Schiit Jotunheim 2

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by PacoTaco, Dec 22, 2020.

  1. Syzygy

    Syzygy Friend

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    …and now that leaves me wondering if the Continuity setting could have a pot/encoder/switch in order to apply different curves for preference.
     
  2. Zimmer266

    Zimmer266 Facebook Friend

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    I have had the Jotunheim 2 for a few days. My headphones are an HD650 stock, and a HFM Sundara. My HPA prior to this was an Asgard 2, and I've heard the headphone outs of a Rogue Sphinx V3, and an older JVC CD player.

    I was running the Asgard 2 from the pre-out of an Aric Audio Unlimited II. I suspect that the tube "buffer" of the output was helpful in some manner, because the Asgard 2 was certainly more than worth the B-Stock pricing. The Jotunheim 2 so far is run from the balanced outs of the Modius. I am liking all of the striking spatial clues, the size of the hall or recording venues, that seems to come through with this latest combination of gear. It's warm, and has tight bass control, and offers possibly the best setup to date for the HD650 for me. I have a balanced output cable from the Jot 2 to the Sennheisers.

    I might need to try another DAC, just because I have to know. But in the meantime, big sound is to be savored.
     
  3. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    This is kind of an aside and just an observation, but it seems a lot of the pairings folks are coming up with that involve Jot2 are coming at things from two different system building "philosophies". One being you start with a ruthlessly revealing transducer (but as little distortion as possible, as its inherent distortion is at least an order of magnitude greater than what's "normal" in modern solid state electronics, and that's only when considering THD, which isn't the whole story). Then, pair that with upstream components that tend to have a warmer signature. The other end is to pair more revealing electronics with a transducer that has its own warm signature. What's interesting in this thread is where Jot2 typically sits in either style of system - it's usually the arbiter between either a warm or revealing DAC and commensurately revealing or warm transducer. That helps me triangulate; Jot2 seems to be a "good" neutral in that it doesn't impart much of its own signature on anything downstream, or mask anything upstream. Just a thought, tho. Has anyone reported on pairing Jot2 with any of the Fostex closed cups (MDx or otherwise)? And to confirm Marv's observation, BF2 to Jot2 to any of the following is superlative considering the price: Verum, HD600, Elex.
     
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  4. limesoft

    limesoft Friend

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    Just as I was about to order the Jot 2 I noticed a new iFi ican Pro for sale near me, throwing a spanner in my works.. I wonder how it competes sound quality wise vs the Jot 2.. I assume in SS the Jot 2 comes ahead, but then the ifi has a tube buffer mode + a sub bass boost which might make the HD800S more compatible.

    I do have the ican se - I do find it has a touch of glare, but the sub bass boost complements the Senns (both HD650/800).

    On a side note - I got response from Schiit; they can provide an RCA board for 20$ with the Jot 2 if an additional input is needed. This led me to think of other module ideas - how about an RCA eq correction board for HD800/HD650 . hopefully with better tuning than the Zen Can 6XX correction.
     
  5. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    A few pages back Jinxy compared the two.
     
  6. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    My short take is the ifi is far more flexible with the buffers and boosts but as far as SS, I wouldn't call one better per se, but they are different. The Jot had more slam and sparkle overall, the ifi I don't consider rolled off on either end but less emphasized. In the end it's probably more a preference than one being better than the other. I honesty don't uses the buffers & such so I'm likely going to sell my ifi and get a Jot 2 in short order.
     
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  7. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    Jot2 for me was a conscious step away from tubes, with the hope of retaining some of the “tube sound” or in my case, I should say tube hybrid sound, as that is my experience base. Jot2 seems to fill the bill quite well for me. Not perfect as compared to my departed Liquid Crimson, but close enough and 1/5 the cost. I’ll eventually pen some more expansive subjective impressions. I’m trying to turn over a new leaf and not “fanboy post” before the honeymoon wears off.
     
  8. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    Intro
    Listened to this as part of the loaner tour... Unfortunately, life happened this week and I didn’t get to spend much time listening. Just one day at the office and then one evening at home and now it has to go off to the next person.

    Chains
    Pi2AES -> SFD-1 Mkii SE+ -> 3F (nickel)/Jot 2 -> Bal -> Cocobolo Auteur (Eikon Lamb)
    Pi2AES -> Bitfrost 2 -> Bal -> Verum 1 (Ori Lamb)
    Pi2AES -> Bitfrost 2 -> SE -> HD600 (new stock pads)

    Anner Bylsma Prélude to Bach’s Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major
    The 5 Browns Malagueña from Andalucia Suite
    Pamela Frank/Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra Mozart’s Serenade No. 7 for orchestra in D major
    John Williams/John Etheridge Extra Time for 2 Guitars
    Duplessy & The Violins of the World Kung Fu
    Kaki King Ingots
    The Beatles Norwegian Wood
    Carl Anderson Heaven on their Minds
    James Brown It’s a New Day, Pts. 1-2
    Earth Wind & Fire Shining Star
    Los Lonely Boys I Don’t Wanna Lose Your Love (Live at Blue Cat Blues)
    Led Zeppelin Moby Dick (from How the West was Won)
    Daft Punk Giorgio by Moroder
    Ben Harper & The Blind Boys of Alabama Take My Hand
    Horace Silver Quintet Finger Poppin’
    Maynard Ferguson Birdland
    Phil Woods Rain Dance (Live from the Showboat)
    Bill Evans Trio Detour Ahead [Take 2]
    Ray Charles/Count Basie Orchestra Oh, What a Beautiful Morning
    Macy Gray Redemption Song
    Joni Mitchell California

    3F v Jot2 (Bal)
    I started with low gain on the Jot2 and wasn’t impressed… sounded dull… maybe good for background listening, but not something I’d listen to for enjoyment. Switching to high grain really changed the character of the amp for me. More air, more bass, sharper, more excitement… but still my idea of neutral sounding. Very good.

    From an FR standpoint, I thought the Jot2 was extremely similar to the 3F… in my limited listening the main difference was that the 3F was had slightly more air. Between the two, I found the Mids and Bass almost indistinguishable. From a detail standpoint, I thought the 3F was a little more nuanced, especially in the treble... the 3F did a slightly better job with delicate passages.

    Stage width was also very similar, but the Jot2 had a flatter presentation relative to the 3F… not a wall of sound, but not that far off. The depth of the 3F allowed me to really focus on specific instruments whenever I wanted.

    When I went home for the evening, I couldn’t stop thinking that the Jot2 is the same insane value proposition as the SW51+. I really wish this week hadn’t been such a cluster and I could have had more time listening. There is no question in my mind that the 3F is the superior amp… but the Jot2 seems to get me 94.87% of the 3F in this chain.


    Jot2 with HD600 (SE)
    Low gain… just no. Imagine Lawrence Welk covering Led Zeppelin. Flipped the switch after 5 minutes.

    On high gain, meh. Don’t get me wrong… it’s fine, but boring as hell. For me, this combo does everything to accentuate the weak points of the 600 and does nothing to build on the good. I got about halfway thru my playlist and had enough.

    Maybe this is an SE problem and things change on balanced… I don’t have a balanced cable to try out (I only ever run the 600 out of SE tube amps so SE is all I have). But, if you’re only going to use SE, then stick the 600 on a SW51+ or BH Crack and be happy.


    Jot2 with Verum (Bal)
    Didn’t even bother with low gain, only high.

    Wow. The Verum really shines on the Jot2/Bitfrost2 combination. I’ve always liked the Verum, but I’ve never heard it driven like this. The bass has endless extension, hits hard and fast. Treble is airy and detailed. To me, it is balanced across the frequency range.

    I listened to this combo late (too late) into the night, a real pleasure. This just isn’t good for the money; this is good period.


    Conclusion
    I’ll be upfront and state that I’m a tube guy. The only SS amp that I’ve ever enjoyed listening to was the 3F… before now. I can really understand where Schiit is coming from with its “best $2400 headphone amp for $400 claim”… pretty dang close.
     
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  9. limesoft

    limesoft Friend

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    You don't find the buffer to add something when you fancy a different flavour - bit of warmth etc? I've seen mixed feelings on the buffers, some saying they are not tube like enough or they make listening more fatiguing due to high frequency smearing. Also I just noticed the ifi doesn't have a way to mute the pre outs - it'll mean I'll have to switch the monitors off every time I listen to phones.. the Jot 2 notably has this ability which is very important, but no bass boost or tube flavour (but quite a bit cheaper). Good to read your impressions - jot 2 more slam and dynamics, ifi a little gentler.. both equally resolving in their own way
     
  10. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Yeah, for me with the 580 the Jot 2 is...fine. Both my SW51+ and LP make the 580 sound far more exciting, visceral, and alive. It's just missing that special something with the 580.

    However, I will say that the synergy with the Jot and both my FDX1 and RS2e is through the roof. Dynamic, lively, driving, exciting, makes me want to listen endlessly. I don't even bother plugging these two headphones into the SW or the LP anymore. If I didn't have the 580 I wouldn't even need another amp than the Jot. I do also think that keeping it on all the time helps achieve the best sound.
     
  11. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    I was lucky enough to be able to listen to Merrick's RS2es when he sent them to me to reterminate them. I was surprised at how good they sounded, as I had avoided Grados for years based on early listening. Through the Jot balanced, they were incredibly resolving and dynamic - they really rocked. Likely too much for long term listening for my ears which are used to more laid back Senn headphones. But definitely an eye opener. I'm a little surprised that the HD580 and HD600s aren't doing great with the Jot 2, as I think my modded HD650's really liven up with it, but I don't have any better (still waiting on the SW51+).
     
  12. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    The Jot 1 was a favorite for me with the 650 as well. I haven't heard a 650 in several years at this point. The 580 isn't bad with the Jot 2, it just doesn't suck me in the way the FDX1 or RS2 do with the Jot. Similarly neither the FDX1 nor the RS2 thrill me on the LP or the SW, but the 580 enchants me on those two amps.
     
  13. cameng318

    cameng318 Friend

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    After listening to my Jot 2 for a month, I just had a crazy thought.

    I really like the amazing SE tuby flavor, but I feel like it still lacks some of the magic in actual tube sound. After playing with the NoiseNuke for a long while, I think the Achilles's heel of the Jot 2 might be the LDO chips in its power supply, which actually make sense for a $399 product. It might be the cause of IEM hiss and a little boring sounding with mostly dynamic drivers. The hiss doesn't change with volume knob and gain setting, so I think it's from the power supply. I feel the hiss gives a greyish background for cans with clean mids like HD6XX or HE6. Cans that trades sound quality with gritty texture that overpowers the grey background, like LCD2, Aron Flow, Verum One, and many other planars, turn out to be epic matches with Jot 2 for my taste.

    So my idea is this, is it possible to add a power supply card, like the RCA cards, to power Jot 2 with external power supply? Then I can use 2x SMPS with NoiseNukes to nuke all the noise away. If it doesn't blow the Jot 2 up, I'm sure it'll be a worthwhile upgrade.
     
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  14. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    I think the tube buffers are just that, a "flavor enhancer" of sorts. For the headphones I have, I just wasn't wowed by them. I think they might decrease bass impact a bit and don't sound remarkably different than the SS only circuit to my ears. They're definitely not bad by any means, and can be kind of fun, but once I got a proper tube amp I never turned them on again. I haven't found them to be more fatiguing personally, but of course YMMV.
     
  15. Baten

    Baten Friend

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    I personally find tube buffers a most pointless thing. YMMV.
     
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  16. Zimmer266

    Zimmer266 Facebook Friend

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    I’d like to know how many in this Jot 2 thread either have, or are waiting on an SW51+?
     
  17. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    I assume you're looking for a comparison re some aspect of the two amps? If so, it might help to ask a more directed question.

    FWIW, I have the SW51+, but I did not comparatively listen to the two due to limited time with the Jot loaner
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I'm waiting on the SW51+ myself. I feel these are the insane < $500 high-value bargain standards of which it will be really tough to get better. Maybe different. The Jot 2 is better all-arounder, particularly good with planars, modded T50RPs, Code-X, H5XX, Verums, etc. The SW51+ doesn't drive planars well, but is very special with high impedance dynamics.
     
  19. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Yes, I have both. Very different amps IMO.
     
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  20. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    Curious as to your impressions, I'm looking at an amp for DAC2541 and HD600.
     

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