In Barn for Review: Schiit Ragnarok 2 Nexus Integrated Amplifier (Fully Loaded)

In Norse legend, Ragnarok was the “end of the world.” Spring is in the air. What better time to review an end of the world integrated amplifier from Schiit Audio? 

The Schiit Ragnarok 2 Nexus Integrated Amplifier — Fully Loaded — means that, in addition to an integrated amplifier, the Ragnarok also includes a MM phono preamp and a True Multibit DAC. There’s also headphone amplifier delivering full speaker power to the balanced headphone outputs. Let’s call this a full fun(tion) integrated amplifier.

New for the Ragnarok 2 is Schiit’s differential Nexus™ gain stage that converts single-ended inputs to balanced outputs, and balanced inputs to single-ended outputs—in a single gain discrete gain stage, without gain differences between modes, and with good performance in all modes.

The front panel offers everything you need for hands on operation including a power button, source selection, volume control, headphone gain, and those single-ended and balanced headphone jacks.

The Ragnarok 2 delivers 60W into 8 ohms and 100W into 4 ohms, 24W into 32 ohms for the balanced headphone jack, and 6W into 32 ohms for the single-ended headphone jack with selectable gain to mate with whatever ‘phones you choose to plug in.

The Ragnarok looks like a Schiit component, albeit a bit more dressed up as compared to their lower cost models with its curved steel chassis that comes in silver or black. A nice chunky matching, if you picked silver, metal remote is included.

heatsinks run down either side keeping things cool

The Ragnarok is designed and built in California, which is in the USA.

In an interesting twist of fate, Schiit makes a full suite of measurements of the Ragnarok, and other products, available as a PDF for interested parties. I view this as very useful information as it goes a long way in showing that the Ragnarok is a well engineered and executed piece of kit. Armed with this kind of data, buyers can rest easy, along with reviewers, without fear of being called out for enjoying something that doesn’t measure up to some people’s expectations.

Here’s the opening Note from the PDF:

This is a test of a representative sample. If you have measurements that differ significantly from these, first check your analyzer and setup carefully, and (ideally) see if you can replicate the results on another analyzer. If the odd results persist, contact [email protected] so we can have a look.

As more people offer measurements as part of reviews, which can have very mixed results as we’ve seen in Certainly Uncertain Parts One and Two, other manufacturers may want to consider following Schiit’s lead. Best case scenario, this will help improve the current signal to noise ratio.

Schiit Ragnarok 2 Nexus Integrated Amplifier
Price
: $1499 amp only | $1799 fully loaded

Specifications

Power Output, Speaker Outputs:

8 Ohms: 60W RMS per channel
4 Ohms: 100W RMS per channel

Power Output, Balanced Headphone Output:

32 Ohms: 24W RMS per channel
50 Ohms: 15W RMS per channel
300 Ohms: 3W RMS per channel
600 Ohms: 1.5W RMS per channel

Power Output, Single-Ended Headphone Output

32 Ohms: 6W RMS per channel
50 Ohms: 3.75W RMS per channel
300 Ohms: 750mW RMS per channel
600 Ohms: 375mW RMS per channel

Frequency Response: 20Hz-20Khz, -0.1db, 3Hz-350KHz, -3dB
THD: <0.01%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 100W RMS into 8 ohms
IMD: <0.01%, CCIR, at 100W RMS into 8 ohms
SNR: >115db, A-weighted, referenced to full output
Damping Factor: >80 into 8 ohms, 20-20kHz
Gain: 2, 8, or 25 (balanced, half those gains through headphone SE output)
Input Impedance: 10k ohms
Crosstalk: >95dB, 20-20kHz
Inputs:

(2) pairs XLR balanced inputs
(1) RCA single-ended input
(2) Module slots, one small and one large

Topology: Nexus™ differential current feedback with nested differential stages
Oversight: microprocessor-controlled monitoring and management of critical operational points, with relay shut-down for DC, overcurrent, thermal, and other faults
Power Supply: 600VA transformer with dual mono main rails, plus boosted, regulated supply to input, voltage gain and driver stages, plus separate, isolated and regulated rails for microprocessor management.
Power Consumption: 500W maximum
Size: 16” x 13” x 3.875”
Weight: 32 lbs

Company Website: Schiit Audio