Updated October 2026 · status and prices checked Oct 10, 2026.
Status in 2026
Schiit launched the Magnius in 2020 at $199 as its first budget balanced headphone amp. It’s no longer in Schiit’s lineup. The current Magni is the Magni (Unity) at $119, a single-ended amp, and Schiit’s balanced amps now start higher up with the Jotunheim 3.
If you want balanced output for under $300 in 2026, the best options are one-box DAC/amps rather than another Schiit separates stack.
Buy Instead
If you don't actually need balanced output: rated at 2.5 W into 32Ω and 415 mW into 300Ω for $119.
Balanced 4.4 mm output plus an R2R DAC for about $170. Covers most headphones and replaces a two-box stack.
The balanced power pick: rated at 6.4 W into 32Ω, with a DAC built in, for about $299.
Want to stay with Schiit and balanced separates? The Jotunheim 3 is the current balanced Schiit amp. See today's price for the Schiit Jotunheim 3 from Schiit ↗
| Magnius (discontinued) | Magni (Unity) | FiiO K11 R2R | Topping DX5 II | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Discontinued | Current | Current | Current |
| Price (Oct 2026) | Used only ($199 new) | $119 ($199 with DAC) | ~$170 | ~$299 |
| Balanced headphone out | 4-pin XLR | No | 4.4 mm | Yes |
| Power, 32Ω (rated) | 5 W bal / 2 W SE | 2.5 W | ~1.3 W bal | 6.4 W bal |
| DAC built in | No | Optional card | Yes | Yes |
Who should still buy a used Magnius: owners of headphones with 4-pin XLR cables who already have a DAC and find a working unit cheaply.
Who shouldn’t: anyone whose headphones use 4.4 mm cables (you’ll need an adapter), anyone without a DAC, and anyone who wants a warranty.
Buying a Used Magnius
- Test both headphone outputs (4-pin XLR and 6.35 mm) and both inputs.
- Check the volume pot at low levels for channel imbalance.
- Make sure the AC wall adapter is included. Schiit’s manual specifies a 14–16 VAC wall-wart and says only the supplied one is compatible.
The Original Review
Balanced Under $200
Before the Magnius, balanced headphone amps generally started well above $200. Schiit’s pitch was a Magni-sized amp with a fully balanced output at $199. It wasn’t the lowest-distortion amp at its price, but it offered real balanced output and a lot of power.
Design and Connections
The Magnius uses the same compact footprint as the Magni and Modius, so it stacks cleanly. The front has the volume knob, an input selector, a 4-pin XLR balanced headphone output and a 6.35 mm single-ended output. The back has RCA and XLR inputs, plus RCA and XLR preamp outputs that stay live.
There’s no 4.4 mm jack. Many newer headphones and aftermarket cables use 4.4 mm, so check what your cable ends in.
Power
Schiit’s published ratings at high gain:
- Balanced (4-pin XLR): 5 W into 32Ω, 1 W into 300Ω
- Single-ended (6.35 mm): 2 W into 32Ω
That’s more power than almost any headphone needs. A 300Ω HD 600 on 1 W balanced gets about 17 V RMS of swing, far beyond safe listening levels. The single-ended output alone matches a Magni.
Who It Suited
- Planar owners who wanted headroom for the Sundara or HE400SE. Today, see our Sundara amp guide and HE400SE amp guide .
- Headphones with balanced cables, such as the DT 1990 Pro or HD 600/650 with an aftermarket XLR cable. See the DT 1990 Pro amp guide and HD 600 amp guide .
- Stack builders who paired it with the Modius DAC.
Verdict
The Magnius was a smart buy for balanced-cable owners while it was on sale. It’s discontinued. For most people the Magni (Unity) is enough amp, and if you want balanced output, a one-box FiiO K11 R2R or Topping DX5 II is simpler and current. Our balanced vs single-ended explainer and best balanced headphone amps go further.
