The O2 is a good amp. I like both it and the ODAC.
But unless you specifically need battery power/portability, for the same price you can get a Schiit Magni 3, which is three times the amp this is. The Magni 3 powers 2W/per channel RMS into 32 ohms, 1.3W into 50 ohms, 430mW into 300, etc. That's how many times more powerful? It's also a crystal-clear pre-amp. All that without losing any sonic performance. The O2 is a fine amp, and I predict it will always have a place among DIYers, but it's been completely and utterly outclassed at this price point, which is a good thing for all of us.
SlowCousinPeteIf only Schiit would fix their schiity shipping costs. $38 USD uninsured to get one to New Zealand, vs $9 from Massdrop here for this O2. :'(
SlowCousinPetePower isn't everything. I find the Magni 3 and O2 very similar sounding, whether you like one or the other is purely personal preference. My own leans towards O2, well at least with a HD600, it sounds a bit more colored with the Magni.
JackulaI'm surprised you can tell any difference in the sound. I consider these two amps to be about as transparent as you can get for the price. They both boast well below an ohm output impedance, so no difference there. Since I'm considering them to have more or less identical sound quality, what else is there to compare, other than differences in power output, and feature sets?
spronkThe Magni 3 + its linear power supply are bigger and heavier than the O2, so they would cost more to ship. I get that Schiit doesn't give you very many useful shipping options, but we're talking a difference of $30. Less than 30, really, after considering the size/weight difference. That may seem like a significant difference now, but a year from today, you're not going to remember what shipping cost or didn't cost. Buy the better amp
SlowCousinPeteWell, for anyone in New Zealand specifically, it means the Schiit stack attracts 15% tax and a $40USD customs fee because it's over the threshold thanks to high shipping cost. So suddenly a $200 USD stack turns into a $350 USD stack.
It's somewhat insulting, especially when I can go down to my local post shop and send a bigger box than the Schiit comes in right to Schiit's headquarters for $10 USD ;)
I'm not convinced that the Magni 3 + Modi 2 are worth that much more than the O2 + ODAC. Haven't heard the 3, granted, but I wouldn't say the Magni 2 Uber + Modi 2 is worth $150 more than an O2 stack.
SlowCousinPeteLots of things, noise, distortion, output impedance, phase. Also not talking about Magni specifically, but Schiit have a habit of using ei-core transformers which have cons of introducing large amounts of interference to other components in the same circuit.
SlowCousinPetejust joined this drop from Malaysia. A magni 2 here is MYR740. thats USD175.
ordering from schiit website total about USD134(MYR566) including shipping, and any purchase we made online above MYR500 will be taxed another 10% upon arrival in Malaysia. Maybe we can avoid that tax but thats another story.
Also have to consider the fact Magni 3 also has some humming issue , then we will have to consider the exchanging policy if we got a lemon.
Meanwhile, this drop total to USD108 including shipping. And we can fix O2 ourselves if there is any problem.
Maybe this drop is meant for international market haha.
spronkThat sucks, how does the O2 get to avoid that 15% tax?
IMO the Modi Multibit/Magni 3 stack ($350 in the US) sounds *significantly* better than the O2/ODAC ($280 in US), without costing much more. The flexibility of getting to use the Magni 3 as a preamp is very important to me as well, I connected the preamp outs to my Stax amp. I can switch instantly from regular headphones to my Stax rig, or to my loudspeaker rig in the future if I want to go that way instead.
SlowCousinPeteIn this case it's just particular to NZ, we have a threshold below which imported items don't attract tax. But other countries have similar situations too.
O2/ODAC should be less than $280USD no? From Massdrop at least it's under $200 for the O2 + SDAC separates. But I do get the additional functionality of the Magni 3 is nice.
JackulaI mentioned output impedance. Noise and distortion are well below the audible threshold in both amps, so I don't see how that's important. I don't know about the transformer-induced interference you mention, except that that doesn't seem to reach audible levels either, and I'm not too concerned about theoretical problems I can't hear
SlowCousinPeteOutput impedance, noise, distortion, none of those are fixed. Schiit's own measurements are referenced at 1V, that 1/12th of the amp's total output. You may already well hear distortion and noise, but do not perceive it because there is no point of reference. Good amps can cost a lot, cheap amps are not necessarily bad, just not as good. Magni 3, O2, both are superb amps for the price, I just prefer the O2.
SlowCousinPeteFor now Malaysia will impose 10% tax if goods is above myr500 or about usd120.
Mayflower and jdslabs all are above that price for desktop configuration, not including shipping, which is at least usd20.
AdrianLI assume you are Malaysian. So if I purchase the O2 today, I will be paying about RM 440 with shipping to Malaysia and another 10% tax so about RM 500 ?
If that's the case, this drop is definitely more worth it than magni 2 which is rm740 here...
AdrianLI will be using the Dragonfly Red as my standalone dac since I am using my One plus 5 with it. So basically my whole setup is semi-portable I would say.
InfurnusXDyeah i can imagine. rm4k grey import. wonder when is it gonna be here.
Apparently v20 also shares the same dac/amp and thats RM1500-1700. Worth considering
InfurnusXDmost dac other than on board is sufficient. I would recommend Nuforce uDac-3 if you do not have any dac.
It only powered by USB, small, can use IEM with, has RCA out for O2. Not so expensive.
Unless you are exploring DSD source, uDAc-3 should be good enough for entry.
But unless you specifically need battery power/portability, for the same price you can get a Schiit Magni 3, which is three times the amp this is. The Magni 3 powers 2W/per channel RMS into 32 ohms, 1.3W into 50 ohms, 430mW into 300, etc. That's how many times more powerful? It's also a crystal-clear pre-amp. All that without losing any sonic performance. The O2 is a fine amp, and I predict it will always have a place among DIYers, but it's been completely and utterly outclassed at this price point, which is a good thing for all of us.