Schiit Amp Compendium - Guide to Schiit Amps (headamps)

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Oct 22, 2016.

  1. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    you and me both!

    that being said, Marv's advice holds for single ended: just get Vali2.
    yet Vali2 likely a pointless purchase since you revealed owning a Lyr2.

    IMO, if you want balanced now and your headphones/cables are dying for balanced: Mjolnir2 is the answer.
    it is one amp i regret selling.
    at least until those pivot point tube amps are possibly built.
     
  2. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    ah man, wanna elaborate and/or possibly compare to your current jotun/vali2 that took its place? i have a pair of code-x that sound good out of jotun but i've been wondering about smoothing out that jot treble and improving its soundstage without spending crazy bucks yet.
     
  3. Turdski

    Turdski New

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    Eventually I'll be able to afford the best gear that I'd prefer to have for all of my transducers. At the moment I'm trying to get as much performance out of my current funds as possible. I would likely have to sell the Lyr 2 to afford the Mjolnir 2 (along with the other Schtuff I'm after). I also have a tonne of great 6922-based tubes, I don't really need to have a remote for a preamp in my two channel system (so a Freya could wait), and so on. I suppose a little patience would simplify all this for me. I really should just focus on upgrading to a Yggdrasil. I know, you've been dying to know all of this. Many sleepless nights, etc.

    Thanks a lot for that! My dynamic IEMs are very sensitive, so that wouldn't probably go so well.
     
  4. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    @brencho
    for perspective, I maintain 2 work environments:
    small: GO2ASpecEd + Vali2 (GE Jan 5670 tube) + HE400S or HE1Kv1
    medium: Jotunheim (internal DAC) + HE500 or HE1Kv1

    small: zero complaints! resolving, layered, flexible, small enough to move if needed, etc.

    prior to Jotun (in medium) owned Gungnir Multibit+mjolnir2 but needed to downgrade, quit being such a audio pig, save $.
    mission accomplished.
    but now am missing that dimensionality, some layering, wider stage and the bass punch in the nuts when called for that mjolnir2 delivers.
    in order to add depth- adapters with the GE JAN 5670 tube or @philipmorgan (IIRC) recommended Western Electric 396A are affordable and increase depth a bit that mjolnir2 doesn't deliver by itself.

    am I selling Jotun to move back to Mjolnir2? nah not yet, going to wait awhile and keep the Medium config affordable.
     
  5. Turdski

    Turdski New

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    New game plan: Yggdrasil (bal) > Freya > balanced to power amp [and] single ended to Jotunheim at desk, with 15 ft. RCAs. Longer single ended runs aren't ideal, but I can't afford two awesome DACs. Two volume pots aren't the ultimate either, but I could run one set of RCAs out of the Yggdrasil into my SYS, and another from the output of the Freya into the SYS, and use the SYS to enable or disable 6SN7 magic into the Jotunheim. That way, I'll have a headphone amp with great balanced and single ended performance.

    I think I'll get the Jot with the phono module. When I get another turntable, I'll set it up next to the computer desk for both ripping (using a yet-to-be-released Schiit ADC) and headphone listening. I'll also run balanced cables from the output of the Jotunheim to feed the vinyl into the second balanced-in on the Freya.

    All I want for Schiitmas this year is a Mjolnir-sized pivot point amp, with the option of either a balanced Multibit DAC module, or an Uber Mani-type board, and of course the option to roll tubes. EDIT: Or even just a Jotunheimy-thing with more refined upper frequencies (a splash of Asgard warmth perhaps, without losing too much epic clarity).
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2017
  6. philipmorgan

    philipmorgan Member of the month

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    Mjo2 w/WE396A as pre to Jot is quite nice. Adds a touch of stage depth but maintains the nice Jot+hd640 synergy. It's crazy I know
     
  7. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    did you have an earlier posting (I missed) somewhere on the chain above vs. the HD650 (balanced?) direct into Mjolnir2 (ie. no Jot)?
     
  8. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    So, I'm running GOV2 into Vali 2 into Elears, and currently I'm thinking of either doing

    GOV2 -> Vali 2 (as a preamp) -> Jotunheim, and eventually replacing the GOV2 with a Modi Multibit/Bifrost Multibit (if I can find one second hand for cheap enough).

    But would it potentially just be more beneficial to just up and buy a Mjolnir 2, and take advantage of my GOV2's balanced outs?


    Tl;dr- (M/B)imby into Vali2 into Jot into Elears.
    V.s.
    GOV2 into Mjolnir into Elears, balanced the whole way.
     
  9. philipmorgan

    philipmorgan Member of the month

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    I don't think I've mentioned this particular mental illness before. :) It's kind of silly to use the Mjo2 as a pre to the Jot, but it does add a bit of stage depth and mellows the Jot a bit. I just listened to Gungnir Multibit > Jot, Gungnir Multibit > Mjo2 > Jot, and Gungnir Multibit > Mjo2 and the Gungnir Multibit > Mjo2 > Jot really is nice. Combines the best attributes of the Mjo2 and Jot. Gungnir Multibit > Mjo2 with the 650's isn't quite as present as I would like. Neil Young's voice in "On the Beach" is a bit more recessed and soft than it is with the Gungnir Multibit > Mjo2 > Jot.
     
  10. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    cool comparisons, thanks! you've confirmed why I'll be waiting for a mythical mjolnir3.
    but not holding my breath either. :D
     
  11. Neal

    Neal Facebook Friend

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    @FallingObjects As a current owner of Mjolnir 2 and Vali 2, and previously a Jot, if you forced me to keep only one it would be the Vali 2 with a WE396A. Mjolnir 2 is warmer than the Vali 2, slams better and is slightly faster. The Vali 2 beats it on staging and tone however, and at least for me, gives more goosebumps. Mjolnir 2 is not a direct upgrade from your Vali 2 - it does certain things better but others not as well. Also, I personally found I liked the Vali 2 alone better than the Vali 2 -> Jot combo. I guess what I'm saying is, there is no correct answer to your question - it will depend on you and what you like. FWIW, my impressions are with Gungnir Multibit and HD650s.
     
  12. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    owning Vali2 and Jotunheim now, and previously Mjolnir2,
    the above = truth to my ears also.
    (looking for the multiple Likey button!)
     
  13. FallingObjects

    FallingObjects Pay It Forward

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    Sounds like I'd be getting any further improvements out of a better tube for the Vali 2 (Currently running stock), and a better DAC (and non-usb source). Thanks for the input, folks!
     
  14. Steakface

    Steakface Acquaintance

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    disregard
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2017
  15. econaut

    econaut Almost "Made"

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    I guess combining Freya and Jot would have the same effect as combining Mjo2 with Jot?
     
  16. philipmorgan

    philipmorgan Member of the month

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    From what I'm reading over in the Jot impressions thread, yes. Or rather close.
     
  17. econaut

    econaut Almost "Made"

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    @Marvey : You said this here.

    Now when I look at the SchiitSpider, Jot bests Mjo2 in two of five categories. Mjo2 doesn't seem to be the "better amp in almost every respect" to me?

    Please clarify, thanks a lot! :)
     
  18. Larry Megugorac

    Larry Megugorac Craps on Filipino accents to ease inner poverty

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    Hey Fellas,

    Looking for advice on how to feed my Yggdrasil coming next week. From what I have read, USB from my MAC mini will not give me the best results. My MAC has a custom power supply and is dead quite through HD-800S's....zero hiss at low levels and quite passages. I've been told the uLink from Wyred4Sound is a good one.

    Any other suggestions?

    Thanks,
    Larry
     
  19. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Yeah. I place a lower priority on speed and clarity (like x 1/2) and put an extreme high priority on microdynamics (like x4) and high priority on macrodynamics (x2). If you weigh things this way, Mjo wins handily. I don't add weights because people have different priorities.
     

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