N.04
Pietus Maximus
Schiit making more parts and sending in 2 batches.
Sold Out Temporarily! (Schiit making more: schedule TBD)
Honey, I Swole the Piety
Jason Stoddard, the analog genius at Schiit Audio, got curious and wondered what a “big” version of the NITSCH × Schiit Magni Piety amp would sound like. So he built one…and it sounded great! He needed to share the discovery with somebody and kindly sent one to NITSCH. When we heard it, of course we wanted to launch it!
Family Values
Pietus Maximus is a (bigger) unique discrete solid state headphone amplifier and pre-amp. It is also a potential “all-in-one” DAC/Amp with Schiit’s latest and greatest internal DAC board modules.
Pietus Maximus shares the same new Continuity™ circuit design with programmable output stage as Magni Piety, but with bigger stuff: transistors, volume pot with a more advanced wiper system, beefier internal linear power supply (dual-regulated, post-filtered, more current), and some fancier silicon capacitors along with a ton of MELF resistors. Still has qualities of tubelike sound the Magni Piety is known for, with added refinement and utility.
A Higher Power (and a medium and a lower)
There are now 3 different gain settings to maximize usability. High gain has a lot more current for lower impedances (4.6W versus Piety’s 1.2W into 16Ω) and now the lowest gain gives you a better range and more play on the volume pot for sensitive headphones and IEMs.
I Am Number Four
There were 4 Pietus prototypes tested with the community to dial in the gain levels and the tubelike qualities that make this solid state circuit sound special. This is also NITSCH Product No. 4.
Just a coincidence? Yep! We hope you love it.
Launch details
115V and 230V versions! Power cords for US/CA, EU, UK, AU. There are a limited number of DAC cards available at NITSCH for launch: an ESS 9028 Sigma Delta Unison USB DAC card; and a True Multibit Unison USB DAC card. You can also buy cards (including a phono card) directly from Schiit in the “Upgrades” section.
Product highlights
- A new bigger variant of the Continuity™ circuit design as found in the NITSCH Piety amp, with programmable output stage
- Three-step gain switch for more power as well as less power than the original Piety amp, usuable with IEMs
- Dual regulated internal linear power supply
- Powder-coated aluminum top and steel bottom chassis in unique NITSCH colorway
- Designed by Schiit and hand-assembled by NITSCH in California
In the box
- 1 × NITSCH × Schiit Pietus Maximus 115/120V or 220/240V
- 1 × IEC power cable for US or UK or EU or AU
- 1 × Sigma Delta DAC or Multibit DAC with Unison USB (optional)
| Frequency response | 20Hz-20Khz, +/-0.1 dB | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum power | 16 ohms | 4.62W RMS per channel |
| 32 ohms | 4.2W RMS per channel | |
| 50 ohms | 3.15W RMS per channel | |
| 300 ohms | 600mW RMS per channel | |
| 600 ohms | 320mW RMS per channel | |
| THD+N | High gain | Less than 0.0003% at 2V RMS into 300 ohms |
| SNR | High gain | Greater than 120dB, A weighted, referenced to 2V into 300 ohms |
| Crosstalk | -85dB, 20 Hz-20 kHz in either gain | |
| Output impedance | 1.5 ohms | |
| Input impedance | 50K ohms | |
| Gain | High gain | 5.6x/+15dB |
| Medium gain | 1x/+0dB | |
| Low gain | 0.3x/-10dB | |
| Topology | Fully discrete, paralelled transistors, new take on Continuity with programmable output stage |
|
| Protection | Standard failsafe DC power input and muting relay | |
| Power supply | Internal 48VA transformer |
|
| Power consumption | 25W | |
| Size | 9" W x 6" D x 2" H | |
| Weight | 5 lbs | |
- How is this circuit "unique" if it is also used in the Magni Piety?
- Ah, you almost got us! The circuit is unique to both Piety and Pietus. Both have a new variant of the Continuity™ circuit along with a new "programmable output stage", which is the key to having some triode/tubelike aspects to the sound. Piety has a ton of small transistors paralleled, while Pietus uses fewer and bigger transistors. Pietus also ups the game with better power supply, volume pot, 3 gain levels (including negative) and some fancy capacitors and resistors.
- Again, why isn't Schiit selling this good Schiit??
- NITSCH was incredibly fortunate to be able to release the Magni Piety amp in 2022. Since Jason keeps inventing a plethora of new amp technologies and topologies at Schiit, NITSCH is able to carry the bigger version of this particular circuit now too. It's an incredibly exciting time in the NITSCHSchiitverse. We're waiting for the day we learn that this has all been reverse-engineered from ancient alien technology. Or Jason is an alien. Extraordinary results require extraordinary explanations...
- Which internal DAC card should I get?
- Oh, you had to ask. That is a tough one. To make things simpler, CEE TEE wanted to carry one DAC card. But it wasn't that simple. Both cards rock for different reasons and in the end, we're looking forward to hearing about all the DAC pairings the community likes. Will depend on headphone combos and preferences. The ESS Sigma Delta card is a great value and forward/punchy, while the new True Multibit DAC card has maximum space and euphony. Two different presentations with the same amp. We have about 30 of each card for launch. You can also buy a card later from Schiit and install yourself; it is about 14 screws to get the top off and the PCB out with a Phillips-head screwdriver and a 1/16" allen key or Torx TX6 driver to get the volume knob off. And of course, you can always use your own external DAC!
- How do I connect to the internal DAC card?
- Internal DAC cards are very simple- they only take USB-C for input. You'll need a USB-C cable between your computer and the DAC card (not included). Bonus: the USB implementation is Schiit's own proprietary Unison™ design which is born from Mike Moffat's dislike of most USB and his love of analog.
- What do you mean I can get a "phono" card from Schiit.com?
- If you would like to hook up your record player with a moving magnet cartridge directly to your Pietus Maximus, you can purchase an internal phono card from Schiit.com. The phono card does the passive RIAA conversion from vinyl and pre-amplification for a 100% analog experience.