Schiit Happening! Why the Tiny & Inexpensive Rekkr is a Brilliant Pocket Power Amp!

Don't be distracted by this small stereo power amplifier's unusual name - Mike and David reckon it's a thing of sonic beauty! In this week's episode, the guys sing the praises of this neat little US-designed and built desktop amp.
Despite its diminutive dimensions and very low power output, the guys reckon it sounds better than it has a right to - and love the high quality build, finish and overall packaging.
Each episode of Hi-Fi Riff features Mike and David's unedited, unexpurgated views about all manner of weird and wonderful hi-fi designs.
Business executive Mike has a wealth of knowledge from previous hi-fi retail experience, and David has written about hi-fi for thirty years. Now Editor-in-Chief of StereoNET, he's picked up a few things along the way.
So relax and enjoy some one-take hi-fi riffing - and please leave your comments below. And don’t forget to hit the Subscribe button, this one goes up to eleven!
The eighties-tastic title tune is called ‘UFO/Mike’s Jumper’, and used with the express permission of our old pal and rights holder Simon Lythe.
Follow Hi-Fi Riff on Instagram here: hifiriff

[@zjzozn]

Wow Amstad & Schiit together for the first & last time 🙂

[@MrVinylista]

Yes, something that you will never see on KZbin anywhere else!😀

[@Corndog642]

My living room system uses a Schiit Modi Multibit dac into a Saga + preamp using a LSST “tube” and then a Gjallerhorn amplifier. This set up sounds way better than it should for the money! Schiit is a great company that cares for its employees and its customers.

[@JordanPhegley]

Thanks for reviewing a piece of Schiit! Great fun as always.

[@razisn]

It would be fun pairing this amp with some huge horns... Nice mug, David it reminded me I have a Triumph bike in the garage which I haven't ridden for years.

[@gaborozorai3714]

That inscription on the PCB: "LESS POWAH. MOAR BETTAH" :) Got to love it.

[@timothyfreeseha4056]

I think an amazing company, and one that understands what the audio eco system in current times with this current crop of audio enthusiasts needs to move forward. Also, that it is produced in its country of origin is a nice touch.

[@MrVinylista]

Spot on.

[@nigesavage5548]

I have the Schiit Lokius EQ in my main system and it's absolutely brilliant. I haven't heard any of their other products but I can't imagine they'd be anything other than great, and amazing value for money. Thanks for a classic pun-tastic episode gents, great stuff as always!

[@scottbaylor6215]

I picked up the G-horn not too long ago for my home office. I love it. I was afraid this guy wouldn’t cut it. But perhaps I was wrong.

[@attrktmarketing4582]

Pure juvenile fun. Thanks. 😊

[@mikeyevs]

Always! Mike

[@gaetancharbonneau3902]

I got the Schiit Lokius tone control... It looks good, works perfect and cost very close to nothing in HI-FI terms. A great product from a great company with a tremendous business model. No middle man, you buy direct and it can be returned under certain conditions.I'd give it a 9.9!

[@TonyCottrell-iv2qv]

Another great riff. And you have disproved an allegation I have seen elsewhere that Schiit are changing their name because YT censor any mention of their names. Bonus points for use of expression 'Heaven forfend'!

[@mikeyevs]

I'm not sure we are helping their cause! Mike

[@rabit818]

I have a Fostex speakers similar to RadioShack. Wish a newer speakers were used.

[@bartketelbuters542]

those speakers look alot like the old Realistic Minimus 7 speakers

[@dougg1075]

Love the dark fin things. If it was full size it would look awesome. Could drive my Heresy IV’s to deafening levels I’m sure.

[@lazgrillo6982]

Top vid gents. Proper chucklevision. Aren't Schiit rebranding to call themselves S ? I've always thought it would be like a British manufacturer calling themselves Knob. The US reviewers never smirk when they describe their knob feel.

[@hmurchison8123]

It's so small i'm scared i might lose my Schitt if i'm not careful.

[@mikeyevs]

Schiit happens. Mike

[@geoffadams590]

Not sure where to start... however another entertaining and informative Riff, thanks chaps. 'This Schiit cannot be poo-poo'd'.... I never thought I'd hear that one-liner on this channel :) There should be a Rush 'ting' every time a Schiit pun was made. Quite left-field pairing which obviously does rather well. A quick interweb search cannot find Amstrad LS101 speakers for sale anywhere!

[@mikeyevs]

I know! I looked before the video was released as I want a pair! (don't tell David!). Mike

[@geoffadams590]

@@mikeyevs I reckon DP got in there first and bought them all up for his Museum of HiFi Curios

[@LoFiHarmonic]

In case you’re still monitoring the comments, I prefer the Rekkr to the Gjallarhorn, which I also own. The Rekkr has a laidback but dynamic sound that fits sharper sounding speakers like Proac Super Tablettes to a T. Also good with Sequerra Met7, not so much with LS3/5A (as expected), Wharfedale Diamond, or Optimus LX5. Next up to try: KEF LS50s, small Klipsch, SF Concertino and Linn Kan (you never know!) I’m taking my sweet time with the Proac’s, though. They’re so alarmingly good with the Rekkr!

[@Hi-FiRiff]

Super Tablettes!! Fabulous. Mike

[@markkinsman5013]

The high end hifi system as designed by Spinal Tap.

[@englishrogue2649]

Weren't the Amstrad ghetto blasters nicknamed within the company as 'the mug's eyeful'?

[@dean6816]

I'm guessing those little JBL speakers would be a good pair with the Schitt.

[@timbre7999]

Lovely video! How about Monitor Audio Monitor Ones from the 90s, would they work well with this amp?

[@peterrichardson9248]

Where do you buy these in the UK? Never found any of their equipment for sale in the UK.

[@gotham61]

Instead of getting two for dual mono, you're better of with a Schiit Gjallarhorn amp which has 10 wpc for the same price as 2 Rekkrs.

[@MrVinylista]

True, but I rather like the hardcore geek chic of two really low powered monoblocks!

[@kenlyon8285]

@@MrVinylista Don't forget... Schiit makes a tiny matching passive preamp (Sys) and DAC (Modi) so you have the option to really press your luck with a full stack of underpowered lilliputian cuteness.

[@mikeyevs]

Great point... Do you give two shiits or do you just stick to your shiit? Mike

[@crazyprayingmantis5596]

We need more amps with dsp built into them

[@menfallinloveandwomenmakeplans]

Well done, chaps on another review of interesting stuff which most people have probably never heard of, or thought of. However I do have the personality of your grannie and I would not buy equipment from a company named Sch... I mean, what is the next step, giving people the name Sch... ? "I would like to introduce you to my girlfriend/mother/co-worker. Her name is Sch...."

[@Unicorn-ST]

Did it not occur to you to try it with larger speakers, like the Yamaha NS1000 seen in the video? For me, the intriguing aspect of these systems isn't how they behave with small speakers; it's what they are capable of doing with decent speakers.

[@Hi-FiRiff]

It couldn't drive the Yamahas I'm afraid. Mike

[@gotham61]

The speakers look very similar to the Realistic Minimus 7

[@MrVinylista]

Yes, very. We're doing an episode on the Amstrad LS101 vs. Realistic Minimus 7 later this year. Could be our least popular video ever, but I really want to do it!

[@kenlyon8285]

​@@MrVinylista yes but all four of us would be massively entertained!

[@MrVinylista]

@@kenlyon8285 Absolutely! I'm getting my LS101s and Minimus 7s rebuilt with high quality internal wiring and fancy crossover capacitors first. Can't wait! Then again, I could also take the crossovers out and put them in an epoxy-lined breakout box - that would be even sadder! Help me, someone please.

[@kenlyon8285]

Outboard crossovers! Yes! ❤❤❤

[@gotham61]

@@MrVinylista And replace the wiring with Kondo silver wire

[@gotham61]

Schiit, with a C in addition to a second I.

[@mikeyevs]

Fair point! Mike

[@robertorodriguez2609]

Beavis and Butt-Head 😂

[@MrVinylista]

Heh heh!

[@ronlysons6750]

I'm Still interested in the V111 super.

[@MrVinylista]

Mike, he hasn't forgotten!

[@ronlysons6750]

@@MrVinylistaGood, because it's easy to forget at he's age. I am a genuine buyer. The ones I've seen are not the Super version, it would be a shame not to put it to good use. I'll even offer to sell it back to him if he wants cheaper than he sold to me and I. And I can pay cash. I want one for a second system, my main system is Bluesound Node Streamer, Classe Pre Amp, Avondale T series SE230 Monoblock amps and Kef R5 speakers, sounds pretty good. . I like your channel, partly because it comes over as an hobby and not an industry. Mike comes over as a really nice chap. I like you both, but I like Mike better because he has a Super V111 for sale.

[@jarekharmening8993]

Maybe I missed it but where did the review cover how this amp actually sounded?

[@nathanmayer87]

Most of the comments on sound start at 11:38

[@mikeyevs]

It sounded like good schiit. Mike

[@joebian4065]

Just buy the amp...it's awesome

[@nickevans3190]

I've watched and subscribed to your channel right from day one and with the greatest respect would you please give some consideration that there are other DAC's in the world other than CHORD I do very much appreciated how good Chord DAC's sounds however once again please consider other ones for future Riff', keep up the great work lads

[@joebian4065]

I use my Rekkr with a modded jolida dac..

[@joebian4065]

I use my Rekkr with a pair of icon audio mfv 6 speakers..have just ordered a pair of mfv 2s to go with Rekkr I have a number of tripath amps and this Rekkr trounces them! Amstrad speakers? Really? Show the Rekkr some respect and you will treated to the most wonderful music...

[@robertleitch2016]

Forgive me for being neutral on the subject of the Rekkr, but I'm taken with the these Amstrad Lavatory Series speakers. I'll give my formulaic comment, as in Poor Man's [insert name of idiosyncratic and obscure hi-fi component]. In this case the LS101s are a Poor Man's Ceol PSL15.5. Think aluminium-cased Kans, made in Dublin. So rare they've even escaped from the internet. Also, could the LS101s and Monitor Audio BM100s be related? They look very similar.

[@hoobsgroove]

That doesn't sound right it should be 4 watts per amplifier giving you a total of 8 watts when bridge

[@razisn]

The theoretical maximum power into the same nominal speaker load when bridging amps is 4x not 2x. 3X is realistic.

[@hoobsgroove]

@@razisn exactly that's what I said

[@MrVinylista]

It's 2x 2W or 1x 4W per amp, RMS into 8 ohms. Sorry if this wasn't clear.

[@hoobsgroove]

@@MrVinylista it's the same thing as what I said... 4 watts per amp when bridged, will give you 8 watts for 2 amplifiers

[@MrVinylista]

@@hoobsgroove Yes. In other words, much more power than Mike's Naim NAIT 1. 😀

[@playbackvintagehifihunter9669]

This episode is full of crappy puns which have left a bad taste in my mouth.