Schiit Midgard vs Schiit Magni Unity Detailed Comparison

Schiit Audio Midgard vs Schiit Audio Magni Unity

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Midgard

Headphone Amplifier

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Magni Unity

Headphone Amplifier

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Midgard

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Magni Unity

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Midgard

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Magni Unity

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Midgard vs Magni Unity Headphone Amplifier Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Midgard and Magni Unity, two Headphone Amplifiers by Schiit Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Midgard and Magni Unity first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	Midgard	Magni Unity
Brand	Schiit Audio United States · founded 2010	Schiit Audio United States · founded 2010
Output power	5.5 W @ 16 ohms, 4.8 W @ 32, 3.2 W @ 50, 750 mW @ 300, 375 mW @ 600	3.0 W @ 16 ohms, 2.5 W @ 32, 1.5 W @ 50, 415 mW @ 300, 220 mW @ 600
Output impedance	0.1 ohms	0.1 ohms
Built-in DAC	No	Optional
Headphone output	1/4	1/4
Signal-to-noise	128 dB	122 dB
Frequency bandwidth	20 Hz-20 kHz	20 Hz-20 kHz
Weight	0.91kg / 2lbs	0.91kg / 2lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	1-1/2" x 9" x 6" 38.1 x 228.6 x 152.4 mm	1-1/4" x 5" x 3-1/2" 31.8 x 127 x 88.9 mm

The rest of this page covers where each one wins, how they compare in size, their inputs and outputs, the full specifications and a verdict.

Reasons to choose Schiit Midgard over Schiit Magni Unity

Headphone Output Power	4,800 mW @ 32 ohms vs 2,500 mW @ 32 ohms	More power drives harder-to-drive and higher-impedance headphones
Signal to Noise Ratio	128 dB vs 122 dB	Higher ratings results in cleaner sound
Total Analog Inputs	2 vs 1	More options for connecting Analog sources

Reasons to choose Schiit Magni Unity over Schiit Midgard

MSRP Price(*)	119USD vs 219USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Base Surface Area	112.9cm²/ 17.5inch² vs 348.4cm²/ 54.0inch²	takes less space in your room
Height	31mm vs 38mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces

Size, drawn to scale

Both amplifiers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.

One scale for both, aligned at the back panels the way they would sit against a wall, so the deeper one visibly stands further out.

Midgard needs about 209% more shelf area. Midgard is 64mm deeper - the measurement that decides whether a rack door closes.

Inputs and Outputs

The input and output selections that are offered is an important factor when comparing two amplifiers. Here you can find how the I/O selections of the Midgard and Magni Unity differs from each other.

Midgard Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 2
RCA Line Input
XLR Input Port

Magni Unity Inputs

Total Number of Analog Inputs: 1
RCA Line Input

Outputs

Preamp Outputs
1/4 Headphone Output
Balanced XLR Output

Outputs

Preamp Outputs
1/4 Headphone Output

Balanced connections

Midgard has balanced XLR connections and Magni Unity does not. A balanced cable carries the signal twice, on two conductors of opposite polarity. Interference picked up along the way lands on both equally and cancels when the two are recombined at the far end, so the longer the cable run and the noisier the surroundings, the more it is worth. On a headphone output it also gives each channel its own return conductor instead of the two sharing a ground, which lowers crosstalk between left and right. Whether it also yields more power depends on how the amplifier is built inside - some are balanced end to end, others convert to single-ended internally and deliver the same either way.

Midgard vs Magni Unity full specifications

Every spec we hold for both, side by side

Specification	Midgard	Magni Unity
Overview
Brand	Schiit Audio	Schiit Audio
Type	Headphone Amplifier	Headphone Amplifier
Output devices	Solid State	Solid State
Released	October 2023	November 2023
List price	$219	$119
Power and performance
Signal-to-noise ratio	128 dB	122 dB
THD	Less than 0.0001% (-118 dB) at 4 V RMS into 300 ohms, low gain	Less than 0.0001% (-116 dB) at 2 V RMS into 300 ohms, low gain
Frequency bandwidth	20 Hz-20 kHz	20 Hz-20 kHz
Digital and DAC
Built-in DAC	No	Optional
Inputs
Analogue inputs	2	1
RCA inputs	Yes	Yes
XLR inputs	Yes	No
Outputs
Preamp outputs	Yes	Yes
XLR outputs	Yes	No
Headphone output	1/4	1/4
Physical
Dimensions (H x W x D)	38.1 x 228.6 x 152.4 mm	31.8 x 127 x 88.9 mm
Dimensions, inches	1-1/2 x 9 x 6 inch	1-1/4 x 5 x 3-1/2 inch
Weight	0.91 kg (2.00 lbs)	0.91 kg (2.00 lbs)

A dash means the manufacturer does not publish that figure, or it does not apply. 18 specifications compared.

Verdict

Different price classes - Midgard costs roughly 1.8x what Magni Unity does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether you will hear the difference through the headphones you own.

Area	Better	Why
Noise floor	A	Midgard is the quieter design on paper - 128dB against 122dB. Audible mainly with sensitive headphones in a quiet room.
Built-in DAC	B	Magni Unity can take a DAC module; the other needs an external one, which is another box, another power lead and another purchase.
Analogue inputs	A	Midgard takes more analogue sources - 2 against 1.
Room to grow	evenly matched	The same expansion options on both.
Shelf space	depends	Magni Unity takes up about 68% less shelf area (113cm² against 348cm²), and it is 64mm shallower, which is the measurement that decides whether a rack door shuts.
Price	B	Magni Unity costs less - $119 against $219 at list.

A Midgard B Magni Unity
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both amplifiers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.

Which should you choose?

Midgard is ahead, but on only 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 84% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin - Magni Unity is the sensible buy unless a specific feature above decides it for you. If you already own a DAC or a streamer, the built-in one is money you are paying twice for, and Midgard becomes the more rational buy. Think about the whole system: the roughly $100 saved by taking the cheaper one would buy better headphones, which does more for the sound than the difference between two competent amplifiers.

What a spec sheet cannot show: how either sounds with your headphones, how the controls feel day to day, and whether the gain settings suit what you plug in. Power figures are the manufacturers' own and are not measured to a common standard, so treat small differences as noise. If you can hear both, that will tell you more than any row above.