Schiit Jotunheim impressions

When it comes to "what sounds better", given the equipment you're considering, they'll all sound pretty damn good.

In general the rule of thumb is that speakers/headphones make a BIG difference, amps come next, then come DACs. So if you're trying to budget out your money for the best quality sound, you look to transducers first (speakers / headphones).

What you need to decide is what you're trying to accomplish: a great headphone amp? a speaker pre-amp? A DAC for your already-powered speakers? An all-in-one amp/dac box?

Personally I only listen to headphones, so I went with the ZMF headphones, powered by a Jotunheim without a DAC module, fed by a Modi Multibit DAC, fed by a Eitr, connected to my PC. As many have mentioned, I didn't get the Jot DAC module because (a.) it doesn't sound as good as the separate Modi and I don't need them both in the same box, and (b.) I wanted the flexibility to use my DAC with other amps, and (c.) I wanted to connect a schiit Eitr to the DAC to help clean up the USB signal.

In short, I needed a powerful headphone amp for 300 ohm transducers, so I got the Jotunheim, and for the DAC I didn't want an all-in-one box because I wanted to be able to swap out the amp and still use the DAC and/or use the DAC with other amps.

Lastly, and some disagree with this, but unless you're a very experienced critical listener with specific preferences, who's heard many amp/dac combos in many settings with many transducers, the odds of you picking out "better" across DACs is probably small.

So -
(1.) If you need an all-in-one solution, get the Jot with the DS dac
(2.) If you need just a DAC, get the modi multibit (aka Modi Multibit), and if you use USB, bet the Eitr if you really want to bling it out
(3.) If you want a separate DAC / Amp on a budget, get the Magni / modi
(4.) If you want a powerful headamp and separates, get the Jot / modi multibit
(5.) If you want the best powerful headamp sound get the Jot, modi multibit, Eitr combo

 

and if you don't have neither headphones no amp - start with headphones first. Jot may be not the best option for some.

 

Thanks again for the detailed response.

I guess you're right that it eventually boils down to what I'm attempting to achieve, rather than opinions on what sounds better.

I'm definitely not experienced. And you're right that the different DACs wouldn't mean much.

 

Am planning to get Sennheiser HD650 next. But 6xx in my country is not too available.

Jotunheim can probably drive both of these.

 

I have a question guys, if I use balanced input or RCA input on my Jotinheim MULTIBIT, does it not use the MULTIBIT DAC and just uses the amp? Thanks.

 

There's a three-position switch on the front that lets you select between the two analog inputs (balanced & rca) and the module (the multibit dac). If you select the balanced or rca, the module is bypassed completely and only the amp is used.

 

Removed, odd forum bug.

 

Hi guys,

This community/board is just fantastic. As far as my headphone situation has gone, "this has really escalated quickly" (for me at least)... I've had my Jot with D/S DAC (primarily at the guidance of this community) for almost 4 months now... and after 4 months of owning it and pairing with my similarly acquired Sennheiser HD-6XX and HiFiMan HE-4XX, and reading this board and thinking and pondering and trying to learn as much as I could, I just pulled the trigger on an Audeze LCD-2 Classic black friday B-Stock sale... and WOW am I enjoying them.

For pretty much everything OTHER THAN harder/heavier hard rock/metal and rap/hip-hop, I was very happy/content with the performance I was getting with Jot+HD-6XX. I generally preferred my HE-4XX's over the HD-6XX's for the bass-heavy stuff, but I wasn't nearly as thrilled with either option for that listening as I was with the HD-6XX for female vocals (norah jones, natalie merchant, amy grant, etc), men's acapella (chanticleer, straight no chaser, etc) pop-y vocal music (Whitney Houston, Pentatonix, etc) and singer-songwriter folk-y music and easy-listening rock (Gordon Lightfoot, Seals & Croft, etc). After two evenings of critical listening on my new LCD-2's, I think I like them almost/about as much (+ or - 2%) for all the things I was really liking the HD-6XX's for, and I'm strongly preferring them over the HE-4XX's for all the bass-heavy stuff... just thrilling. I have quickly become a fan of this hobby.

So my question to fellow Jot owners is, where should I look to spend my money next, and at what point is the answer to that question "upgrade your amp; you've outgrown the Jot." My thinking right now is that my next purchases are probably:
1) Modi Multi-bit (rather than a Bifrost without multi-bit, which would stack nicer but per my reading this community seems to strongly prefer the Modi Multibit in terms of performance).
2) Balanced Audeze cable for the LCD-2's

... before I look at buying another pair of headphones. But I wanted to ask other Jot owners and see what people think. Any/all suggestions/opinions are welcome.

 

How much is Audeze's balanced cable?

Iirc they're pretty expensive, periapt cables can do you one for like 75 bucks.

 

Thanks for this! Never heard of them. The Audeze cables are twice as much ($149). I could get a balanced cable for both my HD-6XX and my LCD-2C for less than the cost of just the Audeze LCD-2C cable...

 

Yep.

Periapt is well spoken of by the USA members, and I'm not overly impressed by my 2Cs stock cable.

I mean, its OK and perfectly listenable and fairly comfortable and not microphonic, which for some absurd reason is asking for a lot from premium headphone stock cables (cough chifiman cough), but I wouldn't rate it nearly as much as it costs.

There might be other makers in the USA, I'm over the pond so I get mine from forza Audio works because import duty.

 

Check the Head-Fi classified for used Audeze 4-pin cables. Let the suckers buy those new...

 

Getting the Jot is about the time when I started building my own cables. Simple as using Canare starquad, pulling apart a foot or so for the Y split. Heatshink the two twisted pairs that connect to the headphones, cover up the Y split, solder and jam out. I've since made some beautiful cables but it is very possible to get it done REAL cheap if you want. You can also use paracord to sleeve and weave everything. Really good way to learn soldering too.

 

Hi guys,

After being convinced by my mates that I was pretty much a scuffed retard when I bought my gaming meme headset a few years ago, they finally made me buy some new headphones and are currently talking to me about the whole rabbit hole.

I just recently got some HD6xx's from a drop and I'm still undecided on what route I want to go with the whole dac/amp.
I guess what I'm seeking is some form of advice from people that have tried the setups I'm considering, to better help my decision.

I was 99% positive of going for the multibit Jot, but after several days of finding multiple different threads, I've come here to ask you guys instead of constantly reading back-and-forth arguments.

My mate (who is very interested in audio) has said personally he would go; modi multibit + loki + magni 3 > multibit jot.

The other alternative was just the Jot amp + modi multibit (is the Jot's value for the amp alone worth it?).

Thoughts?

All recommendations/advice is much appreciated, thanks guys.

Edit: For the multibit Jot I was going to grab a balanced XLR 4 pin as well from a seller, not sennheiser itself.

 

I have basically the final setup you mentioned there, modi multibit to Jotunheim to balanced HD650. I love the setup and I think it sounds great. The Magni 3 might be better value, but I haven't heard it myself. My recommendation would be to get Modi Multibit + Vali 2 (which I still own), or Magni 3 if you don't want to bother with tubes. If after a bit you feel like you need some EQ then maybe consider the Loki. If you decide within the return period you want to upgrade to the Jotunheim you can do so without paying the restocking fee on the Magni 3 or Vali 2.

 

Yeah, the builtin DACs are OK, but I would only ever get them on something you absolutely know you'll never upgrade and where practicality and size have to take the lead over pure performance.

It is a complete amp & DAC in a small package that sounds pretty good, which is nice, it's got package size going for it.

I got one for my gran to drive a 6XX so the neighbours don't complain when she needs her opera fix, and its fine, but it doesn't take a lot of training to hear that the separate DACs are better.

 

From what I've read here, Magni 3 sounds warmer than Jot (even newer revisions). HD6XX sounds pretty warm stock, and Modi Multibit leans on the warm side as well. That might just be the reason why he recommends a Loki to trim down some bass. Personally I would vote for Modi Multibit + Jot for synergy's sake, and maybe do a KISS mod on the 6XX if you still feel like it's too warm. The setup sounds better on balanced as well: better separation, a tad more dynamic, a bit blacker background.

If you decide to go for Magni 3 in the end, I'd say drop the Loki and do a KISS mod instead to further save some $$$. From my experience I feel HD6XX doesn't really respond to EQ that well especially its lows. I also think HD6XX/650/600 are those headphones that don't need any EQ to sound great.

I'd recommend Vali 2 + Modi Multibit as well and maybe roll toobs to adjust the sound to your liking. It's up to what you want from your setup really. I have never tried Vali 2 with gaming, though.

 

It has pretty good imaging which is pretty much the only thing that counts (direction cues) although an unmodded 6xx on a vali/Modi Multibit setup might be slightly dark for games which rely on footstep sounds.

* nothing Loki can't fix which is why I have one in my all day chain.

 

I'm not a big fan of Schiit multibit gear for gaming, I recommend against it quite honestly. For music, quite the opposite.