Schiit Jotunheim impressions

Phew! Finally caught up to the end of the thread. When the Jot first came out, I wasn't really looking at SS amps. But when I did my Schiit amp and does the HD650 really scale comparo, I had a listen to it since peeps were saying it had great synergy with the HD650. Pretty sure I'll go for the Modi Multibit/Jot combo eventually. Just need to check how the Andromedas sound out of the Jot. And save up some money. And maybe a stripped down SE version stackable with the Modi Multibit will be out by then.

 

I'm planning to get a Jot with DAC combo. I have seen some users here who said to get only the amp without the dac, if so which dac should I get that is around the $100-200 mark? Balanced of course. Currently running my HD800S through a STXII and I've auditioned the Jot via balanced out with balanced input via AK240, totally loved it.

 

The consensus is that the Modi Multibit is the DAC to get for the Jotunheim (but they are about $250). It is single ended, but because of the topology of the Jotunheim you will lose almost nothing by going that route.

I'm probably not the right person to say this, but it is customary to introduce yourself here: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/new-members-introduce-yourself.17/ before posting elsewhere on the forum

 

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...f-important-message-to-existing-members.3670/

 

''Balanced ofcourse'' and ''100-200 bucks'' don't go in the same sentence. Balanced starts to matter well after 1k$.

 

Gotcha

That's all good mate.

That's why I asked here. Looked through Schiit's website and the balanced dac starts at $850, the Gungnir. Is the $100 balanced DAC for Jot that bad? Unfortunately the only store that sells it in Melbourne doesn't have a Jot with DAC for auditioning.

 

@Cruxiaer it's not that the delta-sigma type DAC in the Jot is bad. It's just that the Multibit type DACs that Schiit makes are that good. The single ended Modi Multibit is $250; the balanced Gungnir Multibit is $1250. So the Modi Multibit (aka Modi Multibit) is a relative steal since you don't need a fully balanced DAC for the Jot.

 

Balanced or not balanced matters pretty much when you really have almost nothing else to worry about. Forget balanced.
Priority chain for dac: a proper proven string or R-2R dac --> output buffering quality(toobz, or jfets or crappy opamps or no buffer at all not in any particular order) --> filters(Nyquist, min phase, NOS etc) -->quality input (CDP or anything hihg end to spidf) --> bit depth --> ... bunch of other shit ..... --> balanced.
FYI Jotunheim from Yggdrasil (a balanced dac where 'balanced' is meaningful and sometimes worth sweating over) via balanced connection is only slightly better than using SE.
There are tons of information written about Modi Multibit vs almost every other noteworthy dac here. Sniff around.

 

yoooooooo

so I'd been putting off making this like 20 foot long balanced cable for my Jot -> HD650s because I'd read it was only a minor change but I finally got around to it and this is fuckin lit

very nice improvement in bass impact

 

First listen to the Jot today. What immediately stands out is how precise and tightly controlled the presentation is. If the Valhalla 2 is like having an alcohol buzz, in the way that echo and reverb lingers a bit longer and more loosely, as if you have the faintest sensation of being underwater... the Jot is like taking uppers: intense focus and no time for nonsense. I'm really enjoying it so far. It kicks ass for high intensity digital-heavy production like Death Grips. I like both amps; the Valhalla is more relaxing and the Jot is more aggressive, so can easily see both filling specific moods for me. If you like uppers... try the Jot!

 

As a spergy uppers person I can confirm

And also ad(h)d that you'll probably prefer the HD650 without rear foam

 

Heh. I do. That's what's on my head right now. HD650 with dynamat placed according to KISS mod but no rear foam.

 

Same exact thing here actially, nice

Got a thx00 on the way too because I heard it's a nice pair with the jot

 

Does anyone have a Fostex Th-x00 mahogany with Schiit Jotunheim? My DAC is Modi MB.
Do they pair well?
Considering to jump on the mass drop today. The thx00 have a permanently attached cable, should I wait for a e-mu teak drop instead?
My other HP are HD650 & T90. Also considering Focal Elear in the future, possibly HD800.

 

I have a TH-X00 and Jot. They sound fantastic together. There is definitely a bass emphasis but the speed/control/slam are all top notch while not sacrificing mids or treble. They do have a slight treble unevenness but it's still the best audiophile basshead headphone in my opinion. I'd take the TH-X00 over the 600 or 900 anyday.

 

Thanks!
Now, should I get These THX00 or should I wait for another E-mu Teak drop to get the removable cable...
How hard is it to re-cable the THX00?

 

Get the TH-X00 if you want to save a couple bucks. Recabling difficulty is entirely dependant on your skills. Since the TH-X00 is dual entry I think you can just cut to desired length and reterminate with whatever you choose. Someone else can clarify if I'm mistaken.

 

Gonna try Vali 2 and Valhalla 2 as pre amps for the Jot tonight for shits and giggles. (I know Marv said the Valhalla isn't transparent enough in his opinion, but I don't have a Saga.)

 

@Torq did a good post on his here.

Seems like there are other posts on this but I am not finding them atm (or maybe I am misremembering that).

 

This is a first pass attempt but my initial impressions are that I do not like the Valhalla 2 as a pre-amp for the Jotunheim (using SE out to HD650M). When separate, the Valhalla 2 highlights the euphoria of tracks and the Jot highlights the energy signature of tracks. The Val reproduces instruments and the space they contain by adding 3D realism to their sonic qualities* such that vocals take a back seat to and can be swept up by vibration and decay (akin to the vocals in a Radiohead track -- they're more like part of the music than the focus). The Jotunheim presents vocals in a crisp aggressive manner that reminds me of hip hop where instrumentation is part of the "beat" and supports or sets the rapper's pace. These amps produce different sensations when listening, both pleasurable; the former engrossing and the latter invigorating, deep relaxation vs toe tapping. You'd think that subtly blending the two would create the best of both worlds but the combination shortchanges both amps to my ear.

The combination "improves" the Jotunheim in the sense that the Valhalla 2 adds height to the soundstage, but this comes at the expense of 1) the full immersion of the decay and placement of instruments from the Vallhalla and 2) the energy and attack of the Jot. So it doesn't maintain the best qualities of either amp, it just rounds everything out. The result is sort of bloated or fluffy sounding, but worse, mostly boring. You lose the spatial immersion of the Val and the immediacy of the Jot. A few times per track I'm teased by glimmers of the aspects I like about the individual amps, but this is just irksome; I would rather listen to the amps separately.


* The Valhalla 2 clearly has a taller and deeper soundstage than the Jotunheim so you can better place yourself relative to sounds you hear in 3D space (e.g. "I hear someone talking 2 feet behind and 3 feet to the right of me"). With the Jot, it's more like sounds slide left-to-right in 2D space (e.g. "I hear someone talking into my ear"). It's similar to the difference in immersion between the HD650 and cheap headphones that constantly remind you that you're listening on headphones -- you don't "disappear" into the music. The Jot constantly reminds me that I am no longer immersed in 3D sound space as far as live recordings go... but for digitally produced music with a lot of reverb this isn't an issue and I think if I didn't have the Valhalla 2 for comparison, I wouldn't miss the 3D effect as much. My volume limit is lower with the Jot due to the more aggressive treble, which also doesn't help for immersion purposes. Stock Russian tubes on the Val 2.