MicroSonic MS-3 with Schiit Rekkr amp

[PhotoXplorer]

Hey everyone,

I've had a pair of MicroSonic MS-3 Series-II teeny tiny speakers for my desktop setup that I have really enjoyed. I have them paired with a sub and they sound pretty good. I'm trying to keep my system as small as possible, yet get some good quality sound. My current setup is simple and is built around these speakers and some of the Schiit Audio's gear:
computer -> Schiit Audio MODI E3 -> Schiit Audio SYS -> Schiit Audio LOKI -> Fosi Audio BT30D amp

I'm no audiophile (yet) and am learning about all these things, so pardon the questions below if they sound silly.

The reason I use the amp listed above is to have a built-in crossover system to power a sub since the little speakers don't have enough humph. It's a class-D amp with some slightly noticeable noise and I'd like to refine the sound (I'm always adjusting the equalizer).

The Schiit Rekkr amp seems very attractive to me, but I have no clue if my existing speakers will be too hard to drive for the little amp. There isn't much info/spec on these speakers and I don't have the skills/tools/bandwidth to do some sensitivity measurements. Maybe these speakers can't sound any better... maybe they'll benefit from a better amp. I don't know.

Before I hit "buy" and regret, would anybody have opinions on pairing unknown sensitivity speakers like these to a low wattage class AB amps like the Rekkr?

The back of the speakers have some specs, which could be marketing verbiage to make me think they are high-ish sensitivity speakers, but my knowledge is limited:

• 4½" FREE-EDGE AIR SUSPENSION WOOFER <- "air suspension" that must be easy to drive right?
• 2½* HIGH INTENSITY MICRON TWEETER WITH ACOUSTIC SOUND DIFFUSER
• ELECTRONIC CROSSOVER AT 3,000 HZ
• POWER CAPACITY:
  • 4 WATTS MINIMUM RMS <- would the Rekkr in mono (4W for 8 ohms) technically be enough?
  • 50 WATTS MAXIMUM RMS
• FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 40 TO 20,000 HZ < would a crossover, effectively taking away frequencies below ~120Hz help the Rekkr drive the speakers better?
• NOMINAL IMPEDANCE: 4 TO 8 OHM < so which is it?

Is this a fool's errand? (I would need to re-think the sub crossover too I think)

 

[dcgibby]

Short answer probably need something with a little more power. Not much, but something like the Gjallarhorn would be in the same ballpark. Double the price, but the Rekkr is being discontinued thus the low price.

It doesn't look like any of the Schiit speaker amps provide a subwoofer connection.

 

[PhotoXplorer]

Short answer probably need something with a little more power. Not much, but something like the Gjallarhorn would be in the same ballpark. Double the price, but the Rekkr is being discontinued thus the low price.

That's a decent point... thanks for the input.

The Gjallarhorn has x2.5 the watts (10W per channel at 8 Ohms) than 2 Rekkr in mono (4W per channel at 8 Ohms).
The Gjallarhorn used to be the same price as 2 Rekkr, but it's now x1.5 more $198 today.
The Gjallarhorn would be silver, matching my current silver setup.
The Gjallarhorn is 3 times as voluminous as 2 Rekkr, which I thought I could nestle under each speaker (the speakers are on desktop stands). It'd be hard to fit the Gjallarhorn on my desk in the current layout.

Much to consider!

 

[krautmaster]

You can't put anything on top of the Gjallarhorn, it needs room to let the heat out... if you meant putting the speakers on a separate shelf above the Ghorn then that would be fine.

 

[J English]

I think go for the Gjallarhorn to be sure you have enough power, I don't think the Rekkr will be as good as the Fosi you have now.

I have one on order, but in black, and they aren't shipping for a couple of weeks. Last I heard, silver ones are available now.

 

[PhotoXplorer]

You can't put anything on top of the Gjallarhorn, it needs room to let the heat out... if you meant putting the speakers on a separate shelf above the Ghorn then that would be fine.

Ok, nothing on the Gjallarhorn, that's another issue. The Rekkr would fit under each speaker, which are on stands (plenty of room with the Loki underneath). But that's a moot point if we don't think they'd be enough to drive these speakers even in mono.
I gotta say, it does make this photo from the Saga page confusing, since it's stacked on a Modius which is stacked on a Gjallarhorn...

 

[PhotoXplorer]

I think go for the Gjallarhorn to be sure you have enough power, I don't think the Rekkr will be as good as the Fosi you have now.

I have one on order, but in black, and they aren't shipping for a couple of weeks. Last I heard, silver ones are available now.

That seems to be the consensus so far... I'd have to re-organize my desk to make it fit though, hence my penchant for the Rekkr. Maybe I'll make a Gjallarhorn cardboard mockup to play around with. It'd be easier if I could stack the rest of the stuff on the left side of the Gjallarhorn (away from the radiator fins).

 

[krautmaster]

Ok, nothing on the Gjallarhorn, that's another issue. The Rekkr would fit under each speaker, which are on stands (plenty of room with the Loki underneath). But that's a moot point if we don't think they'd be enough to drive these speakers even in mono.
I gotta say, it does make this photo from the Saga page confusing, since it's stacked on a Modius which is stacked on a Gjallarhorn...

They just stuck them together for a photo... never put anything on top of an amplifier if you want it to last.

From the Schiit website FAQ's on the G Horn:

Can I stack this with your desktop headphone amps?
Some of them, yes. It might get a little too hot sitting on top of an old Asgard 1, but Asgard 2 and Jotunheim are usually fine (and the exact same size as Gjallarhorn.) In this case, you’d stack Gjallarhorn on top. It may not work so well in warm rooms (over 25 degrees C).

Can I stack with your preamps?
Saga is exactly the same size, but it has a tube sticking out of it. You can always run them side by side in many equipment racks.

 

[PhotoXplorer]

Ok, that makes sense.
Now if I go this route, I’ll have to find a different way to separate the lower frequencies to send them to the sub.