"This is one Hel of a device, and I would like to see more of this Schiit in the future." I watched this whole video for that quote. He nailed it. It was worth the wait.
@@SmkinBarrel Mayflower Arc. Although the Hel is more powerful. Depends on what headphones you'll be using. But the Mayflower is specifically for gaming, Playstation actually. For music, you'd probably want the Hel.
Wyatt Davis I haven’t. I ended up going with the Schiit Hel. Love it. Had it pair with Sennheiser PC37X and the 58X jubilee. Thought it was my end game set up switching between the two depending on my mood and if I felt like playing competitive FPS games or being more laid back/“immersed” but saw that Beyerdynamic TYGR 300R was being sold separately and wow... absolutely in love. Clamping force out of the box is non existent/very light weight, has surprisingly the right amount of bass. is great with music. And love the way they look. I’m still keeping and love all 3. The PC37X has a special place in my heart as it’s my first “audiophile” purchase along with the creative labs sound blaster X which is now sitting collecting dust. Im not an audiophile though, just a curious consumer... Mayflower arc mk2 is still on my radar.
I'm a total audiophile novice, i've been watching content between you, Zeos and Badseed Tech to try and get comprehensive opinions. Did i totally miss the boat, or would the Hel paired with a pair of Sennheiser HD 6XX produce a reasonably good sound for music? I'm trying to keep the spending somewhat contained. Thanks! Love all the Schiit puns!
Same here, been watching videos of different amp/dac combos and all in ones for months and finally after seeing a bunch of different people review the HEL I took the plunge and bought it, arriving next week.
@@ahmadnaufaldai It's really really really good! I've now switched to Tidal for music streaming from Spotify as I can now clearly hear the difference in quality with this unit. My headphones (Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 cabled) were definitely being held back by the standard computer audio output. I 100% will recommend this unit to all my friends.
@@Scomak dude! I listened to my sennheiser momentum wireless headphone v2 too! I am really really on the edge to just order and FedEx this stuff from the USA. Cause it is hard to find in my country (Indonesia). Good to hear man that it is working well for you! My only worry is buyer's remorse since I just acquired a Fostex Th900 and wanting to ensure I can have the appropriate set up.
You have done well Josh. You speak about "old times" 0:15 when you begun in YT audio with your HD600 and M1060 and that was barely 2 years ago, LOL. The quick evolution of your channel It´s proof of your great video production and more importantly, your perseverance and steadiness (that other more irregular youtubers like DMS don´t have). Well done :)
Finally got my second piece of Schiit today (Hel has been backordered since I ordered it in December). This thing is definitely a bit of a step up from the Mayflower ARC (haven't tried the new version yet) and in a quick side by side comparison sounds better than the Fulla 2 as well. Thanks for steering me right Josh.
Just picked up my first Schiit, a Fulla 3. The Fulla (Hel would also be awesome) are great for my situation: a guy working from home who has an amp/speakers hooked up to my computer, but frequently goes to headphones to avoid interrupting the people around me, but also need to video conference. This allows me to leave my headset plugged into the iMac headphone port, my headphones plugged into the Fulla, and easily switch to my speakers when I want to rock out. Like you said, the one thing I'd appreciate is a headphone/preamp switch. That would allow me to leave my headphones plugged in all the time, saving wear and tear on the headphone jack. Sound quality is much better than the analog output on my iMac. I love it!
Not having an optical SPDIF input is one Hel of an oversight. Every modern gaming console, and many modern PC motherboards have optical audio outputs. The gaming world is Fulla optical ports.
Interesting gaming DAC/AMP. Shame the Hel can only power up to 300 ohm headphones, meanwhile the Mayflower Arc can power up to 600 ohm and now that they released the Arc Mk2 it would be interesting to see you do a video review smackdown between the Schitt Hel vs Mayflower Arc Mk2.
@@unstable-8169 The best headphones for gaming are audiophile grade and upwards of 300 ohms. Sennheiser 800, beyerdynamic DT 990/1990, Hifiman Arya or Ananda planars, Audio Technica ATH-ADX5000. A 300 ohm amp will drive some of the former headphones fine, but still won't let the more power hungry headphones reach their full potential. It's wiser to get a dac/amp able to power up to 600 ohm and call it a day for the rest of your life, and just change headphones, than to have to buy a second dac/amp the day you buy a high end headphone.
@@unstable-8169 I said it would be interesting Joshua reviewed the new Mayflower Arc MK2 against the Schitt Hel, and that got u mad? This product is for audiophiles, sot it means nothing if 99% shit gamers like you don't care about ohms, you don't need a dac map to begin with, your overpriced shit 32 ohm Razer/steelseries/fanatic/coolermaster chinese budget headsets can be plugged into any MOBO. You are not the targeted audience for this product.
@@Frencho9 I currently have the elex, thx 789 and smsl su8 so idk what you're talking about, I'm just saying this is focused on gamers who have headsets, that's why it has a mic input lol
The gaming headphone breakdown video sounds like a great idea! The 'audiophile gamer' is a really cool demographic with a lot of nice products! I hope the coolermaster mh751 is one of the pairs you will look at as I'm very interested in it as the closed back pair to accompany my pc37x :)
Thanks for including the details about switching between headphone out and monitors. Even though there’s no switch, my monitors have volume control of their own, so it looks like the Hel is the ideal choice for me. Enjoyed the vid Josh!
*Asgard 3, not Asgard 2. **Schiit Hel can actually be powered just from your computer. You just need to plug in both usb into your computer, unlike Fulla 2 that only requires one of the usb plugged in.
Tommy Tak that’s not 100% accurate. While you can just plug both into the computer, Schiit recommends the power usb input be connected to the walwart for a consistent 2.1a that it requires for the best performance. Computer usb outputs have a lot of issues delivering consistent power output and its better to listen to Schiits advice. In fact the manual says the hell NEEDS (they put it all caps) the walwart.
@@thebadburrito1394 Someone figure out why this thing has slight crackling whenever sounds or applications that try to access it startup after no sound has been going through it for like 10 seconds.
Man with a switch to select which output, it would have been an instant purchase. Guess I keep looking...Cause I don't want to have to unplug my cans all the time.
For you mic test, Why is it that the DEITY MIC sounds so different on the hel2? I think your vocals sound really good in your videos. what is your normal setup for shooting on camera?
Thanks so much for this. Coming from the gaming community, I have NO idea what I'm getting into and you really clarified both the usage case and the benefits of the product really well. Cheers
No optical is kind of a deal breaker. Why make an amp oriented towards gaming and not support switching between console and pc with a switch? Seems silly, the ARC is a better value imo.
Yeah idk about this. If I really care about gaming, I can get the GSX1000 and have excellent 7.1 sound when I need it for games (and it is *really* good) for about the same price. The mayflower seems to be better if you have more audiophile ish interests but also do some gaming. I feel like the Schiit Fulla is the more compelling DAC amp for the price. 100 bucks I wouldn't expect it to have the GSX1000's feature set but if it pushes good audio then it's a good value proposition.
About PS4 compatibility, I had a reply from Schiit representative he said there is some issues with it, recommends modi/magni for optical and to be sure. Well, that's unfortunate, I wish I could use it for both PC and PS4, still going to get it for my PC. In this regard Mayflower has better compatibility, SPDIF is a must IMO. By the way, full vocal range mics doesn't sound distort/tinny on the Arc.
PC37X measures excellently on rtings, so that will be interesting to see. If I had to guess it's probably a 598 underneath with a really good mic...for $100 when on sale, which is just...wow
Tried both but answering for any future reader, and it really is not a comparison between this and that lol. This actualy works extremely cleanly and the treble for headphones sounds super clean and pleasant, while base is very present but not rattling my head like crazy. Raising the gain on these at high volumes doesn't necessarily make the sound much LOUDER as much as it does make it sound FULLER. Its something you wont exactly know what it feels like until you experiance it for yourself with a good amp/dac. The g6 pushes out loud sound but it definitely can be very alarming and sound very hard to listen to. The volume adjustment is also not very granular on the g6, so getting the right volume isnt ideal. Lastly, the g6 is really light so cord tension can pull it off the table, the Schiit Hel is heavier and has these really good feet that make it feel much more stationary and secure. Not saying the g6 is a terrible product, and it works on my ps5 where many modern amps dont at the moment, but the Schiit Hel and its successer the Schiit Hel2 are incredible and really make a world of difference listening to any audio whatsoever (also Hel2 works on PS5 via back usb). If you can manage the price difference from like $150 U.S to $200, its the better option and its not even a comparison . I used my HD560s to test both by the way, which is a pretty neutral headphone to compare the sound signature of both devices. I think my experiance was a pretty valuable one in getting to know what makes great audio
I have a Jotunheim and just bought a Hel for my wife to use with her computer (probably going to get her some HD600s to go with it). Shhhhh...it's a surprise!
Good review. But 3,5mm input for headphones on the front would have been horrendous. I'm sure you've all seen how the 1/4" to 3,5mm adapters look. It ain't pretty and it's bound to break, either by accident or over time due to weight on that dinky 3,5mm. Sure the solution they provide might not look pretty, but it's better than the alternative I'd say.
and the connectivity in the back is really deceiving because it shapes like a type c which got people excited in the beginning, but then realize its just a micro usb
Kinda dumb that gain affect line out. The soundblaster g6 has line out and it does not matter if the headphone side is on high gain or low gain. It does not effect the line out. Why dual usb. That makes you need take an additional outlet just for the unit. If it was a power brick you can go with more power. But it is micro usb 5v at 2.1amp. Seems silly to go dual usb for power.
OK, I like that it has a good mic input, BUT that inherently doesn't make it a "gaming" board. Where are the features? Do you have any software control... like at all? So throw this against Creative Labs G6 (software control) or Seinheisers GSX 1000 (hardware cotrol) of settings for 7.1, voice pass back, EQ, etc, etc... Plus you haven't even mentioned how it does in games... Is it better for FPS, Open world, anything other then music which I presume is good?
not having a simple switch between speakers and headphones is just no go for me. You cannot just plug in an out your headset just to switch in between and expect the product to last long years.
I have a fiio k3, and it actually powers both the headphones and speakers at once. I have shp9500 as headphones and my line out goes to jbl 104. I just turn the jbl down directly when not using them as they have their own dial. The whole thing is very functional all together. I don't use the speakers near as much as I use the headphones, so maybe different use case, but I don't see plugging in and out the headphones as a major deal breaker if I was to switch to this.
Amplifier/Dac wise how does it compare to Modi 3+ and Magni 3+. I know they do not have a mic input but curious from just a DAC/AMP point is the Stack better?
I always remove the rubber feet from my audio DACs and Interfaces and glue them to my desk with some doublesided tape so they don't move when I'm switching cables or whatever.
Joshua, i was wondering, what set of headphones give you the most fun? Or rephrasing, what are the cans you like listening for pleasure the most? Your "if i had to choose only one" type of thing?
For those who cares: Hel is a Goddess in Norse mythology who rules over the place with the same name. A certain portion people are said to end up there when they die, some sources describes it as a sort of the catch all if they don't end up in other places eg. Valhalla (where the heroes goes), Ran (where those who drowned goes) other sources says that it's where thieves end up. Generally it's described as not a very pleasant place to find yourself and is generally considered to be the origin/inspiration of the Christian hell, and is the origin of the word 'hell'.
Does your Hel have audio imbalance? I had to rma my first copy with a physical defect and was scared I was gonna get a new worst copy sound wise. And I’m afraid I did. At around 7-8:30 high or low gain, the volume is much louder on my left side. My first Hel didn’t have this problem. I had to lower my left gain in Windows to 89% for it to match
@@strumpa84 USB can sometimes pick up PC noise from the GPU or even the power supply. A well engineered DAC like the RME-ADI-2 DAC on USB input is pretty much immune to noise from my PC. Yes, even with unbalanced RCA output to my studio monitors. Optical input can be useful if you want to transmit a digitally processed virtual 7.1 from a soundcard to an external DAC.
Pre-Amp out.... Isn't Amped. It's preamed, the gain shouldn't make a difference to my knowledge, I might be wrong. However I don't think my Modi 2 U does that
Thanks for all the reviews, they really have helped me explore audio gear. I’m wondering how you feel this stacks up against other entry level amps like the o2 and liquid spark. I currently run a Fiio e10 into an o2 to power my m1060s. Do you think this would be a step up in quality? I like the 1060s and plan on keeping them.
This is probably a very stupid question but is this considered Hi Res? Only reason I ask is I am looking at some others and it has the Hi Res stamp on their Dac/amps. For example the Fiio K3
What is better purely for sound quality forgetting completely about price difference, the hel or the modi/magni 3 stack? I don’t need a mic input or optical input, I only care about sound quality and the headphones it can drive. I prefer the look of the stack but if the hel sounds better then I will put up with the (in my opinion) obnoxious red colour scheme
Man you really deserve alot more views and subs. Your content quality has improved alot and you are one of those few audio reviewers that goes straight to the point and make stuff sound very interesting. Love the videos keep doing what you are doing❤️✌️
hi, i like this little one pity... but in italy it is not shipped....????? can it sound well connected to Bayerdynamic DT 990 PRO?? what cables do you use for the headphones?? thanks!! Andrea ,from italy!
Great video. After searching I couldn't find an answer to my question. Can you use this with an Xbox one x and a higher end headphone with a mod mic? Either hooking up with a USB out from the Xbox or 3.5 in from the controller? This is an area alot of console gamers dabble in but need a little help. Thanks in advance!
Personally, the Hel sounds noticeable better than the g6 which lacks dynamics, sounds a little bright too me, not as flat sounding. The g6 also has driver issues, and as creative products age the driver issues get alot worse. But the g6 has alot of the gaming features gamers want, and is more versatile with more inputs and outputs. So the Hel is the simple better sounding option and the G6 is the feature and input/output rich option. All depends on what's most important too you.
@@LifeLongCaboose brighter is more useful for fps games. But the g6 you can change almost any aspect of the sound with the sw you want. And it wont be as bright for music if you want. Different way of doing things.
@@shoturtle1930 But once you start messing with the effects on the G6 it's starts to distort very fast. The sound quality is not great if your using any of the creative dsp settings. Your better off using a better EQ with the Hel if you want to alter the sound and keep the best sound quality.
I have a G6 and it works really good which i dont have any other amp/dac to compare with, wondering if a schiit stack (or any other amp/dac) will give me a better sound experience?
@@kaizai888 All depends on what your using and what your looking for and what your looking to upgrade to. Is a Hel or magni modi worth the upgrade not really. Is a JD's labs and modi 3, maybe, but I'd aim for a more noticeable upgrade. Depending on what your using.
Looks like a great combo unit for people just getting into streaming or a great second dac/amp for a 2nd pc! You know, because the first pc is already equipped with $1K+ of audio gear.... Anyway so this is black and red, how long until a full RGB dac/amp??
So this is better than a Scarlett 2i2 to record stuff? Edit: I have the Modi 2 usb and the Heresy, they are WAY better than a Scarlett 2i2 output, but I want to know if it would record better? I mean, how on earth are you gonna know if your recording are good if the Scarlett (or lots of other interfaces) have some shitty headphone outputs (not Schiity).
Can you get zero delay side tone with this? Yes I have open backs so Id be able to hear my voice... until shit hits the fan in game, I cant communicate well with my buddies if I cant hear myself.
Watching your video and others utilizing the mic input, everyone is getting different results, some more favorable to the Mayflower, some more towards the Hel. I wonder if settings have anything to do with the mic quality outcome?
does the mic input have any option for mic sidetone or mic reverb so you can hear yourself while speaking into the microphone?? and if it does does it introduce any kind of latency or lag as you are hearing yourself? this is deal breaker for me
I had the fulla 2; the volume knob made static noise when adjusted. Over 80% of volume, the sound just saturated. I sold that crap and bought a Fiio k5 pro and I am very happy with it.
I am currently running a schiit fulla 2 with my HD 650s and I am looking to upgrade my fulla 2. Would you still recommend this product if I have no real use for the mic amp feature? And if not the hel, what should I upgrade to?
Hi Joshua. I have a DAC/amp that doesn't have a mic input. Is it possible to do from that DAC into the Hel for my mic and headphones, but keep my powered speakers connected to the original DAC;/amp?
How long does it take your hel to produce sound after turn on in windows? Mine can take up to 26 seconds... its terribly slow, this is a replacement board- first one fried after 4 months but that also took a while for audio to come on
I want this but with 2 XLR inputs so I can record 2 things at the same time, probably needs 2 converters? What do I know. Also, I wanna go straight to converters (Like in an Audient interface). And being able to use my Heresy. Should I contact Schiit?
Let me be real my gaming setup is red and black. Its just the aesthetic I prefer. It irritates me when ever audiophiles complain, or mocks, about color scheme. Its not marketed towards you so why make fun of it?
Thanks for the review! Quick question: can you hear / monitor yourself in real-time HW (not software-delay) thru the headphones when you speak on the mic? Thanks
So my problem is . I like the surround capabilities (very good) on the Sennheiser gsx 1000, (priority for gaming) but DAC is so-so and output of it is not the best for high end headphones. Interesting product but still doesn't do enough to replace my GSX annoyingly. Thx for pointing us in that direction though.
im still waiting on mine i had ordered mine on july 5th and they still havent sent it yet but this is what they have said "im sorry, but we have been experiencing a lot of unpredictable part delays which makes it extremely difficult to provide more accurate shipping dates." so yeah thatts what i have gotten but im emailing them every 2 weeks just to see how its going so far im very close to get my money back but im ttrusting them
Fulla 3 seems nice but there are no reviews for it around really. Looking for something for gaming with the SHP9500 and boompro. Wonder if the fulla 3 is worth the price compared to the Syba Sonic amp/dac.
so, hows the sound vs teh old fulla? how the potentiometer vs old one? hows the output balance when on low volume? and for the gain mic part, hows it lets say vs the scarlet solo? or 50$ budget usb interfaces?
I've recently placed an order for the Sennheiser pc37x at drop.com .. I was thinking about getting the Fulla 3 as well, since it's a bit more budget friendly, but is worth it? I'm not sure I want to splash out the cash on the Hel .. It seems like overkill for my need, since I'm only going to be using it for some casual gaming :/
Great video and the lighting as you showed the amp which could be on the manufacturers website. I got this today to go with my Sennheiser Games ones. Have you got a better solution for connection of this headset as the adapter splitter cable looks awful?
the fact it mutes rear output automatically when headphones are plugged in is the reason I can't buy this. I need something that can forward the signal to a digital mixer and then listen to the return through headphones.
This thing won't take my logitech z623 3.5 connector to the preamp out.....and it wont take my samson q2u. Thought it was the answer to my audio needs but obviously not
Thanks quality review as always!. It will be a nice to know if is compatible with PS4, (Xbox I highly doubt it due the USB compliance). Because there is zero info about it. And I think it will be nice to know how well this compares with the more affordable highly compatible Creative Sound Blaster Z G6, and its individual amp for each channel scheme. I'm pretty sure if you ask Creative they will sent you one for review.
@D4RC N3T I ask them too, they say is USB Audio Class 2, however they haven't tested. I have a couple of USB cards that meets those specs and don't work.
It does NOT work with PS4. At least the older ones. I have the Destiny edition PS4 and it makes a noise when plugged in but does not show up in the output/input devices.
Efrain Nieves this is what I really hate about the PS4 and Sony. This is for the players. Just not that players that don’t want to spend a lot of money on crap gaming audio equipment.
Hi Joshua, great review as always. I will buy one of this and put it on my desktop computer. Just want to know about high gain mode, with a Sennheiser 6xx (650), should i put it on low or high mode? I have the idea that with high gain i will loose lets say tonality clarity, i know that doesnt exist but you get the idea. Thanks!!!!!
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"This is one Hel of a device, and I would like to see more of this Schiit in the future." I watched this whole video for that quote. He nailed it. It was worth the wait.
With a straight face, too.
If only it had an optical in and a switch between headphones and speaker output. Would have been the perfect amp dac for my needs
Mayflower arc mk2
SmashBrown setting aside features/budget, when comparing both on audio quality which one is better ?
@@SmkinBarrel Mayflower Arc. Although the Hel is more powerful. Depends on what headphones you'll be using. But the Mayflower is specifically for gaming, Playstation actually. For music, you'd probably want the Hel.
Have you checked out the JDS labs Element 2?
Wyatt Davis I haven’t. I ended up going with the Schiit Hel. Love it. Had it pair with Sennheiser PC37X and the 58X jubilee. Thought it was my end game set up switching between the two depending on my mood and if I felt like playing competitive FPS games or being more laid back/“immersed” but saw that Beyerdynamic TYGR 300R was being sold separately and wow... absolutely in love. Clamping force out of the box is non existent/very light weight, has surprisingly the right amount of bass. is great with music. And love the way they look. I’m still keeping and love all 3. The PC37X has a special place in my heart as it’s my first “audiophile” purchase along with the creative labs sound blaster X which is now sitting collecting dust. Im not an audiophile though, just a curious consumer... Mayflower arc mk2 is still on my radar.
I'm a total audiophile novice, i've been watching content between you, Zeos and Badseed Tech to try and get comprehensive opinions.
Did i totally miss the boat, or would the Hel paired with a pair of Sennheiser HD 6XX produce a reasonably good sound for music? I'm trying to keep the spending somewhat contained.
Thanks! Love all the Schiit puns!
We're in the same boat
Same here, been watching videos of different amp/dac combos and all in ones for months and finally after seeing a bunch of different people review the HEL I took the plunge and bought it, arriving next week.
So how was it @scomak
@@ahmadnaufaldai It's really really really good! I've now switched to Tidal for music streaming from Spotify as I can now clearly hear the difference in quality with this unit. My headphones (Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 cabled) were definitely being held back by the standard computer audio output. I 100% will recommend this unit to all my friends.
@@Scomak dude! I listened to my sennheiser momentum wireless headphone v2 too! I am really really on the edge to just order and FedEx this stuff from the USA. Cause it is hard to find in my country (Indonesia). Good to hear man that it is working well for you!
My only worry is buyer's remorse since I just acquired a Fostex Th900 and wanting to ensure I can have the appropriate set up.
What the Hel man
I love the comment section of any Schiit review
Yeah man this stuff's the schiit
@@JoshuaValour No Schiit?
You have done well Josh. You speak about "old times" 0:15 when you begun in YT audio with your HD600 and M1060 and that was barely 2 years ago, LOL. The quick evolution of your channel It´s proof of your great video production and more importantly, your perseverance and steadiness (that other more irregular youtubers like DMS don´t have). Well done :)
7:57: Nice touch. :)
Finally got my second piece of Schiit today (Hel has been backordered since I ordered it in December). This thing is definitely a bit of a step up from the Mayflower ARC (haven't tried the new version yet) and in a quick side by side comparison sounds better than the Fulla 2 as well. Thanks for steering me right Josh.
Just picked up my first Schiit, a Fulla 3. The Fulla (Hel would also be awesome) are great for my situation: a guy working from home who has an amp/speakers hooked up to my computer, but frequently goes to headphones to avoid interrupting the people around me, but also need to video conference. This allows me to leave my headset plugged into the iMac headphone port, my headphones plugged into the Fulla, and easily switch to my speakers when I want to rock out.
Like you said, the one thing I'd appreciate is a headphone/preamp switch. That would allow me to leave my headphones plugged in all the time, saving wear and tear on the headphone jack.
Sound quality is much better than the analog output on my iMac. I love it!
Not having an optical SPDIF input is one Hel of an oversight. Every modern gaming console, and many modern PC motherboards have optical audio outputs. The gaming world is Fulla optical ports.
There is optical input in hel 2e .. I realise there are 2 versions of hel one with one without
@@rajendrabiswas Oh, Hel. That's a Hel of an improvement.
@@CaveyMoth lmao this schiit made me chuckle.
Can’t wait for your gaming breakdown!
The arc Mk2 just came out. Would love to see a h2h
Interesting gaming DAC/AMP. Shame the Hel can only power up to 300 ohm headphones, meanwhile the Mayflower Arc can power up to 600 ohm and now that they released the Arc Mk2 it would be interesting to see you do a video review smackdown between the Schitt Hel vs Mayflower Arc Mk2.
do you even have any headphones that are higher than 300 ohm? because 99% of the gamers I know, don't
@@unstable-8169 The best headphones for gaming are audiophile grade and upwards of 300 ohms. Sennheiser 800, beyerdynamic DT 990/1990, Hifiman Arya or Ananda planars, Audio Technica ATH-ADX5000. A 300 ohm amp will drive some of the former headphones fine, but still won't let the more power hungry headphones reach their full potential. It's wiser to get a dac/amp able to power up to 600 ohm and call it a day for the rest of your life, and just change headphones, than to have to buy a second dac/amp the day you buy a high end headphone.
@@Frencho9 99% of gamers have headsets that are 32 ohm so this means nothing
@@unstable-8169 I said it would be interesting Joshua reviewed the new Mayflower Arc MK2 against the Schitt Hel, and that got u mad? This product is for audiophiles, sot it means nothing if 99% shit gamers like you don't care about ohms, you don't need a dac map to begin with, your overpriced shit 32 ohm Razer/steelseries/fanatic/coolermaster chinese budget headsets can be plugged into any MOBO. You are not the targeted audience for this product.
@@Frencho9 I currently have the elex, thx 789 and smsl su8 so idk what you're talking about, I'm just saying this is focused on gamers who have headsets, that's why it has a mic input lol
The gaming headphone breakdown video sounds like a great idea! The 'audiophile gamer' is a really cool demographic with a lot of nice products! I hope the coolermaster mh751 is one of the pairs you will look at as I'm very interested in it as the closed back pair to accompany my pc37x :)
I have the 752, like them except weak on bass
and what about Beyerdynamic MMX 300 2nd Gen and Sennheiser GSP 300?
Hi, do you still have the HE4XX on hands? Will they go well together? Thanks.
Thanks for including the details about switching between headphone out and monitors.
Even though there’s no switch, my monitors have volume control of their own, so it looks like the Hel is the ideal choice for me.
Enjoyed the vid Josh!
Man I've seen some schiit, but I've never seen red schiit. Frickin Hel
*Asgard 3, not Asgard 2. **Schiit Hel can actually be powered just from your computer. You just need to plug in both usb into your computer, unlike Fulla 2 that only requires one of the usb plugged in.
Tommy Tak that’s not 100% accurate. While you can just plug both into the computer, Schiit recommends the power usb input be connected to the walwart for a consistent 2.1a that it requires for the best performance. Computer usb outputs have a lot of issues delivering consistent power output and its better to listen to Schiits advice.
In fact the manual says the hell NEEDS (they put it all caps) the walwart.
@@thebadburrito1394 Someone figure out why this thing has slight crackling whenever sounds or applications that try to access it startup after no sound has been going through it for like 10 seconds.
Man with a switch to select which output, it would have been an instant purchase. Guess I keep looking...Cause I don't want to have to unplug my cans all the time.
So I've had this schiit for a couple weeks now and absolutely love it. Great buy for anyone looking for an all in one unit.
For you mic test, Why is it that the DEITY MIC sounds so different on the hel2? I think your vocals sound really good in your videos. what is your normal setup for shooting on camera?
Thanks so much for this. Coming from the gaming community, I have NO idea what I'm getting into and you really clarified both the usage case and the benefits of the product really well. Cheers
No optical is kind of a deal breaker. Why make an amp oriented towards gaming and not support switching between console and pc with a switch? Seems silly, the ARC is a better value imo.
Yeah idk about this. If I really care about gaming, I can get the GSX1000 and have excellent 7.1 sound when I need it for games (and it is *really* good) for about the same price. The mayflower seems to be better if you have more audiophile ish interests but also do some gaming. I feel like the Schiit Fulla is the more compelling DAC amp for the price. 100 bucks I wouldn't expect it to have the GSX1000's feature set but if it pushes good audio then it's a good value proposition.
About PS4 compatibility, I had a reply from Schiit representative he said there is some issues with it, recommends modi/magni for optical and to be sure.
Well, that's unfortunate, I wish I could use it for both PC and PS4, still going to get it for my PC. In this regard Mayflower has better compatibility, SPDIF is a must IMO. By the way, full vocal range mics doesn't sound distort/tinny on the Arc.
PC37X measures excellently on rtings, so that will be interesting to see. If I had to guess it's probably a 598 underneath with a really good mic...for $100 when on sale, which is just...wow
Is the review live for patrons? I don't see it on their site.
1:42 "red, you know good for gaming" lol
What about the Sound BlasterX G6?
Tried both but answering for any future reader, and it really is not a comparison between this and that lol. This actualy works extremely cleanly and the treble for headphones sounds super clean and pleasant, while base is very present but not rattling my head like crazy. Raising the gain on these at high volumes doesn't necessarily make the sound much LOUDER as much as it does make it sound FULLER. Its something you wont exactly know what it feels like until you experiance it for yourself with a good amp/dac. The g6 pushes out loud sound but it definitely can be very alarming and sound very hard to listen to. The volume adjustment is also not very granular on the g6, so getting the right volume isnt ideal. Lastly, the g6 is really light so cord tension can pull it off the table, the Schiit Hel is heavier and has these really good feet that make it feel much more stationary and secure. Not saying the g6 is a terrible product, and it works on my ps5 where many modern amps dont at the moment, but the Schiit Hel and its successer the Schiit Hel2 are incredible and really make a world of difference listening to any audio whatsoever (also Hel2 works on PS5 via back usb). If you can manage the price difference from like $150 U.S to $200, its the better option and its not even a comparison .
I used my HD560s to test both by the way, which is a pretty neutral headphone to compare the sound signature of both devices. I think my experiance was a pretty valuable one in getting to know what makes great audio
I have a Jotunheim and just bought a Hel for my wife to use with her computer (probably going to get her some HD600s to go with it). Shhhhh...it's a surprise!
So do you recommend the schiit hel for me I have the mass drop sennheiser 58X jubilee
I was asking for a device like this from them. Ended up going with the magni/modi combo and a usb mic. Very cool though to see this product made.
Good review. But 3,5mm input for headphones on the front would have been horrendous. I'm sure you've all seen how the 1/4" to 3,5mm adapters look. It ain't pretty and it's bound to break, either by accident or over time due to weight on that dinky 3,5mm. Sure the solution they provide might not look pretty, but it's better than the alternative I'd say.
and the connectivity in the back is really deceiving because it shapes like a type c which got people excited in the beginning, but then realize its just a micro usb
Hel 2 has type c in the back, optical and more power but good luck finding one
Good review as always, will we have sort of "playlist"' of all the songs you put as tests, or in your videos ?
would that wall-wart be fine to use in australia? With an adapter obviously.
Kinda dumb that gain affect line out. The soundblaster g6 has line out and it does not matter if the headphone side is on high gain or low gain. It does not effect the line out. Why dual usb. That makes you need take an additional outlet just for the unit. If it was a power brick you can go with more power. But it is micro usb 5v at 2.1amp. Seems silly to go dual usb for power.
OK, I like that it has a good mic input, BUT that inherently doesn't make it a "gaming" board. Where are the features? Do you have any software control... like at all? So throw this against Creative Labs G6 (software control) or Seinheisers GSX 1000 (hardware cotrol) of settings for 7.1, voice pass back, EQ, etc, etc...
Plus you haven't even mentioned how it does in games... Is it better for FPS, Open world, anything other then music which I presume is good?
not having a simple switch between speakers and headphones is just no go for me. You cannot just plug in an out your headset just to switch in between and expect the product to last long years.
I have a fiio k3, and it actually powers both the headphones and speakers at once. I have shp9500 as headphones and my line out goes to jbl 104. I just turn the jbl down directly when not using them as they have their own dial. The whole thing is very functional all together. I don't use the speakers near as much as I use the headphones, so maybe different use case, but I don't see plugging in and out the headphones as a major deal breaker if I was to switch to this.
what do you think of the Sound Blaster AE-7 from a Audiophil perspective?
How does this compare to the soundblaster g6? I am really bent between the two
Amplifier/Dac wise how does it compare to Modi 3+ and Magni 3+. I know they do not have a mic input but curious from just a DAC/AMP point is the Stack better?
Great review~!
could also you do a comparison with the sennheiser gsx 1000
The main problem with the sennheiser is that it is a lot less powerful. It wont be able to power some of the harder to drive headphones.
I always remove the rubber feet from my audio DACs and Interfaces and glue them to my desk with some doublesided tape so they don't move when I'm switching cables or whatever.
Joshua, i was wondering, what set of headphones give you the most fun? Or rephrasing, what are the cans you like listening for pleasure the most? Your "if i had to choose only one" type of thing?
For those who cares: Hel is a Goddess in Norse mythology who rules over the place with the same name. A certain portion people are said to end up there when they die, some sources describes it as a sort of the catch all if they don't end up in other places eg. Valhalla (where the heroes goes), Ran (where those who drowned goes) other sources says that it's where thieves end up. Generally it's described as not a very pleasant place to find yourself and is generally considered to be the origin/inspiration of the Christian hell, and is the origin of the word 'hell'.
My hel makes really annoying popping sounds when my pc boots up. It also makes popping noises when im starting to play a music file or video
Would this happen to work on the PS4?
Does your Hel have audio imbalance? I had to rma my first copy with a physical defect and was scared I was gonna get a new worst copy sound wise. And I’m afraid I did. At around 7-8:30 high or low gain, the volume is much louder on my left side. My first Hel didn’t have this problem. I had to lower my left gain in Windows to 89% for it to match
No optical in...is no buy for me.
Sorry, may I ask why you don't like USB as input? I'm a noob when it comes to DAC/Amps!
@@strumpa84 USB can sometimes pick up PC noise from the GPU or even the power supply. A well engineered DAC like the RME-ADI-2 DAC on USB input is pretty much immune to noise from my PC. Yes, even with unbalanced RCA output to my studio monitors. Optical input can be useful if you want to transmit a digitally processed virtual 7.1 from a soundcard to an external DAC.
JTCPingas all the good virtual surround shit is software-based now.
@@strumpa84
I aslready have 3 different usb dacs.
I need optical for my PS4 Pro
I got the Jitterbug to remove usb noise.
@@BunnyslippersEUC I understand, thanks for answering =)
Pre-Amp out.... Isn't Amped. It's preamed, the gain shouldn't make a difference to my knowledge, I might be wrong. However I don't think my Modi 2 U does that
Thanks for all the reviews, they really have helped me explore audio gear. I’m wondering how you feel this stacks up against other entry level amps like the o2 and liquid spark. I currently run a Fiio e10 into an o2 to power my m1060s. Do you think this would be a step up in quality? I like the 1060s and plan on keeping them.
This is probably a very stupid question but is this considered Hi Res? Only reason I ask is I am looking at some others and it has the Hi Res stamp on their Dac/amps. For example the Fiio K3
new sub... not sure why I never came here as Zeos has mentioned you numerous times. Your production level is TOP NOTCH.
What is better purely for sound quality forgetting completely about price difference, the hel or the modi/magni 3 stack? I don’t need a mic input or optical input, I only care about sound quality and the headphones it can drive. I prefer the look of the stack but if the hel sounds better then I will put up with the (in my opinion) obnoxious red colour scheme
Would these work with the 600 ohm Beyer T1?
How well would the Schiit HEL power the Hifiman Sundara planar phones for music?
Man you really deserve alot more views and subs. Your content quality has improved alot and you are one of those few audio reviewers that goes straight to the point and make stuff sound very interesting. Love the videos keep doing what you are doing❤️✌️
hi, i like this little one pity... but in italy it is not shipped....????? can it sound well connected to Bayerdynamic DT 990 PRO?? what cables do you use for the headphones?? thanks!! Andrea ,from italy!
are these strong enough for a dt 1990 250 ohm?
Hel 2 / Fulla 4 review incomming? Please!
Great video. After searching I couldn't find an answer to my question. Can you use this with an Xbox one x and a higher end headphone with a mod mic? Either hooking up with a USB out from the Xbox or 3.5 in from the controller? This is an area alot of console gamers dabble in but need a little help. Thanks in advance!
that is my same question except I have the series X with no Optical input
Is there a real downgrade in sound quality with something portable around the same price, like the topping NX4 ?
you skipped 1440p. I'm not happy.
Compare it vs a soundblaster g6
Personally, the Hel sounds noticeable better than the g6 which lacks dynamics, sounds a little bright too me, not as flat sounding. The g6 also has driver issues, and as creative products age the driver issues get alot worse. But the g6 has alot of the gaming features gamers want, and is more versatile with more inputs and outputs. So the Hel is the simple better sounding option and the G6 is the feature and input/output rich option. All depends on what's most important too you.
@@LifeLongCaboose brighter is more useful for fps games. But the g6 you can change almost any aspect of the sound with the sw you want. And it wont be as bright for music if you want. Different way of doing things.
@@shoturtle1930 But once you start messing with the effects on the G6 it's starts to distort very fast. The sound quality is not great if your using any of the creative dsp settings. Your better off using a better EQ with the Hel if you want to alter the sound and keep the best sound quality.
I have a G6 and it works really good which i dont have any other amp/dac to compare with, wondering if a schiit stack (or any other amp/dac) will give me a better sound experience?
@@kaizai888 All depends on what your using and what your looking for and what your looking to upgrade to. Is a Hel or magni modi worth the upgrade not really. Is a JD's labs and modi 3, maybe, but I'd aim for a more noticeable upgrade. Depending on what your using.
Looks like a great combo unit for people just getting into streaming or a great second dac/amp for a 2nd pc! You know, because the first pc is already equipped with $1K+ of audio gear.... Anyway so this is black and red, how long until a full RGB dac/amp??
So this is better than a Scarlett 2i2 to record stuff?
Edit: I have the Modi 2 usb and the Heresy, they are WAY better than a Scarlett 2i2 output, but I want to know if it would record better?
I mean, how on earth are you gonna know if your recording are good if the Scarlett (or lots of other interfaces) have some shitty headphone outputs (not Schiity).
Can you get zero delay side tone with this? Yes I have open backs so Id be able to hear my voice... until shit hits the fan in game, I cant communicate well with my buddies if I cant hear myself.
I would love to see an updated JDS Labs Element with preout instead of line out and a better measuring DAC with UAC2 support.
Watching your video and others utilizing the mic input, everyone is getting different results, some more favorable to the Mayflower, some more towards the Hel. I wonder if settings have anything to do with the mic quality outcome?
Is this a good buy for a pair of DT1990pro?
does the mic input have any option for mic sidetone or mic reverb so you can hear yourself while speaking into the microphone?? and if it does does it introduce any kind of latency or lag as you are hearing yourself? this is deal breaker for me
I had the fulla 2; the volume knob made static noise when adjusted. Over 80% of volume, the sound just saturated. I sold that crap and bought a Fiio k5 pro and I am very happy with it.
How do you mute the pre-out if you're going to use headphones?
This !!!! The pot they use is crap!
whats the imepdance limit on it ya think? 650 too much for it ya think?
When is the lcd-1 review coming out
its out
I am currently running a schiit fulla 2 with my HD 650s and I am looking to upgrade my fulla 2. Would you still recommend this product if I have no real use for the mic amp feature? And if not the hel, what should I upgrade to?
Hi Joshua. I have a DAC/amp that doesn't have a mic input. Is it possible to do from that DAC into the Hel for my mic and headphones, but keep my powered speakers connected to the original DAC;/amp?
This is an awesome review … can I use this DAC/amp with my iPad to my headphones.
Dude. You should consider doing voice overs too coz you have this zen calm voice. Great review btw.
How long does it take your hel to produce sound after turn on in windows? Mine can take up to 26 seconds... its terribly slow, this is a replacement board- first one fried after 4 months but that also took a while for audio to come on
I want this but with 2 XLR inputs so I can record 2 things at the same time, probably needs 2 converters? What do I know. Also, I wanna go straight to converters (Like in an Audient interface). And being able to use my Heresy. Should I contact Schiit?
are they still using those schiity scratchy potentiators?
I wish i could get this but it's out of stock everywhere now
Let me be real my gaming setup is red and black. Its just the aesthetic I prefer. It irritates me when ever audiophiles complain, or mocks, about color scheme. Its not marketed towards you so why make fun of it?
Is your dial crooked? Or just a perception thing from shooting close up?
Thanks for the review! Quick question: can you hear / monitor yourself in real-time HW (not software-delay) thru the headphones when you speak on the mic? Thanks
No.
So my problem is . I like the surround capabilities (very good) on the Sennheiser gsx 1000, (priority for gaming) but DAC is so-so and output of it is not the best for high end headphones. Interesting product but still doesn't do enough to replace my GSX annoyingly. Thx for pointing us in that direction though.
So you have to unplug the headphones every time you want to listen to your speakers? :( Arc mk2 for me I guess
im still waiting on mine i had ordered mine on july 5th and they still havent sent it yet but this is what they have said "im sorry, but we have been experiencing a lot of unpredictable part delays which makes it extremely difficult to provide more accurate shipping dates." so yeah thatts what i have gotten but im emailing them every 2 weeks just to see how its going so far im very close to get my money back but im ttrusting them
Fulla 3 seems nice but there are no reviews for it around really. Looking for something for gaming with the SHP9500 and boompro. Wonder if the fulla 3 is worth the price compared to the Syba Sonic amp/dac.
so, hows the sound vs teh old fulla?
how the potentiometer vs old one?
hows the output balance when on low volume?
and for the gain mic part, hows it lets say vs the scarlet solo? or 50$ budget usb interfaces?
Great video! Would love to see the Lyr 3 and/ or Asgard 3.
Asgard 3 Please Josh!
I've recently placed an order for the Sennheiser pc37x at drop.com .. I was thinking about getting the Fulla 3 as well, since it's a bit more budget friendly, but is worth it?
I'm not sure I want to splash out the cash on the Hel .. It seems like overkill for my need, since I'm only going to be using it for some casual gaming :/
Can they drive the Audio Technica ATH M50x?
The Amazon link has it at $224.00....
Schiit Hel + Senheiser HD600 is good combination?
5:50 Which one would you recommend that has a switch?
Great video and the lighting as you showed the amp which could be on the manufacturers website. I got this today to go with my Sennheiser Games ones. Have you got a better solution for connection of this headset as the adapter splitter cable looks awful?
Will this power a 250 ohm heatset??
Can I use this as just an amp without the DAC? I would want to pass this through to a soundcard I use.
There's an analog input, so absolutely.
the fact it mutes rear output automatically when headphones are plugged in is the reason I can't buy this. I need something that can forward the signal to a digital mixer and then listen to the return through headphones.
This thing won't take my logitech z623 3.5 connector to the preamp out.....and it wont take my samson q2u. Thought it was the answer to my audio needs but obviously not
Thanks quality review as always!.
It will be a nice to know if is compatible with PS4, (Xbox I highly doubt it due the USB compliance). Because there is zero info about it.
And I think it will be nice to know how well this compares with the more affordable highly compatible Creative Sound Blaster Z G6, and its individual amp for each channel scheme. I'm pretty sure if you ask Creative they will sent you one for review.
@D4RC N3T I ask them too, they say is USB Audio Class 2, however they haven't tested. I have a couple of USB cards that meets those specs and don't work.
@D4RC N3T what about the mic though?
It does NOT work with PS4. At least the older ones. I have the Destiny edition PS4 and it makes a noise when plugged in but does not show up in the output/input devices.
Efrain Nieves this is what I really hate about the PS4 and Sony. This is for the players. Just not that players that don’t want to spend a lot of money on crap gaming audio equipment.
Hi Joshua, great review as always. I will buy one of this and put it on my desktop computer. Just want to know about high gain mode, with a Sennheiser 6xx (650), should i put it on low or high mode? I have the idea that with high gain i will loose lets say tonality clarity, i know that doesnt exist but you get the idea. Thanks!!!!!
So whats so "gaming" about this? Just the mic input? How about surround sound or footstep enhancer??
You don't actually need those gimmicky things, quality stereo blows everything out of water.