Schiit Jotunheim's XLR input | What am I missing??

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by marflao, Apr 8, 2017.

  1. marflao

    marflao Acquaintance

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    Need your guys experiences/thoughts on the following:

    I bought a used Jotu a couple months ago and used it - so far - single ended w my HD6xx ..and love it.

    I also got a balanced cable (I send a pic of the Neutrik XLR input jacket to the manufacturer to let him know the termination) as well as a XLR-to-TRRS adapter (to connect the HD6xx to my LHL GO2A SE) a couple weeks ago.

    While the HD6xx works fine with the new balanced cable and the adapter to the GO2A SE, it won't work w the "balanced" cable connected to the Jotu's XLR input (even if the volume is cranked up to the max i only hear some very silent tunes).

    To further investigate I took the amp as well as my headphones to a friend of mine who has a Audeze LCD-3/Violectric V281 combo.
    Findings: my HD6xx works with his amp (which has the same Neutrik XLR input jack) but his LCD-3 doesn't work with the Jotu.

    Since this looked to me that there is an issue with the Jotu's XLR input I got in touch w Schiit Europe (Sonority Audio) - where it was originally bought - and sent the amp back to them for repair.

    In the meanwhile I took the HD6xx to another guy I know who has an AudioValve Luminare (which also has the same Neutrik XLR input jack). And again the HD6xx didn't work correctly (no sound at all).

    Now the guys from Sonore Audio got back to me and told me that they have checked the Jotu and SE and XLR are working fine?!?!?

    This is the part I really don't understand:
    if my headphone is working with the two other amps how come that it won't work w the Jotu (since they all have the same Neutrik input jack hence my thinking that the termination of all three should be the same, or)?

    So what am I missing?

    Btw:
    Haven't received the unit yet from Schiit Europe but I'm worried that I still can't use the balanced HD6xx (since they haven't found an issue).
    I asked Schiit Europe for the "correct" termination but they remained silent on that point.

    Your thoughts?
     
  2. RazrLeaf

    RazrLeaf New

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    Have you checked if your cable is terminated correctly? On the headphone side, the larger pin is ground, and the smaller pin is signal.

    For Jotunheim, the cable should be as follows:
    Pin 1 = Left Small
    Pin 2 = Left Large
    Pin 3 = Right Small
    Pin 4 = Right Large.

    This is the convention used on the AKG K1000, which is what I believe the Jotunheim manual means when it says "K1000 output jack".

    Here's a guide to the pin numbering (got it from Neutrik's drawing):
    [​IMG]
     
  3. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    First, make sure HD650 works with Jot with stock cable single ended. Next, hopefully obvious but you are switching to the middle switch for Balanced input?

    Try any other balanced headphone to confirm balanced works. Sometimes 3rd party cables can have connectivity issues on the headphone side. They only go in one way, although it looks like it shouldn't matter. Hope you figure it out.
     
  4. marflao

    marflao Acquaintance

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    Hi RazrLeaf,

    Thanks for your swift response.

    I exactly send the pic of the input jack to the manufacturer and since my headphone works fine with the new cable connected either to the Violectric and the Luminare - which have both the same Neutrik input jack as the one you posted - I'm puzzled.
     
  5. marflao

    marflao Acquaintance

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    Hi cskippy,

    Yep...as I mentioned in my post Jotu works great single ended w the HD6xx.
    And yes again, I switched to the balanced input choice when I tried my "balanced" HD6XX as well as the LCD-3.

    Just for my understanding: if amps have the Neutrik xlr input jack with the termination as posted by RazrLeaf it should be identical, right?
    I mean the Jotu has it, the Violectric, the Luminare....so the balanced cable - if terminated correctly to this "standard" - should work with all, or?
     
  6. RazrLeaf

    RazrLeaf New

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    A physically compatible jack does not mean the the jack is cabled correctly. I don't know if the Vioelectric and the Luminare have the same pin out as the Jotunheim. I only know about the Jotunheim because I've ordered one, and I'm in the process if making a DIY balanced cable for it.

    TL;DR amps using the same jack may not use the same connection layout.
     
  7. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Well, regardless of correct wiring you should get sound unless they royally fucked up, where R+ and L+ is one side and R- and L- is the other. Which, if I understand correctly would basically just be pushing the drivers out or in only at twice the amplitude and possibly cause damage?
     
  8. Lasollor

    Lasollor Friend

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    @marflao It seems you are confusing balanced input and output in your posts.

    Just to be sure, when you connect your HD6XX to the balanced OUTPUT of the Jot, you don't have to switch anything. If you switch to the balanced INPUT you will have no sound, unless you have a DAC connected to the balanced INPUT to the back of the Jot.
    Or am i missing something?

    Edit: I meant @marflao's posts, not yours @cskippy.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2017
  9. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Ah, right. If been dealing with literal shit all day, so I'm not in the clearest frame of mind. You will get balanced output regardless of which input you choose.
     
  10. marflao

    marflao Acquaintance

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    Alright...at home my GO2ASE was connected to the Jotu's RCA (Source is my Laptop).
    HD6xx single ended in the Jotu and all is good.

    HD6xx balanced in the Jotu (input switched to the middle) and no sound (besides some very silent if volume is turned to max).

    Checked with my buddies LCD-3 and using an AK240 as Source the same situation: no sound.

    Hope that clarifies what I meant with input/output.
     
  11. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    Sure sounds like you have something broken there.

    Edit...see next post for correction :)
     
  12. Lasollor

    Lasollor Friend

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    You shouldn't switch the input to the middle. You switch to the middle when you want to use the signal from the balanced input on the back of the Jotunheim.
    If you want to use your HD6xx balanced you should keep the input switch in the bottom and just plug in your headphone to the XLR output on the Jotunheim.

    edit: Okay, I've just tested it. I plugged in a single ended RCA cable from my Yggdrasil to the Jot, switched the input selector to the middle, HD650 connected balanced and of course I don't have sound. But if I turn the volume to the max I can hear the music faintly! I've never noticed this before. You have to keep the switch down if you use the single ended input.
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2017
  13. marflao

    marflao Acquaintance

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    Ouch....now I get your point.
    Will do that once i have the Jotu back.

    Thanks so far.
     
  14. marflao

    marflao Acquaintance

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    All good.
    Must admit that I´m pretty embarrased that I thought the input switch is also related to the SE and balanced HP jacks.

    Thanks again.
     

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