NITSCH Sound Pietus Maximus Optimus Prime Review - The Touch

Setup: Mac Mini M1 USB Output with Moondrop Kato IEMs (all running Hi-Gain) > Foobar200 Mac Version running Exclusive Sound to DACs. DACs are OG BF2 and the ESS Card within the Big PeePee

Albums: The Three 80s Thomas Dolby Albums CD Presses (from the 80s, not remastered) rips to FLAC (Golden Age of Wireless, The Flat Earth, Aliens Ate My Buick)

So yeah, I got the Big PeePee (Pietus Maximus) with the ESS card. Gut feeling was telling me to get the ESS card since it is different enough from my OG BF2. Also knowing how MB cards are from Schiit, they need more room and more power to make a difference in performance. For the record, the only ESS DAC in the past that wasn't half shit was the older Ayre Codex (last product from Charles Hansen before his passing).

Yeah, Big PeePee is a bigger PeePee than the Small PeePee (Piety). Bigger in size, girth, and sound. Still keep the voicing of the Small PeePee but its balls dropped on the floor. If you didn't like the Small PeePee, the Big PeePee isn't for you. Great we have a SS design with tube sounding traits amps that isn't overkill on sounding like a tube amp.

Regarding ESS card within the amp, I don't hate it. It's clearer and more forward sounding than my OG BF2, and with Hi-Gain they slam well like a good butt pounding. However, I wouldn't recommend the ESS card with the Big PeePee if you hate anything forward or your headphones are very forward. Something like the Grados with the F-Pads should be good. I don't have any digitius issues with this setup and I can use it just find as an AIO. Setup as AIO has crazy high value, where I don't feel like spending crazy amounts of money for good sound. Call me impressed that Schiit got an ESS DAC sounding great without being a cold/bright metal ass that plagued audio for years. And this is just the ESS card within the Big PeePee. I can see why others are getting the Modius E and using it with Big PeePee.

Now using the Big PeePee as an amp with the OG BF2, now we are hitting my sound preference. The organic, less upfront, and more spacious sound shines greatly with the Big PeePee via OG BF2. If your goal is more spacious sound with organicish lows, OG BF2 still the winner for the price. Can listen on this setup for hours.

Then again, I can do the same thing using the Big PeePee as an AIO. Even being different from the OG BF2, the Big PeePee with the ESS card does so many things right that I can forgive some of its traits (which I wouldn't call it flaws) and just be happy for it use purpose. End of the day my taste preference is OG BF2 with Big PeePee, but using Big PeePee as AIO with the ESS chip I'm still happy without any serious complaints. I guess it all comes down to your sound preference and setup. My gut feeling will tell me this will pair very well with the HD600/HD650 (more so with the HD650), but I'll have to wait a few months before I get my HD headphones out of storage.

TL : DR on Sound Signature:

• Big PeePee with ESS Card: Clean, Dynamic, Second Row Seats, Griping For Your Attention. Know there's better DACs in the market but it works well with Big PeePee that you are happy using it as AIO.
• OG BF2 > Big PeePee: Spacious, Organic Lows, Dark Highs, Layering Nicely, Not Clean Sounding as something like the ESS Card (unless you are using PI2AES then it becomes more cleaner), Not Upfront To Grab Your Attention, Fifth Row Seats, Can Get Lost With Sound Since Details Aren't Upfront (You have to search for it).
• Comes down to your goals, not one is better than another.

 

@YMO, thanks for the description with the OG BF2... I've been on the fence with this... thinking it might be a good SS change of pace amp next to my BH Crack with a JAR600b... I'm running the BF2/64 cards with the crack (prefer the brighter 2/64 with the crack), but I still have the OG BF2 cards that I can swap in.

Is anyone running the 2/64 with the big piety? I really don't want to play musical dac cards if I switch between amps, and the 2/64 was a noticeable improvement over the OG on the Crack. Would love a SS amp that could run on the same dac setup.

 

To be fair I haven't listened to the 2/64 card, but I would presume that the Big PeePee wouldn't make it sound worse (more brighter). Should be a good sandwich without the highs being too crazy. That's from at least when using the build-in ESS card. And this is coming from a guy who don't normally like brighter setups, and I can listen to the ESS card for awhile without feeling tired.

 

I just got my Pietus in, and am running the 2/64. Very quick hit impression is that @purr1n seems like he is on the money in that 2/64 can get Prickly in the highs using the native MCB mode. NOS mode does mitigate this, and definitely my preference so far. Also the propensity for getting to the etchy highs with the 2/64 are greater in high gain vs medium gain. I think though, you can find a goldilocks zone if you find a combination of NOS mode/gain levels, but will take some trial and error depending on your treble tolerances. I guess what I am trying to say, is that it's possible with the 2/64, but definitely need to work on finding that sweet spot, it's not an "instant hit" for synergy.

 

Excellent insight @YMO. You explained the ES9028 card's sound way better than I could ever attempt.

I wanted to report back that Yiggy A2 is actually a pretty good match. Like mentioned earlier mid gain is a bit softer up top too if you feel your chain could use that. High gain is a bit more aggressive.

Using Unison USB instead of AES this time. I forgot my AES cable right now sounds pretty lean, but a good match for Stratus. Unison / Yiggy A2 is a better match with Pietus. More meat on the bones and heft down low. Damn this little amp scales. The fact I can even notice differences with sources to Yiggy (just like with Stratus) speaks volumes I think about the resolving power of Pietus.

Yiggy really opens up the headstage. More space, and obviously more nuance.

I agree that the ES 9028 card is more forward as in the stage is closer. However it definitely isn't fatiguing or irritating, even swapping between Yiggy to compare.

 

A very refined, natural sound that challenges my biases about ESS having a “clinical” presentation. I wouldn’t describe it as ‘wide-open’ however.

 

Latest season of Letterkenny when Shoresy is reffing the beer league game has some of the best mom jokes ever. Shoresy is another gem of a comedy series for anyone that has ever played ice hockey.

 

Ok, last post here since I'm fangirling out over here. If you have an Atrium Open give it a listen with Big Pee Pee and Modius E or the internal ESS card.

Holy f**k. What the f**k. I really don't have words. This. Should. Not. Sound. This. Good.

I had to reread @purr1n's review to not feel like I'm losing it. This dac card and this amp is otherworldly resolving. But, at the same time, natural sounding. I have some internal bias against ESS dacs obviously.

Atrium Open is incredible for live recordings, but Pietus takes that to even higher levels.

I'm comparing directly to Yiggy A2 and DNA Stratus and there are, no shit, things this AIO does better. Resolution for one. Blackground another. It's a different take on music but 100 percent as enjoyable.

Like, if I had this sitting on my desk at work there's no way I'd be able to get anything done.

 

I had a chance for an extended listen this afternoon. No significant fatigue with the ESS card and JAR660S. My Walnut DAC definitely throws it wider/deeper, although ESS is still relatively layered, just over a smaller stage. It can get a little overwhelmed with busy music like 'Steve Coleman - Djw', whereas Walnut can still delineate each instrument successfully, but all up it’s super listenable for an AIO. Plankton is real.

If my T4 ever gets fixed, I will probably pair it with Walnut and keep Pietus as an endgame bedside AIO. I could see it equally suitable for a workplace, if you are at a desk.

Proscht @CEE TEE.

 

This amp is going to make a f***ing liar out of me, or amp-burn in is real/in-effect. I've left the amp on overnight and have been listening more extensively this morning. I've got 2/64 on its standard MCB and Pietus on high gain, on pretty high volumes, for the past three hours now and not experiencing any kind of etch or fatigue as I did yesterday.

@dasman66 I don't think you will have an issue running 2/64 with Pietus. Hopefully someone else running a 2/64 can chime in to give further feedback. Believe me, I was starting to look last night whether or not I need to invest in a Modius E or another dac, but this morning, it was a different story and the ship has righted itself. I'm most definitely sticking to my setup for the foreseeable future. CEE TEE is making it very hard for me to leave the hobby when he keeps coming up with these incredible gear collabs.

I'll continue to disclaim that YMMV, everyone listens different (treble sensitivity). I also can handle Grados. lol. But really, i'm echoing what's already been said. This amp shouldn't sound this good.

 

I went ahead and ordered a Modius E. There are a bunch b stock right now.

I have to know how it compares to the internal card. I haven't seen any direct comparisons yet. Will report back. If SE out sounds good or better I'll probably go crazy and build another XLR converter like @JK47. There's so much adjustability for gain and usable volume control on this amp that the increased DAC output voltage should be a non-issue.

 

I don't see the point of the Modius E with the Big PeePee unless you are doing XLR > SE via Transformers and/or you really really need the digital inputs like Coax or AES. The internal card is super solid so unless you are going to make it more complex, I would do something like a BF2 or something higher end since Big PeePee scales with hornyness.

 

Totally get that. Curiosity killed the cat. I think the incredible synergy with the internal dac is getting me all excited to experiment. No one accused me of being smart. Hehe.

Secretly I want to hear Modius E with Stratus as well...

 

"The Touch"

Definitely understand now, this amp needs to be heard for a bit to understand. THIS is the giant slayer not piety.

I'm curious how the modius E compares to the ess DAC card, thanks for taking the plunge !

 

I'm digging the reviews lately subtitled by 80's hits!!

 

I used to have it on laserdisc. During my virginity years I hosted man child parties with the Transformers movie. So many virgins in one room hearing Orson Wells hating his role and crying after Prime died.

 

I feel like this Amp as AIO with ESS card with new ZMF Bokeh is best desktop setup at around $1500. If I have to restart with $1500 on hand then this is what I would go for.

 

Incidentally, wow the ESS card SKU sold out immediately. Feel like demand for the ESS was underestimated.

(Unless I'm dumb and it just hasn't made it to production yet — I'm trying not to spend money so haven't been looking too closely at these lmao)

 

Alternate is to get amp only and install ESS card bought directly from Schiit