Report from the Schiitr
I was finally able to visit the Schiitr last weekend – on the hottest weekend so far this year (and Newhall gets
hot!). I had planned to take a trip to Newhall for some time now, but something else always came up. I had a great time and there were many new products to listen to that I hadn’t heard before. I brought my MrSpeakers (now Dan Clark Audio) Aeon Flow Closed headphone along + a Focal Elegia for my wife.
(Tip: If you plan to bring your wife/husband/spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend/significant other/partner to the Schiitr then please remember to bring a second headphone for him/her/them so that they have something to listen to.)
Here’s a quick rundown of the stuff that I listened to. By the way, the Schiitr has all listening stations hooked up to iPads with Tidal so you can pretty much find whatever music that you like:
Jotunheim 2. This was my primary reason for my visit. I’ve been interested in the Jotunheim 2 since it was released, but I wanted to listen to it before placing the order. I wasn’t too enamored with the original Jotunheim – I always found the treble to have a slight ‘metallic’ tinge to it that bothered me. Not so with the Jotunheim 2 – its treble is smooth and pleasant (and the Aeon Closed can be unforgiving of amps that don’t have a smooth treble). The first thing that struck me was the deep and juicy bass and the general lively, dynamic sound. Very enjoyable. Also, the midrange is very vivid and expressive. I kind of recognize a bit of the wonderful midrange character from the Aegir (and the Lyr 3 and Asgard 3 for that matter). I wonder if it’s the Continuity technology that contributes to this great midrange sound? Whatever it is, I like it. Needless to say, I placed the order after returning from the Schiitr. (And no, they don’t have a secret stash of amps that you can pick up while you’re there. Just place the order online and the amp will be delivered when it is ready.)
Vali 2+ and Modi Multibit. I owned the original Vali, which was a bit of an oddball amp. It could sound great with the right headphones (and pretty bright and harsh with the wrong ones), and every time you plugged or unplugged the headphone you were rewarded with a long
piiiiinnnnggg sound as the (very) microphonic tubes settled down. Vali 2+ is not like that at all – in fact, this was a very user-friendly and enjoyable combo to listen to. I especially enjoyed the midrange. Curious about what the tube sound is all about? Get a Vali 2 – it’s a great little amp.
Loki Mini+ with Modi and Magni. I was interested in the Loki Mini+ and as soon as I figured out how to enable the EQ (the switch goes
up to enable it) I was rewarded with four well-chosen EQ bands. I was impressed with how well the EQ bands enabled me to fine-tune the sound to my liking. More deep bass? Left knob. Less treble shimmer? Right knob. Lower the sibilance range? Second to the right. Yes, I know I can do the same thing using the software EQ in J River, but it’s just so satisfying to turn the knobs. Plus, I enjoy the thought of irritating the purists by using an equalizer.
Modius and Magnius. Built for folks who need their equipment to measure well, this combo sounded clean and clear. I certainly wouldn’t call it cold or sterile, but if you’re looking for euphonic sound you need to look elsewhere.
On a final (and funny) note there was a problem with the bathroom at the Schiitr, or more specifically the toilet. Liquid waste was OK. Solid waste? Not so much. So while it was possible to visit the Schiitr, you couldn’t – well, you know.
Here's a photo of the listening stations:
