Schiit Audio Wotan
With muscular 200W-per-channel delivery and a spacious, finely separated soundstage, Wotan brings uncommon authority to demanding loudspeakers. Cheap Audio Man found its midrange especially articulate, dynamic, and revealing of drum texture, while switchable feedback lets listeners choose a more incisive or relaxed presentation. Dual-mono construction, clean transient definition, and Forkbeard monitoring complete a seriously accomplished powerhouse.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
91/100
Build Quality
93/100
Value for Money
90/100
Pros
Clean, highly separated midrange with strong detail retrieval and more clearly defined images than the comparison amplifier.
Switchable feedback provides meaningful voicing flexibility, from a more incisive and intense presentation to a more laid-back balance.
Substantial 200W/8-ohm and 400W/4-ohm output, dual-mono architecture, and practical system-health monitoring offer high-end capability at its price.
Cons
Forkbeard app control was iOS-only at the time of review, with Android support still forthcoming.
One comparison noted a hint of sibilance that was not present through the Emotiva monoblocks.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 91/100
Listening impressions describe a clean, highly separated and involving presentation, with particularly strong midrange insight, transient definition and spatial organization. Its switchable-feedback voicing offers a useful choice between a more intense, clearly delineated sound and a more relaxed presentation.
Transparency Resolution
91/100
The reviewer heard less smearing and more clearly defined midrange information than with the Emotiva comparison amplifier. Drum textures and the initial attack of toms and kick drum were reported as notably easier to hear, pointing to strong low-level articulation.
Tonal Balance Musicality
89/100
The Wotan was characterized as somewhat midrange-forward, detailed and aligned with the reviewer's preferred amplifier sound. Feedback engaged brought a more intense, direct presentation, while disengaging it made the sound more laid-back, allowing owners to tailor the character.
Dynamics
91/100
The reviewer found it more dynamic than remembered from Schiit's Vidar and heard added dynamic weight at the bottom end. Its 200W-per-channel 8-ohm and 400W-per-channel 4-ohm ratings, alongside dual-mono power supplies, give it substantial on-paper reserves for demanding speakers.
Soundstage Imaging
92/100
The listening setup was praised for outstanding soundstage scale, separation and nuance rather than presenting a flat wall of sound. The reviewer also said the amplifier made it easy to 'see into the music,' indicating convincing depth and organization.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
93/100
This is a notably substantial dual-mono design, using separate 600VA transformers, 160,000uF of filter capacitance, 24 Toshiba output devices and separate supply rails per channel. The 54-pound chassis, side heatsinks, thermal monitoring, controlled fan system, balanced and RCA inputs, and Forkbeard control integration suggest unusually thorough engineering for its price.
Value for Money
90/100
At $1,999, the Wotan brings high power, dual-mono construction and extensive monitoring/control facilities to a comparatively accessible high-end price. Ecoustics specifically highlights Schiit's domestic, affordable high-end approach and high level of performance, while the review impressions support its competitiveness against more conventional alternatives.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
Online Reviews & Mentions
YouTube Reviews
Forum Mentions
No forum mentions found yet
Specifications
- Power
- tons and tons; plenty for pretty much any pair of speakers on the planet
- Noise
- inaudible at the listening position, if fans are running, music drowns them out
- Distortion
- inaudible, 10-100x lower than any speaker you're using
- Heat
- amp gets moderately warm at typical volumes, can run very warm when run loud; fans will turn on. Runs cold when in Standby.
- Size
- compact for a 2 x 200W amplifier, but not desk friendly
- Power Output (Stereo, 8 Ohms)
- 200W RMS per channel
- Power Output (Stereo, 4 Ohms)
- 400W RMS per channel
- Frequency Response
- 20Hz-20Khz, +/-0.03db, 3Hz-500KHz, +/-3dB
- THD
- <0.02%, 20Hz-20KHz, at 200W RMS into 8 ohms, feedback on: 0.2% with feedback off
- IMD
- <0.03%, CCIR, at 200W RMS into 8 ohms, feedback on. 0.3% with feedback off
- SNR
- >124dB, A-weighted, referenced to full output, feedback on; 120dB with feedback off
- Damping Factor (No feedback)
- >30 into 8 ohms, 20-20kHz
- Damping Factor (With feedback)
- >50 into 8 ohms, 20-20kHz
- Gain
- 20 (26dB) with feedback on, 40 (32dB) with feedback off
- Input Sensitivity
- AKA Rated Output (Vrms)/Rated Gain. Or, 40V/20 with feedback, or 40V/40 with no feedback. You do the math.
- Input Impedance
- 47k ohms
- Crosstalk
- >90dB, 20-20kHz
- Inputs
- SE RCA or balanced XLR, front panel switchable
- Topology
- Nexus™ differential current feedback, switchable for no overall feedback
- Control and integration
- Forkbeard™ Bluetooth remote control with temperature and current reporting, real-time power meters, and control of input, feedback, and Standby
- Oversight
- microprocessor-controlled monitoring and management of critical operational points, with with relay shut-down for overcurrent, thermal, and other faults
- Power Supply
- two 600VA transformers with complete dual mono architecture, plus boosted, discrete CFP regulated supply to input, voltage gain and driver stages, plus separate, isolated and regulated rails for microprocessor management
- Power Consumption
- 1200W maximum
- Size
- 16” x 13” x 3.875”
- Weight
- 54 lbs
- Audio Precision Report
- APx Test--Wotan.pdf
Manufacturer's Description — Schiit Audio
Bring back big—power, that is! At 200W stereo into 8 ohms and 400W into 4 ohms, the all-new Wotan will drive virtually anything. And, at the same time, it’s the most advanced amp we’ve ever built, with true dual-mono design, switchable no overall feedback, intelligent temperature management, and Forkbeard™ control and integration.
Dual Mono. Totally Overbuilt.
Wotan starts with two separate 600VA transformers, for a completely dual mono amplifier design. Add 160,000uf filter capacitance. 24 150W Toshiba output devices, 7 internal power supply rails per channel, and two fans that only kick in when you need them, and you get an insanely capable amp, designed for driving difficult speakers without breaking a sweat.
Nexus™ Differential Topology, Switchable Feedback
Like Tyr, Wotan is a differential Nexus™ amplifier, our unique current-feedback design that is inherently balanced. To this, we added a new trick: switchable feedback. Use the front panel button (or Forkbeard) to turn overall feedback on or off, for better synergy with more systems.
Intelligent Oversight, Silent Fans
Wotan includes internal sensors for current, temperature, DC, and other operational parameters. A 32-bit microprocessor manages and protects the amp in case of any fault, for near-bulletproof reliability. Wotan also adds two fans—which normally stay off. When temperatures climb, the fans switch on—slow at first, then building to full speed if necessary. That way, you’ll never hear them over the music.
Forkbeard™: System-Wide Control, Visibility, and Optimization
We saved the best for last—Wotan also includes Forkbeard, for system-wide control with a broad range of Schiit products. Forkbeard gives you instantaneous power output, allows you to switch feedback, change inputs, and trigger Standby mode remotely, provides system health alerts for over-temperature and over-current...and that's just the start.
Designed and Built in the USA
By “designed and built in the USA" this is what we mean: we design our products in Texas and California, and we make our products right here, too. The vast majority of the production cost of Wotan—chassis, boards, transformers, etc—goes to US companies manufacturing in the US. And it all comes together in our San Antonio, Texas facility.
5-Year Warranty and Easy Return Policy
Wotan is covered by a 5-year limited warranty that covers parts and labor. And if you don’t like your Wotan, you can send it back for a refund, minus 5% restocking fee, within 15 days of receiving it.
15-Day Satisfaction Guarantee
Try Wotan for 15 days. If you don’t like it, send it back for a refund, minus a 5% transaction fee. Try spending 15 days in an audio store. They’ll kick you out. Unless you buy them donuts. Maybe.
Verified Dealers
Online Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Schiit Audio Wotan
- 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)