Schiit Jotunheim impressions

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

  1. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    I guess you can raise ticket with Schiit. They may change it for you for a small fee plus shipping
     
  2. TheloniuSnoop

    TheloniuSnoop Friend

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    If you look at this pic from Schiit's Jut page, you will see that there are four numbers on the top of the power transformer numbered 1 2 4 3. That most likely indicates the it has dual primary input coils, so can be run using either input voltage.
    To use 110V in, the input coils are connected in parallel. For 220V, they are connected in series.

    Then if you look at the circuit board directly behind the power input IEC connector, you will see two jumper wires. I'm guessing that this is how the jumpers are set for 110V; connecting the input coils in parallel. I can't tell by the pic though how to change them to run 220V. So as Hrodulf said above, you would have to know what you're doing, or someone who does how to change them. Then, of course, you would run afoul of Schiit's warranty.

    https://www.schiit.com/products/jotunheim

    Click on the board pic, then click again to enlarge it.
     
  3. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    In this case they would have would have 2x the inventory complexity for transformers and no way to be flexible due to shifting demand.

    Just look at the Jotunheim pcb image and you'll see markings on the trafo for dual primaries.
     
  4. nerone

    nerone New

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    All you say makes total sense, except the products don't have any external switches to change voltage and the manual does not mention anything about voltage changes. Also, per jotunheim manual:

    "8 AC Input. Plug the power cord in here. Plug the other end into an outlet of the correct voltage. Trying to run a 115V product on 230V will blow the fuse and generally make for a bad, bad day".

    Maybe the transformers have dual primaries, but the products are not made for the user to change voltages. Maybe a technician could do that.
    Other than that, I'd use the product on the recommended voltage.
     
  5. JustAnotherRando

    JustAnotherRando My other bike is a Ferrari

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    All the conversation is about the user having to figure it out themselves, it is quite clear to all that Schiit does not support dual voltages, or convenient switching from 110 to 220 (bye bye, warranty).

    I'm facing the same with my amp. It's configured for 110 and I've recently realised that if open up the power supply and change wiring of the transformer, I can get it to take 220. Obviously the risk is on me if I try this.
     
  6. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    Some diy, some do not. Ever it has been, and ever it shall be.
     
  7. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    A step up/down transformer is pretty damn cheap and easy. Just sayin'.
     
  8. Hrodulf

    Hrodulf Prohibited from acting as an MOT until year 2050

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    Yeah, some of us don't mind paying the iron price for our gear, instead of the gold price.
     
  9. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    I guess the noise induced by these step up/ step down transformer keep ppl away from using it with audio gear.
     
  10. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

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    I use one with BW2, no noise to speak of. YMMV etc. but don't discount it out of hand.
     
  11. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    Great to hear. I personally have never used but that's what I read about those converters in forums.But its reassuring to know that no noise is induced because of them
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I used a ~$50 step-down transformer (EU to USA) for the Solaris Crane Song DAC. Worked great. No noise.

    Buzzing is usually because of DC offset on the mains. Something like an Emotiva CMX-2 fixes this.
     
  13. JustAnotherRando

    JustAnotherRando My other bike is a Ferrari

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    I have no electronics knowledge, but when I opened up the PSU of a first gen Black Widow and saw the giant caps inside, I thought "well, I'm not going to worry about a transformer or anything else sitting on the wall side of this thing."

    Reasons I'd consider modifying it for 220V is because the transformer takes up floor space, introduces more cabling, and constantly sucks power from the wall socket. Reason I haven't done this yet is, well, because I have no electronics knowledge.

    Edited to add: So this thread has been useful to me. I'd already looked up the datasheet for the transformer to confirm that it can be wired for both 110 and 220 voltage inputs, but the "dual primary" phrase introduced several posts up let me find information on how transformers windings are set up.
     
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2019
  14. redrich2000

    redrich2000 Facebook Friend

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    I've seen people describing the Jot as "compressed". What would they be describing when they say that?
     
  15. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    It has a small enclosure for such an expansive sound!

    JK
     
  16. redrich2000

    redrich2000 Facebook Friend

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    Next weird question... is there a way to tell which dac module is installed from pictures? I am looking at a used one that's being sold in a round about way and the guy doesn't know which dac is installed.
     
  17. wolfskie

    wolfskie New

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    Just from a visual inspection, unless you can get the owner to open the case, i think it's very difficult, or impossible to tell.
    My jotunheim doesn't have a DAC card, but from looking at my sound driver - it designates it as bifrost gen5, so it might be similarly descriptive for the card dac.
     
  18. schiit

    schiit SchiitHead

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    Oops, almost missed this:

    Multibit: Horizontal USB connector.
    4490: Vertical USB connector.

    Multibit is a big board, it's visible through the top perf.
     
  19. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    I am just interpreting here, but they may mean the stage and how the stage aid perception of the "seperation" of instruments/sounds. Another interpretation is how the "solid state" character of this amp effects timbre such that it is the opposite of "laid back" and "ease"...
     
  20. Jalsar

    Jalsar Facebook Friend

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    I know youtuber DMS called it “compressed” cause he said it compressed the dynamic range of the sound. I’ve seen a lot of people on other sites and reddit parrot him.
     

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