Schiit Audio Gjallarhorn F
The Gjallarhorn F brings low-noise clarity, focused bass and nimble, neutral drive to desktop and small-room systems. Paul Rigby found its near-field soundstage wide and clean, with articulate detail and real musical momentum. Add a second unit for mono operation and this compact Class A/B amp gains greater dynamic authority without surrendering its tidy footprint.
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Nicely Roasted
Sound Quality
89/100
Build Quality
88/100
Value for Money
93/100
Pros
Exceptionally clear, low-noise near-field presentation with wide, well-separated imaging.
Focused, impactful bass and a balanced, neutral tonal character suit music, film and desktop listening.
Flexible stereo-to-mono design: a pair delivers more dynamic headroom and convincing larger-room performance.
Compact chassis offers strong value and practical desktop placement.
Cons
A single stereo unit can strain in larger rooms and lacks the scale, bass foundation and power reserve of bigger amplifiers.
Mono operation requires a balanced preamp and compatible cabling, adding potential system cost.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 89/100
Reviewers find the Gjallarhorn notably clean, neutral and engaging, particularly in a desktop or near-field role. Its strongest traits are clarity, focused bass and generous separation; stereo operation has less scale and reserve than a larger conventional power amplifier, while a bridged pair substantially expands its authority.
Transparency Resolution
92/100
Paul Rigby repeatedly praises impressive clarity and a notably low-noise presentation, hearing subtle electronic textures that had previously been obscured. Vocals are described as articulate, open and coherent, while cymbals retain audible reverb amid busy arrangements.
Tonal Balance Musicality
89/100
The presentation is consistently described as neutral, balanced and free from distracting coloration. Reviewers also found it musically involving rather than sterile, with enough bass weight and emotional nuance to keep speech and music engaging in near-field listening.
Dynamics
86/100
In stereo, the compact amplifier can sound fast, nimble and surprisingly bombastic, with tight, impactful bass. However, reviewers also note that its 10W-per-channel output can strain and lacks the relaxed reserves of a larger amplifier; bridged mono use is reported to bring a major increase in drive and dynamics.
Soundstage Imaging
90/100
Reviewers hear strong instrumental separation, real space between performers and a wide, clean soundstage. The stereo unit does not fully match the depth and large-scale presentation of a bigger amplifier, but its near-field spatial performance is repeatedly praised as expansive and well organised.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
88/100
The Gjallarhorn uses a fully linear Class A/B design rather than Class D, with reviewers noting its substantial transformer-derived weight despite the compact chassis. Its discrete Continuity S output stage, substantial specified power supply and protection circuitry suggest purposeful engineering, while the small footprint is especially practical for desktop systems.
Value for Money
93/100
At $299 per unit, reviewers see the Gjallarhorn as unusually capable for its price, especially when a pair is bridged into 30W monoblocks. One reviewer calls the pair genuine giant killers with incredible value, though another notes that $600 for two units may still stretch a tight budget and balanced-source requirements can add system cost.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
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Specifications
- Power
- plenty for pretty much any speaker when used on a desk, and for most speakers when used in a room
- Noise
- insanely low, no hiss or hum even when used on a desk
- Distortion
- inaudible, 10-100x lower than any speaker you're using
- Heat
- amp gets slightly warm at typical volumes
- Size
- same size as Asgard, Jotunheim, Bifrost 2; very desk-friendly
- Power Output (Stereo, 8 Ohms)
- 10W RMS per channel
- Power Output (Stereo, 4 Ohms)
- 15W RMS per channel
- Power Output (Mono, 8 ohms)
- 30W RMS
- Frequency Response
- 20Hz-20Khz, +/-0.01db, 3Hz-500KHz, +/-3dB
- THD
- <0.004%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 1V RMS into 8 ohms
- IMD
- <0.005%, CCIR, at 1V RMS into 8 ohms
- SNR
- >117dB, unweighted, referenced to full output
- Damping Factor
- >100 into 8 ohms, 20-20kHz
- Gain
- 10 (20dB)
- Input Sensitivity
- AKA Rated Output (Vrms)/Rated Gain. Or, 9/20. You do the math.
- Input Impedance
- 20k ohms SE, 40k ohms balanced
- Crosstalk
- >80dB, 20-20kHz
- Inputs
- L/R RCA jacks for stereo input, single XLR for mono input
- Topology
- Continuity S output stage; fully discrete, fully complementary current feedback, no capacitors in the signal path
- Oversight
- over-current and over-temperature sensors with microprocessor-based protection
- Power Supply
- 80VA transformer, 30,000uF filter capacitance, plus boosted, CFP-regulated supply to input, voltage gain and driver stages
- Power Consumption
- 80W maximum
- Size
- 9” x 6” x 2.5”
- Weight
- 8 lbs
- Audio Precision APx555 Report
- Gjallarhorn
Manufacturer's Description — Schiit Audio
Ever wanted an ultra-high-end speaker amp—in a compact size perfect for desktops and smaller rooms? Have you wished for a dead-silent, no-hiss amp for nearfield listening—that’s still capable of driving most speakers to lease-breaking levels? Wish no more. Welcome to Gjallarhorn.
Less Power, More Better
There are plenty of big-number amps out there, but how much of that do you really use? How loud before the neighbors complain? How old does the constant hiss of a high-gain amp get with the speakers a few feet away? Gjallarhorn was designed to deliver exceptional performance, without the downsides. Or, as we put it: less power, more better.
Exotic, Fully Discrete Topology
Gjallarhorn may be smaller than our other amps, but that doesn’t mean it skimps on quality. It features an exotic, fully discrete, current feedback gain stage with our exclusive Continuity S™ output stage, as well as a fully linear power supply—including a toroidal transformer with stacked rails and 30,000uF of filter capacitance. No Class D, no switching supplies, no fans. Pick it up—it’s a heavyweight!
Forkbeard™: Power Output, System Health, Remote Standby
Add Forkbeard to Gjallarhorn, and you'll get all the benefits of the only multi-product, multi-stack, unified control system. One app gives you complete visibility of instant power output, health alerts, remote control of Standby mode, and integrates with many other Schiit products for advanced capabilities like Visual Volume™.
Flexible for Desktop and Beyond
Combine Gjallarhorn with any of our headphone amps to add power for nearfield monitors, or pair with Saga 2 for an exceptional small-room system. Have balanced preamp outputs? You can use them with a pair of Gjallarhorns, for additional power and capability.
Designed and Built in the USA
By “designed and built in the USA" this is what we mean: the vast majority of the total production cost of Gjallarhorn—chassis, boards, assembly, etc—goes to US companies manufacturing in the US. Our chassis are made in California. Our PCBs are made in California or Nevada, and it all comes together in our San Antonio facility.
5-Year Warranty, Easy Returns
Gjallarhorn is covered by a 5-year limited warranty that covers parts and labor. And if you don’t like your Gjallarhorn, you can send it back for a refund, minus 5% restocking fee, within 15 days of receiving it.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Schiit Audio Gjallarhorn F
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Addicted to Audio — online and in-store — Epping, Victoria, Australia (website)
- Audio Magic - EU — online and in-store — Wola, Województwo mazowieckie, Poland (website)
- Class D Audio USA — online — United States (website)
- Golden Acoustics — in-store — Athina, Greece (website)
- Schiit Audio — online and in-store — Los Angeles, California, United States (website)
- The Analog Shop — in-store — Victor, New York, United States (website)