Review and Measurements of Schiit Jotunheim With AK4490 DAC

[amirm]

I would imagine THX is expanding its distribution so over time I expect other companies to offer it just the same.

 

[Deleted member 4360]

So for less than half the price you could combine the Schiit Modi 3 with a JDS Atom, get much better performance and not have to worry about safety? Seems like an easy choice.

Or a JDS Atom with a Topping D10 - listening right now with Audeze SINE and it's a stellar compact setup for my desk at work!

 

[HammerSandwich]

Let's get t-shirts made with that!

Then send the amp & a shirt for review by Electroboom.

I always thought there should be company that makes a product with the same functionality as each Schiit product only with good performance. The name of this company should be Shinola audio.

You know that's already a thing, right?

 

[MZKM]

Unfortunately at 96 dB, it is not going to win any races:

Your SINAD chart is highlighting the JDS Labs OL DAC, not the Jotunheim.

 

[gvl]

Any Schiit preamps in the pipeline? Eg the Freya?

 

[amirm]

Your SINAD chart is highlighting the JDS Labs OL DAC, not the Jotunheim.

Boy you have good eyes. Corrected.

 

[amirm]

Any Schiit preamps in the pipeline? Eg the Freya?

I have the Saga.

 

[gvl]

I have the Saga.

Oh, cool.

 

[BurritoJustice]

I wonder @amirm if you shouldn't better stop refering to a hardware that is not any longer available in the market, I feel it is a bit unfair, .... isn't it?

The public opinion on the 789 has reached a critical mass as it receives praise both from objectivists and subjectivists. ZeosPantera has a huge use base that is notorious for cleaning out the stock of anything he recommends, and he believes it to be the best amp ever made.

Due to this, demand is insanely high (5000 requests). If they list a small amount from continuous production then it will be a rush of scalping and disappointed customers. Delaying the drop so that it can meet acute demand more consistently is a logical, consumer friendly way.

 

[BigBeard]

I have a 5 year old bifrost uber (didferent chip than the ak4490...forgot which one exactly) and an asgard 2 from the same year, which i can send in if anyone is curious.

 

[qobopod]

what makes the XLR output “incorrectly called balanced?” the FAQ on product page seems to assert that it is truly balanced. https://www.schiit.com/products/jotunheim

>But this is probably a “fake” balanced amp, right, where you convert from balanced to single-ended and back again?
Nope. When we say, “balanced, differential,” we say what we mean, and mean what we say.

 

[amirm]

what makes the XLR output “incorrectly called balanced?” the FAQ on product page seems to assert that it is truly balanced. https://www.schiit.com/products/jotunheim

>But this is probably a “fake” balanced amp, right, where you convert from balanced to single-ended and back again?
Nope. When we say, “balanced, differential,” we say what we mean, and mean what we say.

The connection to a headphone is always balanced regardless of the amplifier topology. The word "balance" was therefore incorrectly invented with respect to how the technology always worked.

 

[Ralf Stocker]

This great chip is used in analysis devices. A good example of very bad engineering. The measured values are horrible. The noise level is very high.

 

[Sal1950]

I cannot recommend Schiit Jotunheim in any configuration for purchase.

Oh boy, here we go. You've done it again Amir.

 

[Snafu]

I had Freya for a test year ago, just horrible sensitivity to, well, anything. Even touching power/rca cables or knockin equipment rack caused buzzing ( that it had already, floor noise was really bad). I returned it to schiit.eu and they said "Freya was ok, rest of your system just didn't match with it"

That was third schiit gear i had and returned. Reading schiit forums also gives you some idea how often their products have some kind of fault.
Freya was so good looking i actually wanted it, but after that experience, i'm done with their products.

Would be really interesting to see Freyas measurements, it has three different pre-amp stages (passive, j-fet and tube) so you can compare them too.

cheers and thanks

 

[yummy]

you can't keep attacking schiit (even if you think you aren't, THEY, the big THEY are thinking doing this is attacking), we already know the true color since the beginning, no need to look a slightly further eye in it

 

[Gomjab]

you can't keep attacking schiit (even if you think you aren't, THEY, the big THEY are thinking doing this is attacking), we already know the true color since the beginning, no need to look a slightly further eye in it

If they start making more decent stuff then Amir’s reviews will help them. I bought a Modi3 based on Amir’s review. I wish I knew about this site before I bought my Jotunheim which Amir just kindly reviewed.

 

[MusicNBeer]

I really want a more affordable option than Benchmark and Bryston for top quality gear made in US/Canada but this Schiit ain't it unfortunately. Time for them to hire an experienced analog/digital HW designer.

 

[Music1969]

The bigger issue beyond fidelity is safety though. A metal enclosure needs to be full grounded to mains safety pin and in this case, it is not. The case is insulated due to finish on the top lid so it does not make electrical contact with the safety ground pin on the IEC outlet.

Hi Amir

I've never understood the technical aspect of this (quote) and I've seen you mention it a few times (unfortunate for Schiit, mostly with their products! lol).

As an example, I have the THX 789 headphone amp. It has a metal case that doesn't have an AC earth pin on the SMPS.

So the metal case does not make contact with an AC earth (doesn't have an AC earth) - how is this different to the Schiit?

I'm asking genuinely - I'm sure there is something very basic that I'm missing.

Is it something to do with the SMPS (of my THX 789 or most SMPS's) being galvanically isolated internally? If so, how does that help, from a safety perspective?

Many thanks again

 

[solderdude]

When a device has metal parts that people can touch (casing for instance) and has a mains voltage coming into it that enclosure must be connected to safety ground (3rd pin) on the mains plug.

When an external PS is used that is galvanically separated (transformer or SMPS with low leakage) and that PS has metal parts that can be touched then that PS must have the enclosure connected to safety ground.

When that PS is double isolated (plastic enclosure) this is not needed as a user cannot touch any parts that may have become electrified when the gear is connected incorrectly or developped a fault in such a way that live mains may have come in contact with a conducting enclosure.

So when a low voltage (through a PS) is going into a device, even when it has metal parts that can be touched, a connection to safety ground (3rd prong) is not needed.
It is only needed when mains voltages go into the device directly. A preventive measure must be taken which is ALL metal parts that can be touched must be grounded. Not just a few metal parts that can be touched.

Then there is another ground thing. This involves hum. A metal enclosure, to provide screening, must be connected to the common/groundplane/signal ground if you want to avoid hum when touching the metal parts or volpot or so. This is called signal ground. With all metal gear usually there is a direct connection between safety ground and signal ground but with some devices this can be separated (ground lift switch but the enclosure MUST remain connected to safety ground = PE = Protective Earth).
Some devices have these grounds coupled using capacitors, resistors or inductors.

2 different grounds.
Safety ground and signal ground.