Jotunheim - Multibit vs Balanced?

[Qqube]

Hey guys,

I am looking at picking up another Jotunheim. I had bought one when they had come out originally and due to circumstances I had to sell my headphones/amps/etc but now I am looking to get back into it a little bit.

When I bought it there was only balanced as an option. Most of the reading I'm doing is that there's only a preference difference between the multibit and balanced and that for the most part you should save your money and go balanced. Is there a more technical difference?

 

[theveterans]

Jotunheim is already balanced regardless of the DAC module that is used there. Multibit is a different way of converting the digital signal but it's the preferred DAC module if you want to hear Schiit's in house DAC filter. If you want a vanilla balanced DAC, then choose the dual AK4490 balanced DAC. The main difference would be that the multibit has a bit more insight to the sound akin to listening on a wide field speakers than the balanced DAC that sounds more accurate.

 

[Qqube]

Jotunheim is already balanced regardless of the DAC module that is used there. Multibit is a different way of converting the digital signal but it's the preferred DAC module if you want to hear Schiit's in house DAC filter. If you want a vanilla balanced DAC, then choose the dual AK4490 balanced DAC. The main difference would be that the multibit has a bit more insight to the sound akin to listening on a wide field speakers than the balanced DAC that sounds more accurate.

I see. Since I haven't heard multibit I have no idea really what I would prefer... but thanks for the reply.

 

[mixman]

Jotunheim is already balanced regardless of the DAC module that is used there. Multibit is a different way of converting the digital signal but it's the preferred DAC module if you want to hear Schiit's in house DAC filter. If you want a vanilla balanced DAC, then choose the dual AK4490 balanced DAC. The main difference would be that the multibit has a bit more insight to the sound akin to listening on a wide field speakers than the balanced DAC that sounds more accurate.

Does that mean that the Multibit module expands the soundstage? Does it also enhance the frequencies?

 

[theveterans]

Does that mean that the Multibit module expands the soundstage? Does it also enhance the frequencies?

I don't think it expands the soundstage noticeably but the imaging rather is more expanded in the front and back of soundstage, i.e. there's a subtle difference in how the instruments sounds out of nothingness. You can image it as some instruments sounding farther back on the stage while others are more in-front. That's a subtle change though and you'll only notice it after you've listened for a few minutes or maybe even half an hour later. The frequencies stay pretty much the same except for the very slight midbass hump from the multibit DAC. In any case, the balanced DAC is the purer sounding DAC where there are no custome in-house digital filters to make the sound more pleasing.