NITSCH x Schiit Pietus Maximus Release/Impressions Thread

[cats4cans]

I considered selling my GS-X after getting the PMax. Partly because of use with IEMs. The negative gain makes the PMax more versatile. Most of my comparisons were as a preamp because of my setup. While I mostly use tubes for “serious” speaker listening, I like having a decent all SS speaker chain. While switching between them I was also comparing an OG Aegir to the Gjallarhorn, a much smaller, cooler alternative, especially when less than 1W is typically required. Based on that I packed up the GS-X for a few months to think about it. Somewhere in there I also got a passive pre amp to efficiently route my options and it has remote controlled volume as well. So the new issue became impedance matching. The Mini input Z is only 10k which can create issues with a 5k output.
The important thing I never did was compare with headphones. No idea how that slipped my mind. Comparing 2 headphone amps based only on performance as a preamp and with IEMs is just dumb. Luckily I came to my senses. The PMax is great, but no one expects it to best everything. I unpacked the Mini around the same time I bought a Lokius. Impedance problem solved and now I have EQ options. When I finally compared the PMax to the Mini with headphones there was no contest. Easily identifiable with direct swapping. I still love the PMax, but it’s been sent back to the minors. I can live with no IEMs in my main system. It felt silly listening to them with a 10’ extension anyway. One system doesn’t have to do everything. It’s probably silly to try. I compared a bunch of headphones from LCD-X to ZMFs. The Mini just has more life in it to me across the board. (And it really should at 3x the price.)

 

[comatoastd]

Adding to the comparison between PM and GSX Mini:

I find that the GSX does come off as the more resolving and capable amp overall, but I find it to be somewhat headphones synergy dependent. It exaggerates some of that upper-mids/lower-treble energy generally; for some people this could work really well, for others not so much. One aspect that GSX does expertly is macro-dynamics, very good sense of slam and impact if your headphone pairing reacts well that type of thing. Will add that GSX at used prices are very good value nowadays, so if that description is what you are looking for, it’s a solid option.

Where PM shines is that it’s more smooth, nice sense of lower mids that tends to pair well with everything that you throw at it. Nice, pleasant, soulful would be some colorful words that come to mind, and for the price PM is very good value since most of the competitors in it’s price range (new and used) leans towards that “linear” type sound.

 

[KaOs492]

I was just screwing around with my setup today, re-downloaded audirvana just to see if I noticed anything with my amp. Wow, the character of the amp that most reviews state were so much more obvious than just using the straight tidal app. The sub bass, Micro details, 3d sound, vocals pushed back a bit. The cleanliness of the sound with more volume. Very impressed, took my setup to a whole new level, and I already thought it was better with just the amp and the tidal app lol. The control over the clear mg driver is even better. Kind of shocked, no distortion. Pure enjoyment.

 

[Charade19]

I was just screwing around with my setup today, re-downloaded audirvana just to see if I noticed anything with my amp. Wow, the character of the amp that most reviews state were so much more obvious than just using the straight tidal app. The sub bass, Micro details, 3d sound, vocals pushed back a bit. The cleanliness of the sound with more volume. Very impressed, took my setup to a whole new level, and I already thought it was better with just the amp and the tidal app lol. The control over the clear mg driver is even better. Kind of shocked, no distortion. Pure enjoyment.

I am so tempted to get one. Thanks for the add on.

 

[KaOs492]

I am so tempted to get one. Thanks for the add on.

Yea I really never understood what other people were talking about with headphones scaling with better gear, because my other amps couldn't do it lol, but I can hear it now. I'm not saying this the best amp ever but I can finally hear it with this combo and I'm happy with it and it's pretty cool.

 

[Charade19]

Yea I really never understood what other people were talking about with headphones scaling with better gear, because my other amps couldn't do it lol, but I can hear it now. I'm not saying this the best amp ever but I can finally hear it with this combo and I'm happy with it and it's pretty cool.

Wow, I just gave Audirvana a try and you are absolutely right. The sound quality is improved. Thanks again!