The product featured in our Schiit Magni Unity Review is the first modular headphone amp & preamp from Schiit Audio. The company released it in the fourth quarter of 2023.
This headphone amp & preamp has numerous advanced features, including an optional internal Unison USB DAC card. Plus, it has a high–precision, super-linear discrete gain stage for enhancing analogue performance.
Is this modular headphone amp & preamp truly future-proof and worth purchasing? Our Schiit Magni Unity Review will discuss all the essential details you need to answer this question. These include its design, function, primary features, and performance.
Schiit Magni Unity Review – Design and Functionality
Schiit built the Magni Unity based on the foundation of the previous Magni products. It delivers the highest rated power of any Magni device (2.5W RMS with both channels driven). Plus, this headphone amp & preamp offer the ideal measurements of a discrete Magni device, which is a typical -116dB THD+N.
The Magni Unity has a 100% linear power supply and three gain levels, including negative or IEMs. All these features offered a superior listening experience during our tests for this Schiit Magni Unity Review.
This product is a modular headphone amp & preamp, allowing you to choose an internal Unison USB DAC. Also, it is a single-box desktop system that costs less than purchasing a separate headphone amp and DAC.
This product has a compact build with a brushed aluminium finish, offering an elegant look. Instead of using a painted finish, Schiit returned to using brushed aluminium on entry-level products. Aside from the brushed finish, the advanced-form stamped chassis of this product minimises visible fasteners for a more premium look.
The best thing about the Magni Unity is its future-proof and upgradable design. You can replace and upgrade its internal DAC card for future use.
Controls and I/O Ports
The Magni Unity features an intuitive design with easily accessible controls. The well-laid-out switches, buttons, and ports improved our user experience during tests for this Schiit Magni Unity Review.
The front panel will instantly find the Magni logo in white text and a headphone jack on its left. If your headphones have smaller plugs, use a 1/8 or 1/4-inch adapter.
The right portion is where you will find the volume knob, gain switch, and input switch. The gain switch has three settings: high, low and negative. You can use the input switch for shifting between DAC or RCA.
The rear panel houses most I/O ports. On the left is the USB Type-C connector, where you can plug your audio source.
Next to the USB Type-C port are the analogue right and left RCA input jacks. Here, you can connect an analogue source.
The following are the left and right preamp output jacks for connecting a speaker power amp or powered monitors. You can use the Magni Unity as a preamp and volume control when plugging any of these.
The rightmost portion of this panel features the power switch and the AC input.
Key Features of the Schiit Magni Unity
What makes the Magni Unity a high-quality modular headphone amp & preamp? Our Schiit Magni Unity Review will discuss more details about its primary features. This information will help you determine if this product can meet your needs.
Works With All Headphones – Use Any Model Confidently
The Magni Unity is silent with the most sensitive IEMs and offers adequate power for power-hungry planars. It works with any headphones and ensures the safety of any headphone model with its overcurrent and DC correction systems.
New and Advanced Technologies
We want to highlight the advanced high-precision super-linear discrete topology in our Schiit Magni Unity Review. Schiit coupled this unique bespoke amplifier stage with top-notch parts. These include a custom Alps potentiometer, 0.5% thin-film resistors, and silicon and film capacitors.
Schiit also has blind listening panels that confirm Magni Unity delivers high-quality audio.
Designed and Built in the US.
The Magni Unity is built and designed in the US, like other Schiit products. Its chassis is California-made, while the PCBs are Nevada-made.
The final assembly of this headphone amp & preamp happens at the Corpus Christi, Texas facility.
One Box for Your Entire Desktop
The optional internal Unison USB DAC card makes the Magni Unity a single-box system for your entire desktop. You can enjoy superior streaming quality when plugging in via USB-C and connecting your powered monitors to the preamp outputs. You can also connect a mini speaker amp like Rekkr.
The Magni Unity makes an excellent audio solution for headphone and speaker listening. This product delivered high-quality audio with headphones and speakers when we tested it for this Schiit Magni Unity Review.
Three-Year Warranty and 15-Day Return Policy
Schiit increased the warranty period of the Magni Unity by 50%. It has a three-year warranty for parts and labour. The company also offers a 15-day return policy for your convenience minus a 15% restocking fee.
Specifications
- Power: Adequate for most headphones, except for a few high-demand models like HE6 and Tungsten.
- Noise: Inaudible on all headphones and IEMs.
- Distortion: Unmeasurable at normal listening levels; 1000x lower than typical headphones.
- Heat: Slightly warm without DAC card, moderately warm with DAC card.
- Size: Extremely desk-friendly.
- Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz, +/-0.01dB
Output Power:
- 16 ohms: 3.0W RMS per channel
- 32 ohms: 2.5W RMS per channel
- 50 ohms: 1.5W RMS per channel
- 300 ohms: 415mW RMS per channel
- 600 ohms: 220mW RMS per channel
THD+N:
- Low Gain: <0.0001% (-116dB) at 2V RMS into 300 ohms
- High Gain: <0.0003% (-108dB) at 2V RMS into 300 ohms
IMD:
- Low Gain: < -110dB at 4V RMS into 300 ohms, CCIF
- High Gain: < -108dB at 4V RMS into 300 ohms, CCIF
SNR:
- Low Gain: > 122dB, referenced to 2V RMS
- High Gain: > 112dB, referenced to 2V RMS
Crosstalk:
- < -80dB, 20 Hz-20 kHz, 300 ohm load
Output Impedance:
- SE ¼” TRS output: < 0.1 ohms
- Preamp output: 75 ohms
Input Impedance: 50k ohms
Gain: 0.3 (-10dB), 1 (0dB), 5 (15dB)
Topology: Fully discrete, DC coupled, current feedback, highly linear open-loop with low loop feedback
Protection: Failsafe DC power input and muting relay, overcurrent sensing and output lift, DC servo
Power Supply: 100% linear supply with “Wall wart” style 14-16VAC transformer, regulated +/-17V rails with over 8,000uF total filter capacitance
Power Consumption: 2W idle, 12W max
Size: 5 x 3.5 x 1.25 inches
Weight: 2 lbs
Hands-on with the Schiit Magni Unity
We had the pleasure of thoroughly testing the Schiit Magni Unity to evaluate its audio quality and share our user experience. In this comprehensive Schiit Magni Unity Review, we’ll delve into the nuances and performance of this impressive headphone amp and preamp.
Enhanced Timbre and Detailed Sound
One of the most striking features of the Magni Unity is its ability to enhance and bring out the timbre of various instruments. During our testing, we noticed that snare drums on different tracks sounded distinctly more differentiated. The nuances of the drum material, the tuning of the upper and lower skins, and other subtle factors became more apparent. This level of detail significantly enriched our listening experience, allowing us to appreciate the intricate characteristics of each instrument.
Improved Presentation and Clarity
As we listened to a wider range of tracks, the Magni Unity continued to impress us with its remarkable presentation. It unveiled the timbre of vocals and a variety of instruments with striking clarity. Whether it was the resonance of guitars, the depth of kick drums, or the unique sound of an oboe, the Magni Unity brought out the best in each. This heightened clarity and separation made each instrument’s sound more audible, contributing to a more immersive listening experience. The excellent separation also allowed us to enjoy different music genres, from classical to rock, with newfound appreciation.
Smoother Highs and Refined Audio Quality
Another significant improvement in the Magni Unity is its refined handling of high frequencies. Unlike some amps that can make highs sound coarse or harsh, the Magni Unity delivers smoother and more pleasant high notes. This improvement adds to the overall musicality of the amp, making long listening sessions more enjoyable and less fatiguing.
Musical Sound and Enjoyable Experience
The Magni Unity consistently offers a musical sound that enhances the overall audio experience. Its ability to reveal the finer details of music and provide a balanced, enjoyable listening experience makes it a standout product in its category. Whether you’re an audiophile or a casual listener, the Magni Unity is designed to elevate your audio enjoyment to new heights.
For more detailed information about the Schiit Magni Unity and its specifications, we recommend visiting the official Schiit product page. There, you can find additional insights and technical details that further underscore the quality and performance of this exceptional headphone amp and preamp.
Conclusion
The Schiit Magni Unity stands out as a groundbreaking modular headphone amp and preamp, marking Schiit Audio’s first venture into this realm. Released in the fourth quarter of 2023, the Magni Unity boasts numerous advanced features, including an optional internal Unison USB DAC card and a high-precision, super-linear discrete gain stage designed to enhance analogue performance.
It’s clear that the Magni Unity delivers on its promise of superior audio quality. The enhanced timbre and detailed sound make it an excellent choice for discerning audiophiles. The clarity and separation of sounds, coupled with its ability to handle high frequencies smoothly, create a rich and immersive listening experience across various music genres.
The Schiit Magni Unity is a remarkable headphone amp and preamp that delivers a truly enjoyable audio experience. Its combination of advanced features, superior sound quality, and user-friendly design makes it a worthy investment for anyone looking to elevate their audio setup. For those interested in learning more about the Magni Unity, we recommend visiting the official Schiit product page for detailed information and specifications.
Visit the official Schiit product page for more details about the Magni Unity.
