The Schiit Magni 3 Heresy headphone amp costs just £110, but the US company proudly states that "this is no starter amp."

Schiit's Magni 3+ was announced as being the highest performing discrete Magni ever, by any metric—power, distortion, or noise floor. However, the amusingly monikered audio specialist was looking for even higher measured performance and so turned to integrated (op-amp) designs - and so begat Heresy.

We're told that Magni 3 Heresy is the one to choose for excellent measurements from an all-op-amp based headphone amp that uses high-quality parts, including a multiple paralleled output stage with feedforward.

Furthermore, the Magni 3 Heresy sports preamp outputs so you can hook it up to your desktop powered monitors for a complete system or even connect it to a speaker power amp and use it as a preamp.

The tiny, 12.7 x 8.9 x 3.18 cm red and black case is perfect for desktop use with the Heresy claiming a 20Hz-20Khz, +/-0.04dB frequency response and 2.8W RMS per channel @ 16 Ohms. The compact case is home to an OPA1662 op-amp for voltage gain with local feedback and uses eight OPA1688s as output buffers with local loops, no overall loop feedback. Perhaps most importantly for those keeping score is the stated THD+N of 113-115dB at 1V RMS into 32 ohms.

With its built-in time-delayed start-up and instant shut-down, there'll be no glitches or pops through either headphones or speakers, either.

Also impressive at this price is that the vast majority of the total production of the Magni—chassis, boards, transformers, assembly, etc. is built in California with the PCBs being created in Nevada. Yes, the wall-warts are made in China, but there's some give and take at this price point. Moreover,  the Magni3 Heresy is covered by a limited warranty that covers parts and labour for two years.

Price and availability

The Schiit Audio Magni Heresy is available now for £110 inc VAT.

For more information, check out Schiit.