Schiit Jotunheim impressions

My time with Elear loaner is coming up a week from Friday. I'll certainly report back on the combo.

 

Don't. Walk away while you still can. Or, just chuck a fistful of cash out the window on a windy day. Just kidding. On a serious note, some tube amp / hybrid circuits can have their sonics altered to a greater extent by tube rolling. I did a lot or rolling in my Lyr years, and found rolling had a 'moderate' impact on sonics. It's certainly worth it, as long as you don't expect the character of the amp to fundamentally change.

 

Yeah, differences even between the stock Lyr-tubes and Lissts aren't huge. Going full-SS is slightly brighter, that's the main thing. I'm happy with it, but when I get the interest I'll start learning about some reasonably prices toobs. This is a lot like my experiences with guitar amps & tubes, the changes are of similar level. NOS models are a hot thing with those too.

Changing my dac (Duet -> ModiBit) made a real difference. But, for most people this would be pretty minor too. It's pretty much minor tweaks after the headphones are selected.

Anyone else chiming in on Jotu vs Lyr is much appreciated.

 

Anxiously awaiting this review.
This is what I'm looking at for my next foray into audio.

If not this, it's another HD 800 & some amp I haven't heard of yet.

 

Wow, you couldn't pick two more opposite directions to consider. I'm hard pressed to think of two headphones more opposite, then the HD800 and the Elear. But that's a conversation for another thread...

 

Apple Earpods and Stax SR-009.

I might just get a Jotunheim and Multibit something or other and use it with my Audio Technicas while waiting for the right headphone. I do wish there was a good speaker amp for the LS50s that would work. Ragnarok is just... too much.

 

A question for those using UERMs and other sensitive IEMs/customs/etc; what volume level are you using / how are you getting the volume low enough?

Maybe I just listen quieter than most, but my comfortable listening level is 8-8:30 (HD800S, SE, low gain, Bifrost MB as source), and below around 7:30 is channel imbalance, so even with the HD800S that isn't really a large range.

 

Channel imbalance, really? That's disheartening... I listen at pretty low volumes myself.

 

FWIW, my Jotunheim does not exhibit any channel imbalance on low/high gain anywhere on the pot. Tested with all of my transducers.

 

Balanced and SE?

 

Affirmative

 

The tonality of the headphones will affect your perception of the songs.

In some cases , the heightened elevation of treble region of the hd800, will have you enjoying sparkle detailing and air, while overlooking details in midrange & bass, like breadth and tone of instruments in midrange .

As much I can conceed the superiority of an HD800 to always be in the TOTL arena, a more balanced can will always win the race.

That's why the HD600/650 keeps fighting back and makes you feel sore you just put down $1.8k-3k-5k on a headphone.

My hd800 will always be a good reference can for me,
but for long term non fatigue listening I will turn to other cans...

listening yesterday to the Jotunheim gave the HD800 some serious fast hitting impactful transients, and a strong impression, but the bass seemed to fast and with no "meat on the bone".
The HD650 in comparison was rather shocking in bass depth speed and control.
It hit just as hard with more solidity over the 800.
Yes the 650 was an Extremely excellent pairing.
But in the end, I preferred the HEK with the Jotunheim because I am a maximum soundstage head.
That, plus the Jotunheim grabbed the HEK as if it were a female and man handled her like we all should ... Um , off topic..

 

To my old ears, the HEK and the 650 are overly warm; I'm all about the treble, I guess. Does the Jot bring out more treble detail out of these "warmer" cans?

I suppose I will get to hear them at RMAF and !CanJam, but I'm also interesting in your opinion.

 

I use high gain just fine with my UERMs and balanced input. My usuable range is from about 7-9 on high gain and a bit more on low gain (maybe 7-10?). Either way, I have more channel matching and usage than My Leck with the -6dB gain mod on it. With the HD650s balanced in/out, I'm usually around 9-11 on high gain. There's only a very tiny part of the pot with channel imbalance but the volume is too low for my to enjoy my music anyways.

I'll check the usable volume again when I get home. In addition, it looks like my balanced CIEM cable has arrived but I need to pick it up from the office office after work.

So I'm not sure how you're listening to such low volumes with the hd800, SE input/output, AND low gain. FWIW, SE in / SE out is louder than Bal in / SE out.

From King Jude:

 

nope...
Treble detailing seems same,
but midrange seems to get clear up...
To notice more clarity detailing overall.

For 650 tonality remains same but such clean lows give midrange more detailed depth or focus.

Stock units of both 650 and HEK can sound as you say , overly warm.
Yet both these headphones are modded...

I modded my HEK so it is very neutral, and the V2 unit is said to be brighter and more forward , so it's really a different can!

They should not have given HEK V2 the same name at all...
As it is not the same headphone at all , only sharing similar driver.(!)

IMHO,
HifiMan publicity Dept is really a failure at promoting headphones.

 

7:30 is very low on a pot. I'd expect some imbalance there.
If you're using a DAC, use a transparent digital volume control.

 

I listen a lot at work, and frequently will try and keep it at or even below conversational levels (haven't tried to measure actual SPL in any useful way), so I can easily hear and respond if someone asks me something.

My volume control goes roughly (HD800S, Bifrost Multibit, SE, Low Gain):
7 - Start, 0 volume.
7-7:10 - No sound.
7:10-7:30 - Channel imbalance.
7:30+ - Sounds great.

I know low level channel imbalance is a thing, so don't take this as a complaint. Was just more curious if others were finding they had to digitally attenuate for more sensitive cans, or if I am just listening really low (likely).

Edit: This is with highly compressed music, which is part of why I'm trying to keep the volume low.

 

Well that doesn't sound so bad. Reheartened.