*There’s an Audiophiliac/Steve Guttenberg imposter scamming my viewers, There’s no FREE gifts. DON’T respond! I don't do giveaways or ask for money (except for my Patreon)*
hi steve happy new year to you! a small request, can you please try to add similarly priced components from other manufacturers in your reviews? would be quite helpful especially something like bluesound power node edge which may not be very audiophile but it fits in better with a lot of us who use our system to watch your reviews on TV! apart from listening to music afcorse. i would love to know the delta between a system with separares and more lifestyle oriented components i.e. with hdmi input. Thanks.
Steve, Thanks for great review. I am seriously looking into a Schiit stack. I just purchased a Schiit Mani 2 phono preamp. I enjoyed you swapping speakers, components and spotlighting music in your own LP collection. Your channel is a true joy! Thanks again!😉
Steve, I bought a Bifrost 2 and am blown away by the sound. So impressed w/ Schiit that I have a Vidar 1 (bought used) on the way. What an impressive company. Great sound, low prices and made in the USA. Oh, I have Maggie LRS's on order based on your glowing comments. Wanted 1.6's but the LRS is much less expensive to purchase and ship. Thanks for your excellent channel. And yes, I subscribed.
I swapped my Parasound P6 pre for a Schiit Freya+, feeding my Para A21 amp and B&w 703 S2 speakers and BOY is the Freya a better fit. Also using a Schiit Modius balanced dac and that is a considerable improvement over the internal dac on my Bluesound Node 2 digital source. This Schiit rocks!
These selected words the Schiit Audio is using is from the Icelandic written story of the Nordic/german mythology - look it up (f.ex. at Wikipedia). As Icelandic is the oldest and probably the least changed language for the last 1000 years of all the languages of the nordic countries. All those naming of those Shitt Audio components are taken from this myhology and the spelling has changed from what we Icelanders use for those (which we would say is the "true" writing :) ) - F.ex. "Aegir" we have one letter "Æ" which is the two first letters, so in Icelandic this is "Ægir" (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86gir) - One sould pronounce it, starting with I (as in I'm) and then "gir" (with a very "soft" "g" after the "Æ/I". The "Vidar", the english and also the other nordic countries do no have the letter "ð" any more, and write it with "d" instead - which creates and error to our ears (Icelanders). The word should be "Viðar" - and the letter "ð" is not a hard sound like the "d" is. It is more like the "th" in english - like in the start of "the" so it would be pronounced as "Vithar" my middle name is actually "Viðar" - which was a god in the Nordic mythology. Looking at the list over products at Shitt Audio I could tell you about the "wrong" spelling of many of the names. But that has mainly to do with the fact that there are letters that have been lost in the stream of time through the centuries in other languages. In Icelandic we have those letters (alphabet) a, á, b, d, ð, e, é, f, g, h, i, í, j, k, l, m, n, o, ó, p, r, s, t, u, ú, v, x, y, ý, þ, æ, ö (32 letters). So f.ex. "Bifrost", should be "Bifröst", "Tyr" is "Týr", "Yggdrasil" should be "Yggdrasill" (the double "ll" at the end is a special prenounced - that is very hard for other not Icelandic speaking to get out of their mouth .... so enough of that for now, hope that this will not confuse you to much and help you to pronounce those words in the way they should be pronounced ... thanks for your from Iceland.
15:35. Steve, you said 2 tonearms, but it sure looks like 3 to me. Bottom, right, and top of the turntable base. I've never seen 2 arms on a single table, much less 3.
I quote from the Birdman movie "you are a birdman, you are a G-o-d". How about that movie? Set in crummy New York. Helps spice up the reality and uh ... make it more flattering to like here ... whilst that Zu Audio DW6 speaker that Steve somewhat runs into his Vidor speaker comment, has a metal pole in the center that was never explained and uh ... this might be too long a comment, but you know on the internet, September 2007, Road Tour Exit 14 with Michael Lavorgna, there's a room just like the Audiophiliac System of the Day and uh ... they talking about Hartley 310s. Well there was a 2ft diameter woofer Hartley had made that had a metal pole in the cone center and it was a heat-sink. When I first saw that I expected a coaxial tweeter in that pole, but it does seem to cool the gap flux like Robert Schmetterer's, you know post 1956 elite Hartley-Luth woofer. These were only for the global elite.
@@keplermission I believe the Zu wide-bander is sourced from Eminence... if I had to guess I'd suggest the pole piece (of machined aluminum?) it plays a role in aesthetic appeal, perhaps heat dissipation/flux optimization ... and lesser extent dispersion.
@@FOH3663 I just uh Googled Eminence and Zu Audio and uh, it's a phase plug that: 1. Extends high frequency limits of the driver assembly through a combination of whizzer cone and center pole detail profile plus acoustic impedance matching. ??? 2. MLS diffuser function ??? of pole piece profile and rings aids in the widening of the high frequency (polar plot or beam pattern). (Because whizzers used to have very narrow beam dispersion). 3. Aids in control of dynamic behavior through diamagnetic shunting (shorting) of spurious B fields. (Well EMI had a 1933 year speaker that was copper-plated and uh ... they're using Dr Olson's know-how). Copper-plated magnets display a weird, very strange phenomenon that I suppose is only for high end physics. 4. Zu’s implementation of shunting is regulated, providing virtually no dynamic damping at low level play and increasing logarithmically to maximum in high SPL play. 5. Dramatic improvement in cooling as the assembly is press fit and uses thermally conductive adhesive. (Only significantly in play when you are pushing huge power, but there nonetheless.) So ... we're back, this is the Audiophiliac and if you would like to join Steve's Patreon site... you know, where there's a will there's a way.
Hey Steve, really appreciate this review! You did so much in 18 minutes, with none of it wasted. Your review this time covered several pieces of audio gear that I'm seriously considering, including the Vidar 2 and the Jotunheim, so it's helpful to hear how they (the Vidar 2 in particular) worked out with different speakers. I'm looking for equipment to pair with my Triangle Borea BR08s, and it's nice to know that the Vidar 2 works so well with a pretty good variety of well-known and respected speakers. I also really loved the music recommendations. Thanks a lot for an excellent and very helpful review!
Birdman and its soundtrack are awesome. I really like that scene where the actors are walking through the allys and the drum kit is just playing in the background and fades as they walk away.
i love your reviews for lots of reasons. your years of experience is reassuring. but, your music recommendations really float my boat...lots of very interesting material,
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Steve, I feel like you could do a separate channel devoted solely to music recommendations. I’ve been exposed to so much new music through your reviews! Thank you!
Thank you for putting me on Olu Dara. Never heard of him, but what an amazing find. Love his music. And of course love the review. It is time buy some good Schit
Love observing the amp's internals. This Company is performing a tremendous service in designing, sourcing, and manufacturing in the US, delivering bang for the buck.
It's always great hearing your discretion of sound. As an audio file in my 40's in car audio I've unfortunately lost the pure real sound over time due to hearing damage I'm sure. Lol I get to live it now through your words.
Great review Steve! I'm looking forward to your review of the Vandersteen's. Nobody seems to review these speakers so this should be special. I'm on my fourth pair of Vandersteen's and I would like to hear them compared to some other speakers. I really appreciate this review ot the Schiit Vidar since you tried so many speakers and associated electronics. I always appreciate your choices in music that I have never heard.
Turning the lens the other direction, how did the Zu react to the difference in power between the Vidar 2 and the Aegir, being highly efficient speakers that seem to dig lower powered amps? Does the higher power just give more of what's so good about those speakers or does it actually change their sonic character? Great review, Steve!
I’m seriously considering grabbing a pair of LRS+, but have been grappling with how to power them. My current, mediocre 5.1 receiver is not up to the job. At the same time, I have a budget, and I’m not springing for the $8k McIntosh receiver that my local shop recommended (let alone the 20k integrated amp they used to demo the Maggies). The Vidar2 sounds like an amazing option for those of us with limited resources.
For my birthday I ordered the Freya+, Lokius, and Aegir. Getting a Jotunheim soon. Can't wait to test against my Topping/Willsenton R300 setup, and versus my NAD C368 and PowerNode setups, using KEF Q150s, Focal Chora 826, and KLH Model 5's. I swear most of the fun of being an audiophile is swapping all the stuff around and having an excuse to play. So many combinations.
In Birdman, during the scene in which Keaton is on a stage and the camera pans around him, they use Mahler's Symphony 9. Mahler is as skilled, musical and powerful as Bach and Beethoven and other A+++ composers. Mahler's 9th, like all his works, is a roller coaster of very powerful emotions, craziness, leisurely fun and more. It also happens to be thickly textured with melody on melody on melody. This is a true test for any audio system and I will be upgrading (IF I can ever afford it) based on how clear, dynamic, warm but not muddy, etc etc etc that audio combo will bel. Mahler 9, Ravel Daphnes and Chloe (Boulez version will kill any weak system due to the power of the performance), and perhaps an armful of Prokofiev. Any classical music lovers out there with advice are welcome to help me out! Luigi's system is a system of the millenium.
Great to see a comment from a classical music fan like myself. I've been working on speaker placement and room effects as well as equipment up grades based in part on Steve's reviews. I've been using Mahler's 3rd a lot, particularly the 4th and 5th movement. Handling the contrasts between the soaring contralto solo, bell effects of the children's choir and then the waves of melody development in the massed strings is, I think, a good measure of a system setup. I've also been using a recording of Josef Suk's Asrael Symphony by the Czech Philharmonic from Supraphon. The Supraphon recording does a good job with Suk's moving melody development in the strings and detailed interplay of solo wind and brass as well as some startling percussion here and there.
@@waltergist8923 Mahler's 3rd brings me into a state of collapse. I'm embarrassed to admit I don't know the Suk, but, a collector/mentor friend of mine who passed away in 2013 left me over 3000 cds and there's a high chance that work is in there. Thanks so much for saying hi and the advice. CSO coming to my nearest city on Feb 1.. Beethoven 7 and Prokofiev 5. I cannot wait. It's a concert of a lifetime for me.
@@barney6888 Have you tried out the streaming site (TV) for the Berliner Philharmoniker? It's called The Digital Concert hall. Great sound and production for live BP concerts and a huge library of past performances.
@@waltergist8923 I know about it but have yet to try it. I have Yamaha from 1990s, so I need to use an rca in with a 3/8 adapter out from my computer. The sound is ok but not great by any means. But I will look into it as vK is the conductor that pulled me into classical as my first choice with his 60s Beethoven set. The performance of the 1st mvmt of the 8th on that set is unbelievable. I'm going to check that site out not. Thanks!!
So it seems like you enjoyed it with the Maggies. I have a pair of modified MMG's so I may upgrade from the classic Vidar just to get the front panel mounted standby switch. Reaching around to the back panel of the original Vidar is a pain in the neck since it can get a bit warm. Thanks for the review!
My co-worker has a Schiit stack, original Vidars, Freya preamp and Gungnir DAC . I asked him how it sounded and, without skipping a beat said "It sounds like Schiit"
Thanks Steve been pondering a power amp option and this Vidar 2 looks to be what Im looking for. Currently running a Leak Stereo 130 with a set of the Wharfedale Linton, absolutely love my speakers but the 130 I haven't been as enthusiastic about. The Stereo 130 has the sonic chops IMO, its very sweet and polite but does not power the Linton's with the oomph they could use. Was highly considering the Stereo 230 when it starts shipping next month, thinking the 130 will make a fine little preamp for something like the Vidar 2.
Great review, and looking forward to more on the Vandersteen’s. I had a pair back in the 1990’s, it seemed like most audiophiles back then had a pair at some point. And killer ASOTD.
You know for beginners in Audio ... it's best to point out that people like Louis Perlman know that Vandersteens (with no ', that typo might be a red flag)... "are THE best selling high end loudspeaker of all time, eclipsing the sales of all competitors for one reason and one reason only. At its price point there is no other floor standing loudspeaker to come close to the ability and agility of the Vandersteen Model 2." But ... the best selling piece of Hi-Fi equipment of all time is the NAD 3020, you know a truly feeble amplifier made in England from old ... surplus parts left over from the time that Britain was the 'workshop of the world'. Okay so the saying: 'a little knowledge can be a bad thing' applies. Both of these were bestsellers on low price and just remember how Bob Hope viewed low price appearances.
I looked up the 'boost' power supply. Basically this is amp is dc coupled with servos at each stage... So like all such amps, the input stage, pre drivers, and drivers are powered via a regulated supply as current source... I.e. A couple of regulators. No rocket science, its been done forever. Marketing aside Schitt amps look really nicely built and good value.
@@stevedougherty3720 Some home made speakers that are fairly terrible until I get a chance to build the kit speakers I bought... GR Research X-Static's
I've been waiting for a year for one of these RUclipsrs to review the Tyr! I have two Aegir's. I just don't want to buy the Tyr if it's more like the vidar. The viders did not sound good with my speakers but the Aegir sounds awesome.
I have drifted into and out of the hifi scene several times. I grew up with McIntosh separates (Dad's) and also my first rock show was a Grateful Dead wall of sound show. HK 35 wpc receiver and Genesis 210 speakers made me quite happy in the early 80's. In 2009 I got into speaker building and got a NAD pre and power amp, rather ho hum but adequate, Also started listening to vinyl again. Then came a Class D Audio amp kit driven by the NAD pre. Also how hum. then bt receivers and streaming archived live rock shows and cd's. Now I am in the process of replacing my Yamaha R S202 with an Emotiva PT2 pre and casting about for an amp to drive with it, The class A stuff is attractive and I could certainly build the amp camp. Too bad the Emotiva does not have balanced outs.
Well the benefit of course to using the Jotunheim as a preamp is the fact that it's active versus the saga which is passive so that would probably explain your sense of drive and impact that you felt using it versus the saga. Plus it also has balanced connections plus the headphone amplifier plus the ability to support modular cards so you can have kind of a one box solution as a pre-amplifier. That's how I'm using mine, I've got the Jotunheim 2 with the phono card which is basically the same thing as the mani 1 was and I use it as a pre-amplifier and it's just phenomenal. That said though I have used the saga, the original one, and I enjoyed the sound but I did realize for the most part for me as a listener I prefer what having an active preamp does to the signal versus passive.
For context my current setup is a 1974 Pioneer sa-9100, a Wiim Pro Plus streamer & a pair of Wharfedale Lintons. I recently bought a vidar 2, saga+ & a modi Multibit 2 thinking this was going to be a massive upgrade and boy was I disappointed. I tried the Vidar 2 with the Saga+ and the modi with my TV as the source and I had to crank the volume dial to 98% to get the Wharfedales to really come alive and they’re a 6 Ohm/ 92dB efficient speaker which shouldn’t be terribly hard to drive but the Vidar kept going into thermal shutdown mode which was really frustrating because I was listening at volumes that my Pioneer sa-9100 does without clipping or breaking a sweat and it’s only rated @ 60 watts per channel. I don’t want to talk bad about Shiit Audio but I don’t think they’re being honest about the Vidar 2’s output because it should be able to produce eardrum rupturing volume for hours on end into a 6ohm load but I could barely get 1/3 of the way into The Wall before it was shutting off. Also tried the Vidar 2 with the Wiim Pro Plus plugged straight into it and I was able to get more volume out of it which I thought was strange but it quickly went into thermal shutdown mode as well. Honestly, sonically there wasn’t much of a performance difference between the Vidar 2 and my sa-9100 and this kinda proves my hunch that there is absolutely nothing wrong with high end vintage gear and engineers from the 60’s and 70’s had some things figured out that haven’t changed much over the past 5 decades. So in conclusion, I sent all the Schiit gear back and I’m sticking with my vintage stuff for now because I’m sort of afraid to spend a bunch of money on modern gear that doesn’t absolutely out-perform my vintage gear. Anybody else have a similar experience with thinking that modern gear is going to “sound better” or “out-perform” your vintage gear only to be disappointed that it didn’t???
Great review, I appreciate the effort that went in to it. The only thing missing is the mono block set up using two Vidar 2 amps and balanced preamp and cables. Any plans?
Makes wonder how this measures up to Van Alstine monoblocks. Frank has been awesome stuff for decades, but his monoblocks are +/- $3600 in change... Then there is Schiit's Tyr amp...
I wonder how the Vidar 2 would compare to the Schiit Tyr, the monster monoblocks that are also class A/B. I gather also that the Vidar 2 can only handle 8 and 6 ohm speakers in monoblock mode.
Love the juvenile title. With a name like Schitt, especially in America and reviewers that put the emphasis on the word there’s really no chance of a review without a 18 year old slant.
The most obvious pairing of all of these was the Vidar 2 / Maggie one. The second most obvious, that between the lower-power Aegir and the highly efficient DW6, wasn't even touched on. This is surprising to me and is a pretty big omission from this otherwise very good review. Would LOVE some insight on that pairing if possible, though I know it's half a year on.
Love the Schitt stuff, I have the Freya+ preamp. thought I'd share sound nice vocal tracks: This Love by Chlara, Beautiful life by Chantal Chamberland, I'll Follow Your Trail by Sean Rowe, Liberty by Anette Askvik, Imagine by Chris Klafford, Fall into my arms by Lucinda Peters, Landslide by Stacey Kent, Fix it by Lady Blackbird, Angel by Sarah Mclachlan, September in Montreal by Anne Bisson, It'll never happen again by Lady Blackbird, A Battle Between by Blue Tofu, Walkin in the sun by Fink, The Curse by Agnes Obel, Here but I'm gone by Vanessa Femandez, Like a Rock by Dave's True Story
I just got a vidar 2… n by the look of yours too, their paint QC isn’t great across the Board. I got a first one with faded black in the front n then a replacement where the button looks like the one in your review since they moved away from the all metal button. I think for the cost of all things they cheaped out on the button should have stayed metal like the stainless steel original. I don’t know if it’s worth swapping again since my first one looked n felt less solidly put together.. i guess i could get s sticker
I just got the vidar 2 replacing a onkyo AVR. It sounds amazing but for whatever reason there’s a subtle hum through my speakers when only the turntable is actually spinning and only with the ground loop connected. I updated my pro ject table with a 3 pin power n didn’t get why. It’s the opposite with my AVr. Without the ground connected to the phono it would hum. Can’t figure it out. I tried double ground from the table to the speakers but it didn’t delete it like taking off the ground did. That said love the vidar and on the fence if i need a freya or similar as i only have a Sys for now
Check that your equipment (the power outlets they plug into) are all on the same circuit breaker at your panel. I had a terrible hum in my sub woofers that went away when I put the subs onto the same circuit breaker (making sure the outlets the components are plugged into are all on the same circuit).
@@eddents all on the same power. Its the weirdest thing n only showed up since the vidar… n like i said if i take the wire off it’s completely gone. The new power i got for the turntable does have its own ground (3 pin) so I’m wondering if the turntable wire is even necessary… i feel like with the vidar it’s actually causing the ground loop vs eliminating
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Interesting. I'm intrigued by better power supplies for output stages. The capacitor inductor scheme used for the Tyr can theoretically help lower supply noise a lot.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I second the request. id like to hear your take on the Tyr. I have agreed with your take on multiple pieces of gear in the past. You have been really helpful in my audio journey!
Did you try out the Aegir with the Jotunheim vs the Vidar2 and Saga+? The Jotunheim might tighten up the Aegir while the Saga might loosen/warm up the Vidar2. Just wondering...seems like an interesting possible comparison.
Great review! Do you think the Vidar 2 would be a noticeable improvement over a NAD C388 intergrated? I would temporarily use the 388 as a pre amp. Thanks!
Always appreciate your reviews and "oh by the way" comments. I also enjoy when you mention various artists from time to time, some whom I have not heard. But I have one question, do you really think "Birdman" is one of your favorite films of our century? I'm befuddled... But that's not an unusual state of mind for me. 😇
I have a lot of Schitt. Thanks for this review. Could you recommend a step up Phono preamp from the Shcitt Phono Pre? I think it is good, but thinking about moving up a small step. Thanks
These do NOT work well with Magnepan. I have Magenpan 1.7's and have two Schiiit Vidar 2's that I run in balanced mode with a Schiit Freya + preamp. Works and sounds great but if you turn the volume on the Freya up to about 3/4, the amps will shut off (which is good as it prevents any harm to the amp). But how in the world can you recommend Vidar 2's for Magnepan (or any 4 ohm amp)?
A product like the Vidar can be part of an expanding system ... ie., buy one for stereo, a pair for dual mono-blocks, three for biamped, and ultimately four mono-blocks for full quad biamped stereo.
*There’s an Audiophiliac/Steve Guttenberg imposter scamming my viewers, There’s no FREE gifts. DON’T respond! I don't do giveaways or ask for money (except for my Patreon)*
hi steve happy new year to you! a small request, can you please try to add similarly priced components from other manufacturers in your reviews? would be quite helpful especially something like bluesound power node edge which may not be very audiophile but it fits in better with a lot of us who use our system to watch your reviews on TV! apart from listening to music afcorse. i would love to know the delta between a system with separares and more lifestyle oriented components i.e. with hdmi input. Thanks.
@@goodforwatch Try asking the same question to the cheap audio man
Thanks again for turning me on to even more great recordings!!! Love you man! Have a great, healthy and successful 2023!
Steve, Thanks for great review. I am seriously looking into a Schiit stack. I just purchased a Schiit Mani 2 phono preamp. I enjoyed you swapping speakers, components and spotlighting music in your own LP collection. Your channel is a true joy! Thanks again!😉
Steve, I bought a Bifrost 2 and am blown away by the sound. So impressed w/ Schiit that I have a Vidar 1 (bought used) on the way. What an impressive company. Great sound, low prices and made in the USA. Oh, I have Maggie LRS's on order based on your glowing comments. Wanted 1.6's but the LRS is much less expensive to purchase and ship. Thanks for your excellent channel. And yes, I subscribed.
I swapped my Parasound P6 pre for a Schiit Freya+, feeding my Para A21 amp and B&w 703 S2 speakers and BOY is the Freya a better fit. Also using a Schiit Modius balanced dac and that is a considerable improvement over the internal dac on my Bluesound Node 2 digital source. This Schiit rocks!
These selected words the Schiit Audio is using is from the Icelandic written story of the Nordic/german mythology - look it up (f.ex. at Wikipedia). As Icelandic is the oldest and probably the least changed language for the last 1000 years of all the languages of the nordic countries. All those naming of those Shitt Audio components are taken from this myhology and the spelling has changed from what we Icelanders use for those (which we would say is the "true" writing :) ) - F.ex. "Aegir" we have one letter "Æ" which is the two first letters, so in Icelandic this is "Ægir" (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86gir) - One sould pronounce it, starting with I (as in I'm) and then "gir" (with a very "soft" "g" after the "Æ/I". The "Vidar", the english and also the other nordic countries do no have the letter "ð" any more, and write it with "d" instead - which creates and error to our ears (Icelanders). The word should be "Viðar" - and the letter "ð" is not a hard sound like the "d" is. It is more like the "th" in english - like in the start of "the" so it would be pronounced as "Vithar" my middle name is actually "Viðar" - which was a god in the Nordic mythology. Looking at the list over products at Shitt Audio I could tell you about the "wrong" spelling of many of the names. But that has mainly to do with the fact that there are letters that have been lost in the stream of time through the centuries in other languages. In Icelandic we have those letters (alphabet) a, á, b, d, ð, e, é, f, g, h, i, í, j, k, l, m, n, o, ó, p, r, s, t, u, ú, v, x, y, ý, þ, æ, ö (32 letters). So f.ex. "Bifrost", should be "Bifröst", "Tyr" is "Týr", "Yggdrasil" should be "Yggdrasill" (the double "ll" at the end is a special prenounced - that is very hard for other not Icelandic speaking to get out of their mouth .... so enough of that for now, hope that this will not confuse you to much and help you to pronounce those words in the way they should be pronounced ... thanks for your from Iceland.
15:35. Steve, you said 2 tonearms, but it sure looks like 3 to me. Bottom, right, and top of the turntable base. I've never seen 2 arms on a single table, much less 3.
Excellent, one of your better reviews Steve. Thank you for all the equipment swap outs. Wonderful and fresh.
How will he take that comment lol
I quote from the Birdman movie "you are a birdman, you are a G-o-d". How about that movie? Set in crummy New York. Helps spice up the reality and uh ... make it more flattering to like here ... whilst that Zu Audio DW6 speaker that Steve somewhat runs into his Vidor speaker comment, has a metal pole in the center that was never explained and uh ... this might be too long a comment, but you know on the internet, September 2007, Road Tour Exit 14 with Michael Lavorgna, there's a room just like the Audiophiliac System of the Day and uh ... they talking about Hartley 310s. Well there was a 2ft diameter woofer Hartley had made that had a metal pole in the cone center and it was a heat-sink. When I first saw that I expected a coaxial tweeter in that pole, but it does seem to cool the gap flux like Robert Schmetterer's, you know post 1956 elite Hartley-Luth woofer. These were only for the global elite.
@@keplermission
I believe the Zu wide-bander is sourced from Eminence... if I had to guess I'd suggest the pole piece (of machined aluminum?) it plays a role in aesthetic appeal, perhaps heat dissipation/flux optimization ... and lesser extent dispersion.
@@FOH3663 I just uh Googled Eminence and Zu Audio and uh, it's a phase plug that:
1. Extends high frequency limits of the driver assembly through a combination of whizzer cone and center pole detail profile plus acoustic impedance matching. ???
2. MLS diffuser function ??? of pole piece profile and rings aids in the widening of the high frequency (polar plot or beam pattern). (Because whizzers used to have very narrow beam dispersion).
3. Aids in control of dynamic behavior through diamagnetic shunting (shorting) of spurious B fields. (Well EMI had a 1933 year speaker that was copper-plated and uh ... they're using Dr Olson's know-how). Copper-plated magnets display a weird, very strange phenomenon that I suppose is only for high end physics.
4. Zu’s implementation of shunting is regulated, providing virtually no dynamic damping at low level play and increasing logarithmically to maximum in high SPL play.
5. Dramatic improvement in cooling as the assembly is press fit and uses thermally conductive adhesive. (Only significantly in play when you are pushing huge power, but there nonetheless.)
So ... we're back, this is the Audiophiliac and if you would like to join Steve's Patreon site... you know, where there's a will there's a way.
I have the saga+ and it’s a fantastic preamp. I also have the mani2 phono pre and the Lokius eq. All fantastic products
Hey Steve, really appreciate this review! You did so much in 18 minutes, with none of it wasted. Your review this time covered several pieces of audio gear that I'm seriously considering, including the Vidar 2 and the Jotunheim, so it's helpful to hear how they (the Vidar 2 in particular) worked out with different speakers. I'm looking for equipment to pair with my Triangle Borea BR08s, and it's nice to know that the Vidar 2 works so well with a pretty good variety of well-known and respected speakers. I also really loved the music recommendations. Thanks a lot for an excellent and very helpful review!
Thanks Theodore
That is one of RUclipss greatest headlines. Congratulations Steve.
I'm running 2 Vidar ones, Jotunheim phono pre, Marantz TT15, Mogami xlr interconnects, Kimber TC-4 bi-wired to Crites CornScalas. Cambridge Audio 851C for digi. Big, exacting sound. Very pleased.
I LOVE hearing about the new Vidar! I am going to get one soon! Amazing you played Olu Dara! (I am a HUGE hip hop fan! He is rapper Nas's Father!)
Birdman and its soundtrack are awesome. I really like that scene where the actors are walking through the allys and the drum kit is just playing in the background and fades as they walk away.
i love your reviews for lots of reasons. your years of experience is reassuring. but, your music recommendations really float my boat...lots of very interesting material,
Thanks so much, it really is all about the music after all. And nowadays, it’s so easy to explore new music. Thanks for watching.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Steve, I feel like you could do a separate channel devoted solely to music recommendations. I’ve been exposed to so much new music through your reviews! Thank you!
Thank you for putting me on Olu Dara. Never heard of him, but what an amazing find. Love his music. And of course love the review. It is time buy some good Schit
Sitting here listening to that exact Vandersteen. Just got them last weekend. Great speaker.
I received my Vidar 2 9 days ago. Right now I am using my old Magnepan SMGs, which sound great, but plan on getting the LRS+ model very soon.
Love observing the amp's internals. This Company is performing a tremendous service in designing, sourcing, and manufacturing in the US, delivering bang for the buck.
I really hope you will consider reviewing the Schiit Tyrs. Thanks
It's always great hearing your discretion of sound. As an audio file in my 40's in car audio I've unfortunately lost the pure real sound over time due to hearing damage I'm sure. Lol I get to live it now through your words.
So nice to hear from you!
fantastic review steve, very clear and helpful. Also that viewer system of the day, my god...
A very enjoyable review with lots of well know products…a fun ride
Great review! I think the Schiit products are pretty high-end but not budget overwhelming.
Great review! Would like to see you review the Tyr, that one is intriguing.
Great review Steve! I'm looking forward to your review of the Vandersteen's. Nobody seems to review these speakers so this should be special. I'm on my fourth pair of Vandersteen's and I would like to hear them compared to some other speakers. I really appreciate this review ot the Schiit Vidar since you tried so many speakers and associated electronics. I always appreciate your choices in music that I have never heard.
Turning the lens the other direction, how did the Zu react to the difference in power between the Vidar 2 and the Aegir, being highly efficient speakers that seem to dig lower powered amps? Does the higher power just give more of what's so good about those speakers or does it actually change their sonic character? Great review, Steve!
Steve is 'The Schitt' I enjoy watching his videos in my truck on a night out from home. I have a tablet linked to a JBL connect 5. From the UK.
I’m seriously considering grabbing a pair of LRS+, but have been grappling with how to power them. My current, mediocre 5.1 receiver is not up to the job. At the same time, I have a budget, and I’m not springing for the $8k McIntosh receiver that my local shop recommended (let alone the 20k integrated amp they used to demo the Maggies). The Vidar2 sounds like an amazing option for those of us with limited resources.
That's a good plan with single Vidar2 ( but not two Vidars)
Tyr review plz.
Thanks Much Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac !
For my birthday I ordered the Freya+, Lokius, and Aegir. Getting a Jotunheim soon. Can't wait to test against my Topping/Willsenton R300 setup, and versus my NAD C368 and PowerNode setups, using KEF Q150s, Focal Chora 826, and KLH Model 5's. I swear most of the fun of being an audiophile is swapping all the stuff around and having an excuse to play. So many combinations.
Please do tell!
How'd it end up
Beautiful listening room!
Great review Steve! I have a pair of 2CE sig III's and I am seriously thinking of buying this am
I really love trying all of our music recommendations!
Please get ahold of 2 Tyr’s and give them a test!!! Inquiring minds want to know, see, hear. Thanks.
The Schiit amp is nice. But Luigi's viewer system of the day?! Whoo! Very, very, nice. Looking forward to hearing the Vandersteen 2c speaker review.
In Birdman, during the scene in which Keaton is on a stage and the camera pans around him, they use Mahler's Symphony 9. Mahler is as skilled, musical and powerful as Bach and Beethoven and other A+++ composers. Mahler's 9th, like all his works, is a roller coaster of very powerful emotions, craziness, leisurely fun and more. It also happens to be thickly textured with melody on melody on melody.
This is a true test for any audio system and I will be upgrading (IF I can ever afford it) based on how clear, dynamic, warm but not muddy, etc etc etc that audio combo will bel.
Mahler 9, Ravel Daphnes and Chloe (Boulez version will kill any weak system due to the power of the performance), and perhaps an armful of Prokofiev.
Any classical music lovers out there with advice are welcome to help me out!
Luigi's system is a system of the millenium.
Great to see a comment from a classical music fan like myself. I've been working on speaker placement and room effects as well as equipment up grades based in part on Steve's reviews. I've been using Mahler's 3rd a lot, particularly the 4th and 5th movement. Handling the contrasts between the soaring contralto solo, bell effects of the children's choir and then the waves of melody development in the massed strings is, I think, a good measure of a system setup. I've also been using a recording of Josef Suk's Asrael Symphony by the Czech Philharmonic from Supraphon. The Supraphon recording does a good job with Suk's moving melody development in the strings and detailed interplay of solo wind and brass as well as some startling percussion here and there.
@@waltergist8923 Mahler's 3rd brings me into a state of collapse. I'm embarrassed to admit I don't know the Suk, but, a collector/mentor friend of mine who passed away in 2013 left me over 3000 cds and there's a high chance that work is in there. Thanks so much for saying hi and the advice. CSO coming to my nearest city on Feb 1.. Beethoven 7 and Prokofiev 5. I cannot wait. It's a concert of a lifetime for me.
@@barney6888 Have you tried out the streaming site (TV) for the Berliner Philharmoniker? It's called The Digital Concert hall. Great sound and production for live BP concerts and a huge library of past performances.
@@waltergist8923 I know about it but have yet to try it. I have Yamaha from 1990s, so I need to use an rca in with a 3/8 adapter out from my computer. The sound is ok but not great by any means. But I will look into it as vK is the conductor that pulled me into classical as my first choice with his 60s Beethoven set. The performance of the 1st mvmt of the 8th on that set is unbelievable. I'm going to check that site out not. Thanks!!
The Jotunheim 2 is primarily a headphone amplifier.
There are tubeless versions of the Saga and Freya preamps.
Like always great review music on thanks.
So it seems like you enjoyed it with the Maggies. I have a pair of modified MMG's so I may upgrade from the classic Vidar just to get the front panel mounted standby switch. Reaching around to the back panel of the original Vidar is a pain in the neck since it can get a bit warm. Thanks for the review!
My co-worker has a Schiit stack, original Vidars, Freya preamp and Gungnir DAC . I asked him how it sounded and, without skipping a beat said "It sounds like Schiit"
🎶 🙃 🤣
Que dad jokes
Good Schmitt man!!
Schitt jokes. They're great.
What the Schiit!!!
Thanks Steve been pondering a power amp option and this Vidar 2 looks to be what Im looking for. Currently running a Leak Stereo 130 with a set of the Wharfedale Linton, absolutely love my speakers but the 130 I haven't been as enthusiastic about. The Stereo 130 has the sonic chops IMO, its very sweet and polite but does not power the Linton's with the oomph they could use. Was highly considering the Stereo 230 when it starts shipping next month, thinking the 130 will make a fine little preamp for something like the Vidar 2.
Are you sure its not the speakers? Wharfedale's are a bit laid back
Great review, and looking forward to more on the Vandersteen’s. I had a pair back in the 1990’s, it seemed like most audiophiles back then had a pair at some point. And killer ASOTD.
You know for beginners in Audio ... it's best to point out that people like Louis Perlman know that Vandersteens (with no ', that typo might be a red flag)...
"are THE best selling high end loudspeaker of all time, eclipsing the sales of all competitors for one reason and one reason only. At its price point there is no other floor standing loudspeaker to come close to the ability and agility of the Vandersteen Model 2."
But ... the best selling piece of Hi-Fi equipment of all time is the NAD 3020, you know a truly feeble amplifier made in England from old ... surplus parts left over from the time that Britain was the 'workshop of the world'. Okay so the saying: 'a little knowledge can be a bad thing' applies. Both of these were bestsellers on low price and just remember how Bob Hope viewed low price appearances.
@@keplermission
NAD's 3020 sold over a million units, unreal.
Don't believe it was made in the UK, Taiwan maybe.
Love the content. Thanks Steve.
Man, this review was fantastic, top work!
Of course, the Jot is primarily a headphone amp with pre-amp capabilities, but heck I'm glad to hear it worked well with the Vidar 2!
I looked up the 'boost' power supply. Basically this is amp is dc coupled with servos at each stage... So like all such amps, the input stage, pre drivers, and drivers are powered via a regulated supply as current source... I.e. A couple of regulators. No rocket science, its been done forever. Marketing aside Schitt amps look really nicely built and good value.
I went for the Freya+ and pair of mono Aegirs on your recommendation Steve. Couldn't be happier. Hope you're getting a slice of the action.
What speakers Mark,??
@@stevedougherty3720 Some home made speakers that are fairly terrible until I get a chance to build the kit speakers I bought... GR Research X-Static's
Great review Steve! Any plans for a review of the Schiit Tyr mono block amplifiers?
I've been waiting for a year for one of these RUclipsrs to review the Tyr! I have two Aegir's. I just don't want to buy the Tyr if it's more like the vidar. The viders did not sound good with my speakers but the Aegir sounds awesome.
@@barryhallsack8852 what speakers do you have?
I’d love to see a review of Schiit Tyr
I have drifted into and out of the hifi scene several times. I grew up with McIntosh separates (Dad's) and also my first rock show was a Grateful Dead wall of sound show. HK 35 wpc receiver and Genesis 210 speakers made me quite happy in the early 80's. In 2009 I got into speaker building and got a NAD pre and power amp, rather ho hum but adequate, Also started listening to vinyl again. Then came a Class D Audio amp kit driven by the NAD pre. Also how hum. then bt receivers and streaming archived live rock shows and cd's. Now I am in the process of replacing my Yamaha R S202 with an Emotiva PT2 pre and casting about for an amp to drive with it, The class A stuff is attractive and I could certainly build the amp camp. Too bad the Emotiva does not have balanced outs.
Love the sound of Vandersteen 2CE's have yet to hear the newest version though.
Well the benefit of course to using the Jotunheim as a preamp is the fact that it's active versus the saga which is passive so that would probably explain your sense of drive and impact that you felt using it versus the saga. Plus it also has balanced connections plus the headphone amplifier plus the ability to support modular cards so you can have kind of a one box solution as a pre-amplifier. That's how I'm using mine, I've got the Jotunheim 2 with the phono card which is basically the same thing as the mani 1 was and I use it as a pre-amplifier and it's just phenomenal.
That said though I have used the saga, the original one, and I enjoyed the sound but I did realize for the most part for me as a listener I prefer what having an active preamp does to the signal versus passive.
Vidar 2 and no Tyr?
For context my current setup is a 1974 Pioneer sa-9100, a Wiim Pro Plus streamer & a pair of Wharfedale Lintons.
I recently bought a vidar 2, saga+ & a modi Multibit 2 thinking this was going to be a massive upgrade and boy was I disappointed. I tried the Vidar 2 with the Saga+ and the modi with my TV as the source and I had to crank the volume dial to 98% to get the Wharfedales to really come alive and they’re a 6 Ohm/ 92dB efficient speaker which shouldn’t be terribly hard to drive but the Vidar kept going into thermal shutdown mode which was really frustrating because I was listening at volumes that my Pioneer sa-9100 does without clipping or breaking a sweat and it’s only rated @ 60 watts per channel.
I don’t want to talk bad about Shiit Audio but I don’t think they’re being honest about the Vidar 2’s output because it should be able to produce eardrum rupturing volume for hours on end into a 6ohm load but I could barely get 1/3 of the way into The Wall before it was shutting off.
Also tried the Vidar 2 with the Wiim Pro Plus plugged straight into it and I was able to get more volume out of it which I thought was strange but it quickly went into thermal shutdown mode as well.
Honestly, sonically there wasn’t much of a performance difference between the Vidar 2 and my sa-9100 and this kinda proves my hunch that there is absolutely nothing wrong with high end vintage gear and engineers from the 60’s and 70’s had some things figured out that haven’t changed much over the past 5 decades.
So in conclusion, I sent all the Schiit gear back and I’m sticking with my vintage stuff for now because I’m sort of afraid to spend a bunch of money on modern gear that doesn’t absolutely out-perform my vintage gear.
Anybody else have a similar experience with thinking that modern gear is going to “sound better” or “out-perform” your vintage gear only to be disappointed that it didn’t???
Best thumbnail ever!!
Great review... as always!!!
Great review, I appreciate the effort that went in to it. The only thing missing is the mono block set up using two Vidar 2 amps and balanced preamp and cables. Any plans?
Sorry no. I rarely chase power, and monos rarely sound better than their stereo counterparts
Thanks John. Nice review as always. Please also share the name of the Zu stand. You used warfdale stand when you reviewed it🙏
The brand, solidsteel SS series
Makes wonder how this measures up to Van Alstine monoblocks. Frank has been awesome stuff for decades, but his monoblocks are +/- $3600 in change... Then there is Schiit's Tyr amp...
So Steve, have you tried the Schiit Aegir with the Zu Audio DW6? If so, how did you like it?
I bought the Vidar - sent it back. I am a Schitt fan. On my Tekton Moabs the Vidar sounded thin, lacking bass output.
Try the Aegir.
@@delvalle9256 I'm running the Carver Crimson 275, love it.
@@fredjohnson9856
Well sure ... the Carver should be superior... in most every way.
Actually, I bet that's a nice combo... MOABs and the Carvers!
Beautiful room and setup Luigi.
Thanks 🙏
Holy Schiit! What an amazing SOTD!
Thought I’d heard all the Schiit jokes but I was wrong. “A Tasty Schiit Sandwich” made me Laugh Out Loud. 😂
SCHIIT! You are the REAL DEAL ....
I wonder how the Vidar 2 would compare to the Schiit Tyr, the monster monoblocks that are also class A/B. I gather also that the Vidar 2 can only handle 8 and 6 ohm speakers in monoblock mode.
The Tyr is in another league. It sounds smoother with better soundstage depth and width.
Bought Freya Noval and a pair of Vidar1 @ a bargain price last week to match with my SCM11 - My system never sounded so good😊🙏
Pas M PreAmp and Vidar sound great together
Love this review
Wait until you hear Tyr. Now those are seriously great amps!
Love the juvenile title. With a name like Schitt, especially in America and reviewers that put the emphasis on the word there’s really no chance of a review without a 18 year old slant.
thx for olu dara, it s realy nice
The most obvious pairing of all of these was the Vidar 2 / Maggie one. The second most obvious, that between the lower-power Aegir and the highly efficient DW6, wasn't even touched on. This is surprising to me and is a pretty big omission from this otherwise very good review. Would LOVE some insight on that pairing if possible, though I know it's half a year on.
+1
Love the Schitt stuff, I have the Freya+ preamp. thought I'd share sound nice vocal tracks: This Love by Chlara, Beautiful life by Chantal Chamberland, I'll Follow Your Trail by Sean Rowe, Liberty by Anette Askvik, Imagine by Chris Klafford, Fall into my arms by Lucinda Peters, Landslide by Stacey Kent, Fix it by Lady Blackbird, Angel by Sarah Mclachlan, September in Montreal by Anne Bisson, It'll never happen again by Lady Blackbird, A Battle Between by Blue Tofu, Walkin in the sun by Fink, The Curse by Agnes Obel, Here but I'm gone by Vanessa Femandez, Like a Rock by Dave's True Story
Dear Steve ,
Oh my gosh, "Shit Sandwich" is Click Bait. !
You are raising your game ,
I'm impressed !
Tony Kazz in Florida
Defs worth a like just for the title.
I just got a vidar 2… n by the look of yours too, their paint QC isn’t great across the Board. I got a first one with faded black in the front n then a replacement where the button looks like the one in your review since they moved away from the all metal button. I think for the cost of all things they cheaped out on the button should have stayed metal like the stainless steel original. I don’t know if it’s worth swapping again since my first one looked n felt less solidly put together.. i guess i could get s sticker
On the 1st turntable of the viewer's system there looks to be 3 tone arms.
I just got the vidar 2 replacing a onkyo AVR. It sounds amazing but for whatever reason there’s a subtle hum through my speakers when only the turntable is actually spinning and only with the ground loop connected. I updated my pro ject table with a 3 pin power n didn’t get why. It’s the opposite with my AVr. Without the ground connected to the phono it would hum. Can’t figure it out. I tried double ground from the table to the speakers but it didn’t delete it like taking off the ground did. That said love the vidar and on the fence if i need a freya or similar as i only have a Sys for now
Check that your equipment (the power outlets they plug into) are all on the same circuit breaker at your panel. I had a terrible hum in my sub woofers that went away when I put the subs onto the same circuit breaker (making sure the outlets the components are plugged into are all on the same circuit).
@@eddents all on the same power. Its the weirdest thing n only showed up since the vidar… n like i said if i take the wire off it’s completely gone. The new power i got for the turntable does have its own ground (3 pin) so I’m wondering if the turntable wire is even necessary… i feel like with the vidar it’s actually causing the ground loop vs eliminating
I have the Elac UniFi Reference speakers, and I've been wondering how it will sound if I get the dac, preamp, and vidar 2, for my modest 2.1 system..
@@joanfrederick9176 looking forward to get the Gungir in a couple months..
I have the Elac UniFi Reference as well. Curious as to how the Vidar 2 will sound on them. Looking to pair it with Topping D50s
Impressive review Steve. All those speakers! Any chance you’ll review the Tyr?
A lot of people are asking, I’m kind of surprised that so many of you are interested in a $3200 amplifier from SCHIIT!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Interesting. I'm intrigued by better power supplies for output stages. The capacitor inductor scheme used for the Tyr can theoretically help lower supply noise a lot.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I second the request. id like to hear your take on the Tyr. I have agreed with your take on multiple pieces of gear in the past. You have been really helpful in my audio journey!
Did you try out the Aegir with the Jotunheim vs the Vidar2 and Saga+? The Jotunheim might tighten up the Aegir while the Saga might loosen/warm up the Vidar2. Just wondering...seems like an interesting possible comparison.
It is sad that this shit company is abusing names from the great norse mythology!
Great review! Do you think the Vidar 2 would be a noticeable improvement over a NAD C388 intergrated? I would temporarily use the 388 as a pre amp. Thanks!
I never knew schiit could taste so good
What about using the VIDAR 2 in dual mono, and what speakers would you pair with that setup?
Always appreciate your reviews and "oh by the way" comments. I also enjoy when you mention various artists from time to time, some whom I have not heard. But I have one question, do you really think "Birdman" is one of your favorite films of our century? I'm befuddled... But that's not an unusual state of mind for me. 😇
Steve, If you want movie music go for Korngold: Captain Blood, The Adventures of Robin Hood, The Sea Hawk, The Sea Wolf.
I have a lot of Schitt. Thanks for this review. Could you recommend a step up Phono preamp from the Shcitt Phono Pre? I think it is good, but thinking about moving up a small step. Thanks
The Mo-Fi Studio Phono is more transparent
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Thank You. I am moving into the MC world as well. I'll look into the Mo-Fi Studio. Thanks again :)
These do NOT work well with Magnepan. I have Magenpan 1.7's and have two Schiiit Vidar 2's that I run in balanced mode with a Schiit Freya + preamp. Works and sounds great but if you turn the volume on the Freya up to about 3/4, the amps will shut off (which is good as it prevents any harm to the amp). But how in the world can you recommend Vidar 2's for Magnepan (or any 4 ohm amp)?
The best deal on Audio right now is the Vincent Integrated Amp
He said “touch of the pianist” hahaha. I’m such a child. Can’t help it.
Nice review Steve. How does the Emotiva BasX TA2 compare to the Vidar 2? Thanks.
A product like the Vidar can be part of an expanding system ... ie., buy one for stereo, a pair for dual mono-blocks, three for biamped, and ultimately four mono-blocks for full quad biamped stereo.
Looks nice. Though, their customer service gets a D+ should you have a problem ..
Or an upgrade, speaking from recent personal experience. Still love the products....
Does the Vidar 2 hum?
No
Aaaawwe Schiit, here we go.
How is Schiit’s resale value?
The original vidars are still selling for around 500 USD used.
Grande Luigi !!
🙏