Schiit Jotunheim impressions

@jexby , terrific description. I could thoroughly imagine the sounds.

 

So, I just sent the loaner out this morning. Unfortunately I only had that one real listening session due to real-life intrusions. So, what did I learn?

• Jotunheim feels effortless in its power and grip of the headphone. Like when I rode in a friend's rented Dodge Charger - hit pedal go fast. No strain. No delay. Sounded great turned up and great turned down, with a very smooth and balanced volume control. Very pleasant change from the digital volume control of the Pulse Xfi. Which leads me to...
• Pulse Xfi can't compete as an amp. Sounded sort of thin and uninspired in comparison. Which makes me think it's not just my ears - sometimes it really isn't that pleasant to listen to, especially with music that excites certain areas of the treble on the HD600.
• Pulse Xfi is very good as a DAC. Heard so much more of it through the Jotunheim.
• It resolved more. This is not just some EQ type of difference where now you notice that cymbal or guitar pick - the timbres were not changed, but there was simply more detail. Like having two photos where they are both perfectly in focus but one is using a better lens, if I can use a clunky visual analogy. Or perhaps the difference between Netflix HD streaming and the actual Blu-ray. Took some recordings from good to great (in subjective enjoyment) as a result.
• HD600 did not become a bass monster, but the bass was vastly improved. Xfi usually required some cranking to get bass going.
• Just super listenable. I would've liked to listen for several hours each day but had to attend to sick wife and other real life concerns.
• Did not get to perform any real comparison between HD600 vs HD650.
• Did not get to hook up my Technics SL1200 to the phono stage.
• I will buy a Jotunheim when funds allow. It makes me want to listen. Which is something after a day of work as an audio engineer.
• Now I'm really curious about the Schiit multibit DACs. If it is a similar difference in ease, effortlessness and natural presentation then I will just have a ball with the chain.

 

Multibit made a really nice difference for me... Sorry for your wallet. At least Modi Multibit is cheap.

 

I ordered an Yggdrasil and Jotunheim earlier today to pair up with my HD650. Can't wait to get the new Schiit in and warmed up and burned in!

 

Oh boy, it pairs up well with pulse xfi? The end of October can't come soon enough for me , I'm getting kinda dissatisfied with my Soloist so I guess I made the right decision to pull the trigger early.

 

Is there any consensus on the Jotunheim burn in time, or any changes?

 

When I listened to it, I plugged it in when I got home at 5:30PM and listened around 10PM. It sounded great. Maybe gets better. Doubt it gets worse. And I should mention it actually runs just barely warm. I'd imagine upper 80s or lower 90s Fahrenheit. So it's not like a big-ass amp stewing in its own heat.

 

I was definitely pleased with the Xfi+Jotunheim combo. And no disrespect but people seem to find the Burson totally "blah" around here. Looking forward to your impressions.

 

To be clear, that was me trolling GUTB

 

@schiit Does the Jotunheim deliver it's maximum power output on both Low and High Gain settings? I find the volume range of low gain, even with HE-6, to be more suitable for me.

 

I think listeners have two sorts of encounters with the HD800/HD800S, one is of the procto-facetweeter sort which I have experienced, and the other one is of pure magic which I have as well also experienced. Which outcome you will get seems to be as much chance as it is dependent on equipment involved. There may also be something to be said from a long and frustrating experience with the original HD800. I would imagine every part of my chain has been influenced by that struggle with the HD800. Tried them out with the Jot and my result was that they were as problematic as they were with any other amp. There is something about the HD800 sound color that just seems wrong or dated and I wouldn't recommend them nowadays with the Jot or probably with anything else.

In contrast I would characterize the sound of my HD800S via the Jot as smooth and accurate. I've tried a few other phones via the Jot such as the LCD-X, HD650 and the Elear but they are all leaving something from the Jot on the table in comparison to what I have with the HD800S.

There isn't anything I have tried so far that has not paired with improvement to the Jot. As testament to how good the Jot is, I set up my Bakoon - LCD-X pairing (which I had sworn was my endgame) for another listen and I have found the LCD-X via the Jot is superior. To be more resolving, controlled and present than the Bakoon at $400 is amazing, and I feel lucky to have taken a chance on this little amp.

 

Everything I read here makes me want to buy it, reports about pairing with HD800S and HD600 sound great and this little device has every in and out I need. I will get it eventually but bought too much, and much needed, stuff in the last two months, it has to wait a bit. Too bad.

 

I am finding it incredibly difficult to find a preference between my Val2 and the Jot. The pairing with 650 is fantastic. I'll be trying my 800 out later tonight.

So far, dynamics are impressive. Vocals, particularly female vocals are very clear and come through very nice on the Jot. I have to hand bass slam and vocals to the Jot and soundstage to the Val2. The Jot does seem to be the more aggressive amp.

 

I spent some time with the Jodie w/DAC and my Ether C, balanced cable. Wasn't impressed. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but I was expected a $1000 amp. It wasn't It was about as good as the Fostex HP-a4BL amp/DAC, which I thought might be better, and is cheaper. Sure, the Jodie has better specs, but the Fostex was pretty nice.

Now I did hear amps that clearly bested the Jodie. The Questyle CMA600i, the Tungsten, the GS-X mk II. Obviously not in the same price class as the Jodie. Here's what I posted on HF:

The Jodie compares directly to the Fostex. If I only had $400, I would consider the Fostex as well. Since i have more money, I will be looking at high priced amps that I thought were better. The Questyle CMA600i and possibly the Pro iCan, which was also very good. The Questyle might be best value for all in one at any price, whereas the Fostex and Jodie are pretty darned good values at under $500. The Pro iCan with its tube stage, variable bass boost, and 3D holo sound (sort of a very advanced, analog crossfeed like effect) is pretty good. If the iCan SE were balanced, I really consider that.

 

I couldn't find what DAC chip the Fostex used but what you're saying could come down to gear synergy. The Jotunheim is quite forward and agressive, so coupled with a relatively neutral/bright headphone, that might not be the best pairing. A Multibit DAC might improve things a bit but it's not going to completely change the sounds signature.

 

Schiit only has the Modi Multibit paired with the vali, which is not my choice of amp. I don't under stand why they won't pair the Jodie with their dacs at shows.

You are probably right on the synergy.

That all said, the questyle was pretty darned good, and I'm told the audio-gd NFB-28 is also pretty good

 

Schiit is playing up the all in one aspect of the Joti I suppose. It's its own stack.

 

Do you think Mjolnir 2 would be better pairing for Ether C 1.1s than the Jotunheim? Stock Tubes/LISST

 

Personally, I have put plans to buy an HD800S on hold until I can snag an alternative amp that would suit it better, to really bring out the HD800S' microdetail and smooth that slight sense of being thin and forward in the treble.. I can listen to and enjoy the 800S on my Jotenheim (gotta love the epic soundstage and instrument separation of the 800S), but you don't need to listen too hard to know that both amp and headphones can do better with more sensible pairings.

It would be a very poor decision to buy a Jot to drive HD800S. It's quite underwhelming synergy.. even some of Schiit's smaller tube amps would probably be better, despite being single-ended. However, don't take my or anyone else's word for it, give it a listen for yourself, if you can.

Don't mistake the effusive and bewildered outbursts of the randos (cough, cough) for useful breakdowns of the pros and cons from people who are known quantities with well-grounded and clearly documented preferences, plus a well-informed basis for comparison.

If you are looking for an amp for HD800S, start here:

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/best-amps-for-sennheiser-hd800.330/

Hope that helps!

That's extremely reductive and overly simplistic, if I may say so. Forgive me, but we're not in Kansas Head-Fi any more. Plenty of people have more nuanced reactions than that.

Sorry, but I find this simplistic, misleading and unhelpful too. Do you want to see AKG owners dead on the floor with smoke coming from their ears?

It's a great solid state amp, but blunt and sweeping generalisations like that aren't helping anyone. Apologies if this comes across as overly narky, but it's my understanding that the whole point of SBAF is to avoid poorly-substantiated assertions and hype, so that people have a better chance of making good choices.