At Last, Unity

 

November 22, 2023, Corpus Christi, TX. Today, Schiit Audio debuted the all-new Magni Unity, the first modular Magni, with an optional, internal Unison USB™ DAC card. An all-new, super-linear, high-precision discrete gain stage boosts analog performance by 10dB compared to any previous discrete Magni, and its modular design helps make the design future-proof. Magni Unity is available now at schiit.com for $119 as a headphone amp and preamp only, and $189 with an integrated DAC card. A new brushed-aluminum top is also available as a $10 option.

 

“This is a complete rethinking of Magni,” said Jason Stoddard, Schiit’s Co-Founder and head of analog design. “For the first time, Magni is modular. This means you can choose an internal Unison USB DAC—of the same class as the standalone Modi+—for a single-box desktop system, at a cost much lower than a separate headphone amp and DAC.”

 

Stoddard also notes that the Magni Unity debuts an all-new, super-linear, high-precision discrete analog amplification stage, significantly increasing performance without increasing negative feedback.

 

“It’s a better amp stage, period,” said Jason. “It’s inherently super linear, so we don’t need a ton of feedback. We’re getting close to op-amps using 130dB of feedback with only 30dB.”

 

Furthermore, Schiit’s internal and external blind listening panels have consistently chosen low-feedback, and current-feedback designs, like Magni Unity, over op-amp and voltage feedback topologies. So, Schiit claims, Magni Unity sounds better to their test listeners.

 

“This is a controversial claim, I know,” said Jason. “But it’s well-documented. We’ve been doing blind listening at Schiit for over 4 years, and I even codified it in a chapter in early 2020. It’s a big part of what we do.”

 

Magni Unity’s modular design also offers the opportunity for less obsolescence, since the DAC card can be added at a later date, or changed out if better technology becomes available. The available DAC card uses an ES9018 DAC and top-of-class TI OPA1656 for I/V conversion, as well as precision 0.5% resistors and film capacitors. 

 

Magni Unity builds upon the foundation of previous Magnis, offering the highest rated power of any Magni (2.5W RMS, both channels driven), the best measurements of any discrete Magni (-116dB THD+N typical), three gain levels, including negative gain for IEMs, and a 100% linear power supply. 

 

Magni Unity also offers an increased warranty, of 3 years—the longest warranty on any affordable product. 

 

Finally, Magni Unity features the return of brushed aluminum finish to Schiit’s entry-level products, offering an elegant look at a very small price premium.

 

Magni Unity is available now at schiit.com at the following price points:

 

• Magni Unity (no DAC): $119

• Magni Unity with Unison USB DAC: $189

• Add $10 for brushed aluminum top

 

Founded in 2010 by Jason Stoddard and Mike Moffat, Schiit has grown into a leader in affordable high-end audio, with a wide range of products spanning DACs, headphone amplifiers, and preamplifiers, from $49 to $2799. 

Denise Martin, [email protected]