SCHIIT JOTUNHEIM WORLD PREMIERE: Schiit Show 2 - August 27, 2016 So Cal

Discussion in 'The Meeting Place' started by insidious meme, Jul 25, 2016.

  1. Madaboutaudio

    Madaboutaudio Friend

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    Looks like the Jotun could fit nicely in a small bedroom setup where space and heat output is of concern. I'm wondering which is a better sounding preamp: MJ2 SS vs Jotun
     
  2. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Holy crap! There's a girl there listening to headphones! Is that allowed? :)
     
  3. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    Wait a minute...

    They only had the Joty?

    Sure they said they were introducing a new product but they didn't say it was exclusively about that one product. Im sure they wanted to show how easy it was to use it with every headphone but wow... They just released a modi multi bit. Was that even there?

    No other gear to compare the Joty to... :confused:

    Wow.. I don't care if someone dislikes my post but its my opinion... That was a Fail! With a capitol F... :drunk:

    Atleast provide relativity so you can properly assess value because not everyone can remember how something else they have heard sounds accurately and 100% of the time. Makes it tough for newbs especially to assess SQ.

    The last time I was at a meet (I am a meet newb). I plugged some phones into the Questyle 800R dual stack and thought... "Hey this sounds clearer and more controlled than my amp.." Then a moment later rushed over to plug the same hp into my amp and was like.. "errr... No it doesn't... Not at all, it was just less dynamic, deep, and romantic... Mine being a tube amp" Having on hand references can help mitigate the chances of wrongly hearing things better or worse than they really are.


    Also it says "DAC/Amps are so last DECADE".... and the Joty is.... ummm... Uhhh
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2016
  4. Out Of Your Head

    Out Of Your Head Friend

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    I agree that it was strange that Schiit didn't have a single other Schiit product at the show.

    My theory is that they didn't want to take any of the focus away from the Jotun. If they had these top tier headphones and their other amps and DACs available, then I would imagine everyone would want to listen to them on the higher end amps to audition the headphones rather than audition the Jotun. They probably didn't want to turn the Schiit Show into a Elear, Utopia, Flow, etc. show.

    But I agree that they really should have had a way for people to compare with other Schiit amps. If you have headphones you've never heard on an amp and DAC you've never heard, that's not a great way to figure out what the amp or DAC can do.
     
  5. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    This wasn't a show; this was a product introduction. Schiit it taking a lesson from Apple and every other phone company about building hype and expectations, then putting on a good event to get people exciting. Nothing wrong with that. Recalibrate expectations for the next Schiit show.
     
  6. cizx

    cizx Friend

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    "Jotunheim is no giant killer" made me lol.

    Just so everyone is clear, it's pronounced Yo Toon Hyme. If you abbreviate it Joti or Jotu, you should be saying Yoti or Yotu.

    Carry on.
     
  7. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    I have to keep reminding myself, one of Jason's previous jobs was in marketing, and he does it well.

    Across Schiit's entire line, they provide exceptional value, quality, and customer service that's fantastic. I may not like all of their gear, but I can't argue the fact they set the industry standard in more than a few areas. It would be great if other manufactures started following in their footsteps. I'm not going to name names, but there are a few that need a cold hard reality check if they plan on surviving.

    Thanks Schiit, keep it coming !!!
     
  8. burnspbesq

    burnspbesq Friend

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    I'm probably not the only person who wondered about this.

    Me: "So, Jason, are the boards user-swappable?"

    Jason: "We're not saying they are."
     
  9. Xen

    Xen Friend

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    Just to be fair, they say the Bifrost upgrade boards should be installed by "authorized service personnel". It's the lawyers talking. CYA, so nothing Schiit sells is user-swappable.
     
  10. aufmerksam

    aufmerksam Friend

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    It doesn't matter how this snuck in, whether by subconscious reference to manga, the zerg, or other Norse mythology, but I very much enjoyed it. Kudos.
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2016
  11. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

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    As I've mentioned before, any dismissal of the "no user serviceable parts inside" disclaimer (printed on the product chassis) means we have just ensured the lifespan of the company is finite.

    It's like this:

    1. A guy gets the idea that it'd be kool to swap the fuse for one of those shiny gold-plated nanocrystal doodads that cost a bunch of money.
    2. He opens up the product...while it is still plugged in...while he is in the bathtub.
    3. His next of kin contacts us and lawyers happen.
    4. Lawyers do a forensic audit of everything we've told every customer (including emails, forum posts, etc).
    5. If we ever implied that it was cool to open up the chassis in any way at any time, all support for your Schiit products cease because the company no longer exists.

    So, yes, there are "no user serviceable parts inside," and that is why any upgrade cards are intended to be installed by authorized electronic service personnel only. That will include these cards, when we get around to listing them on the site. (For now, let us walk rather than run, please.)

    That doesn't mean that someone won't (a) figure out how to swap the cards, and (b) put a guide up online. But that's not us.
     
  12. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

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    From the description:

    Schiit Streamer confirmed. :D
     
  13. Xen

    Xen Friend

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    MRW Jason Stoddard quotes one of my posts:
    [​IMG]
    Squeeeeee!
     
  14. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

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    Obviously someone who hasn't talked to Jason in person...
     
  15. srphoenix

    srphoenix New

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    So it seems like this most directly competes on a new setup basis with a modi multibit and magni 2 Uber combo or the Jotunheim.

    Curious to see what you all think is the better option. It seems like the DAC portion of the modi stack beats out the Jotunheim but the Jotunheim amp surpasses the modi stack.

    Price is only $100 apart but that $100 buys you some modularity and upgradability.
     
  16. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    Isn't the Jot the same price as an Asgard 2 and modi multibit?
     
  17. srphoenix

    srphoenix New

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    Yeah you are correct, both of those setups come in at $500.
     
  18. 8man

    8man Acquaintance

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    Will any SBAF friend or staff member be reviewing one of these new pieces anytime soon ? Or would that information be classified ? I'd sure love to read some of your reviews/comparison.

    P.S.:I realize it might be way too soon. But as they say, curiosity killed the cat.
     
  19. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

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    As always thank you everyone at Schiit Audio for the wonderful production of Schiit Show 2. One thing that is always awesome is talking with Jason and Mike as they are always available to shoot the schiit. Was really an awesome trip down from Norcal and seeing everyone from the SBAF crew. As always the usual suspects were present @insidious meme , @Merrick , @neogeosnk , @Out Of Your Head , @n3rdling , @MikeMercer , and @Audio Zenith . Also was a pleasure to meet Ron finally @RKML0007 . I also was finally able to get to finally speak at length with Jason Lord from Source A/V. Finally, last but not least was awesome to see Warren Chi from Cavalli Audio who will be attending SBAFest in November. Yes, anyone who knows me knows that summer is tequila season so you can always find me drinking margaritas.

    Anyway, wish I had more to say that hasn't been said but my impressions of the Jotunheim reflects exactly what @TMoney said. It's not that it's disappointing I think it's just that for me I have listened to a lot of gear and really saw the value of what you get with an upper level schiit stack versus this all in one product. I can see having a higher end all in one solution which if it ever comes would be something I would be looking forward to hearing. Also one thing I would have been interested in which someone already brought up is how would the Jotunheim react with a Multibit Modi driving the dac section? The key for this isn't just Schiit coming out with an all in one product but a release of a newly designed topology (a powerful one at that). To me it might have made more sense to release not only the Jotunheim but also something on the same level of the totem pole with their new current topology.

    My opinion of the Jotunheim stands is this may not be for me but I can definitely see where this might apply. Entry to lower mid level. If you are looking for something for your office or are looking for the next step of audio from just plugging something into your phone this may very well be it. At $500 it's a decent buy for those just starting out in the audiophile world on a very tight budget. Schiit created a product that would resonate well not just for audiophiles but in my opinion everyone who wants to upgrade their sound but take baby steps doing it. I started with the original bifrost and lyr and went up from there. Schiit has only evolved and now with the Jotunheim instead of spending around $1500 for something decent you can get everything for only $500. Not bad in my opinion.

    Anyway enough rambling. Thank you again Schiit Audio and friends for everything. Keep on making Schiit great and being awesome people.
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Little bit surprised by the lackluster impressions, but I've heard it three or four times over the years. Yes, that's years. With the Gungnir DS / Wyrd, Yggdrasil, and Moby as the source though. (In one instance, I did a direct comparison with the Rag and Mojo 2 using the Yggdrasil as a source with the Abyss headphones.) It's hard for me to be certain because I have not heard the production version, but I actually thought it was overall better than the Rag. The Rag doing the circlotron thing with better microdynamic shading, the Jotunheim having more clarity and speed.

    P.S. Now I wish I had gone and lent Schiit my VPI Classic 4 with a box of records. No Final Fantasy music though :)
     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2016

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