensitive. I used a Modi Multibit dac along with Vali 2+ as preamp. At 1 meter or 3-4’ away the G-horn provides more than enough volume from even these insensitive speakers. And it sounded better than I expected with plenty of air, dynamics and detail.
Don't forget, it's also only $299. I don't think you're going to find many amps with .004% thd 20Hz-20KHz @ 1v RMS in this price range either. Most amps will be chineseium and claim 100w when they're actually 20w and it's at 1% THD.
I just got mine a couple weeks ago, and last night completed my Schiit eco system. I don't know what the hell I'm doing other than building my first stereo and I 100% absolutely love the way this stuff sounds. Modi+ DAC, Saga+ pre-amp, Lokius eq, Lyr+ HP amp, G-Horn, decorative Douk Audio VU throwing out musical Zen & Metal through my JBL Stage A130's...I dig it, man. Of course even I know there's "bigger better stuff" out there, but the stuff Schiit is making for me definitely fits the bill for aesthetic appeal on my console table and sonic pleasure punching me in the face.
You have a very nice system. I’m sure it’s plenty of power. Something to be proud of!
@@steve0504 Oh, for sure enough power for my room/house. And it just sounds good. Don't need to blow my windows out to show off.
Great time to be into your first stereo! Btw, in about 7 months, get ready for the upgrade itch.
Thanks for bringing us more Schiit, with great honest review.
I bought the Gjallarhorn the moment it came out, since it was the product I was waiting for ever since I built my 9" wide Stack-o- Schiit. Was kinda surprised it took them this long to make an amp that fit with all those other products.
Using it to finally get away from powered speakers on my desktop rig, and I've been quite happy with it.
(I only wish there was a better selection of good desktop speakers out there that actually fit in my space, as most things in the "bookshelf" category, even those that look small, are just a little bit too big.)
I have an SMSL VMV A1 Class A biased amp its and it runs with 10w per channel. I run Klipsch RP600MIIs on my desk and it runs them perfectly with zero noise. I do use an RCA to Balanced cable as everything balanced in my desktop. I wonder if 2 of these would be better. The price when the SMSL goes on sale is about what 2 Gjallarhorns go for. Since I love buying made in America, had these been out, it would have been a no brainer. But already owning the A1 already probably makes buying these a waste.
I think it's important to mention that $600 is for TWO of these amps for mini monoblocks.
For stereo, you only need one at $300.
I use the Gjallarhorn in my study connected via USB and a Modi DAC. Wow, the sound. I've had my Kef Q150 bookshelf speakers hooked up to my amps but never have they sounded so good. I'm also using a software EQ.
I keep going back to the specs but it says 10W. At 50% output from my computer playing lossless music it's too loud but very clear and it shakes the room.
I'm no noob either. I've been building and running high power home and car audio for decades. It's fit for my purpose.
I am also looking forward to this rumoured 5-channel amp to go with a Syn and get away from my disappointing Denon receiver. Hopefully it will drive the Q900 mains nicely.
I got my Gjallarhorns about a week after they were released. I've thoroughly enjoyed them in dual mono configuration. I'm also running the Freya N preamp. I've run them through Focal Chora 826's and KLH Model 5's. Both sound wonderful with them in different ways. The KLH are 6 Ohm and I've had no issues at all with shutdowns.
And in terms of real world loudness, if you've got a 91db sensitive speaker like the Focals, you can do 85db listening. I don't anyways, but it's technically attainable. Less sensitive speakers will only do 80ish at best.
For desktop and low volume listeners, it's a sweet amp.
I tried using the Gjallarhorn in a living room setup, but sent it back to Schiit. Agreed that it is much more useful as a desktop setup. But at that point, there are a lot of more affordable possibilities in a desktop setup. I'd lean towards the Arylic B50.
I just got the much touted Fosi TB10D hooked up to a Schiit Modi + with a pair of old Def Tech Mythos 1 floor standing speakers in my office set up. Amazingly I get MORE than enough power from the Fosi, and I only spent $60 on it. Can't imagine a need to increase that cost five fold, but who knows.
Hahahahaha
@@jawixom I've tried 3 different units from Fosi and all of them had atrocious hiss that could be heard from 10+ feet from the speakers. Def Tech Mythos are very inefficient so maybe it doesn't matter in your scenario, but folks with highly efficient speakers(klipsch, zu audio, etc.) would benefit from the lower noise floor.
I have 98dB(in room) efficient speakers and the Rekkr is more than enough for me. Everyone's setup is different.
Just got My first fosi bt 20 AS this week , no hiss , sounds great !
I’ve been using these in mono balanced mode with a balanced preamp and they perform very well, and sound great. I was looking for some compact balanced mono amps for a long time so these were a revelation.
Why do you need a pre-amp?
@@DJVARAO The GHorn has no volume control and only one input, so you need a preamp to control volume and switch between sources.
@@DarthSculpin Thank you!
Great to see another awesome product from Schiit! So many great products!
I have the baby brother Rekkr, with a Modi, Loki Mini, and Vali 2++ into OSD Nero MB5 speakers and can make things nice and loud in my home office. Especially if I flip the high gain switch on the Vali.
Ha! I got Heresey IVs so I definitely could annoy the neighbors with one (or two) of these.
You could annoy the neighbors with a AA battery.
And in typical Schiit nomenclature, (from the all knowing wiki) In Norse mythology, Gjallarhorn (Old Norse: [ˈɡjɑlːɑrˌhorn]; "hollering horn"[1] or "the loud sounding horn"[2]) is a horn associated with the god Heimdallr and the wise being Mímir. The sound of Heimdallr's horn will herald the beginning of Ragnarök, the sound of which will be heard in all corners of the world. Gjallarhorn is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional material, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson.
The GAL-a-horn (??) is the same size as the Bifrost, as well I think?
The IEC socket also means it has an internal power supply - and I believe it is a linear power supply.
YAL-ar-horn. Yes, same size as the Bifrost.
I'm a big Schiit head, but why would anyone get this over say the BasX A2 mini for $279. A more capable amp with volume control and a kick ass headphone out.
Because according to schiit, less is more. Except it's always the consumer that gets less for more money.
Hi Randy! Slightly off topic but as a somewhat comparable company to Schiit (being American made and affordably priced), do you have any experience with Bellari Audio products? I own both their EQ570 and SE560 Sonic Exciter (not for everyone, but I love it) and I recently noticed they now produce a PA253 42W stereo power amplifier. I’m not sure if this is a brand new product because I can’t seem to find any info or reviews at all outside of their own website. Do you or any of your community have any further information/reviews/thoughts at all on this and how it sounds? Sells for $299 and maybe I’m just being shallow but I really like their unique red and gold look and would love to get a nice little stack going.
Thanks for the candid review, Randy. If budget is $600, there are many amps to evaluate, with more power and more features. S***** products have their place, depending on needs and overall preference. Believe it or not,
I have 3 of their products, of which I find all serve a purpose for me, but I don’t know
if I’ll ever see another one that I would purchase. Also, whatever I have (dac, preamps) is not unique and can be easily replaced if required . 🥳
BUT……..Made in CHINA. COMMUNIST China. OUR ENEMY.
Any money you pay to Chinese companies goes DIRECTLY to companies that are owned by that SUPERSTATE of AUTHORITARIANISM, and benefits the CHINESE MILITARY.
Don’t forget, China has sworn to destroy the US AND OUR capitalist system. They are a direct threat to our liberty and the safety and well being of our children and their posterity.
DON’T BUY CHINESE MADE!!!!
I've been using a single Gjallahorn in my home office for a month or two now with my Dali Spektor 1's (4inch 2 way speakers). No complaints. (Except for the crappy PC audio that's bleeding in EMI from my GPU but that's not the Gjallahorn's fault.)
At some point I need to get a proper DAC and maybe some tone controls as well (just because).
Love the channel! I think an interesting shoot out might be 2 Rekkr vs 1 Gjallarhorn since both would be 300$.
Also please let the good folks at Schiit know, now that the Rekkr exists, we need a Sys with two outputs. One output for a Rekkr that is controlled by the volume knob and one clean output for a Magni. Unplugging and replugging in the headphones on the Magni every time I switch from headphone to speaker listening is a pain in the butt, and potentially reducing the life of my headphone cable.
The SYS is a passive preamp. If you plug your DAC into the output the two inputs become the outputs. Then you can switch between them.
@@snipes597 This can come in handy, thanks!
Thanks, I've been waiting for this one. I can't afford a Vidar right now, so I got a Gjallarhorn. I've been using it to drive a pair of RSL CG5s in my living room (i.e., not on a desk). The RSLs are 86 dB and "6 or 8 ohms (whichever is higher)." Whatever that means.
Anyway, it sounds really good at any volume I ever use. But then, I never push it very hard and I'm not an "audiophile."
For the record, I'm running Modi MB 2 -> Lokius -> Freya N -> B&W sub -> RSLs.
Also, a minor correction: a pair of Gjallarhorns is still $200 less than one Vidar.
You say you are not an audiophile but yet you use equipment worthy of an audiophile. Lol
@@john26262 well thanks for saying so. And I did get a Vidar 2 after all, LOL. And I found a deal on a Gumby that I could not refuse. And now the sub is an RSL Speedwoofer 10S Mk2. I'm done now.
Dolby AC4 is coming...........................
There's a new streaming format coming & it is NOT backwards compatible. Always keep your digital front ends separate from your analog! 🔈🔉🔊
I recently purchased the Schiit REKKR desktop amp that puts out a whopping 2W rms at 8 ohms and is FINE for my application. I’m working at my computer - not throwing a party. Also, if you’re using your computer volume controls you can download an equalizer app that has set programs for rock, jazz, classical, etc. as well as manual adjustments and improves the quality significantly.
what are you using? 20" speakers?
I have the Rekkr running a pair of Sony Css5 in a small room and am super happy with the sound. Loud enough for the wife to chime in. Lol. Want to get the Gjall to run a pair of Polk RT55 speakers. I think they are 6 ohm and 92dB. Stereo to start, maybe mono down the road
Ive been running running these through mono balanced R2R balanced preamp balanced reel to reel stereo hard mono mono to stereo preamp balanced audiophile thingy whatchamacallit =. Sounds great. Thanks1
Great take, Randy! I was considering these for my entry into balanced monoblocks but maybe I should just start with a Vidar. I sometimes like to listen to 80-85 db.
In mono mode these can hit those levels easily if the speakers are reasonable efficient. I’m using some 90db sensitive towers and can’t even begin to push these. With some 87 db sensitive monitors it was also louder than I could tolerate. I’m not sure if that helps, but you are stuck with balanced.
@@joanfrederick9176 It does. I’ve been into vintage so far but was thinking about dipping into something new. Thanks!
Well done, Randy. You mentioned using a Lokius for tone controls, and your setup includes Wiim Pro. Is there a benefit to Lokius that the Wiim EQ doesn't cover?
JBL's Sub 550p is on sale for only $190 right now! Great deal on an entry level sub.
Love your channel man, youve really helped me save some money and I cant say how much i appreciate that, cheers from the Dominican Republic.
While the Gj-horn does sound interesting, my A2-Mini amp is all the amp I need for my desk top system. Thank you Randy for the review! 👍👍👍
I like my (Emotiva) A2-Mini too!
My only wish is that Emotiva included a LFE out (for subwoofer).
Thanks Randy and you nailed the correct pronunciation of Schkitt
I don't understand the market for this product. It's not cheap and you still need to figure out how you want to deal volume controls.
Randy I also prefer a bit of humidity in the low end and have found it with the Parasound 275 amplifier. If you get a chance to review one I think you'd like it too.
That t shirt a sign your going to the dark side?
10 W per ch is fine, that's lots for a desktop and would probably serve most folk as a receiver for their main system.
I was number 48 follower . all the very best
I’ve been looking forward to this review! (Got one in order 😅)
Just a thought, Could you show pictures of the gear you use to test? Some of us are gear addicts and love that type of stuff. Also, people might benefit from seeing how the gear is connected.
@@crazyprayingmantis5596 Randy is great. Sometimes we, as the audience, get to play, "What's in Randy's beard?" Seriously though, I love his reviews, just miss some of the older format. The wobbly table, the crazy coffee mugs, the weird little schiit he does.
Nice video bud. I'm running a Digital Amplifier company ( maraschino stm) Amplifier.
They were nice class D amps, but sadly the owner/ engineer died recently.
While it's a nice amp, very powerful, but not too dynamic.
I bought and built Css criton 1Tdx.
After you and many other bloggers recommend them so highly.
Love the speakers Randy,.no matter how heavy the music I listen to they don't distort.
And yet jazz is massively crisp and articulate.
So what would you recommend for an amp with some gusto.
Can't afford tubes too pricey.
Thinking about trying a single G-horn with my Cornwall III's. Those are 102dB sensitivity, so I think listening levels could approach room filling levels. Any thoughts on this idea...
I have similarly efficient speakers, the Tekton Lores at 98db/w/m, being driven by a single Gjallarhorn, in a traditional non-nearfield setup. I have no problem with volume at all. I think most reviewers who say that the Gjallarhorn is just a desktop amp are not taking high efficiency speakers into consideration. I have not measured my listening volume but I am able to get volume that most would consider loud at about 3/4 of max output on my preamp sitting around 8 feet away. Volume aside, I find the tonal properties of the Gjallarhorn to be very neutral and, to my ears, high quality. In truth, I am looking to add a second Gjallarhorn to run them in mono, but I think you'd be quite okay with a stereo Gjallarhorn and Cornwall combo.
As a Norwegian I can confidently say that you didn’t butcher the name at all! Close to perfect! 😀
IEC C14 connector without voltage range indicated? Wide range from 100V up or 230V or 120V only. Should always be indicated, not just be printed in the manual.
Got a Gjal to go with a Jotunheim running Martin Logan 35XT's and it is a really lovely amp. Very clean, resolving amp. 10 watts in more than a lot of people think, and with reasonably sensitive speakers (I'd say 87db and up) it is MORE than enuf. Excellent amp that is VERY reasonably priced.
I think Randy's description on how to use this amp (near-field, which is it's primary design use) was spot on. You need a room filling amp? Buy a higher power room filling amp. Near-field? I doubt you will find anything any better
no it aint more than ppl think. 10 W is Bluetooth speaker territory
@@moriopl6176 Are you new to high-end audio?
Your still looking a little under the weather. Hope you feel better soon.
Great video as always! "Gjallar" in "Gjallarhorn" is pronounced like the arabic "yalla" + r
It's Icelandic for megaphone. In Swedish and Norwegian, it's pronounced Yallar-hoon or Yallar-hawn. The Icelandic is unpronounceable.
14:48 Randy looses control of the review. ;-) Laughed so hard.
It has enough power to run you out of a room powering a pair of Klipsch heresy. And it's more like $300. not $600.
Could you drive a pair of emotiva air b1+ with a single gjallarhorn?
Check out the BRZHIFI 3255XLR. You might like this one Randy, the TI3255 chip with Neutrik balanced inputs. Sounds decent out of the box and can be upgraded in every dept...op amps, op amp decouplers, internal power supply, caps etc. Build quality is solid. Peace.
I’m considering 2 G-horns to replace my AmpCampAmp mono blocks that power my P.A.P. Trio 10 … it would double the power to my speakers
Awesome vid! Been waiting. I’m somewhat of a Schiithead
So I can run these as mono blocks coming out of my Pioneer DJM450 mixer? It has XLR outputs. Hook up a powered subwoofer with the RCA Outputs. The mixer of course has volume control.
Nice review! I have the Lokius and Modius in a desktop headphone setup and they are nice products. But, Schiit should use a much heavier metal as I was disappointed in how cheap the boxes felt. They look fine but need a little more "beef" to them.
Hmm... it says on the website that it's good for Stereo 4 Ohms: 15W RMS per channel.
Needing balanced output for mono mode is a deal breaker for me. I wanted to use 2 of these with my Asgard and add multibit card. I hope they fix this in the future.
These little amps are great for POWER hungry headphones like the Hifiman XS or Modhouse Argon!
Modhouse Argons: The king of chillax sessions for your ears, a whip cracking "personal trainer" for your amp.
I don't understand those low powered mono amps... Why?
I thought mono amps were good if you had hard to drive speakers with low impedance and/or low efficiency?!
Never used an amp, but curious about it. Thx for your review
I would like to see Schitt make a 3255 amp. It would be really cool if it had an integrated power supply. I would be totally fine with it being an SMPS too, I trust they could filter it really well.
You should review high end amps like the Roksan K3 because they're so often on the used market, thus a smart budget option, and sound way better than this.
You already sold me at Fosi Audio BT20A Pro. Which seems like a better choice (at least for me) and a much better price point.
Can't wait to try it and ab to my atima tube amp.
I wonder what my old University 16 ohms speakers would sound with this? They can't handle a lot of wattage but are super sensitive. I like the idea of solid state with a low watt output, just like they made in the late 60's and early 70's.
How's the bass?
@@joanfrederick9176 I have a Sherwood that is low power but sounds pretty good.
G as in Gallon Gjallarhorn as in Viking horn
Really would like a pair of these, but I'm afraid it just doesn't make sense for my larger listening space.
What is the quote reference “look at it. Look at it!” It’s so familiar but can’t place it.
i just picked up a pair of Jamo c93 ii considering this amp and ditching my $130 SMSL. would love to know how they sound together and if a single
Gjall has the power to run them
Isn't it "yaller-horn", maybe? With a very light "g" sound at the beginning?
Wish you had put these in mono with some higher sensitivity speakers. Don’t you have a pair of those Klipsch 600?
Randy . Can you say Ya La Horn. I know you can do it.😊 Love you and keep up the good work.
Seriously, being deaf in left ear, and only 80% left in my right ear, will that Mono work well to bring all the sound into my right ear if I use my headphones ? or am I not even close to Mono ?
If you are using Klipsch speakers, especially for near-field, you probably only need a Rekkr (or 2 in bridged mode).
I like everything about Schiit except the minuscule size of their gear. Looks like it's made for dwarfs.
Expensive for 10watts!
Odd product. Sure you get their topology vs class D but at $300 for a desktop amp I don’t see the market other than brand fans.
So when you do a short video about this product, is it like a G-Spot for your ears?
I just got this product about a week ago for my home office. So near field listening purposes for Spotify and RUclips of course. I have to say, I was impressed. I use the basic Modi DAC. I think it is a great setup. I agree that it needs time controls which is on my short list and maybe an upgraded DAC like the J2. But I highly recommend this for a home office setup as I typically do not like Class D amps. Nice job. Keep up the good work.
PS - if I needed more power, I’d skip the mono block approach and try the Vidar. Granted, never actually heard them but that is where I’d go.
Love the watch. What is it?
Comparison to the Burson Funk???
How much power you get in bridge mode?
Schiit Audio is coming out with a new product called the Snif
I like these icelandic names
No binding posts...? Adapters included? 😊
I returned it. To be honest, you have done excellent review wink wink...
I paired with bifrost and sega. IMO this is way beyond budget and you can get better deals in that amount.
I moved back to marrantz integrated. You can have better choices.
Here is a schiit post for the algorithm!
Cheapaudioma, any plans to review the Schiit S?
The only thing keeping me from buying the Gjallarhorn is that they don't sell it in silver. I have piles of silver Schiit and I'm not adding this to the stack until they offer it silver.
They have silver now! It might be a limited run so check soon.
Been waiting for this review. Thanks!
Gjallarhorn or Emotiva BasX A2m ?
I love most of Schitt's products but, I'll pass on this. When they can get power ratings like Emotiva gear, wake me up.
Cheap audio man likes his music MOIST for his listening pleasure.
What about a 12 ohm speaker, like Zu DW6? Would you effectively have a higher output then? Like more than 10watts? Or the amp would just have an “easier “ time driving them? (Maybe that’s the same thing) lol, still a little fuzzy on that one
You'll get less power
I’m getting the DW6 eventually and I’m trying to decide between the G-horn or the Vidar 2. The high sensitivity would play nice with the G-horn…but the oomph of the Vidar 2 I think is where I’ll end up.
Feels you didn't like that Schiit Amp. I'm been waiting for something like this for loonnng time. I have in my closet a vintage Technics F Series silver color speakers that was my dream when i was a teenager. Its difficult to find the Technics mini series amps of that time. I used those speakers with Damps and the D amps are not my taste on these speakers. I'm an audiophile, but i like the equipment to looks PRO not like kid toy even sound beautiful. I have a reisong amp, i used sometimes, but really its love to hate, 6w is weak and noisy. I want to have a mini system in my bedroom but I have to wait for the silver color of this G Amp. I remember on the late 70's most of the home audio systems average power were around 15wpc, and really sounded loud.
I like your show, but for those who never used any of these components, it is hard to follow what are you talking about. Show some cable options and sound. I still can't understand how AMSR artists get the best microphones in existence, but HiFi guys never heard about them! lol
Randy ,your Squarespace ads have more OOMPH and are more intersresting than Mad Men would do.
😂😂😂 great take on it Randy.
what's up with the shirt?
pass....review the Sabaj A10a...a much better buy sonically..even over the fosi
Having to hook up so many sources should seem ridiculous to most people to listen to music or home theater or well anything
I don’t think this amo is good for desktop or 2 channel. I’m sure it is well built, but there are more inexpensive options than this amp. I think this channel should start thinking about changing its name from Cheap Audio to Sometimes Cheap and other time Expensive Audio Man.
Why limit him? Just don't watch the ones that aren't cheap enough for you.