Schiit Jotunheim impressions

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Bill-P, Aug 30, 2016.

  1. hifiandrun

    hifiandrun Almost "Made"

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    Here is one by Marvey: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...jotunheim-impressions.2700/page-22#post-78240

    I got a Jot this week and I briefly tried the phono board. It is very quite once you have the RCA input connected (grounded). Without input, the phono produce white noise (hum). Now the sound. I would think that the phono board is at least as good as or mostly even better than any other stand alone phono boxes, say a Rega foto mini. I say better because it has a lot of details and the dynamic is great. Plus, you don't need to deal with another small box and the extra pig-tail power supply. Like any other mid-fi transistor-based phono, it sounds clean but a little too neutral (clinical? just to my ears). The vinyls played through my Rega planner 2 with a AT-440mla cart sounded a little like the same album on CD. I would use a warmer cart if I'd use the Jot phono. For a $100, it is definitely an amazing phono preamp board.
     
  2. KennyR

    KennyR New

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    This is very helpful. I'm attempting to remove the cover. Used a 1/16 Alan wrench and I think it stripped the screw :-/. No other size seems to fit though. Is it absolutely necessary to remove the volume knob to slide the cover off? I don't want to apply too much effort if it's not going to budge. Thanks!
     
  3. techboy

    techboy New

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    How does the Magni 3 compare to MD CTH and Jot?
     
  4. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    I have a request -

    A lot of people (including me) have talked about the jot having some problems with glare/steely sound in the treble region. For me (on the hd650), this was greatly improved by using the low-gain setting. I would like to know if the treble is improved for others by using the low-gain setting.

    So, for anyone with a jot that notices the treble timbre being ringy, please give it a go on low-gain and report back. Thanks!!
     
  5. mrflibble

    mrflibble Friend

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    I found the treble to be more steely / glarey when using the balanced output compared to the single-ended output. Can't remember if the gain setting made a difference. No longer own a Jot.
     
  6. hifiandrun

    hifiandrun Almost "Made"

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    I am with you. Based on the suggestions here, I found that 1) warm-up for 30 minutes to 1 hour; 2) low gain; 3) this require open the chassis - I switched the original fuse to a audio-grade fuse, all helped solve the glare/steely sound. To my ears, there is no glare after I have done the above three. Jot and the HD650 (mine still break-in, using SE cable) is a great match for monitoring and long listening session. I bet a good power conditioner would be further helpful.
     
  7. Liquidaudio

    Liquidaudio New

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    I am confused between Schiit Jotunheim and idsd black. Anybody can share some comparisons
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2017
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    We're not Buddhas or bodisattvas. You'll need to go elsewhere for that.
     
  9. Liquidaudio

    Liquidaudio New

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    I was typing from my phone and SwiftKey auto complete did the trick:p
    Anyway it would be great if someone can share a comparison between ifi idsd BL and schiit jotunheim.
     
  10. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    My ears are nowhere near as good as the regulars, but I took my iDSD "silver" down the local Schiit dealer and did my own little comparo earlier this year.
     
  11. Liquidaudio

    Liquidaudio New

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    So it looks like I would go for iDSD BL. At least it is transportable and cheaper (considering 380$ deal)
     
  12. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I didn't try the Jot w/ DAC module as they didn't have one in the store (and wasn't really interested in it). If you read through this thread, I think people have said that the DAC isn't bad, but not as good as the Modi 2s. My guess is the Jot w/DAC would sound better than the iDSD (BL), but obviously not be portable nor have all the Swiss Army Knife features of the iDSD. So it depends where your priorities are.

    Edit: added Jot DAC module impressions below.

    https://superbestaudiofriends.org/i...jotunheim-impressions.2700/page-37#post-82877
    https://superbestaudiofriends.org/i...jotunheim-impressions.2700/page-37#post-82946
     
    Last edited: Oct 5, 2017
  13. lm4der

    lm4der A very good sport - Friend

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    I think the prevailing opinion is that the jot module isn't quite as good as the Modi Multibit, but at least as good and probably better than the modi2 d/s. I can't compare to the Modi Multibit, but I have the modi2u-4490, and can confirm that the jot module sounds better. Well, to my ears anyway.
     
  14. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Though don't forget that it has a slightly underwhelming USB receiver, too (by all accounts). A modi may well sound better with a solidly-clocked source via S/PDIF.
     
  15. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    AKA Schiit Eitr. That little box is amazing for what it does for < $200.
     
  16. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    That said, an Eatr and a Modi Multibit is getting close ($428 vs $599) to grabbing a new Bifrost Multibit with Gen5 USB built-in, which would also stack neatly with the Jot. The Gen5 upgrade has given the Bifrost Multibit a new lease of life as an option.

    (There's a bit of me that would like to hear an Eatr/Modi Multibit/Magni 3 mini-stack, too. I am repeating to myself "you do not need to buy these, you do not need to buy these"...)
     
  17. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

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    You also need a SPDIF cable for the Eitr, which however can be repurposed in the future.
     
  18. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    True, though you don't need to spend very much to get a decent S/PDIF cable- certainly not boutique prices. It's a lot cheaper than getting a non-crappy TOSlink connection.
     
  19. bengo

    bengo Friend

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    Also, as I keep reminding people, the Bifrost Multibit is upgradeable, and @baldr already hinted at a significantly improved prototype...
     
  20. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Also, and this is dangerously on-topic, I really don't hate how the Jot sounds. I think mine is either one of the first runs, or very close to it, as I ordered it in the first week it went on sale, direct from the motherSchitt.

    I don't know if some magical process of "burn-in" happened (doubtful) or that feeding it from a Gungnir Multibit with Gen5 and having it drive a pair of HD650 just lets it hit a happy place. Short of picking up one of @tomchr's beasts (unlikely since it looks like we won't get to hear it in Europe now), I have to say that I feel no particular upgradeitis for my SS amp. It really has worked out well, and provides remarkable value for money.

    The world of tubes, on the other hand...
     

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