Schiit Audio
Schiit Audio is an American privately held manufacturer of high-fidelity audio electronics for headphone and speaker systems.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Schiit Audio, commonly known as Schiit, is an American audio-electronics company founded in June 2010 by Jason Stoddard and Mike Moffat. The company develops and manufactures equipment aimed primarily at the audiophile market, with a product portfolio spanning digital-to-analog converters, headphone amplifiers, integrated DAC-and-amplifier units, preamplifiers, equalizers, speaker amplifiers, and related components. It is privately held and is based in California, with additional manufacturing operations in Texas. The company entered the market with a focused set of headphone amplification products. Its Asgard and Valhalla amplifiers were announced on June 1, 2010, before their respective launches in July and August of that year. Schiit followed with the Lyr, a high-power hybrid headphone amplifier announced in December 2010 and made available in 2011. These early products established the company's emphasis on dedicated listening equipment rather than mass-market consumer electronics. Schiit's first digital-to-analog converter was the Bifrost, announced in June 2011. It was notable for a user-upgradable architecture: customers could purchase or install optional upgrade cards intended to improve the DAC or USB functionality as digital-audio technologies developed. This modular approach became an important part of the brand's product philosophy and helped distinguish its standalone components from less serviceable consumer devices. The company's DAC range later expanded to include products such as the Modi, Modius, and Gungnir. These devices accept digital sources through interfaces including USB and S/PDIF, then convert the signal to analog output for use with a separate headphone amplifier, speaker amplifier, or other audio component. Schiit has used digital converter components from several semiconductor suppliers, including ESS Technology, Analog Devices, Texas Instruments, and, historically, AKM Semiconductor. A fire at AKM's primary manufacturing facility in November 2020 disrupted the supply of AKM audio integrated circuits across the industry. Schiit subsequently moved toward alternative components, including ESS parts. In August 2021, the company released an upgrade card using an ESS ES9028 device as a replacement for an earlier card based on the AK4490. This reflected both the modular design of some Schiit products and the broader supply-chain effects of the AKM facility fire. Schiit's positioning centers on dedicated, technically oriented audio hardware for enthusiasts seeking separate components and upgradeable systems. Its products are commonly used in headphone and desktop audio chains as well as in more conventional speaker-based systems. The available reference material identifies the company as active, privately held, California-based, and supported by manufacturing operations in Texas; it does not provide reliable information about current ownership, revenue, executive changes, or a specific official website URL.
History
Schiit Audio was established in June 2010 in the United States by Jason Stoddard and Mike Moffat. From the beginning, the company concentrated on high-fidelity electronics for audiophiles, especially customers building separate headphone or desktop audio systems. Its first announced products were the Asgard and Valhalla headphone amplifiers, introduced on June 1, 2010. The Asgard was scheduled for release in July, while the Valhalla followed in August. These products gave the new company an initial identity centered on dedicated amplification rather than general-purpose consumer audio. In December 2010, Schiit announced the Lyr, a high-power hybrid headphone amplifier. The product combined design characteristics associated with tube and solid-state amplification and was expected to become available in March 2011. The Lyr broadened the company's early amplifier range and reinforced its focus on specialized headphone listening. Schiit moved into digital conversion in June 2011 with the Bifrost. A digital-to-analog converter changes digital audio data from sources such as computers and other electronic devices into an analog signal that can be sent to an amplifier. The Bifrost was designed as a standalone component and was offered with a modular upgrade concept. Optional cards could provide updated DAC or USB functionality, allowing owners to modify the unit as relevant technologies changed. This user-upgradable structure became one of the more distinctive aspects of Schiit's product approach. The company's DAC portfolio subsequently included the Modi, Modius, and Gungnir, alongside the Bifrost. Schiit DACs have supported digital inputs such as USB, coaxial S/PDIF, and optical TOSLINK, depending on the model. Their outputs are intended for connection to headphone amplifiers, speaker amplifiers, or other analog audio equipment. Schiit has designed products around converter components supplied by companies including ESS Technology, Analog Devices, and Texas Instruments. Earlier products and upgrade cards also used components from AKM Semiconductor. The semiconductor supply environment changed after a fire at AKM's primary manufacturing facility in November 2020. The event affected the availability of AKM audio integrated circuits and required audio-equipment manufacturers to reassess their component choices. Schiit began shifting toward ESS components. In August 2021, it released an installable upgrade card using the ESS ES9028, replacing an earlier card based on the AK4490. Because the Bifrost and related products were designed around replaceable modules, this transition could be reflected through an upgrade path rather than only through a wholly new product. Schiit also develops and produces preamplifiers, equalizers, speaker amplifiers, and combination DAC-and-amplifier products. Its overall range supports both headphone-centered and speaker-oriented systems, while retaining the brand's emphasis on separate components and enthusiast control over the signal chain. The company is described as privately held, headquartered in California, and supported by additional manufacturing operations in Texas. The available source material does not establish a current ownership structure, revenue figures, public listing, or current executive roster beyond identifying the two founders.
- 2021
ESS-based upgrade card released
[1]Schiit released an upgrade card using the ESS ES9028 converter to replace an earlier AK4490-based card.
- 2020
AKM manufacturing disruption
[1]A fire at AKM's principal manufacturing facility disrupted the supply of AKM audio chips used by Schiit and other audio manufacturers.
- 2011
Bifrost DAC announced
[1]Schiit announced the Bifrost, a standalone and user-upgradable digital-to-analog converter, in June 2011.
- 2010
Company founded
[1]Jason Stoddard and Mike Moffat founded Schiit Audio in June 2010 as a specialist manufacturer of high-fidelity audio electronics.
- 2010
Asgard and Valhalla announced
[1]Schiit announced its first two products, the Asgard and Valhalla headphone amplifiers, on June 1, 2010.
- 2010
Asgard launch
[1]The Asgard headphone amplifier was scheduled to launch on July 21, 2010.
- 2010
Valhalla launch
[1]The Valhalla headphone amplifier was scheduled to launch on August 15, 2010.
- 2010
Lyr announced
[1]Schiit announced the Lyr, a high-power hybrid headphone amplifier, on December 28, 2010.
Products and positioning
A specialist audiophile brand focused on dedicated, modular, and technically oriented audio electronics for headphone, desktop, and speaker systems.
Headphone amplifier · 2010
Asgard
The Asgard was one of Schiit Audio's first products and formed part of the company's initial headphone-amplifier range announced in 2010. It is intended as a dedicated amplification component for headphone systems rather than as a general-purpose consumer audio device.
Headphone amplifier · 2010
Valhalla
The Valhalla was announced alongside the Asgard as one of Schiit's first headphone amplifiers. Its launch in August 2010 helped establish the company's early focus on specialized high-fidelity headphone equipment.
Hybrid headphone amplifier · 2011
Lyr
The Lyr is a high-power hybrid headphone amplifier announced by Schiit in December 2010. It expanded the company's early amplifier offering and was designed for audiophile headphone systems requiring a dedicated, high-output component.
Digital-to-analog converter · 2011
Bifrost
The Bifrost was Schiit's first digital-to-analog converter, announced in 2011. It converts digital audio into analog output for connection to an amplifier and was designed around an upgradeable architecture, with optional cards for DAC and USB functionality.
Digital-to-analog converter
Modi
Modi is a Schiit digital-to-analog converter line. Like the company's other DAC products, it is intended to receive digital audio from sources such as computers or other devices and provide analog output for a separate amplifier or audio system.
Digital-to-analog converter
Modius
Modius is a standalone Schiit DAC product line designed for digital audio systems using interfaces such as USB or S/PDIF, depending on configuration. It serves as a source-conversion component in headphone or speaker setups.
Digital-to-analog converter
Gungnir
Gungnir is a Schiit standalone DAC line for audiophile systems. It is positioned as a separate digital-conversion component that can feed a headphone amplifier, preamplifier, speaker amplifier, or other analog equipment.
Brand decisions
2021
Shift from AKM to ESS converter componentsStrategyBackground
A fire at AKM Semiconductor's primary manufacturing facility in November 2020 disrupted the availability of AKM audio integrated circuits.
Action taken
Schiit moved toward alternative converter suppliers and released an upgrade card using the ESS ES9028 in place of an earlier AK4490-based card.
Aftermath
The change preserved an upgrade path for applicable modular products while adapting the brand's DAC hardware to a changed component-supply environment.
Sources1 sources
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