The Schiit Gungnir is the kind of DAC that makes you forget you're evaluating a piece of equipment and just... listen. Balanced from the ground up in a way that genuinely matters — not a marketing checkbox — it delivers a wide, unhurried presentation with real dimensionality to the soundstage and a naturalness to transients that lets acoustic instruments breathe. Bass has authority without bloat, the midrange is present without being pushed forward, and the top end has that fragility that separates good digital from great digital. Schiit's Adapticlock architecture does real work here — there's a solidity to the image, a quiet background that lets low-level detail emerge without effort. A DAC that rewards long sessions and doesn't try to impress you in the first thirty seconds.
Production
2012-2016
Condition
10/10
Serial No.
C060176
Orig. MSRP
$849
Factory Specs
DAC Chipset AKM AK4399 × 2 (one per channel, hardware-balanced configuration)
Input Receiver (SPDIF) Crystal Semiconductor CS8416
Input Receiver (USB) C-Media CM6631A (Gen 2 USB)
Clock Management Adapticlock™ — automatically selects VCXO or VCO regeneration based on source quality
Topology Fully discrete, JFET-input, DC-coupled from input to output; differential summing for single-ended output
Output Impedance 75 ohms
Maximum Output Level 4.0V RMS (balanced XLR); 2.0V RMS (single-ended RCA)
Frequency Response 20Hz–20kHz, ±0.1dB; 1Hz–100kHz, -1dB
THD <0.002%, 20Hz–20kHz, at full output
IMD <0.002%, CCIR
SNR >112dB, referenced to 2V RMS
Digital Inputs Coaxial RCA SPDIF, BNC SPDIF, Optical SPDIF, USB (optional, field-upgradable)
Input Capability Up to 24-bit/192kHz on all inputs
Analog Outputs One pair XLR balanced; two pairs RCA single-ended
Power Supply Dual regulated supplies — separate analog and digital sections
Power Consumption 20W
Dimensions 16.0 × 2.4 × 8.8 in (W × H × D) [converted from 406 × 60 × 223mm]
Weight 8.82 lbs (converted from 4kg)
Documentation
Schitt Gungnir Owner's Manual
Liner Notes
"Gungnir has the most advanced clock regeneration of any DAC, our Adapticlock™ system," Mike Moffat said. "No matter the quality of the source, Adapticlock automatically chooses the ideal system for regenerating the clocks — VCXO or VCO. In this way, we can lock to virtually any source and provide excellent jitter rejection."
Gungnir is also a hardware-balanced DAC, with two AKM4399 D/A converters, fully discrete analog section and differential summing for single-ended output. Its analog stage offers DC coupling from input to output, as well as high operating voltage and low-noise JFETs for excellent THD and noise performance.
Schiit Audio expects to ship Gungnir in August 2012, at a retail price of $749 without USB, and $849 with USB. Gungnirs ordered without USB can be upgraded to add the USB input at any time for $150. In the future, Schiit Audio will make selected upgrades available for Gungnir when there are meaningful changes in USB or D/A conversion technology.
Packing
Prepare to be impressed. We have arguably the best packing process around. We use our InstaPak machine and white open cell foam to build a custom enclosure for your piece that ensures that it's stable and secure. If it is particularly fragile or heavy, we typically opt for private courier delivery. Depending on where you are in the country, that may cost a bit extra.
Shipping
This piece ships to the contiguous United States for a flat rate of $75, which includes our packaging and our insurance. Of course, we'll ship anywhere in the world, just drop us a line and we'll give you an estimate – even if you're just curious.
Stock No.
9679700263133
