Schiit Jotunheim impressions

I only checked it with balanced. I can try the SE tonight, but I had a similar thought: maybe you can't get an XLR jack that can detect when something's plugged in?

 

Ding ding ding!

Switched TRS jacks are fairly common--the signal runs from one side of the jack to the other until the headphone is plugged in, which lifts the contacts physically and disables the line output.

Switched XLRs do not exist (or at least I know of none). Which means you'd either need a physical switch (where--look at the board and the back panel) or you'd need some complex, invasive, and perhaps sound-compromising way of detecting what is connected and switching to the appropriate input.

Bottom line: we get people who are really mad that most of our products mute the preamp outs when headphones are plugged in, AND we get people who are really mad that some of our products don't mute the preamp outs when headphones are plugged in.

 

You got everyone covered, then!

 

Question, you guys keep saying the internal option is no good compared to better DACs like the multibit offerings, but it's gotta be better than a Modi Uber 4396 yeah?

 

Maybe? (not sure if it switches in the proper way to make that work)...

http://www.neutrik.com/en/xlr/nc3fbv2-sw

 

Nope. 4-pin needed, right angle, all pins switched. Doesn't exist. We use Neutrik, very familiar with the line.

 

Connectors with built in switching contacts are just asking for trouble in my opinion unless you plan on the regular maintenance necessary. Having dealt with full size and tt jack-fields in studio patch bays I can tell you there is a reason specialized burnishing tools exist.

 

Ignoring the balanced factor for a moment, I know I have a slight preference for the 4396 over the 4490 ... at least as it pertains to the Bifrost Uber vs. 4490. Now, I'm using cans that tend towards a heavier bottom end, which probably doesn't help, but there's some bloom to the 4490 which was, initially, very agreeable, but over time has become a bit less so.

I think that one could come down to personal signature preferences.

 

Newbie. Appreciate all of the comparisons. Looking to pull the trigger on a new amp. Anyone compare Asgard 2 to Jot yet?

 

Oh wow I'm a space cadet today. Of course you needed the 4-pin... I have no idea why I was thinking the inputs at the back. Ugh, I've been dealing with city by-law inspectors all day with no sleep. Time to clock out my brain.

 

No worries, I was surprised at the Neutrik link. I figured if such a thing existed it would be a little-known manufacturer that we have no experience with.

If there was a 4-pin version of this from Neutrik, we'd still be boned, unless we wanted to add more relays for output selection--and then you get into space issues on the already-packed board.

 

An alternative for auto-switched balanced is to use two 1/4-inch TRS jacks. I'm not advocating this, and it's not a popular standard, but it is a way to do it.

 

Would be nice if this could work on my DAC2 and not potentially cause damage to the amp or my headphones.

 

One of our AZ group is getting a Jotunheim just in time for our meet on the 10th. Can't wait to connect it balanced to my Yggdrasil to hear it.

 

Seconded. The AK4490 has better technicalities than the AK4396/4399 but drives a mile back in tone. The bloom is real, the more treble is real. Treble is less digital but there's more of it than neutral. Definitely a V-shaped DAC chip with Chifi bloom and Japan-fi treble though.

 

If only the headphone world picked 5-pin XLR instead*, since I'm sure there must be proper switching choices there since it's used in stage lighting.

*you'd think someone would have thought that including shield in there would have made sense, alas I blame AKG

 

An alternative would be to use xlr cables with a built in on/off switch.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Switched-...Balanced-Cable-NC3FXS-Mic-Leads-/172244439567

They are made for microphones but I'm sure they'll be fine as interconnects. Not the most elegant solution since you have to switch twice but far cheaper then the price of XLR switch boxes and passive preamps I've been seeing.

Edit:

Or keep your cables and just add in line switches.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/408141-REG/Hosa_Technology_GMS_274_GMS_274_In_Line_XLR.html

 

For us lazy people.



When I went to buy these for my speakers (when I was using the Valhalla 2) the clerk even gave me a weird look like "are you really that lazy?"