Schiit Jotunheim 2

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

  1. EmDub

    EmDub New

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    Has anyone been able to listen to the Jot2 as a preamp connected to Vidar, Aegir, or another power amp? I'd love to hear impressions in terms of performance with speakers as well.
     
  2. Mithrandir41

    Mithrandir41 Friend

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    I thoroughly agree. I'm dissatisfied with the AKM 44xx series in general and would love to hear Schiit's interpretation of the ESS sound, as I kinda like the 9038 implementations I've heard
     
  3. futbutts

    futbutts Friend

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    I guess if Schiit's going to go ESS this might be the year to do it, with the AKM shortage and all.
     
  4. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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    I’m thinking on getting the Jot 2 with the 4490 module since I won’t be getting a balanced source in a while, anyone with experience to say whether it is decent enough to make a difference vs say, a modi 3+ single ended?
     
  5. futbutts

    futbutts Friend

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    I haven't heard it with the module, but with Modi 3+ it's really enjoyable. I'm not sure the modules have Unison which for me is a must-have now.

    Also the J2 is allegedly source-agnostic so it doesn't need a balanced source to sound its best, in theory.
     
  6. zoboomafool

    zoboomafool New

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    Thank you for the helpful advice. I will definitely order a Jot 2, it sounds like it'll give me the slam and power that I'm looking for. A few other members also recommended that I pair a delta sigma DAC with the J2. One last question - if I could swing a little higher in my budget and get the Bifrost 2 DAC instead of a delta sigma DAC to pair with the J2 and LCD2Cs, would that sound superior? As you mentioned, the J2 seems to respond incredibly well to better DACs, but I don't want to switch to the Bifrost's multibit architecture if a delta-sigma DAC would produce a better sound on the warm LCD2Cs.
     
  7. Soundmancan

    Soundmancan New

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    I have the Jot 2/Bifrost 2 stack and while the Bifrost 2 is the only DAC I have used with it thus far I can tell you the Bifrost 2 sounds amazing with the Jot 2.
     
  8. Olor1n

    Olor1n Friend

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    You get a Like for this.
     
  9. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    Just got Jot2 this afternoon so not going to comment much yet on headphone pairings until I can spend some quality time with it. Initial "make sure it doesn't sound like garbage" testing uncovered an odd trait. Using it as a preamp with a Trends TA-10.1 feeding MarkAudio Tozzi One in nearfield/desktop, and compared to Asgard3: Oh boy, it's gooey. Veiled and syrupy. Maybe some break in is necessary? Dunno.. At least it's quiet enough w/ Solaris balanced out, balanced in, only a teeeeeeeeny tiny bit of hiss, though not much room for volume adjustment. With Solaris balanced in/out and low gain I'm down around 7 or 8 o'clock on the volume knob. Not awesome, but not the worst from a desktop amp that can also do ~3-4W RMS using 80ohm Elex. Last nit pick: for anyone ordering the black colorway, it seems Schiit has changed to a white screen print versus the older gray screen print, so stacking new Jot2 on older BF2, there's a bit of visual dissonance. I could care less, but just in case this sort of thing matters to anyone.
     
  10. Erroneous

    Erroneous Friend

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    @yotacowboy Threads around the net seem to suggest breaking it in for a couple of days. Definitely looking forward to hearing reports of now vs then.
    I plan to pair my incoming black Jot2 with older BF2 *because* it's going to be in a place my wife would prefer matchy matchy, so bummer to hear about the mismatch.
    Please let us know how burn/break in goes.
     
  11. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    I'll put a week on it before committing to any sort of review. First listen on HPs is promising. The screening match/mismatch is probably only relevant to 32% of the population.
     
  12. Phantaminum

    Phantaminum Friend

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    One thing I did find on my Black Jot 2 was a few, small, black smudges on the gray volume knob.

    Do leave it on for at least a day. Sounds better after it’s warmed up.
     
  13. futbutts

    futbutts Friend

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    Still digging the Jot 2. I'll add that SE-listening via 650 and 600 is actually really excellent. I figured I'd need to get a balanced cable but now that doesn't feel so pressing. I had also been thinking of selling the 600's as I generally find them too anemic but that doesn't seem to be the case at all with the Jot 2, it's more just tastefully rolled off in the bass department. Yet the 650's I don't find veiled or overly murky or anything. Magic!
     
  14. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

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    I noticed the first day with Aeolus and HD650 that I wasn't really crazy about the treble energy/presentation at first. I think it noticeably cooled down and was smoother with great detail and perfect energy after a couple days/week for me. I don't find it a slow amp unless you compare to 3F or something similar. This amp has dethroned my Liquid Platinum even with the D getters I put in it last week !
     
  15. Mithrandir41

    Mithrandir41 Friend

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    If you want balanced, try Hart cables. Great prices, and it's a modular system.
     
  16. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    Agreed, it's a bit glassy with only about 6-8 hours on it. Not offensive, and I can tell if the presence range calms down a touch, or the mids flesh out a little more, and it keeps the same level of resolution in the treble, it'll be an impressive little amp for the price. It's peppy without being too zippy. I will say with HD600, it's as spacious a sound as I've heard from SS, especially from any Schiit HP amp. Granted the only big boi SS amp I've spent any time with was 3F and not for any extended period of time. I'll stop making noise now!
     
  17. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    Lol, finally clicked on your Topping link in your sig. Thanks.
     
  18. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    Hopefully ok spot for this question. I was thinking jot 2 when it came up...

    How is the black finish for durability? Good powdercoat? Hard anodized? Painted?

    I like black a little better, but I don’t like (easily) scratched black.

    also, is usb from a pi 3 a dumb idea? I’m vacillating between OG Modi Multibit fed coax from a digi + and MB card in the jot until I can swing a new dac.

    Thanks all.
     
  19. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    If the Pi 3 USB is as dirty as Pi 2, it will sound like ass.
     
  20. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    It's powdercoated, unless they've changed things up over time.
     

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