Schiit Asgard 3 Modular Continuity User manual

MODULAR CONTINUITY HEADAMP & PREAMP
ASGARD IS THE CITY OF THE GODS IN NORSE MYTHOLOGY.
ASGARD IS ALSO A HEADPHONE AMP, PREAMP, AND
CAN BE A DAC OR PHONO PREAMP AS WELL.
IT’S UP TO YOU WHICH IS COOLER.
JUST DON’T EXPECT IT TO RUN COOL.
CONTINUITY AMPS RUN WARM.
HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A HOT PLATE FOR YOUR COFFEE.
ASGARD
OWNER’S MANUAL
TM

Asgard 3 is the rst complete re-imagining of
the amp that started it all for us, way back in
June 2010. It’s the third in our line of modular
headphone amps and preamps (the others
being Jotunheim and Lyr 3). Asgard combines a
current-feedback topology and our unique
Continuity™ output stage and a modular
architecture that allows you to add a DAC,
phono preamp, or future modules. Forget the
built-in obsolescence of other amp/DACs, and
enjoy your time with Asgard 3!
INTRODUCTION
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
(1) Asgard 3
(1) Power cord
(0) Stick-on feet (they’re pressed in!)
The following is required by the roughly 9,542
government agencies and regulations we have to
comply with. If you have some common sense, they
should seem pretty straightforward. In any case, read these
instructions before proceeding farther, follow all instructions,
and heed all warnings. Or else!
1. If you don’t know how to install audio devices, get a
qualied professional to help.
2. Never use this device near water, and clean only with a
dry cloth.
3. Assure adequate ventilation, do not block any ventilation
openings, or place near heat sources.
4. Use only the supplied power cord or suitable replacement.
Route cords away from trafc areas and protect them from
being pinched. Unplug the cord from the outlet if the apparatus
is unused for a long period of time.
5. To prevent electric shock, do not use the plug with an
extension cord, receptacle, or outlet unless blades can be
fully inserted.
6. Refer all servicing to qualied service personnel. Service is
required when the device has been damaged, including cord or
plug damage, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into
the device, the device has been exposed to rain or moisture,
does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR
ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS DEVICE TO
RAIN OR MOISTURE.

GETTING STARTED
Since this isn’t a tube amp, there’s not much you
need to get started.
If you don’t have any optional module (that is, you
bought your Asgard 3 as “just an amp,”) you just
need to connect your source and headphones:
1. Use RCA cables to connect to your analog source
to Asgard 3’s RCA inputs. Asgard 3 won’t run so well
without a source.
2. Connect headphones to the Asgard 3’s head-
phone output. Asgard 3 will run very happily without
headphones, but unless you’re using the amp as
only a desk-warmer, you’ll want headphones to con-
nect to the Asgard so you can hear something.
Note: Be careful with TRRS-terminated headphones
(usually ones with microphones)—you will need a
specic TRRS-to-TRS adapter for those.
3. If you are using Asgard 3 with external powered
monitors, you will also need RCA or RCA-to-XLR
cables to connect the preamp outputs.
If you have an optional DAC module, you may also
need to connect your digital source.
a. Use a high-quality, USB 2.0-rated cable of 2M or
less in length.
b. On some Windows machines, you may
need drivers, available at schiit.com/drivers.
If you have the optional phono card, you may also
need to connect your turntable.
a. Using short, high-quality, well-shielded cables,
connect your turntable to the phono card inputs.
b. Also connect the turntable ground to the ground
post with a short, sturdy wire.
c. Note that the phono preamp’s gain is xed at
42dB, input impedance is 47k, and load capacitance
is 100pF.

4 Input Switch. Up selects the module input (DAC
or phono). That is, if you have a module. If you
don’t have a module, up doesn’t do anything.
Down selects the rear panel analog RCA inputs.
5 Headphone Jack. Plug your headphones in here.
There ain’t no fancy balanced or fake-balanced
connectors on this amp—it delivers full power
through a standard 1/4” jack. If you have 1/8” jack
headphones, get an adapter.
Note: Plugging in headphones mutes
the preamp outputs.
1 Vents. Asgard 3 runs 500mW of Class A bias
(for 32 ohm loads), so it runs plenty warm. Don’t
block these vents, and don’t spill your Chardonnay
in them, either. Nor coffee. Nor Coke. Or let your
cat throw up in it. You get the basic idea, right?
2 Volume Knob. Turn it to the right to make
the music louder. Stop before it hurts. Or your
headphones smoke. Seriously.
3 Gain Switch. Up is high gain. Down is low gain.
No surprises here. Use low gain for sensitive
headphones—that is, if you hear hiss or don’t have
enough volume control range.
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CONTROLS

4 Preamp Output. Connect these to your powered
monitors or speaker power amplier with high-
quality RCA cables. If your powered monitors
have XLR inputs, you can use RCA to XLR cables
to connect to them.
5 On-Off Switch. Up is on. Down is off. Nothing
very complicated here.
6 AC Input. Plug the power cord in here. Plug the
other end into an outlet of the correct voltage.
Trying to run a 115V product on 230V will blow
the fuse and generally make for a bad, bad day.
1 Card Input. If you have a module installed, the
input for the module will be here. If you don’t have
a module installed, it will be covered.
2 Ground Lug. If you have a phono card installed,
there will be a ground lug here. You will probably
need to connect it to your turntable ground for
minimum hum.
3 RCA Input. Connect your source here with
high-quality RCA cables. Alternately, you can
use cheapie cables, but if you have a problem,
remember that we’ll ask you to check cables rst.
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CONNECTIONS

I hear hum through the headphones.
You may have a ground loop. To x a ground loop,
try a ground loop isolator or an EbTech HumX. If
it’s low-level hum and noise, you can use Lo gain
to reduce it.
There’s no sound for a while after I turn it on.
That’s perfectly normal. Asgard 3 has a built in
start-up delay (and instant shut-down.) It’s set to
20-30 seconds to let the output stabilize.
There’s no sound with the input switch
in the top position.
Do you have the optional DAC or phono card? If
you don’t, you won’t get any sound.
I get weird noises when I use my cheapie earbuds
that have volume control on them.
Right. Those are TRRS headphones. You need a
TRRS to TRS adapter for those. Continuing to use
TRRS headphones without the right adapter can
cause functional problems as well. Seriously, get
the right adapter.
FAQ
Can I leave Asgard 3 on all the time?
You can. It won’t catch on re or anything, even
though it runs warm.
My computer doesn’t see the DAC card via USB,
what’s up?
Go to schiit.com/faq/dac-problems and
schiit.com/faq/usb-problems for digital system
troubleshooting.
I’m having hiss and hum from the phono card,
how do I x that?
Start at schiit.com/faq/phono-problems for phono
troubleshooting tips.
It doesn’t turn on, what do I do?
Plug it in to a different AC socket. Ensure you are
not currently in a blackout. Then email us if it still
doesn’t work.

Schiit Audio warrants to the original purchaser that this product shall be free from defects in material and workmanship for
ve (5) years from the date of purchase. If a defect covered by this warranty occurs during this period, Schiit Audio will repair
the defective product, free of charge. Date of purchase will be based on customer receipts, otherwise date of manufacturing
will be used.
If you believe you need warranty service, contact us rst. Schiit Audio products sent back to us without a Return Authorization
(RA) will be returned to the sender without repair. To contact us and obtain an RA, email [email protected].
Warranty Limitations. This warranty shall not apply if a product: (a) is modied or tampered with; (b) is damaged by
negligence, accident, unreasonably use, or other causes unrelated to defective materials or workmanship, or (c) has had the
serial number altered or removed.
Any implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and tness for a particular purpose, are hereby limited in
duration to the warranty period of 2 years. In no event shall Schiit Audio be liable for consequential or incidental damages
resulting from the breach of any implied or expressed warranties. Some states do not allow these limitations, so they may not
apply to you. You may also have other rights which vary from state to state or province to province.
5-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
Application for Council Directives 72/23/EEC
Conformity declared for EN60065, EN50082-1

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